RISMedia » Homeowner’s Toolkit

Your Place: Tools and Techniques for Cleaning Your Deck

susanne — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:02:54 +0000

(MCT)—I was looking at my home’s back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, they aren’t looking as green as they were last year, so the job will be a snap. It has been a long time since I discussed deck cleaning in this [...]

The Top 10 Real Estate Tax Deductions for Homeowners

susanne — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:43:28 +0000

As the time to file income taxes approaches, we need to take a new look at the changing tax landscape for homeowners. The dynamic atmosphere in Washington, D.C. has a different effect each year on which tax breaks are proposed, rescinded, changed, and extended for taxpayers who own a home. Thanks to the efforts of [...]

Exterior Replacement Projects Provide Biggest Return on Investment for Homeowners, Say REALTORS®

susanne — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:25:06 +0000

Homeowners looking for the most return on their investment when it comes to remodeling should consider exterior replacement projects. According to the 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects. “REALTORS® know that curb appeal projects offer great bang for your buck, because a home’s exterior [...]

California Association of REALTORS® Launches Tool to Help Buyers Bridge Down Payment Gap

susanne — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:04:35 +0000

Regional spotlight–In an effort to provide California home buyers with up-to-date information about available home buyer assistance programs, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently launched California Mortgage Resource Directory, a powerful search tool that identifies current mortgage programs in communities throughout the state. Buyers can search by city or address for public- and private-funded [...]

Living Smart: The Time Is Right for Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

susanne — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:05:06 +0000

(MCT)—If you’re thinking about replacing your windows this year with more energy efficient options, Washington just upped the incentive to actually get the job done. As part of the “fiscal cliff” agreement earlier this year, federal lawmakers agreed to reinstate the energy efficiency home improvement tax credits that had expired with 2011. Homeowners who did [...]

Don’t Let Winter Pinch Your Wallet: How to Save Money on Heating and Cooling

susanne — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:07:11 +0000

By now, homeowners around the country have begrudgingly made that often pricey decision to turn on the furnace and crank up the dial. Winter is here and for some territories that means brisk to freezing temperatures, frost on the ground and windows, and the looming threat of higher-than-normal utility bills. What homeowners should be aware [...]

Today’s First-Time Buyers Are Realistic, Planners, Reports RE/MAX

susanne — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:08:00 +0000

First-time home buyers have long been an important part of the housing market. And that hasn’t changed today. According to the 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of REALTORS®, first-time buyers accounted for 39 percent of all housing sales from July 2011 through June 2012. But what do these first-time [...]

Real Estate Q&A: Seller Financing Can Help Sell Home

susanne — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:03:51 +0000

(MCT)—QUESTION: I am trying to sell my home but am not getting any showings. I’m thinking about allowing a buyer to finance it through me. Is this a good idea? —Suzanne ANSWER: It certainly can be, depending on your situation. If you own the property free and clear of any mortgage loans, financing the transaction [...]

Holiday Safety for Homeowners

susanne — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:04:03 +0000

For many homeowners, decorating is one of the most exciting and tradition-driven parts of the holiday season. Lights, candles and other bright decorations can all be great ways to make your home look festive for the holidays, but faulty wires and open flames can quickly lead to disaster if precautions aren’t taken. There are several [...]

Understanding the FHA Pre-Foreclosure Short Sale Process

susanne — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:11:23 +0000

All short sales are not alike—especially when an FHA-insured mortgage is involved. FHA short sales must advance through a very exact and systemized process. Here’s what you need to know: Before a Short Sale Can Be Initiated The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that the homeowner be reviewed for all home [...]

Why Buying at the End of 2012 May Be Your Best Investment Yet

susanne — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:04:44 +0000

With just a month left in 2012, the number of days to benefit from year-end home buying tax benefits is dwindling quickly. We consulted real estate experts from across the country to share what you need to know when preparing to close before December 31, 2012. 1.) End of year tax benefits: If you are [...]

ListedBy Releases Real Estate Auction Guide for Consumers

susanne — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:00:34 +0000

In order to help consumers gain familiarity with real estate auctions, ListedBy–an online real estate marketplace and social network with live bidding auction and ‘Best Offer’ functionality–has released a new tool called ListedBy – Real Estate Auction Primer for Consumers. This tool acts as a ‘must-know’ guide for anyone looking to buy or sell real [...]

The Black Friday Bargain: Start Planning the Home Remodel of Your Dreams

susanne — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:03:02 +0000

With the holidays (and associated chaos) fast approaching, you probably aren’t putting much thought into home improvement—except, perhaps, to grumble about the fact that you’ll have to cook another Thanksgiving meal in your outdated kitchen, or to wish that you didn’t have to steer your fa-la-la-ing guests toward your house’s only bathroom with its leaky [...]

Survey Shows People Becoming More Likely to Participate in the Housing Market

zoe — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 21:06:57 +0000

Americans are feeling less discouraged about the housing market, according to a new national survey by FindLaw.com. The percentage of Americans who say they are sitting on the sidelines rather than considering buying a house has dropped by more than half. In 2010, 63 percent of Americans said they were less likely to buy a [...]

FHA Homeowners Recover from Foreclosures More Quickly

susanne — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:04:21 +0000

(MCT)—R.C. and Stacy Davis lost their condominium to foreclosure in 2009, a bad break that seemed destined to keep them from buying another home for many years. Yet last week — only three years after their foreclosure — the couple signed the papers to buy a four-bedroom house in Livermore. Their avenue to homeownership? A [...]

Choosing a Professional Home Inspector

susanne — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 05:03:42 +0000

There are approximately 30,000 home inspectors nationwide today. Only about half of the states require any kind of certification or licensing for home inspectors. So how do you know you are recommending the best home inspectors to your clients? Hiring the right home inspector is as important as the actual home inspection itself. As with [...]

Five Tips to Follow during the Fall Homebuying Season

susanne — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:56:37 +0000

A recent real estate survey reported that 27 percent of the homebuyers during the fall season are first-time homebuyers. Although spring is traditionally the peak season for real estate activity, this year’s buyer’s market should lead to a healthy spike in real estate activity this fall. “For a prospective new homeowner, this fall’s market is [...]

Credit Dos and Don’ts When Securing a Mortgage

susanne — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 05:01:24 +0000

When it comes to securing a mortgage in today’s challenging lending environment, your credit rating is more important than ever before. Good credit is integral to obtaining the best interest rates and terms on a mortgage. Credit expert Peter Nagy offers the following helpful dos and don’ts for making sure your credit standing is in [...]

Price, Value and Cost: the Complicated Components of a Home’s Worth

susanne — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:38:46 +0000

Proper research is essential for homebuyers. Not only should you be familiar with the steps in a real estate transaction, you should also know what your physical and financial needs are. In a recent broadcast of “Eye on Real Estate with Dottie Herman” titled, “The Art of Negotiations,” Herman, CEO at Douglas Elliman, discussed some [...]

Tips on Buying Real Estate for Investors

susanne — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:03:34 +0000

When it comes to making a real estate investment, it’s important that you arm yourself with the information you need to make a wise and informed decision. The following tips will enable you to hit the ground running. • Knowledge is power – if you think education is expensive, try ignorance. It’s tough to get [...]