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Deck-staining that can't fail
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... a new deck as soon as the wood has dried and settled in. Yours could be done at any time the weather conditions are appropriate, and should be repeated every couple of years, depending on weather conditions. ...Tuesday, 07 October 2008 -
Sellers, don't be difficult when showing home
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... was the case a few years ago. Appropriate pricing for this changing market can shorten the misery. So can taking a few precautions. The houses that look the best are the ones that get serious attention ...Tuesday, 07 October 2008 -
Changing out windows tricky with aluminum siding
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... there any reference delineating the pros and cons of different types of vents for ventilating an attic? --Todd A. A: There have been numerous studies done over the years about attic ventilation with different ...Thursday, 20 March 2008 -
Beware of kitchen-range fire hazard
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
Can fireproof material compensate for inadequate cabinet clearance? Q: I purchased a 27-inch, four-burner Wolf commercial range, with an oven, about 30 years ago. I was told when I purchased the range ...Thursday, 14 February 2008 -
Picking the right sander for the job
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... proposition at times, but luckily over the years many manufacturers have introduced power sanders to make the task easier and less messy. Here's a look at the four main types of power sanders, along with ...Sunday, 27 January 2008 -
Asheville in Top 10 Real Estate Markets in 2007
Category: Real Estate/Western North Carolina & East Tennessee
... Home values increased 9.44% in the last year and more than 55% over five years. While some major markets are seeing a significant decline homes continue to appreciate in Western North Carolina. The Asheville ...Tuesday, 01 January 2008 -
The Mortgage Checklist
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... two years (including the dates of your employment, and your gross monthly income). W-2s and/or federal income tax returns for the last two years. Pay stubs for the last 30-60 days. If you're self ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Should you Refinance your Adjustable-Rate Mortgage?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are risky, but they certainly have their uses. If the interest rate on ARMs is low and you're planning to sell after a few years, it can be a definite money-saver compared ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How Much Can You Afford to Borrow?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... of their mortgage, so you may be better off thinking in the short-term and going with a variable interest rate, as these tend to be lower than fixed rates for the first several years. Don't forget ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
11 Ways to Easily Boost Your Curb Appeal in a Weekend
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... hinges. Installing a metal kick plate is another inexpensive way to freshen your entrance - it will cover years of wear. 2. Polish door hardware. Consider replacing the hardware if it's really ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The Dangers of Not Using a Home Inspector
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... appliances nearing the end of their lifespan Any one of these could mean a significant expense within the first few years of ownership, and only a qualified inspector has the training to notice the ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Rethinking your home search
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... of the person in pursuit, there's a psychological component to consider. For example, let's say you have been searching for the right home for years. You haven't seen too many properties that fit the ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Make your condo purchase a smart one
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... out for inadequate allocations for replacement reserves which are sure to increase in future years as the building ages and needs repairs. If you are considering buying an older condo, study the ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying a Brand-New Home
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... offer a warranty which typically covers any structural defects for a period of ten years. Major mechanical systems may only be covered over a period of two years. You'll want to investigate all aspects ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
From the Roof to the Floor, It's Always Wise to Determine Lifespan
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... to collect moss or algae, install zinc control strips. Avoid walking on your roof to limit wear and tear. Tile or slate roof: Asphalt roof: Wood shingle roof:Metal roof: 5015 to 30 years15 ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Top Renovation Mistakes
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... in others to reduce your costs. Going Against the Norm Particularly if you're renovating with the intent to sell the property afterwards (or even several years into the future), it's important ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Is it Time to Sell?
Category: Real Estate/Seller
You've lived in your home for several years, and suddenly you realize it's not meeting your needs any more. Maybe you've had children and you want a bigger yard and extra bedrooms, or you want a home ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The Truth About Private Mortgage Insurance
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... your loan total is $90,000 and your private mortgage insurance would be $450 a year divided into monthly payments. When Can You Cancel the Insurance? Typically, you can cancel private mortgage ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Choosing Your Ideal Neighborhood
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... what the neighborhood will look like in 10 years. Will you still want to live there, or do you expect to move before then? Will it be desirable to future buyers? Once you've prioritized all your ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Tips for First-time Buyers
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... are predicted to drop in the near future, consider holding off for six months or a year, until the market is more favorable. Shop Around for a Loan In a hot market, sellers often only consider ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How Long Should Your Mortgage Be?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... 40- and even 50-year terms. How can you determine which is best for you? How Long will you Stay in the Home? Start by deciding how long you plan to keep the home. Many people buy a home and sell ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
All About Escrow Accounts
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... records. The statutory retention period of Closing Statements is five to seven years, and after this time most escrow agents will destroy escrow documents. After closing has been completed and the ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Mortgage Glossary
Category: FAQs/General
... closing fees, points, etc. Your APR represents the total cost of credit on a yearly basis after all charges are taken into consideration. It will usually be slightly higher than your Actual Rate ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Is an Interest-only Loan for You?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... between one and five years, sometimes extending as long as ten years. After this time, the borrower has the option to pay the principal, convert to an amortized (principal and interest payment) loan, ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Tighter Lending Rules Could Backfire
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... the payment also increases and may become unaffordable. I will use the 2/28 ARM, the most widely used instrument in the subprime market, to illustrate. The rate is fixed for two years, after which ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Four Reasons for Getting a Home Equity Loan
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... there for more than two weeks per year, and don't rent it out for more than two weeks per year. The Bad Reasons Debt ConsolidationDebt consolidation sounds like a great way of solving credit card ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How to Finance a Remodel
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... on an entirely new loan. Consider these various possibilities. Home Equity Loan As with regular mortgages, the interest on these is deductible. Terms are normally 15-30 years, with a fixed interest ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
What should I consider when buying a condo or loft?
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... vary from one complex to the next. Find out how often the dues have been increased over the years and by how much. In new complexes, the dues may be set unrealistically low. If so, you should anticipate ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Smart Ways to Stay Cool
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... day of the week, so you can save money when you're at work or sleeping. Using a programmable thermostat can save an estimated $100 every year. Change your filter. Check, clean or change your filter every ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Home Sellers Hit Roadblocks in Today's Market
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... More prospective home buyers are in the market at this time of the year than during any other season. TOP FIVE REASONS SOME HOMES DON'T SELL. If your house or condo is listed for sale with a successful ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How to Avoid Paying the Capital Gains Tax
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... gain within the same two-year period ending on the sale date of your current home. To qualify for these exclusions you need to have lived in your home for a minimum of two years, but they don't have ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The New 40-Year Mortgage
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
The idea of the 40-year mortgage has been around in America since the 1980s, when interest rates reached record highs of over 18%. With those massive interest rates, the affordability of monthly mortgage ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
What do School Test Scores Mean for the Value of Your Home?
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... reviewed the sale of 334 homes in the year 2005 in several different school districts. In Cupertino, for example, there was a difference of over $250,000 in value between homes in poorly-performing ...Tuesday, 25 December 2007 -
Wallace Shealy - GRI, SRES, ECO
Category: FAQs/General
... for my clients. I have more than 25 years of successful sales, management, and marketing experience. I look forward to putting my experience to work assisting you in locating and purchasing your next ...Tuesday, 25 December 2007 -
Vacation cottages can be challenging to buy, own
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... driving-distance considerations, and even possible plans for permanent, year-round living during retirement. If the book has a flaw it is that author Douglas Hunter is Canadian and he constantly over-emphasizes ...Sunday, 23 December 2007 -
Putting your ducts in a row
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... should typically be done every couple of years — more if you live a very dusty environment, have a lot of pets, or have other factors that might contribute to a buildup in the system. Between ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Boost your curb appeal over the weekend
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... to take it off the hinges. Installing a metal kick plate is another inexpensive way to freshen your entrance – it will cover years of wear. Polish door hardware. Consider replacing the hardware ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Secrets to Making a Lowball Offer
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... to look is during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, simply because very few people are looking then. If you find the right house or the right seller at this time, it’s a great opportunity for ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Moving out may bring faster home sale
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... or deed of trust to secure their promissory note. Then you can deduct the interest you pay each year to them. For more details, please consult your tax adviser. SHOULD HOME SELLER CREDIT BUYER ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Shopping for the Best Mortgage
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... Fixed-rate Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgages have a fixed interest rate over the lifetime of the loan, usually between 10 and 30 years (40-year fixed-rate mortgages are also slowly increasing ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Luxury Home Trends
Category: Real Estate/Investing
... you are thinking of selling soon, or simply want to enjoy the benefit of upgrading your home while you’re still living there, these affordable luxury trends are certain to hold their appeal for years ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Best ways to attract fixer-upper buyers
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... look like with work done to it. They simply relate to what they see. For example, last year a grand old home sold in Oakland, Calif. Neighbors went directly to the sellers and asked if they could ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Don't buy a house with these problems
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... even likes the problem, which other buyers loathe. For example, years ago I owned a rental house where the backyard adjoined a school playground. Although the house was in excellent condition, ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Finding Perfect House Is All About Timing
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... due-diligence investigations to satisfy any concerns you may have about the property before you make an offer. You could regret it if you don't buy the listing and it takes years to find another suitable ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Making an attractive home-purchase offer
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... its demise. In fact, you may be better off waiting before starting the process if you think that the asking price is too high. For the first time in years, we are in a market where some home ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Terms of Service
Category: FAQs/Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
... agree that without regard to any statue or contrary law that any claim or cause arising out of this web site or its services must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause arose or the claim ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Save money on home improvement
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... future. If it's a basic item, such as a circular saw or even a paint brush, that will see a lot of use over the years, then buy the best you can afford. It's safer, easier to use, and its long life will ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Get your deck looking new again
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... another coat of finish in one to three years, depending on weather conditions. When the time comes, you'll usually find that you'll get the best results from taking the same cleaning and preparation steps, ...Tuesday, 18 December 2007 -
Keep concrete, asphalt safe from water intrusion
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... before winter hits again this year, fight back by sealing those porous surfaces against water intrusion. There are a number of sealers that are formulated specifically for this purpose, and they are easy ...Friday, 14 December 2007 -
Asheville Accolades
Category: Real Estate/Western North Carolina & East Tennessee
Asheville has been recognized for its splendors by dozens of magazines, Web sites and publications in recent years. Accolades range from the designation by Frommer's as one of a dozen top travel destinations ...Monday, 03 December 2007