Fayetteville NC Homes For Sale - Blog
This blog is dedicated to providing you with the most recent Real Estate news in the Fayetteville NC area. We will also be showcasing homes for sale in Fayetteville NC, homes for sale in Fort Bragg NC, and all surrounding areas.
Staging Your Home
The process of staging your home is
all about illusions, so to speak. It is more than just cleaning and decorating,
it’s about preparing the home for sale and creating and perfecting moods. Staging
is the part that takes place AFTER
you have done all of your cleaning, de-cluttering, painting, and minor repairs.
When you stage your home it makes your home look bigger, cleaner, brighter,
warmer, and most of all it makes buyer want to buy it. The key is adding the
small details, for example: that perfect amount of lipstick/lip gloss, light
mascara, and a stunning single strand of pearls. It’s simple, yet elegant.
Secrets of a Professional
Home Stager
Professional
Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer and they create dramatic
scenery that appeals to all five senses. Here are some of their secrets:
- Arrange sparse pieces of
furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette
- Showcase a generous usage of
soft fabrics such as silk and satin
- Display unusual knickknacks in
units of 1, 3 or 5
- Drape window coverings with
simple lines
- Add unique elements to
shelving, bookcases and fireplace mantels, which draw attention to
predetermined areas
What Accessories Does a
Stager Use?
Stagers
bring in a vast array of items to spruce up the house. Here is a small sampling
of items professional stagers often use to dress each room. How they are
utilized is limited only by the creativity and vision of the stager.
- Mirrors
- Plants
- Silk Flowers
- Floor & Table Lamps,
- Area and Throw Rugs
- Small Love Seats
- Ottomans
- Afghans
- Pillows
- Inflatable Queen-Size Beds
- Baskets
- Plastic Tables & Chairs
Professional Staging
Tricks & Tips
I spoke to
a few stagers in my area and they offered this practical advice for making your
space sparkle:
- Apply orange oil to cabinets
that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
- Put out large bowls of fruit
such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes
- Arrange colorful and fun
cookbooks on the counters
On stager
had a “green thumb” and loved bringing the outdoors inside through the use of
greenery and plants; in creating clean, crisp spaces and arranging furniture
with plenty of room to walk around. Another stager mentioned that bathrooms are
essential to dress well. Bathrooms should look open, airy and delightful. One
of her favorite tricks is to add baskets filled with spa treatments such as:
- Towels, tied with ribbons
- Scented soaps
- Creamy lotions
- Moisturizing & Facial jars
Just
because we stage the house doesn’t meant that the back yard doesn’t need
staging too! For patios and decks, bring in plants and potted flowers, and add
additional color by setting the picnic table with bright, plastic dinner
plates.
How Much Does It Cost?
Prices
vary depending on where you live and the local demand for professional home
staging. I believe that vacant homes show better with staging, however, fees
range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on square footage and the number
of rooms staged. It is not a requirement to have a professional stager. Based
on the tips that I mentioned in this post coupled with your creative sense of
design you very well may be able to create a beautiful “illusion” to your
buyers. Good luck!!
Additional Resources:
Thursday, February 9, 2012
How to prepare your home for selling
Out of all the sellers I have
serviced, there are two things that they ALL have in common, they want their
home sold fast and want to bring in the most they can for their home. That
sounds great right?! It takes careful
planning and the professional knowledge of how to liven up your home that will
have your buyers jumping for their checkbooks. Here are a few things that I would
recommend doing to transform your home into an irresistible and highly
marketable home.
Here's
How:
- Drop ALL claiming rights to your home.
- Look at yourself and say, "This is not my
home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on
the grocery store shelf.
- Make a mental not yourself that you will have to “let
go” of your emotions and focus more on the reality that soon this house
will no longer belong to you.
- Imagine yourself handing over the keys, documents, and
envelopes that contain important information and warranties to the NEW
owners!!
- Say goodbye to every room.
- Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
- De-Personalize.
Remove the personal photographs and family heirlooms. A buyer doesn’t want
to see your personal touches, but would rather want to imagine their own
photos on the walls. However, they can’t do that if yours are there! You
don’t want the buyer asking questions like, “I wonder what kind of family live in this home?” Instead, you
want them saying, "I can see myself living here."
- De-Clutter!
Some people collect a sizeable amount of junk! Consider this: if it’s been
over a year since you’ve used it, you probably need to get rid of it.
- If you don't need it, you can always donate it or
throw it away.
- Remove all books from bookcases.
- Pack up your knickknacks.
- Clean off the kitchen counters.
- Put items you use on a daily basis in a small box that
can be stored in a closet somewhere so that it is not visible for the
showing.
- Think of this process as a head-start on the packing
you will eventually need to do anyway! J
- Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
Sometimes buyers are nosey! J They will open your closets and cabinet doors just to
look. What happens if something falls out, or if the insides are messy?
Now think, what if the buyer sees that everything is organized? It will
send the message to the buyer that if the closets/cabinets are clean then
the rest of the house is taken good care of as well. This means:
- Alphabetize spice jars.
- Neatly stack dishes.
- Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
- Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same
direction.
- Line up shoes.
-
- Rent a Storage Unit.
Most homes show better when there is less furniture around. Think about
removing pieces of furniture that restricts paths and walkways. And since
you’ve removed the books from your bookcases (as I mentioned earlier) it
is easier to store them! If your dining table expands, collapse it to make
the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to
showcase the purpose of each room. The last thing you want is the buyers
confused and wondering what the rooms are used for.
- Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
If there are certain items in the home that you plan on taking with you
(window coverings, appliances, or other fixtures) it is best to remove
them prior to the showing. If you have installed new lighting fixtures
that are family heirlooms, replace them. If a buyer never sees it, they
will never want it or question if it is included in the home. If you do
happen to leave items in the home and a buyer wants it, but you say no, it
could possibly blow your deal. So pack up those items and replace them, if
necessary.
- Make Minor Repairs.
- Replace cracked floor tiles or counter tiles.
- Patch holes in walls.
- Fix leaky faucets.
- Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen
drawers that jam.
- Consider painting your walls neutral colors,
especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
(Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house
with the orange bathroom.")
- Replace burned-out light bulbs.
- If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so
now!
- Make the House Shine!
- Wash windows inside and out.
- Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and
exterior.
- Clean out cobwebs.
- Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
- Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
- Clean out the refrigerator.
- Vacuum daily.
- Wax floors.
- Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
- Bleach dingy grout.
- Replace worn rugs.
- Hang up fresh towels.
- Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and
bows.
- Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are
a no-no.
- Scrutinize.
- Go stand outside of your home. Take a good look at
your home. Now, do you want to
go inside? Does the home feel welcoming to you?
- Take a slow tour of every room in your house and
imagine how it will look to a buyer
- Carefully examine how furniture is arranged/placed and
move pieces around until it looks perfect.
- Make sure window coverings hang level.
- Does it have impact and pizzazz?
- Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're
almost finished.
- Cross your T’s and dot your I’s.
If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the
exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
- Keep the sidewalks cleared.
- Mow the lawn.
- Paint faded window trim.
- Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together.
Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
- Trim your bushes.
- Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
I hope you enjoyed my take on how to
properly get your house ready for staging. My next article will be on the
actual process of staging your home.
Resources:
20 Tips to Stay Positive in 2012!!
- Keep your positivity!! Don’t opt to listen to the critics and
doubters that will lead you to believe that success is impossible, instead
choose to hold on to the fact that you KNOW that with an optimistic attitude
and faith that all things are achievable!
- Complete the following statement
upon waking up in the morning: Today, my
purpose is ______________.
- To better prepare your mind to breed
successful thoughts, try taking a walk of gratitude.
- No one succeeds thinking about the
past and their failures. Instead of thinking about where you “should” be begin
to think about where you are headed!
- Eat breakfast like a king, lunch
like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out credit card.
- Smile and laugh more. They are natural
anti-depressants.
- Remember that adversity is not a
dead-end but a detour to a better outcome.
- Focus on learning, loving, and
serving.
- Believe that everything happens for
a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.
- Don’t waste your precious energy on
gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you
cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
- Mentor someone and be mentored by
someone.
- Live with the 3 E’s Energy,
Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
- Remember there is no substitute for
hard work.
- Zoom focus. Each day when you wake
up in the morning, ask “What are the three most important things I need to do
today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then tune out all the
distractions and focus on these actions.
- Implement the www.NoComplainingRule.com.
Complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone else
around you feels sick.
- Read more books than you did in 2011.
I am currently on #2 for this year!
- Get more sleep. You can’t replace
sleep with a double latte.
- Focus on “get to” vs “have to”. Each
day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an
obligation.
- Each night before you go to bed
complete the following statements:
I am thankful for _________________.
Today I accomplished ______________________.
- Enjoy the ride. You only have one
ride through life so make the most of your journey.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
New Year’s resolutions for homeowners
Every New Year is the time when Americans begin to take stock of their
lives. New Year’s resolutions are set, priorities are re-evaluated, and many
are geared for a “new direction” for the New Year. I thought that I would offer
up a few New Year’s resolutions for homeowners:
1. If you have been stressing out about being “underwater”
on your mortgage, now may be a good time to discuss your options (short sale, deed
in lieu of foreclosure, walking away, staying put) so that you can make a final
decision and be at peace with that decision.
2. If you're struggling to make your mortgage payments,
call your lender and see if a loan modification may be available to you. Banks
are still difficult to deal with, but the process is getting a little easier. **if you are
looking for a great VA Mortgage lender I recommend you check out The VA Lending Center or email them at:
valoans@nc.rr.com**
3. Make sure that your homeowner’s insurance coverage is
correct. With declining home values, many people are now over-insured and
paying for coverage they no longer need.
4. Take a walk around your house with a pad and pen. Make a
list of all of those small repairs that you have been meaning to do and then do
them. It is much easier to accomplish chores if they’re written down and making
small repairs now is much less expensive than making large repairs later.
5. Consider renovating your bathroom or kitchen. Home
renovations cost a lot less now than just a few years ago. It may be a good
alternative to moving.
6. Check with your county property appraiser to make sure
that you are getting all of your property tax exemptions and discounts you're
entitled to. Besides discounts on your primary residence, you may be eligible
for discounts based on disability, spouse’s death, low income senior, disabled
veteran, active-duty military and more. While you’re at it, make sure that the
appraised value of your property is on target.
7. If you have not done so already, get a windstorm
mitigation inspection done. It can save you significant money. But be informed
about the process.
8. Check to see if you still need to maintain flood
insurance because the flood zone maps have changed.
9. Make sure that the title to your home is properly vested
to save money and troubles for your loved ones when you pass away. A properly
drafted deed can save thousands of dollars in probate expenses after you’re gone.
10. Have your will checked if it is more than five years
old. If anything has changed, have a new will drafted or your existing one
amended. If you don’t have a will, get one. It isn't as expensive as you might
think -- less than $500, in some cases.
Resources:
The information and materials on this blog are provided for general
informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. No
attorney-client relationship is formed, nor should any such relationship be
implied. Nothing on this blog is intended to substitute for the advice of an
attorney, especially an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
To follow Patty Herrera/Litchfield Realty on Twitter, click here.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
How Fayetteville, NC Brings In 2012!
Fayetteville, NC has a lot of places to spend your New Year's Eve.
Listed below are just a few of the places in town that will have some
great festivities happening to bring in the year 2012.
 |
Festival Park's New Year's Eve Party in the Park is the place to be this Dec. 31st!
Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Committee
|
New Year’s Eve Party in the Park, Fayetteville, NC
Three....two....one!
You can celebrate the arrival of 2012 in Festival Park from 6:30pm
until 12:30am. Admission is free before 9pm, $5 after. This event is
family-friendly, with a kids area hosted by the Partnership for
Children.
Via 216 is hosting a Latin Party from 9pm until 3am. Reservations are highly recommended.
Via 216
216 Tallywood Shopping Center, Fayetteville, NC 28303
The Crown Expo Center is presenting " New Year's Eve Party with a
Purpose" with a Kenny Lattimore. The party starts at 9pm as well.
Tickets for couples are $45 and $48 for singles!
Crown Expo Center
1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville, NC
(910) 438-4100
For just $10, you can enjoy three floors of entertainment, great food
and a live radio broadcast at Hotel Bordeaux provided by WCCG 104.5.
For
more information, call (910) 484-4932.
While all of these activities/parties are great, you can always ring
in your new year the traditional way at you home church on New Year's
Eve. Whatever you do, and wherever you go be safe and have a great
time!!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Cool Christmas Tree Decorating Tips
Have you already set your Christmas tree in place and are
ready to go? Or are you one of the many who has been procrastinating and
has yet to get you tree out of the box (or lot)?? Well, whether you are
an early riser or a late bloomer fear not, these tips may be able to
help "spice up" your current decorations or give you ideas for when you
finally decide to dust off your Christmas storage and have a go at your
tree this year! :)
Ribbon
Having kids and a tree are not a good match all the time, tinsel gets
strewed everywhere, in hair, on clothes, and even on the pets! Ribbon is
an alternative to the mess, it allows you to give your tree a smooth
and elegant look and yet still keep the youthfulness of it! Think about
getting ribbon that matches the room that it will be in, and decorate
accordingly.
Stand Out
Do you have white walls? Have you ever thought about using a colored
tree? Red trees, blue trees, etc. will be a great way to bring color
into the room and make your tree stand out against the sea of white
walls surrounding it.
Vintage
Gold
trees are a great way to get that vintage look and feel. Since the
metallic trees are such a wow factor themselves, there is no need to
over decorate this one. Instead, choose one or two colors and have at
it. (I would suggest some green to offset the gold) And be sure to get a
tree skirt that adds a cohesive flow to your color scheme.
Golden Rule
Here is a
great spin off a traditional tree. Instead of keeping the tree
completely green, try spray painting (just to tint it) gold. not all
over, but just accenting a few places and then go back and lightly cover
the branches in spray snow. Add some gold accents and ornaments to the
tree and you have a classic spin off of the classic tradition!
Black Out
A black Christmas tree is fairly new to me, however it gives way to many
great decorating ideas. Because the color of the tree can be kind of
daunting alone, you will want to grab ornaments that pop out. A nice
bright blue with some white lights and a tree skirt (or rug) to match
the ornaments would make your tree the center of attention this year!
White Out
Here we are, total opposite of the black tree is the infamous white
tree. I have seen so many variations of the white tree, but my all time
favorite would have to be a classic black and white. Although it is not
your "traditional" Christmas colors, in a contemporary home this would
be a perfect fit. Add a touch of black pine cones to your tree as well
as white icicles and think about wrapping your presents in black and
silver wrapping this year to add to the effect.
Color Coded
Some of the newest color trends this season is teal and copper.
If you are adventurous and want to step out of the box, i would suggest
adding copper colored leaves, glittered sprigs, and possibly some bay
leaves. What this does is accentuate the tree and creates a lovely
contrast that will have everyone in holiday spirits.
To sell alone, or not to sell alone?..THAT is the question!
FSBO vs. Realtors®
Not too long ago, in a not so
distant land, people who were in need of selling their home hardly considered
doing so without that services of a Realtor®. It’s hard to believe, right? Back
then, prices were constant and real estate agent commissions were not as
outrageous as they can be nowadays. In today’s market For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO)
listings are increasing. I would advise you to weigh ALL of your options
though.
So you want to sell your house? You
go to your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Wal-Mart and grab you a nice FOR SALE
sign. As you drive the stake into your front yard, you are feeling a sense of accomplishment;
you put an ad in your local newspaper, sit back and let the “magic” happen,
right? Wrong! True the majority of home
sales are made by word-of-mouth, passer-bys, local ads and such, but the truth
of the matter is your home is not equivalent to your ’57 Chevy sitting in a
vacant lot awaiting a collector of old cars to come along and show interest in
it. In fact, before even purchasing “FOR
SALE” signs a seller should be knowledgeable of
the trends in the local real estate market in hopes to set competitive prices
for their home. In addition to knowing the trends you have to also be familiar
with local and state laws, disclosures, closing points, statutes regarding
assessments, and title requirements. There are a lot of local resources such as
your local building commission and title offices, local web sites that list
FSBOs, and even some how-to books and manuals from your local library.
The real deciding factor on whether
to list as a FSBO or get a Realtor® to assist in the process could very well be
based on time vs money. With a Realtor®, you can be assured that your required
paperwork is properly filed, assessments and inspections are scheduled, and
that your property is properly marketed within your local Multi-listing Service
(MLS). An agent can also take the guesswork and hassle out of negotiating closing
costs, although the average for an agent commission is 4%-8%. Depending on the
price your property is sold for this can be around $8,000 or more (for a
$200,000 property).
I would strongly suggest using a Realtor®,
(not just because I am one! J)
but for the fact that Realtors® can speed the process up due to our knowledge
of handling loan and governmental bureaucracies. When looking for the “right”
agent, a seller should look for someone who has a nice history and leads in closings within their real
estate office, someone who is readily equipped with a list of neighborhood that
they have sold, and someone who has a list of clients that would highly
recommend them.
I hope this article made some impact in your decision to
choose a Realtor® or do a FSBO.
Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding
Selling your home or with any real estate matter! I will be more than happy to assist
you in your decision, no matter what route you choose to go!
Cute AFFORDABLE home in Acorn Ridge
| 3BR/2BA Single Family House |
offered at $134,500 |
|
| Year Built |
2006 |
| Sq Footage |
Unspecified |
| Bedrooms |
3 |
| Bathrooms |
2 full, 0 partial |
| Floors |
Unspecified |
| Parking |
2 Car garage |
| Lot
Size |
Unspecified |
| HOA/Maint |
$0 per month |
|
|
|
Cute home
in Acorn Ridge offering: 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Greatroom with
fireplace, Spacious kitchen with dining area. The master bedroom
features a walk-in-closet and master bath complete with garden tub and
separate shower. Other amenities to include: security system, gutters,
cathedral ceilings and privacy fenced back yard. Seller to provide a 1
year home warranty for new owners. For more information on this home or
any home in the surrounding area please call Patty with Litchfield Realty at 910-476-4267.
Country home with In-Ground Pool!
| 3BR/2+1BA Single Family House |
offered at $249,900 |
|
| Year Built |
1987 |
| Sq Footage |
Unspecified |
| Bedrooms |
3 |
| Bathrooms |
2 full, 1 partial |
| Floors |
2 |
| Parking |
2 Car garage |
| Lot
Size |
Unspecified |
| HOA/Maint |
$0 per month |
|
|
|
Everything
you want and more! Beautiful home in Wendemere Subdivision. This home
is has been well maintained and features: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms plus
bonus room with separate entry! Greatroom with fireplace,
kitchen/eat-in-kitchen with bay window plus a formal dining room. The
master bedroom is located downstairs and offers a walk-in-closet,
laminate flooring, bay window, entry to screened porch and a master
bathroom with dual vanities. All other bedrooms are upstairs. Watch the
kids swim in the in-ground pool from the comforts of the screened back
porch! Other amenities to include: sprinkler system, alarm system, gas
logs, fenced backyard and a wired workshop. A 1 year home warranty will
be provided to buyer. For more information about this home or any home
in the surrounding area please call Patty with Litchfield Realty at
910-476-4267
Mortgage Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
In this blog I will
be talking about mortgages!! Usually the
biggest challenge for a first-time home buyer is getting enough money saved for
a down payment, especially in metro area markets here in NC. There is a
solution for that though! Thanks to an array of financing options available
now, it is very likely to find mortgages for as much as 97% of a home’s
value!! To break it down, what this
means is that you could put down as little as $5,441 for a home that costs
$181,375 (estimated median home price in Fayetteville, NC for the month of
Nov.)
The catch? Your interest rate could
possibly increase due to the low down payment. Don’t get scared! Even with a
higher cost there are many more reasons to own YOUR own home. You gain
intangible benefits, build equity through your homeownership, and it is the
single biggest tax break available to many consumers.
Use this
mortgage calculator to help determine
if you are better renting or buying.
Whew! So after all of that you
decide to buy into the “American Dream” of owning your first home. Here are a
few strategies that would be beneficial to first-time home buyers:
Pay off your debt first
I cannot tell you how many times I
have seen this happen: Johnny and Sue save as much as they can to cover their
down payment but then are faced with the reality that a lender will not fund
the whole amount of their loan due to their existing debt. Here is how it can
be broken down; many lenders will not allow your total monthly debt to be in
excess of 40% of your gross income. (This includes credit card payments,
student/car loans, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, AND mortgage
payments!)
Instead, a better approach is to
use the extra cash you do have and put it towards eliminating your credit card
debt and other high-interest consumer debt.
Questionable Credit?
Worried that your less-than-perfect
credit may affect your home buying experience? Worry no more, you may qualify
for loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). An FHA loan is a
government-insured loan that allows you to put as little as 3% down, and get an
interest rate for about less than a quarter of a point higher than those in the
conventional market.
There is no limit to qualify for an
FHA loan, however, since they are focused on first-time home buyers and
low-to-moderate-income families there is a limit to how much you can borrow.
The amounts vary by region with the overall max being $290,319. In order to get
an FHA government-insured loan be sure that you have a HUD-approved lender, or
at least a mortgage broker that works with one.
How Much Can You Afford?
Initially this may
seem like a simple and basic answer that requires you looking at your checkbook
and number crunching to see how much you can afford for a down payment. While
that is a start it is only half of the 2-part function it takes to estimate how
much you really can afford. The other half is figuring out how much you can
borrow. Your mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance (homeowner’s) should not
exceed 28% of your gross income. On top of that, you should determine how much
cash you have for a down payment and still be able to leave yourself enough to
pay closing costs (which can get to be 3-5% of the total home’s value. And
always put a little cash to the side in the event of emergency repairs once you
move in.
So based on everything we just discussed, the main points to
take with you are
o
First and foremost – PAY DOWN YOUR DEBT!
o
If your credit is not good, look into optional
funding sources
o
Figure out how much you can REALLY afford prior
to buying a home
o
Always keep in mind that if your mortgage (plus taxes
and insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross income, that leaves you with
only 12% for any excess debt!
Buying A Home: A getting Started Guide
Do you currently rent your home?
Maybe you have thought about buying a home and you feel as if you are just
throwing your money away on rent. It’s time to get a place to call you own,
home! But of course, you have a few reservations about purchasing a new home.
Sure you have questions and may be
a bit nervous, those are all normal feelings after all this is an important
financial decision in your life. But being educated on the home buying process
will empower you to overcome those first-time home buyer jitters.
Is buying a home is the right thing
for you?
Many people are petrified of buying
a home, and some of those fears are justified. As a real estate agent I hate to
admit it, however, owning a home is not a perfect fit for everyone. There are
some factors to keep in mind when making the decision to rent or buy.
Renting vs. Buying –
Things to consider:
Bad Credit
Ø
If your credit report is less than 620, it is a
good chance that you will not receive a good rate for a loan and could
potentially put you in the hands of lenders that do not have your best interest
at heart.
Ø
If you decide to pursue buying a home with bad
credit, I would advise trying to raise it prior to applying for a loan.
Ø
Did you know that four (4) late payments is all
it takes to make you ineligible from getting a loan?! You can order a copy of your free credit
report online.
High Debt Ratios
Ø
When getting a loan lenders look at two ratios:
front-end and back-end. Your mortgage
payment (including taxes and insurance divided by your monthly salary) is
considered the front-end. The back-end factors in your monthly debt to your
PITI payment before dividing the total for your salary. If after your
calculations your debt ratio is 50% or higher you may not qualify for a loan.
ANY lender willing to fund such a loan is NOT who you would want because you
will be paying too much.
Job Instability or Relocation
Ø
How stable is your job? In 6 months, 1 year, or
more will you be able to support the payments required by your loan? Things to
look at in relation to your job is; Is your company laying people off? Could
you be fired? Remember that unemployment is usually not sufficient enough to
support a mortgage payment.
Ø
In relation to relocation, is it possible that
you may be relocating in a few years? Military members should think about this
prior to buying. Is this a city/town/state that you want to reside in after
retirement? Are you willing to rent out your house in the event of a PCS
move? If you did purchase and had to
relocate more than likely you would have to sell. When buying a house, the
intent should be to at least stay for a while.
Pulling Maintenance
Ø
Every house requires upkeep, but not everyone is
handy enough to tackle all the home repair projects that may but may also not
have the means to support a professional to correct the issues. A good thing to
keep in mind is to set aside at least 5% of the purchase price to cover any
upkeep/maintenance issues that may arise when you purchase your home.
So to sum everything up, prior to getting
geared up to purchase your first home you should line up your finances, put
aside a down payment and do some research on the loan programs that are
available for you. By researching and doing your homework you will be able to
estimate how much you can afford and how much it will cost you.
Good luck on your home search
pursuit!
Type #5 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
Difficult
neighbors come in many forms -- from meddlesome to malicious. Try to
keep a good relationship with neighbors to keep conflicts at a minimum.
The Difficult NeighborWho they are:
Who aren't they? They're the aforementioned neighbors as well as
anyone who makes your life more complicated than it needs to be.
How to handle them:
"The thing I do is keep a good rapport," says Susan Nelson, a
landscape designer in Tampa, Fla. "I really feel that the small amount
of physical contact goes a long way with neighbors. I notice who keeps
to themselves and it comes off as being unfriendly. These days, there
aren't many chances of making impressions with your neighbors, so a
simple wave or hello can represent you well."
Rosenberg concurs,
piling onto Smith's plea for a little communication. "If you explain
your problem in a reasonable, nice way, suddenly you're no longer
anonymous. Often we have an issue with a neighbor we don't know, and so
we hate their guts, and we don't even know their name."
And if
you don't say something to your neighbor, why should they stop doing
whatever they're doing? If you do talk, a solution may just be
forthcoming. After all, Rosenberg adds, "Most people don't want to be
that neighbor."
Search for Homes in areas where these hard-to-live with neighbors won't bother you!
Fayetteville NC Homes For Sale!
Type #4 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
For better or for worse, wacky neighbors can make your life a lot more interesting.
The Wacky NeighborWho they are:
They're the folks who barge into your living room and convince you to
invest in their new ferret farm, and suddenly, within a half hour,
you've been fired after getting into a raucous pie fight in the employee
lunchroom.
How to handle them: Wait, sorry -- that only
happens on TV. If a neighbor actually pulls a Kramer and barges into
your living room and then starts to raid your refrigerator, feel free to
call the police and press charges.
....Continued....
Type #3 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
Control your envy of neighbors who seem to have it all. Even the most royal of families have their problems.
The Richer Than You Are NeighborWho they are:
These are the Joneses who you try valiantly to keep up with, but
can't. They're always getting a new addition onto their home. They have
the perfect blades of grass treated by a team of dedicated lawn
professionals. They have the new Maserati parked in the driveway. And,
of course, what's so maddening is that they're doing nothing wrong. You
can't walk up to their front door and say, "Excuse me, but you're being
too rich."
How to handle them: "The best you can do is learn to cope," suggests Long Island novelist Saralee Rosenberg, author of
Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead (HarperCollins, July 2008).
Rosenberg,
who did a lot of nonfiction research for the tale of a harried mother
who often feels inferior to her wealthier neighbor, says it's important
to remember that "every family is dysfunctional to some degree, and that
just because a lawn is beautifully maintained and a house is
immaculate, doesn't mean that trouble isn't brewing. Not that you'd wish
that on someone, but if you find yourself envious, it's important to
remember that you probably don't know the whole story."
......Continued.....
Type #2 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
If you have a neighbor who may be dangerous, know about his dislikes and boundaries, so you don't cross them.
The Dangerous NeighborWho they are:
Sad but true, some neighbors are not worth getting to know well -- but
it's still good to know something about their dislikes and boundaries,
so you don't cross them. In 2006, for instance, headlines were made
when Charles Martin, an elderly man living in a suburb of Cincinnati,
Ohio, shot a 15-year-old boy to death because he had apparently made the
error of walking across his meticulously manicured lawn.
How to handle them:
Martin -- who is in jail -- may have been destined to snap no matter
what his neighbors did or didn't do, but he was well known for the care
he lavished on his lawn, and in theory, if that 15-year-old had been
more aware of the kook's devotion to his lawn, it might have kept him
from going anywhere near the home.
You can't consume yourself with
worry looking for red flags in your neighbors. However, if you're aware
of them, it may help you from igniting their fury.
And if you have young kids, you really should look at
www.familywatchdog.us,
the website for the National Sex Offender Registry. If there is anyone
in your neighborhood you need to be aware of, and they're on this list,
they'll pop up on a map of your community.
......Continued......
Type #1 - 5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
Communication is the key to dealing with neighbors who fail to maintain their homes.
The Home DevaluersWho they are:
They're friendly enough. They just never seem to mow their lawn more
than once or twice a year, and they have a 1978 Buick rusting in their
front yard. Granted, if they're bad enough, you may have noticed this
before moving in, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day: They
may have looked presentable when you gave them the once-over.
How to handle them: Communicate, communicate, communicate, suggests Jodi R. R. Smith, author and etiquette consultant in Marblehead, Mass.
She
knew a group of neighbors who were upset that a house on their block
wasn't taking care of the lawn. The neighbors assigned a delegate to
knock on the door to discuss the yard, and when the owner came out of
the house and the problem was explained, she broke into tears. It had
turned out that she was in the midst of a divorce and an aggressive chemo treatment. The neighbors then organized a rotating schedule of lawn care for the ill neighbor.
"Things are not always what they seem," says Smith.
.....Continued....
5 Types of Neighbors and How to Handle Them
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com |
Published: 9/22/2008
It
used to be that everyone knew their neighbors. At the very least, you'd
meet them after the kid next door accidentally hit a baseball through
your living room window, or an apron-clad housewife appeared on your
back porch to borrow a cup of sugar. But that's so 1950s. During these
days of two-paycheck parents commuting and cocooning because they're
afraid to let their kids run unsupervised outside, it is becoming
increasingly common to buy a house and eight years later realize that
you have never met your neighbors.If that's your situation, consider
yourself lucky, because oddball and unusual neighbors do still exist.
You may find yourself in constant contact with them, especially if you
live in a community with yards that are just about a yard long. How you
co-exist can make all the difference between living happily ever after
or litigiously ever after. That's why we've created a primer on some of
the neighbor archetypes you might expect to find and how to handle them.
- Type 1: The Home Devaluers
- Type 2: The Dangerous Neighbor
- Type 3: The Richer Than You Are Neighbor
- Type 4: The Wacky Neighbor
- Type 5: The Difficult Neighbor
