Power of the Web — From a Homebuyer's Perspective

Today, 80% of those in the market for a new home are beginning their search online. Aimlessly driving around looking for open houses and sifting through classifieds are practices of the past. The Internet has made the home-buying process fun, simple and less stressful, and we at Real Living are helping homebuyers search from the comfort of their very own home.

Virtual Tours
By logging-on to RealLiving.com or my Web site, you can now view hundreds of home listings — and these listings contain more than just a straight-on photo of the home with a few details. Real Living agents have the ability to create a virtual tour of a home, allowing our homebuyers to view each room at multiple angles in sharp, colorful images as well as an extensive floor plan.

Podcasting
Real Living agents are also using podcasts, which are pre-recorded media files posted to a Web site and made available for download, so homebuyers can listen to them on personal computers or mobile devices. Our agents are creating podcasts to showcase their listings, communities and dynamic marketing skills to potential homebuyers.

MyRealLiving 2.0
Real Living offers our customers a password-protected portal at RealLiving.com where they can create an account; personalize, organize, save and share property information and searches; keep a calendar of key events; and sign-up to receive alerts for new listings, price reductions and open houses.

Blogs
It's a good idea to stay educated on real estate industry news and trends. Newspapers, trade publications and the Internet have always been great sources of information, but now blogs are also a good source. Real Living discusses the latest real estate news and company updates on our blog site at Blog.RealLiving.com.

The Internet has given us so much over the years, and its presence in the real estate industry is now making a big impact in the way we buy and sell homes. Contact me to learn more.

Weighing Your Mortgage Options

When choosing a lender, you should always do your homework and shop around. I would be happy to provide you with a referral, but ask your friends too!

Also, check out the company you're doing business with. Has it been around for a while? Are there any complaints against the company? Can the lender give you any references?

When you have settled on a lender and are ready to pick out the mortgage product that best fits your financial needs, keep in mind that all lenders offer a variety of home financing options. Most loan rates will be similar to the current interest rates; however, differences in how a loan is structured can result in large savings or costs to you when buying a home. Loans may differ in such items as term (length of the loan), prepayment options or penalties, processing fees, no-credit fees and mortgage insurance considerations.

Most mortgages are offered for terms of 15 or 30 years — other terms are available under some circumstances. Your monthly payment changes depend on the length of the mortgage. Typically, the longer the term, the lower the monthly payments and the more cash you'll have for other expenses. With a shorter term, you'll have higher monthly payments, but you'll save on interest costs over the life of the loan.

A qualified lender will work with you to find the best choice, but if you need help, here are a few of the basics:

Fixed-Rate Mortgages offer the same interest rate, monthly principal and interest payments throughout the entire term of the loan. This type is typically the most popular because it offers stability and predictable monthly payments. It's best for those of you who plan to stay in your home for a long time.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) feature an interest rate that periodically adjusts with changing market rates. The ARM often offers a low beginning interest rate as a "teaser." However, this rate will go up after a certain time. ARMs are best for people who plan to move or refinance in a few years or for buyers who know their income will rise in the future. ARMs seem to be decreasing in popularity. New ARMs dropped to a 25% market share late last year, according to Freddie Mac's annual ARM survey. That's down from a high of 33% in 2004.

In the past, ARM rates were consistently and considerably lower than the 30-year fixed-rate products, which made them very appealing. But now, the fixed-rate and ARM loan products are fairly close in rates, so buyers are shying away from them and locking in with a permanent fixed-rate loan.

Balloon Mortgages are offered for short terms — usually five or seven years. They have low, monthly payments followed by a balloon payment requiring repayment of the entire balance at the end of the term. The monthly payments are low because the interest rate is generally lower than a fixed-rate mortgage and payments are amortized over 30 years. This type of loan may be appealing if you are trying to get started in a new home, but you must be sure you will be able to make the final balloon payment.

Contact me for more information.

What's Your Home Worth?

Market value is the main concept you must understand when determining the value of your home. But what is it and how it can help you price your home?

What is market value?
Market value is the amount prospective buyers are willing to pay at the time homeowners are ready to sell. The best way to find out the market value of your home is to ask me for help. I can ensure that you get the best price by providing and discussing with you the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).

What is a CMA?
The CMA will include homes in your area that are currently on the market, expired from the market, pending a sale and already sold within the last three to six months. Of course, the best indicator of your home's value is the price for similar homes in your area that have already been sold. The comparison is based on the proximity to your home and the similarity of characteristics such as lot size, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, etc.

It's a good idea to sit down with me to discuss how each factor of the market analysis affects your home's value. You can consider the current listings to identify the competition, recently sold homes to indicate what buyers are willing to pay, homes with a sale pending to show the current demand and expired homes to suggest what buyers are unwilling to pay.

What are the dos and don'ts?
Do obtain the CMA and discuss the findings with me. Don't price your home based on factors not affecting the market value. Those factors include how much money you need to buy your next home, how much you paid for your current home, how much you paid for home improvements, the value of similar homes in different communities, area appreciation statistics, the cost to build the same home today and personal attachment.

Discovering how much your home is worth is the first step to ensure that your home is priced correctly. So, take the time, do the research, talk with me and together we can decide what the best price is in today's market.

Contact me for more information.

Grilling 101

When it comes to good grilling, follow these rules:

1. Always keep your grill clean.

2. Use oil or cooking spray on your cooking grate when grilling low-fat meats and other foods. Do not apply cooking spray to a lit grill.

3. Always give yourself plenty of time. Don't leave your family and/or guests waiting.

4. Always keep an eye on what you're grilling.

5. Do not use spray bottles of water to control flare-ups. Flare-ups are caused by too much fat and too much heat. Trim excess fat, and when it's time to turn the meat, move it to a different part of the grill.

6. Do not add sugary or oily sauces or marinades to meat on the grill. This causes burning.

7. Keep your grill away from anything flammable like lighter fluid, fences, etc.

8. Spice up your food a good hour before you grill. This lets the flavor sink in.

9. Use the proper tools. Forks are good for eating, not for grilling.

10. Always make more than enough for everyone.

Window Makeover

Before you begin your window makeover there are a few things to consider — most importantly deciding on what style of treatment will work best for your window. You should consider how your window opens and make sure that your treatment won't interfere with how your window functions. Once you've got the details down, it's time to get creative! Below are hottest trends in window treatments and ideas that will help you give your home a new look.

Be Colorful
Adding new color or incorporating colors to an existing window are quick ways to update your window. The color forecast for 2007 is white paired with black or navy and an ocean palette including teal, aquamarine and soft green. Jewel tones are also popular and exude a sense of calmness, so try a lavender, orange or gold.

Go Natural
Bringing the outdoors, indoors, is another trend. Exposed wood grain in blinds and natural woven shades are popular. Wood is also big in decorative hardware. Woven shades come in a variety of colors of wood and easily let in diffused light while still giving you privacy when it is needed.

Be Luxurious
Silk, velvet, fur, leather and suede not only look elegant, but also are soft to the touch. The opulent textures create a feeling of simplicity and elegance. To add even more luxury to your room, add some embellishments to the design — try sparkling crystal or beaded tassels.

Go Bold
Patterned fabric is big this year and bold prints top the list of window treatment trends. Incorporating bright florals, geometric patterns and bold stripes to your window makeover will add a youthful spunk to the room.

Be Tech-Savvy
If you're up on the latest gadget, then you may want to equip your windows with blinds that can be controlled with a remote control, a light switch or even the Internet. You can make these high-tech window treatments easy on the eyes by layering fabrics with high-thread-count cottons — it will cozy up your window and room.

For more home-owning tips, contact me today

Get Your Deck Ready for Summer

Before officially kicking off the summer, ensure your deck is ready for the season. Follow these simple steps and you'll be able to not only maintain your deck, but also enjoy it for years to come.

Clean
Begin by sweeping any leaves or debris off your deck. Continue by using a garden hose to gently spray off the deck. Finish by using a deck cleaner, which you can spray or brush on.

Repair
Start by inspecting your deck for any repairs that need to be made. Use a screwdriver to poke the wood boards to check for rotting and a hammer to secure any loose nails.

Protect
Use a stain or clear wood preservative to protect your deck. A clear wood preservative will protect your deck while leaving it with a clear finish. It also contains a UV protector which will be helpful in protecting against the summer rays. If you chose to use a colored stain, make sure the stain is in a shade you like and is water-repellant. Once you begin staining, be sure to apply the stain parallel to the deck boards.

Enjoy
Your deck can be an enjoyable place for you, your friends and your family to enjoy the nice weather and each other's company. Keep in mind, it can also be a great feature that will add value to your home when it becomes time to sell!

For additional home-owning advice, contact me today.