Remodeling Improvements That Entice Buyers

by Phoebe Chongchua

Over the last few years, some homeowners have opted to stay put for the time being and that’s caused them to consider remodeling instead of moving. But most homeowners know that one day they might need or want to sell their home so which remodels help to add value and entice buyers?

There are a few areas that are better than others to improve. It’s pretty easy to understand why these home remodels are enticing buyers when you consider the way the housing market has been for the past several years.

Here are a few of the renovations that are adding value to homes and creating appeal from home buyers.

Aging in Place

With the tough economic times, more short sales and foreclosures, extended families are combining homes and reducing their cost of living by residing together in one larger house. The National Association of Home Builders found that 62 percent of builders in a survey were working on home projects that were helping families “age in place”. Included in these types of remodels are placing a bedroom on the entry-level of a home, wider doorways that would accommodate a wheelchair, and overall modifications for the elderly including reducing steps outside and inside.

At one time, these designs might have been unattractive but with many Americans wanting to “age in place” and extended families living together, remodels like these are becoming common, necessary, and valued.

Savvy Kitchen

The great rooms that bring the kitchen and the eating areas together are still popular. More space is preferred so families can have room to sit and spend time together over a meal even if that means having less space to actually prepare the food. Cabinets and shelving are being customized to suit the homeowners’ needs and many are favoring pantries or utility rooms. Kitchens are taking on the look of a chef’s cooking space with open shelving and islands to help homeowners be able to quickly prepare meals and still mingle with guests and family.

Totally Wired

Fast-placed, busy buyers who often work from home will find smart homes that are wired and built to handle all the high-technology needs a huge plus when it comes time to market and sell their homes. Another plus is having space-saving workstations in the home. Remodeled homes that feature floor-to-ceiling bookcases and wiring for home offices are increasingly becoming the norm in many homes.

Outdoor Living

This continues to be a popular trend to bring the outside in. Making the most of living spaces, even those in the garage and outside, is a huge benefit. Homeowners are capitalizing on all possible livable space by creating outdoor living rooms complete with wiring for entertainment, cooking, and relaxing. Outdoor furniture is also being featured inside as well as outside the home, blending the line between the two.

According to the Census Bureau, 2011 home starts were bigger and featured more amenities than in the previous year. It seems houses are growing again. The average new-home’s square footage is was 2,522 in 2011, up from 2,381 square feet.

Not all remodels add value to the home. The balance of achieving what you like in a home and which improvements can potentially increase the sale of your home, can allow you to make smart home improvement choices.

Published: February 24, 2012

Real Estate In Spring Texas

Beginning Your Real Estate Search

If you are beginning your real estate search, be sure to consider real estate properties in Spring, Texas. Spring Texas is an area filled with great commercial businesses that provide daily conveniences to its residents. Also, Spring Texas real estate tends to ensure good school districts and campuses for your children. For those prospective homebuyers who are looking for an area with both businesses available and schools that have outstanding records of excellence, real estate in Spring Texas should be of particular interest to you. Call a Spring Texas real estate agent today and talk about the many properties in Spring that are for sale at this time. Owning real estate in Spring Texas will save the gas that you expend driving to the store each week and provide your children with the chance to excel in a school district that has an amazing reputation. Your gas bill and your students will thank you.

Spring Real Estate

Think of that moment when, while you are attempting to whip dinner together and get it out on the table in a timely fashion, you realize that you have forgotten to purchase a key ingredient. Real estate in an area without many stores in the surrounding area, this can be an extremely unfortunate occurrence, if you do not have the time to drive all the way out to the grocery store. If you were a real estate owner in Spring Texas, you would have two options of how to solve this issue. You could drive the very short distance to any of the local Spring Texas stores and pick up the ingredient that you are missing, or you could load up the family in the car and drive them the also very short distance to a local restaurant. No matter which option you take, your family will either be thrilled to eat your culinary masterpiece or overjoyed to take an impromptu trip to one of the fantastic restaurants that surround the real estate properties in Spring. These conveniences are a key reason for you to consider purchasing real estate in Spring. It is terribly sad for those who own real estate in remote areas who cannot quickly correct a situation such as the one above. Well-connected and populated suburban areas like Spring Texas can give you real estate in the quiet of the suburbs as well as the conveniences of business.

Spring Texas Schools

The school systems in the Spring area are definitely among the top reasons to begin looking at purchasing real estate in the Spring area. Everyone wants the very best for their children and, more often than not, that “very best” includes real estate that offers a fantastic education. Where children begin their education is important to where they will finish their education when looking at real estate. Without the programs and resources of a respectable school district, students can get lost in the cracks and fall behind academically. Purchasing real estate in the Spring area is a solid move on behalf of your favorite student’s educational future. In Spring, the school districts are constantly being assessed and are constantly being praised for their excellence. Programs to increase the rigor of the school experience are available for those exceptional students and assistance programs are available for those students who are having a bit of trouble keeping up with the normal curriculum. Whether your student is a brainiac or is falling a little behind the rest of his class, schools in the Spring districts have extra resources to offer them.

Real Estate In Spring Texas

Purchasing real estate in the Spring Texas area can be fantastic for both saving you time and improving your children’s education. Everyone wants to simplify their lives. Why not simply move to an area that does that for you? In Spring, as a real estate owner, you will have quick access to all the things that you need and also an awesome public school system in which you can enroll your children.

There’s No Getting Around It: Material Facts Must Be Disclosed

by Bob Hunt

Top 10 Flowers for Curb Appeal

Real Estate The Woodlands Texas

The Woodlands Texas Real Estate Market

When navigating the real estate market in the Woodlands, Texas, homeowners can be puzzled by the bustling business and large number of real estate properties for sale in The Woodlands Texas. For this reason, any real estate specialist will suggest that a homebuyer immediately consult a real estate agency in The Woodlands Texas for consultation previous to the beginning of their property search. While pictures on real estate websites are helpful for beginning a home search, a real estate agent in The Woodlands Texas is necessary for a serious and thorough real estate shopping experience. Unfortunately, shopping for a new home is not as easy as going to the department store and picking out something you like in the correct size. The real estate market is a complex business sector that homebuyers need assistance understanding. In order to conduct a thorough search, not be deceived by web profiles and rest assured that you got the best deal on your real estate property, you need to consult a real estate agent before beginning your quest to find the home for you and your family.

What Homebuyers Are Looking For

Sometimes, homebuyers in The Woodlands Texas are unsure of exactly what kind of real estate property they are looking for. In this scenario, it is especially necessary that a real estate agent be guiding them through the home buying process. Maybe a couple thinks that they would really like an older home with a historic history, but they have never actually toured a home of that age before. A real estate agent would be able to show the couple the home and assure that they did not only see its beauty, but also knew of the financial risks that accompany the purchase of an older historic home. Also, sometimes there are listings that homebuyers would not have ever known about if it were not for their real estate agent. When making such a large investment, homebuyers want to know that they have considered all of the options possible. The only way to know that you have truly explored every option is to have an expert suggest homes that you may not have considered touring, but that fit perfectly with your home wish list.

Internet Photos

Looking at photos on the Internet of homes in The Woodlands Texas can be extremely misleading. Homebuyers need to physically tour the home before making such a large financial commitment, and a real estate agent is the perfect tour guide for any home. Do not let a set of flattering pictures of a home trick you into purchasing a home that will become a money pit for repairs. A real estate agent can take you through the home and give you honest opinions based on his or her expertise on real estate properties. It is always best to have an expert on your side to give you advice when you are unsure about an aspect of a home. This is where a real estate agent can be an invaluable resource.

Negotiating the Price

When negotiating the price on a home in The Woodlands Texas, it is also important that you have a real estate agent at your side. No one wants to regret the deal that they made for their real estate property. Real estate agents can help to assure you that you are receiving a deal that is reasonable for the home that you are purchasing in the exact condition that it is in. Real estate agents deal with offers and counter-offers on a daily basis, it is their job. Do not attempt to play a game in which you are unaware of the unwritten rules. Bring in a veteran player and let them consult you as to what the best deal for you will be. You will not regret it.

Buying a Home in The Woodlands Texas

Buying a home is an extremely puzzling experience for any homebuyer. Do not make the process any harder on yourself by going into your search without a real estate agent. While house hunting, it is essential that you have a real estate agent from The Woodlands, Texas in your corner.

HUD Provides $400 Million in Aid

A Realtor that really cares.

by Carla Hill

Many states across the nation saw more than their fair share of natural disasters in 2011. These disasters left entire regions struggling to recover.

That's why the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $400 million in aid to eight states which experienced Presidentially declared natural disaster zones.

"Last year, I personally saw the extent of the destruction left behind by several of these disasters, the hardship these communities are feeling, and the work that lies ahead," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These funds will supplement other forms of disaster assistance to put these states and local areas on the path toward long-term recovery."

While there were other communities affected by natural disasters in 2011, Congress and HUD focused theses funds on those areas deemed most affected and in the greatest "unmet" need. These grants are designed to help with recovery efforts.

Those areas were:

New York - $93,213,963

The State of New York will receive $71,654,116 and will target at least 80 percent of these funds to assist Schoharie, Tioga, Broome, Greene, and/or Orange Counties in recovering from the extensive flooding from Hurricane Irene and the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. In addition, Orange County will receive $11,422,029 and Union Township will receive $10,137,818 directly from HUD to support recovery efforts.

North Dakota - $79,358,648

The State of North Dakota will receive $11,782,684. The state will direct at least 80 percent of this grant to help Ward County to recover from severe flooding. In addition, HUD is providing $67,575,964 directly to the City of Minot which was especially hard hit by the flooding and had the greatest extent of unmet needs in the state.

Alabama - $55,566,078

HUD will allocate $24,697,966 to the State of Alabama to support long-term disaster recovery, at least 80 percent of which will be targeted to Tuscaloosa, Marion, Jefferson and/or DeKalb Counties. HUD will also directly provide $16,634,702 to City of Tuscaloosa; $7,847,084 to Jefferson County; and $6,386,326 to the City of Birmingham to recover from last April's severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding.

Missouri - $53,985,768

The State of Missouri will receive $8,719,059, at least 80 percent of which will support long-term recovery activities in Jasper County following last spring's severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. In addition, the City of Joplin will receive $45,266,709 directly from HUD to support its efforts to recover from last year's devastating tornado.

Pennsylvania - $49,297,140

HUD is allocating $27,142,501 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at least 80 percent of which will be directed to Bradford, Dauphin, Columbia, Wyoming, and/or Luzerne Counties which had significant damage following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. In addition, Luzerne County will receive $15,738,806 and Dauphin County will receive $6,415,833 directly from HUD.

Texas - $31,319,686

The State of Texas will receive $31,319,686 and will target at least 80 percent of this assistance to Bastrop County which suffered the greatest extent of damage and destruction from a series of wildfires that occurred from late summer through the autumn.

Vermont - $21,660,211

HUD is allocating $21,660,211 to the State of Vermont which will target at least 80 percent of these funds in Washington and Windsor Counties which saw the greatest degree of damage, primarily flooding, from Tropical Storm Irene.

New Jersey - $15,598,506

The State of New Jersey will receive $15,598,506, at least 80 percent of which will assist Passaic County to recover from the severe impacts of Hurricane Irene. The funds are expected to help these communities meet housing, business, and infrastructure needs. In order to qualify for these grants, grantees will need to submit action plans to HUD showing how they'll use the funds and how that plan will address long-term recover.

Hopefully, this government gift will help these heavily impacted communities to take a strong step forward towards recovery.

Published: February 14, 2012

This post brought to you by Utah Burden!

Are Homeowners Glad They Own?

It might come as a surprise but a whopping 72 percent of surveyed homeowners nationwide are satisfied with owning a home. The other 28 percent, not so. They say they're dissatisfied and that's likely due to the devaluation of their homes.

But surprisingly, of those who were satisfied with owning a home, only 24 percent said it was because of home appreciation. The majority, 76 percent, had many other reasons they were happy to own their own home including the one that proves the American Dream is alive and well: pride of homeownership. Following closely behind were the freedom to control their home improvements and upgrades. All this according to HomeGain's 2012 National Home Ownership Satisfaction Survey.

Of those who were unsatisfied with owning their home, 63 percent blamed depreciation as the root of their dissatisfaction. However, the cost of owning a home, such as paying for property taxes, homeowner's association fees, upkeep, and routine repairs, also sucked the joy out of homeownership and led this group of 37 percent to be unhappy about homeownership.

On the bright side, most - three out of four - are very happy with homeownership even in spite of such rocky real estate times where declines in home values have crippled some homeowners severely.

The survey polled homeowners all across the country. So you might be wondering is there a connection between where you live and how satisfied you are with owning a home?

The highest percentage of satisfied homeowners comes from the Northeast where there is 77-percent satisfaction, according to HomeGain. Pulling in at a close second is the Southeast at 73 percent satisfaction. The West and Midwest were at 71 percent and 68 percent, respectively.

Those who purchased their homes within a timeframe of the past three to eight years were the least satisfied. If they bought more than eight years ago, they tended to be more satisfied.

The higher-end market was the least satisfied with owning a home, especially if they paid more than $800,000 for it. This group's dissatisfaction rate was 69 percent. But those who purchased homes for under $75,000 are cheering. This group's satisfaction rate was 77 percent.

Of course, a lot of homes are sold through foreclosure and short sale, which, depending on the side of the sale you're on, can leave you satisfied or very dissatisfied. Those purchasing a foreclosed or short sale had the highest satisfaction ratings; 79 percent and 83 percent, respectively.

New and existing homes didn't fare so well with homeowners. They were fairly dissatisfied and showed it in a 73 percent and 71 percent rating, respectively. Most seemed to have expected an increase in the value of their home and when depreciation hit, this highly disappointed them, making this the primary reason for their dissatisfaction.

An interesting statistic may reflect the need for freedom from being tied down to a home and its maintenance as well as other costs. Homeowners ranging from 18 to 25 were the least satisfied (45 percent) with owning.

On the other end of the spectrum, those homeowners between 55 to 65, were the most satisfied with their homeownership. This group's satisfaction rating was 76 percent.

HomeGain collected some comments from some of the surveyed homeowners. Here's how one satisfied homeowner summarizes homeownership, "Just knowing I own it. I rented a house two times after owning a home for 16 years, and I do NOT like relying on, and dealing with, a landlord! I also feel pride in owning my home. I just bought a house 8 months ago and am very happy!"

Published: January 27, 2012

by Phoebe Chongchua

Know Your Expenses Before You Buy

For many, homeownership is still a dream. Moving from renting can seem like it’s an impossible mission. But if you plan ahead and carefully budget, the goal of homeownership can be yours.

When budgeting how much home you can afford, it’s important to understand and anticipate the costs of owning and maintaining a home. Here are a few things that some first-time buyers forget to include.

Private Mortgage Insurance

This is added on to your mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. You can buy a home with less money but you’ll pay the PMI which covers the lender should a homebuyer default on the loan. As you build up equity, your PMI drops off.

Taxes

Property taxes generate revenue for municipalities, counties, and schools. It’s an expense that can vary across the U.S. However, on average, it’s 1.38 percent of the home’s value. Back East tends to have the highest property taxes.

HOA Fees

Homeowners’ Association fees (HOA) can add several hundred dollars to your monthly household expenses. These HOAs help to maintain common areas, typically within condominium complexes. They also govern what can be done to the unit and the surrounding area. While there is an up side to HOAs, some buyers prefer to have more freedom over their property, perhaps, until the neighbor paints his house turquoise with red accents.

Homeowner’s insurance

Lenders require homeowner’s insurance on your property. The amount you’ll pay depends on many variables including: where you live, the age, type, size of your home. For example, older homes can cost more to insure due to the fact that they may require more repairs than newer homes. Also, high-hazard areas can cost more to insure and some insurance companies may not offer an insurance policy for your home, if you’re in a high-risk area.

Utilities and appliances

These areas can be overlooked because, often, when people are renting the appliances are taken care of. When you own your own home, be sure to consider expenses such as the water heater or dishwasher breaking down. While, you can’t exactly figure out when an appliance is going to quit working, you can set a monthly allowance aside to start establishing a household repair fund. Just don’t touch the account or when you really need it, you’ll find it’s not there for you.

Inspections, appraisals, and closing costs

Many buyers understand they will have closing costs but they fail to budget for other items such as a home inspection. Sometimes inspections are paid for by the seller but it’s usually the buyer who pays for the inspection. And, even if the homeowner recently had a home inspection and has the report, a buyer still might want to pay for an inspector to have another look to compare the findings.

Depending on the home, there may also be other inspections such as for lead paint, pests or radon gas.

While the extra expenses do add up quickly, if you carefully budget and plan ahead, the goal of homeownership is achievable and very satisfying.

Published: February 10, 2012

by Phoebe Chongchua

Homeownership Possible Within Three Years After Foreclosure

by Robert Aldana

Selling this spring? Start cleaning now

Spring is the busiest time of the year for selling a home. The trees are budding, the grass is green, the songbirds return, and homebuyers feel the urge to begin their home-buying search.

January is one of the best times for home-sellers to begin the home-selling process. If you are planning to sell your home in the spring, January is the time to start moving. Successful home-sellers know there is more to selling a house than simply putting a “for sale” sign in the front yard, negotiating the top price for their home, and handing the keys over to the next homeowner. In today’s economy, your home has to sparkle to differentiate it from the competition. The drive-up must be inviting, the interior must be spotless, and the price must truly be competitive.

January is a good time to put the yard and exterior of the home back in “drive-by” condition. A brisk January day is a good time to clean up the debris blown into your yard by the winter winds. Rake up the stray leaves and trim the dormant bushes and hedges. If it is warm enough, wash the windows and wash or repaint the exterior doors. Clean the rain gutters. And while you have the ladder out, take down the Christmas lights. The lights looked nice in December, but now, some of the bulbs are burned out, so take them down. The new buyers can design their own lighting scheme next year.

January is also a perfect time to spread some weed and feed fertilizer on the lawn. Make sure the grass really is greener at your house than the other houses on the block. A tidy, green lawn will help your house sell quicker.

January is also a good time to get the interior of your home ready for the spring selling season. While preparing to sell your home, take some time to really inspect your home’s interior. Enter your house and look at it the way a new buyer will look at it. Pretend you are visiting for the first time. Now, start removing things. Donate or sell the items you really don’t use, put away the items of sentimental value and remove the items that are truly high-value. Remove everything you don’t want lost, broken, or touched.

The candlesticks you received as a wedding present from Grandma 20 years ago may be nice, and the dusty Kitchenaid mixer, sitting on the kitchen counter, will be handy when you make Halloween cookies in 10 months, but new buyers won’t appreciate them. The same goes for your child’s first-grade drawing proudly posted on the refrigerator door. They all have meaning to you, but put them in storage! They detract from the house.

Donate the sneakers you purchased to run the marathon you never entered. Pack that high school prom dress you will never wear again. No matter how nice your “stuff,” buyers want to see your house, not your possessions or memories. You are planning to move so pack your keepsakes, unused kitchen tools, and clothes that are too small, too old, or too outdated to wear.

You really won’t miss the items, and buyers will be able to “see” the house more clearly. You are selling your house, not your stuff … so remove it. The more you remove, the bigger your home will appear to prospective buyers. Rent a storage space if you have to and clean out the closets. It will be money well spent!

After removing all the clutter (including most of your family pictures), start cleaning. Really clean. A quick vacuum of the carpet will not make your home “showroom ready” to potential buyers. Deep clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, scrub the tile and vinyl flooring, clean the baseboards, wipe down the door and window frames, disinfect the bathrooms, and scour the oven and cooktop.

Do it all! If the walls have spots that can’t be cleaned, paint the walls. If the carpet can’t be cleaned, replace the carpet. Everything you do today to improve your home’s appearance will pay dividends when you sell, either through a higher price, a quicker sale, or easier negotiating. Buyers tend to “horrible-ize” any blemish in a house and hold your house to an idealized standard. Remember, the used house you are selling is a buyer’s new house, so they expect it to be in new-house condition.

Finally, after all the yard work is complete and the interior pristine, you are ready to begin the most competitive portion of the home selling process … pricing and marketing. I recommend speaking with a Texas REALTOR® to maximize your competitive edge when marketing your home. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2011 Profile of Texas Home Buyers and Sellers, only 8% of sellers sold their home without the assistance of a real estate agent, and half of those sellers knew the buyers prior to the home sale. If you don’t already know the name of the next buyer of your house (only 4% of sellers do), can you really afford to miss the remaining 96% of the buyers?

Interview several Texas REALTORS®, ask them for their professional opinion of the value of your home, request a comparative market analysis, known in the real estate business as a CMA (and usually provided free of charge) of similar homes in your area, compare marketing plans presented by these Texas REALTORS® … and, finally, listen to their advice.

To sell your house this spring, start the process now. Dig out the cleaning supplies, de-clutter your house, call a Texas REALTOR®, and get started. Today.