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3 Tips to Staging the Outside of Your Home Like a Pro

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Afraid it will take too long to sell, or that you won’t get the price you want? Think about “staging” your home, or in other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.

To be really effective, you need to look at both the outside and the inside of your home. Here are 3 tips to get you started with the outside of your home:

1. Go stand on the street to see what clients see when driving up to the house. Be aware that any negative impressions they get outside the house (landscaping not maintained or non-existent, peeling paint, etc.) is just going to make them think that the house itself has not been well taken care of. So even if you have spent the time and money to fix up the interior, it would all be wasted if the clients get a bad first impression as they drive up to the house.

2. Next, step outside your front door and close the door; then stand on the stoop and look around for 5 minutes. While the realtor fumbles for keys and tries to figure out how to open the door, the clients are standing behind and looking around. So what are they seeing? Dead plants, old Halloween decorations in the middle of January, cobwebs?  Again, not a good first impression!

It’s definitely worth it to take some time and clean it up. Want to go a step further? Try a new coat of paint or some new furniture or accessories.

3. Don’t forget the backyard. While that might not be part of the potential buyers’ first impression experience, you still should make sure it’s in the best condition possible. Pull up weeds, water plants, do some sweeping (if that’s applicable in your case) and maybe even purchase new furniture or accessories (plant pots, bird houses, etc.)

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your house? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your house?

And don’t worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your house ready to sell   you’ll get it all back when your house sells. Proper staging helps you sell your house in a shorter time and at the price you want.

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Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips, Seller Tips, SW Real Estate News

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Is It Time to Re-Finance?

Whether or not to re-finance is a question homeowner may ask themselves many times while they are living in their home. Re-financing is essentially taking out one home loan to repay an existing home loan. This may sound odd at first but it is important to realize when this is done properly it can result in a significant cost savings for the homeowner over the course of the loan. When there is the potential for an overall savings it might be time to consider re-financing. There are certain situations which make re-financing worthwhile. These situations may include when the credit scores of the homeowners improve, when the financial situation of the homeowners improves and when national interest rates drop. This article will examine each of these scenarios and discuss why they may warrant a re-finance.

When Credit Scores Improve

There are currently so many home loan options available, that even those with poor credit are likely to find a lender who can assist them in realizing their dream of purchasing a home. However, those with poor credit are likely to be offered unfavorable loan terms such as high interest rates or variable interest rates instead of fixed rates. This is because the lender considers these homeowners to be higher risk than others because of their poor credit.

Fortunately for those with poor credit, many credit mistakes can be repaired over time. Some financial blemishes such as bankruptcies simply disappear after a number of years while other blemishes such as frequent late payments can be minimized by maintaining a more favorable record of repaying debts and demonstrating an ability to repay existing debts.

When a homeowner’s credit score improves considerable, the homeowner should inquire about the possibility of re-financing their current mortgage. All citizens are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Homeowners should take advantage of these three reports to check their credit each year and determine whether or not their credit has increased significantly. When they notice a significant increase, they should consider contacting lenders to determine the rates and terms they may be willing to offer.

When Financial Situations Change

A change in the homeowner’s financial situation can also warrant investigation into the process of re-financing. A homeowner may find himself making considerably more money due to a change in jobs or considerably less money due to a lay off or a change in careers. In either case the homeowner should investigate the possibility of re-financing. The homeowner may find an increase in pay may allow them to obtain a lower interest rate.

Alternately a homeowner who loses their job or takes a pay cut as a result of a change in careers may hope to refinance and consolidate their debt. This may result in the homeowner paying more because some debts are drawn out over a longer period of time but it can result in a lower monthly payment for the homeowner which may be advantageous at this juncture of his life.

When Interest Rates Drop

Interest rates dropping is the one signal that sends many homeowners rushing to their lenders to discuss the possibility of re-financing their home. Lower interest rates are certainly appealing because they can result in an overall savings over the course of the loan but homeowners should also realize that every time the interest rates drop, a re-finance of the home is not warranted. The caveat to re-financing to take advantage of lower interest rates is that the homeowner should carefully evaluate the situation to ensure the closing costs associated with re-financing do not exceed the overall savings benefit gained from obtaining a lower interest rate. This is significant because if the cost of re-financing is higher than the savings in interest, the homeowner does not benefit from re-financing and may actually lose money in the process.

The mathematics associated with determining whether or not there is an actual savings is not overly complicated but there is the possibility that the homeowner will make mistakes in these types of calculations. Fortunately there are a number of calculators available on the Internet which can help homeowners to determine whether or not re-financing is worthwhile.

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Re - Financing

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Theft Proofing Your Mailbox

Although most people only think about their home and property when dealing with home security, the mailbox is equally as important.  On a daily basis, there is a lot of personal information that goes through your mailbox.  Even though burglary is a concern, identity theft is just as big of a concern as well.  Most people don’t even think about theft proofing their mailboxes, which easily explains the increase in identity theft over the years.  Almost all mailboxes can be easily broken into, giving thieves instant access to personal information.

Even though there are many mailbox designs in the United States, most of them are outdated in terms of security.  They may perform their duties of receiving mail quite well, although they normally don’t offer the security needed to protect people from identity theft.  These days, identity theft is a common thing – simply because people don’t do a better job with protecting their mailbox.

Each and every day we all get personal information delivered to us by mail.  In some cases, we get credit card offers or bills that contain our personal information.  Although we don’t think anything about it, most of us head out to our mailbox, collect the mail, and then go back in our houses.  All it takes is a thief to beat you to the mailbox, just a couple of minutes.  Once the thief has collected a few pieces of your mail, he can easily use your personal information to charge credit cards and other bad things using your identity.

To protect yourself against identity theft you should always include your mailbox in your plans for home security.  The mailbox is very important, and should always be protected.  If you have a traditional mailbox now, you should get rid of it immediately.  As a replacement, you should look into a safe and secure mailbox.  The ideal types are those made of solid steel.  The top of the box should be accessible to the mailman, allowing him to put the mail in without a problem.  The bottom side of the mailbox however, should only be accessed via key.  Mailboxes that require a key to get into will protect you from identity theft – as the thief simply won’t have access to your mail.

You can find secure mailboxes at a local hardware or department store, even online.  There are very affordable these days and will go a long way in protecting you for identity theft.  Mailboxes that are constructed from solid steel are nearly impossible to break into, yet they will open easily for you to check your mail with the lock and key system.  The next time you go out to the mailbox to check your mail – you should think twice about your safety and theft proof your mailbox to protect yourself and your loved ones from identity theft.

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For The Home, Home Security

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Videos You Can Find On YouTube

Each day, a large number of internet users visit an online video website. In fact, many internet users visit more than one.  Online video websites are websites that allow internet users to make, upload, and share their own unique video creations.  One of those sites is known as YouTube.  If you are looking to use online video websites, such as YouTube, for entertainment, you are in luck.  Online, you can find thousands, if not millions of videos that are available for your watch, often free of charge.

If you have never visited the YouTube website, you may be wondering what type of videos you can find online. With YouTube, most of the videos that you will find online are considered homemade movies.  This is because these movies are made by traditional internet users, ones just like you.  Since each internet user is likely to have different interests or experiences in a particular field, topic, or subject, you are sure to find a large selection of videos on YouTube.

YouTube makes video watching easy.  They do this by placing their videos into categories.  You can easily find online videos by examining the ones that are viewed the most, the ones that are rated the highest, or the ones that have the most comments. In addition to those categories, you will also find categories that breakdown videos into specific subject categories, based on video content. 

One of those categories is comedy.  Comedy, perhaps, is the most popular YouTube category.  This is because most individuals use online video websites to be entertained.  What better way to receive that entertainment than with an online video that leaves you laughing hysterically?  Comedy videos may include, but should not be limited to, funny comments, comedy club appearances, staged skits, and even unscripted recordings. 

Pets and animals is another one of the many categories that you can find on YouTube.  These videos are great for those who love animals.  A wide variety of different animals are featured on YouTube videos including cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and birds.  Many of these videos can also be considered comedy videos because many of the videos focus on animals that have special, but funny talents.  Additional videos feature professional shows, such as dog shows or horse shows.

YouTube also has a category that is labeled travel and places.  The travel and places videos often include videos that vacationers have shot when they were in another area of the world.  Popular video locations are ones that are outside of the United States, but you will also find videos that focus on areas inside the United States.  In addition to filming interesting or historical locations, many videos have a focus on traditional events or activities.  It is not uncommon to find videos on YouTube that outline a particular festival or contest. 

Entertainment is another category found on YouTube.  This category covers a wide variety of different online videos.  Many individuals have created videos that they feel are a source of entertainment, while others have a focus on real entertainment, such as television shows.  It is not uncommon to find a collection of scenes, accompanied by music, of popular television shows, soap operas, and movies. 

Although music often falls into the category of entertainment, YouTube gives it its own category.  Many of the videos found on YouTube, with a focus on music, are created by those who are documenting themselves or their friends singing or participating in singing contents.  What is nice about YouTube is that they also have a special program for up and coming musicians.  This feature allows musicians to make their own music videos and share them with other internet users. This means that not only will you get to see an online video for free, but you may be alerted to a new band, that you otherwise never would have heard of.

The above mentioned categories are just a few of the many that you can found on YouTube. Additional categories include arts and animation, autos and vehicles, news and blogs, people, sports, and science and technology. 

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Social Net / Computers

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Foreclosure Homes for Sale

Are you on a small budget, but you want to purchase a home? If you are on a small budget, and you want to get a home, to start living as a family in an area that you love, look towards homes that have recently been foreclosed. A foreclosure is one that someone else has lost. The homeowner may not have been able to keep up on their mortgage payments, and the bank has taken over the property. Banks and financial companies don’t like to hold onto these properties for long, because of the interest, the payments and the money that is being lost over all.

To find a home that has been through foreclosure you can begin your search online or offline. Many links to foreclosure companies and banks are going to offer listings of where foreclosure homes have been located. A foreclosure company is going to offer great rates, and will offer great prices on homes that they want to sell.

While nothing can be done for those who have been through the foreclosure process, and for those who have lost their homes, you can take advantage of the situation. You can purchase home, at a reasonable cost, and create a home for your family.

To purchase a home that has been through foreclosure, the process is going to be very similar to that of any other mortgage. You will have to apply for a mortgage, you will have to pass the background check, and you will be subject to interest costs, and closing costs of the mortgage. A foreclosure home may require some additional legal background work, so you will need to hire an attorney to look out for your best interests.

A foreclosure home is one that has been abandoned because the previous owners could no longer pay for the home. You will find that many types, sizes, and styles of homes are often included on the foreclosure listings by banks. You will find one bedroom homes, two bedrooms homes, rental units, retail and commercial buildings and you will find luxury homes, vacation homes, even mansions included on foreclosure listings.

The home of your dreams could be very affordable if you take the time to look at the foreclosure listings. The foreclosure listings will give you an idea of the city and the state where the home is located, and from there you are often required to contact the bank, the financial company or perhaps a real estate agent as listed, to find out more about the property. The only limitations you will have in purchasing foreclosure homes is going to be your credit limit and where you want to live. Homes from across the nation, from Vegas, California, to Virginia, Florida and in Washington are available for purchase.

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Pre-Approval Letter – How To Use It To Get Your Dream Home

When house hunting, many buyers make the mistake of waiting to contact a lender until after they have located their dream home. As a buyer, you will be in a much stronger position with a seller if you are pre-approved.

Pre-Approval Letter

To effectively house hunt, you must know the amount you can borrow from a lender. There is nothing worse than find your dream home, but failing to qualify for the amount you need for a loan. Avoid this by asking your lender to pull your credit information and to let you know what needs to be done to get a pre-approval letter. If you are going to have problems with getting a loan, it is better to know about it as early as possible.

Sometimes buyers resist contacting lenders because it’s not the enjoyable part of home buying and they’re afraid an extra credit check will reduce their credit score. This resistance is penny wise and pound foolish. Buyers who get their loan arrangements lined up at the beginning of the house buying process are really doing themselves a favor.

Much of the country is experiencing a hot, sellers’ market. It is not unusual for a seller to get more than one offer on the same day. If that happens to you, your pre-approved status can give you an edge over the competition. In fact, it can make a seller choose you over another bidder.

Presenting Your Letter to a Seller

When you tell the seller you want to buy their property, give them a copy of your pre-approval letter. They will probably recognize the value of the letter, but don’t depend on this assumption. Make sure the seller realizes the loan is already approved.

As you give the seller the letter, explain to them that you are serious about making the transaction go smoothly and, for that reason, you have already been through most of the loan application process. Point out that the lender has pulled your credit info and you’ve provided copies of W-2s, pay stubs, and all the other things the lender needed to decide that you do qualify for a loan. Tell the seller that the only remaining thing to do is to give the lender a copy of the contract that you and the seller sign, and the property needs to appraise for an appropriate amount.

Taking this approach puts you in a very strong position. The seller knows you are not just wishing; you are capable of buying his property. One of a seller’s worst nightmares is signing a contract with someone, taking his property off the market, wasting time and then finding out that the would-be buyer cannot get a loan. On the other hand, you and your pre-approval letter are dreams come true.

Put on your shining armor and get pre-approved by a lender. Once you have the letter in hand, get out there and find your dream home.

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Buyer Tips

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Choosing Your Real Estate Appraiser

If you have been thinking about purchasing a real estate property for personal use or as an investment, you’ll need to hire the services of a real estate investor.  If you play to finance your home through a bank or other lender, you’ll more than likely need to get the property appraised first.  Banks and most lenders want to know the value of the home for your protection, as well as make sure that the home they are financing is worth the total amount that you take on the loan.

In most cases, the appraisal indicates that the home does indeed meet or exceed the asking price.  In some cases however, the appraisal will come back saying that the home is worth less than the selling price.  If this is the case, the buyer normally has to either drop the deal or try to negotiate with the seller to get a price that meets the appraisal.

For those very reasons, a real estate appraiser is very important.  When you are dealing with a home, one appraisal can make a deal or break it. Even though you may not be financing your purchase through a lender or the bank, you should still make an effort to get the home appraised and find out the true value.  You should also make a point to find the best appraiser that you can afford.  If you hire an appraiser who isn’t that experienced, you’ll pay for it later when you discover that the property isn’t worth what you paid for it.

A real estate appraiser will go through the home performing an evaluation, and then provide you with a written evaluation after he has gathered all necessary information.  Appraisers will also taken into consideration the replacement costs as well.  Also, they will have to very land descriptions as well.  There is a lot of work involved with appraisals, which is why it’s so very important that each step of the process is performed correctly by a qualified real estate appraiser.

If you have a real estate agent, he or she will more than likely be able to make a recommendation.  Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean the recommendation is the best; it’s just someone who your agent works with.  To ensure that you get the right appraisal on your home you’ll need to find yourself an appraiser who is capable of completing the job.

When you look for your real estate appraiser, you should look for someone who comes highly recommended.  You can ask family and friends for their opinions, or search local papers, even the Internet.  If you take your time and search for the best real estate appraiser that you can find – you’ll normally get an appraisal that is right on target.

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Are You Considering Re-Financing?

Homeowners who are considering re-financing their home may have a wealth of options available to them. However, these same homeowners may find themselves feeling overwhelmed by this wealth of options. This process doesn’t have to be so difficult though. Homeowners can greatly assist themselves in the process by taking a few simple steps. First the homeowner should determine his refinancing goals. Next the homeowner should consult with a re-financing expert and finally the homeowner should be aware that re-financing is not always the best solution.

Determine Your Goals for Re-Financing

The first step in any re-financing process should be for the homeowner to determine his goals and why he is considering re-financing. There are many different answers to this question and none of the answers are necessarily right or wrong. The most important thing is that the homeowner is making a decision which helps him achieve his financial goals. While there are no right or wrong answer to why re-financing should be considered there are, however, certain reasons for re-financing which are very common. These reasons include:

* Reducing monthly mortgage payments * Consolidating existing debts * Reducing the amount of interest paid over the course of the loan * Repaying the loan quicker * Gaining equity quicker

Although the reasons listed above are not the only reason homeowners might consider re-financing, they are some of the most popular reasons. They are included in this article for the purpose of getting the reader thinking. The reader may find their mortgage re-financing strategy fits into one of the above goals or they may have a completely different reason for wanting to re-finance. The reason for wanting to re-finance is not as important as determining this reason. This is because a homeowner, or even a financial advisor, will have a difficult time determining the best re-financing option for a homeowner if he does not know the goals of the homeowner.

Consult with a Re-Financing Expert

Once a homeowner has figured out why they want to re-finance, the homeowner should consider meeting with a re-financing expert to determine the best refinancing strategy. This will likely be a strategy which is financially sound but is also still geared to meeting the needs of the homeowner.

Homeowners who feel as though they are particularly well versed in the subject of re-financing might consider skipping the option of consulting with a re-financing expert. However, this is not recommended because even the most educated homeowner may not be aware of the newest re-financing options being offered by lenders.

While not understanding all the options may not seem like a big deal, it can have a significant impact. Homeowners may not even be aware of mistakes they are making but they may here of friends who re-financed under similar conditions and receive more favorable terms. Hearing these scenarios can be quite disheartening for some homeowners especially if they could have saved considerably more while re-financing.

Consider Not Re-Financing as a Viable Option

Homeowners who are considering re-financing may realize the importance of evaluating a number of different re-financing options to determine which option is best but these same homeowners may not realize they should also carefully consider not re-financing as an option. This is often referred to as the “do nothing” option because it refers to the conditions which will exist if the homeowner does not make a change in their mortgage situation.

For each re-financing option considered, the homeowner should determine the estimated monthly payment, amount of interest paid during the course of the loan, year in which the loan will be fully repaid and the amount of time the homeowner will have to remain in the home to recoup closing costs associated with re-financing. Homeowners should also determine these values for the current mortgage. This can be very helpful for comparison purposes. Homeowners can compare these results and often the best option is quite clear from these numeric calculations. However, if the analysis does not yield a clear-cut answer, the homeowner may have to evaluate secondary characteristics to make the best possible decision.

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Re - Financing

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Financing your commercial real estate investment

There are many different ways for financing your commercial real estate investment. You can either go to a bank or join an investment group that will finance the rest of the project. There are good reasons for choosing either of these options.

If you are planning on investing in your own commercial real estate venture, financing your commercial real estate investment will probably take place at your local bank. You will have to come up with a good part of the money for the project, a detailed business report, a statement of assets and liabilities and other documentation that states how you are going to pay for the property and how it is going to be used. They will also want to see a business plan as well as information from the municipality where the property is located prior to loaning you money.

Getting a bank loan can be time-consuming, but if you are planning on making a career out of investing in commercial real estate, this is an excellent opportunity to build up a relationship with your banker. Once you have established a good credit history with your banker, chances are that they will be willing to lend you more money in the future at a better rate.

You will also most likely have to provide any financial information pertaining to yourself as well as income tax statements. If your business is incorporated, you will have to show proof that it is in good standing with the state in which it is incorporated when financing your commercial real estate investment through a bank.

If you do not wish to pay interest rates or fees charged by a bank, you can enter into a real estate partnership with an investment company or investment group when financing your commercial real estate investment. You will only have to put up a portion of the money, but will have to split the profits with the other partners in the group. This can be quite beneficial for someone who knows little about the commercial real estate market but wants to make their money earn a higher yield that it would do in a money market account, mutual fund or a bank.

Commercial real estate investment is blooming across the United States. Unlike the residential market, the commercial market is still proving to be a viable option for those who want to invest in the real estate market today. However, investing in commercial real estate is completely different from investing in residential real estate and financing your commercial real estate investment is also quite different. You will deal with a bank that is rather stringent in their requirements, or an investment group where you will share in the costs as well as the profit.

As the interest rates are low, financing your commercial real estate investment through a bank has never been better than it is right now. Be forewarned, however, that if you choose this route, you have to know something about what type of investment you are financing, how it will be used, have good credit and have a solid and proven business plan.

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Florida Foreclosure Proceedings Detailed

The following article details the final court proceedings for foreclosure cases in the state of Florida. The article details the different scenarios that can occur to finalize a foreclosure case. It is important for people facing foreclosure in the state of Florida to be aware of their rights so that they can do everything in their power to stop foreclosure through legal remedies.

The right to be heard at the hearing to show cause is waived if the defendant, after being served as provided by law with an order to show cause, engages in conduct that clearly shows that the defendant has relinquished the right to be heard on that order. The defendant’s failure to file defenses by a motion or by a sworn or verified answer or to appear at the hearing presumptively constitutes conduct that clearly shows that the defendant has relinquished the right to be heard.

If the court finds that the defendant has waived the right to be heard, the court may promptly enter an order requiring payment in the amount provided or an order to vacate the premises. Under and order to vacate the premises, the order is delivered to the County Sheriff for eviction should the mortgagor continue to occupy the premises.   If the court finds that the mortgagor has not waived the right to be heard on the order to show cause, the court will, at the hearing on the order to show cause, consider the affidavits and other showings made by the parties appearing and make a determination of the probable validity of the underlying claim alleged against the mortgagor and the mortgagor’s defenses. If the court determines that the mortgagee is likely to prevail in the foreclosure action, the court shall enter an order requiring the mortgagor to make the payment to the mortgagee and provide for a remedy. However, the order shall be stayed pending final adjudication of the claims of the parties if the mortgagor files with the court a written undertaking executed by a surety approved by the court in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the mortgage on the property, including all principal, interest, unpaid taxes, and insurance premiums paid by the mortgagee.

In the event the court enters an order requiring the mortgagor to make payments to the mortgagee, payments shall be payable at such intervals and in such amounts provided for in the mortgage instrument before acceleration or maturity. The obligation to make payments pursuant to any order entered under this subsection shall commence from the date of the motion filed hereunder. The order shall be served upon the mortgagor no later than 20 days before the date specified for the first payment. The order may permit, but shall not require the mortgagee to take all appropriate steps to secure the premises during the foreclosure action.

In the event the court enters an order requiring payments the order shall also provide that the mortgagee shall be entitled to possession of the premises upon the failure of the mortgagor to make the payment required in the order unless at the hearing on the order to show cause the court finds good cause to order some other method of enforcement of its order.

All amounts paid pursuant to this section shall be credited against the mortgage obligation in accordance with the terms of the loan documents, provided, however, that any payments made under this section will not constitute a cure of any default or a waiver or any other defense to the mortgage foreclosure action. Upon the filing of an affidavit with the clerk that the premises have not been vacated pursuant to the court order, the clerk shall issue to the sheriff a writ for possession which shall be governed by the provisions of Florida state laws.

It is important for people facing foreclosure to understand their rights and to take the proper steps to ensure these rights are protected. It is very possible that one can stop foreclosure on their property by utilizing the methods lenders provide to address their situation.

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SW Real Estate News

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