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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 -
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
... interest rates and other terms. Take into account how long you intend to live in the property. If you plan to move out after a few years, an adjustable rate mortgage may work better for you. Your ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How Long Should Your Mortgage Be?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... pay a lower payment for three years and then sell, you may actually end up saving money on your home. If on the other hand, you plan to retire in your home and live there the rest of your life, you ...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
... first fails. Balloon mortgage - Balloon mortgage loans are short-term fixed-rate loans with fixed monthly payments for a set number of years followed by one large final balloon payment for all of ...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 -
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
... This helps your system run at optimum efficiency next season, which translates to lower costs and a longer life. If your air conditioning system is over 10 years old, consider replacing it with a newer ...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
... payments was a big problem. Increasing the terms of the mortgage to 40 years rather than 30 lowered monthly payments, making mortgages affordable for more people. Even so, this type of mortgage didn't ...Wednesday, 26 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 -
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 -
Moving out may bring faster home sale
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... due to a bad seal. My home is 12 years old and in beautiful "mint" condition. I just put more than $20,000 into it with a new roof, siding, appliances, and professional paint job throughout. I feel the ...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 -
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 -
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 -
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