The Benefits of Being a Renter

by admin on March 5, 2012

The Benefits of Being a RenterAs the economy continues to rise and fall, the real estate market tends to do so as well. People sometime become tentative about whether to rent or own. I have noticed that many individuals are currently looking into renting property rather than purchasing a home to own.

Although there are some drawbacks to renting, there are also many benefits as well. Below is a list of expected benefits you can receive if you decide renting a home is the best option for you.

The Benefits of Being a Renter

No Extra Costs

Although it is not always the case, landlords will often times include the cost of utilities such as water or heat in your rent. Thus, your utility bill can be next to nothing in comparison to if you chose to own a home. Along with this, the cost of your expenses becomes quite predictable if you choose to rent a property.

For example, if the landlord calculates your rent to be $600 a month with the utilities included, you know that $600 is the most you will have to spend. In contrast, when one owns a home, he or she is not able to predict the cost of the extra utility bill.

Likewise, if something were to break in the apartment due to no fault of your own, you are not responsible for the charges to fix it. In most cases, you are simply expected to call maintenance personnel and they will fix it for you. Finally, you are not responsible for a property tax or other forms of insurance when you choose to rent property rather than own one. You may still want to carry renter’s insurance, as it is minimal in expense.

Extra Bonuses

Another bonus of renting a space rather than owning a home is the added amenities that sometimes will come with your decision. Oftentimes apartment complexes will have an indoor or outdoor (even a rooftop!) pool, hot tub, exercise facility, or meeting room for the tenants of the facility. Thus, what you are paying in rent for these services would usually be much greater if you are purchasing them as part the purchase of your home.

Save Your Time and Energy

Another added bonus that often comes with renting is workers to do a lot of work for you. As mentioned previously, you are able to call the maintenance professional to fix the appliances within the home. Likewise, apartment complexes will often mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks for you as well; leaving you time and energy to do the things you love.

A Move Up or A Move Down

Renters have the option of not only staying put in a place, but also choosing to leave after their lease is up. This is a great bonus for many individuals when the market is being inconsistent. For example, if you can no longer afford the place you are currently renting, you are free to move out and find something more reasonable after your lease has expired.

Likewise, if you obtain an increase in income and want a more expensive place, you are also able to move out and look for a new place to live. You are not able to do this when you own a house as easily, in particular, when the market is low it becomes even more difficult to sell your home in order to find something more affordable. You are then stuck trying to pay the bills for a place you can no longer afford.

It is Your Decision 

Ultimately deciding whether to rent or own is up to you. Just remember, that traditionally and historically, it has always been more financially beneficial to own rather than to rent. You understand the principle:  paying a landlord each month does not build any equity for you.

So, theoretically, the sooner you can buy a home, the better. Still, many people are just not quite at that place yet. So, it is important that you take all of the cost and benefits of renting a property into consideration in order to ensure that you will make the best decision for you!

This article was provided by Indian Wells California Realtor Kimberley Kelly. You can learn all about Kimberley on her Indio California real estate website where you can also search all homes for sale La Quinta.

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Three Tips to Create a Video to Sell Your Home

by admin on February 26, 2012

Three Tips to Create a Video to Sell Your HomeIf you’re serious about selling your home, a video home tour may be just the ticket to encourage a buyer to schedule a visit or attend an upcoming open house.

Thanks to the internet, potential sellers are searching for their dream home 24/7, and a well-crafted video will help convey a more personal perspective of your home–its distinctive features, cozy spaces, large gathering areas, and special touches or upgrades which enhance the home’s value.

If you’re considering creating  a home video vignette, take a few minutes to review these invaluable tips.

Preparing Your Home for Filming

Just like you prepare for an open house or planned visit, it’s important to stage your home on the day of filming. Make sure it is clean and de-cluttered from top to bottom. Remove personal items; a potential buyer wants to envision their furniture, their décor, and their photos within your home, so remove the family photo gallery from a built-in niche or fireplace mantle.

Also be sure to review your home’s exterior. This is the first area the prospective buyer will see, so make a positive first impression. Remove any sports equipment, bikes, or clutter from the lawn. Add exterior touches like flags and plants; make sure that the outdoor grill is tidy, and that any porch or patio furniture is attractively arranged.

Prior to filming, walk through the house with a critical eye–look for dust bunnies, dirty windows, lopsided pictures, and listen for squeaky doors or a creaky step. These types of problems will jump out during a video, particularly if a potential buyer views the video multiple times.

Creating Your Presentation

Rather than randomly filming rooms, take some time to create a script that will help with the “flow” of the tour. Consider creating several short videos, each featuring a different area of your home, rather than one lengthy tour like the raw footage from a reality TV show.

You can also write a script that includes several key elements you want to convey to potential home buyers. Avoid the obvious such as “here is a large pantry” or “here’s another bedroom.” Instead, mention “a spacious pantry offers extra kitchen storage” or “this room could be used as a home gym, craft room, personal office or playroom.”

One item not to include in your video is the price of your home; your home price might change and committing it to video reduces your flexibility in raising or lowering the price on short notice.

And finally, keep the final product short, such as one to three minutes. It doesn’t need to be an exhaustive tour of every nook and cranny. Your goal is to intrigue the viewer and encourage them to take the next step to visit your home in person, visit a website for more details, or contact you or your realtor to schedule a visit. Be sure to include any contact information at the end of the video for easy reference.

Filming Your Video

When you’re ready to film, be sure to rent, borrow, or purchase a good camera. A tripod is highly recommended; you don’t want your viewers to get dizzy watching shaky footage. A separate microphone will also capture the audio more clearly than one built-in to the camera.

Consider the environment and ambiance when you’re preparing to film. It’s best to film on a sunny day at a time when your home is filled with natural lighting. Minimize sound distractions by filming when neighborhood kids are in school silence your phone and cell phone, and wear soft-soled shoes. Be extra conscious of filming windows and mirrors where your reflection may inadvertently end up in the video.

And finally, take extra footage while you’re filming. As you edit your video, this allows you to use the best footage as opposed to “what’s available. 

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words! 

Your video doesn’t have to be fancy; use it convey what’s special about the home and how perfect it would be for the right buyer. Remember, your goal is to encourage the viewer to take the next step–visit a website, call the realtor, or schedule a personal tour. Good luck!

Guest post supplied by Linda Wise a Merritt Island FL Realtor who helps sellers in the Grant Florida real estate market sell their homes including Cape Canaveral FL real estate.

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Looking to Purchase a New Home?

by admin on February 26, 2012

Looking to Purchase a New HomeLooking for a new home to purchase can be both exciting and stressful. While you could search and find homes that you like on your own, working with a Realtor can eliminate some of the stress of the process.

A Realtor can help you figure out what your “must haves” are, and then help you target your search towards homes that have not only your list of “must haves” but extras that you might like also.

Looking to Purchase a New Home?

Without a Realtor’s help, you might find yourself spending quite a bit of time looking at and walking through homes that are not at all what you need or want. This can be a frustrating waste of time. So, give your Realtors as many details as you can to describe what you seek, and then let them do the legwork for you. It is their profession, and they do it well.

Investing in a new home is an important move to make, so allow yourself (if you can) plenty of time to think through your decision. If it is a brand new home that you seek, that can be such an exciting new beginning for you. What leads people to purchase brand new homes varies. Going through trauma or loss in a current home can bring a person emotionally to a place where he/she just knows that it is time to move on.

Others seek a brand new home because they are not do-it-yourself types; they know this about themselves—that they are not handy at fix-it projects in the home. For them, a new home represents, most likely, a repair-free living space for quite some time. This offers peace to people who are very busy and cannot invest in a home that will also require them to invest their time in repairs upon moving in.

Some people just do not want to live in a home that already carries the “mark” of another person or family. Whatever reasons you have for seeking out a brand new home, you know what you want. Your Realtor will help you find it, and will help you navigate through the advantages and sometimes drawbacks that you may encounter on your journey.

Make Sure You Get A New Home Warranty

Be on the lookout for your Realtor to acquire a new-home warranty, once you settle on your dream home. Unfortunately, there are dishonest builders in the business who put up new homes with shoddy materials and faulty work. You may have heard horror stories about people who move into new homes only to find a variety of troubles:  flooding basements, leaky roofs, door or cabinets that don’t close, faulty wiring, and more.

With a new-home warranty, you won’t have to worry about such problems. Reputable builders are happy to provide this warranty to you in writing because they believe in their work. Some Realtors will go a step further and suggest that you not only get a new-house warranty from your builder, but also to seek a warranty from an independent insurance company on your new home.

These independent insurance companies offer warranties that cover workmanship and materials for a year, major structural defects for ten years, and cover heating and air-conditionings, electrical, and plumbing system for two years. If you do go this direction, read through the warranty carefully—paying attention to the fine print, and weight the cost of the warranty.

As you work with your Realtor on purchasing a new home, you may find that building from the bottom up is your best choice. If that is the case, ask your real estate agent to help you negotiate with the builder for an excellent and in writing contract.

Real estate agents know how to read between the lines of contracts, and your Realtor must represent you in the agreement. As you near the possession date, hopefully you can approach your new home with excitement, and celebrate your newest investment.

This article was provided by Mitch Ribak a Melbourne FL real estate agent who specializes in helping home buyers find their dream homes in the Palm Bay real estate market. You can search for your dream home on his Melbourne Beach FL real estate website.

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4 Cursed West Coast Ghost Towns to Visit

by admin on February 17, 2012

4 Cursed West Coast Ghost Towns to Visit1) Bodie, California

This lifeless west coast town has its own paranormal protection against looters and thieves. More than one hundred years ago, the town was abandoned by town members. The homes, church houses and business structures that make up the Bodie State Historic Park were left as is. They simply walked away, leaving tables, chairs, unopened bottles, pool ques, etc…

Some say this is because of the town curse, that is said to bring bad luck to anyone that steals from or loots in the town. Park rangers in charge of the area have reported visitors who have traveled all the way back to Bodie State Historic Park just bring back goods they’d stolen from the town. How far does this curse go to protect the goods of its town?

2) Rhyolite, Nevada

The home of the town’s saloon manager, Tom Kelly, is an interesting part of Rhyolite’s history. During the Old West days, material needed to build homes and other structures were very hard to come by in mining towns. So, Tom used what he had available… glass bottles. He used over 50,000 beer and glass medication bottles to build his home, which is still standing strong today.

According to legend, Tom, with the help of a mystery prostitute who was buried near his bottle home, still haunt the house. At one time this town had a population of 10,000 citizens. It became a ghost town around 1916. Although the town’s bank, train depot and portions of the jail are still there. But, as a ghost town, Rhyolite is now known for its great view of stars and meteor showers.

3) Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee is an fully restored mining town of the Old West days. In the heart of the town lies Copper Queen Hotel, a 4-story, 1800s lodging inn that is said to be haunted by no less than three ghosts. Hotel staff claims its haunted by a young boy who likes playing jokes on guests with their jewelry.

The “Bisbee Massacre” occurred here over two hundred years ago. Four people were murdered in the course of a robbery. Thieves were attempting to steal the Copper Queen Mine payroll. The leader was given a life sentence to be served in prison. But, a local mob got a hold of him and hung the mastermind from a telephone pole. Many believe he is one of the spirits that still haunts the town and hotel to this day.

4) Ruby, Arizona

The citizens of this town once believed that there was a curse placed on the local mercantile store. They believed this curse to be the reason for several deaths, including murders. According to legend, the store was constructed on top of an old priest’s grave site. The curse is said to be attached to the desecration of the grave of a man of God. Over a seven year period of time, the store was robbed two times. On both occasions, the employees were killed during the robberies.

Ruby became a ghost town around 1941. But, it still get visitors who are interested in visiting real, live West Coast ghost towns. There are quite a few of the original homes, businesses and other structures still standing, including the original walls of the store.

This guest blog was provided by Vickie Nagy, who helps home buyers and seller with their Pleasanton CA real estate needs. If you’re interested in skipping the ghost towns and living on Sunny California, check out Vickie’s website where you can view all homes for sale Blackhawk CA and homes for sale Livermore CA.

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6 Amazing Tips for the Real Estate Investor

by admin on February 13, 2012

6 Amazing Tips for the Real Estate InvestorOne of the biggest mistakes an entry-level real estate investor can make is investing in a property just because it’s beautiful. Real estate investments are not about curb-appeal. Ultimately, they are all about the return you stand to make on your real estate property investment.

Here are seven amazing tips to help you invest wisely and successfully:

1.      Invest, Not Accumulate

Remember that as an investor, your sole and “soul” goal is to make as much profit from your investment as possible. You want your investment to produce an income that’s worth the effort. Buying property that produces no income, you’re just accumulating property. This may be okay for your heirs, someday. But, it’s not a good investment today.

2.      Understand the Life Cycle of Your Investment Property

Every investor must, at some point in time, invest in the maintenance of their property. This will cost you money that will help to keep the value of the property rising. Some of these investments may include new roofing, updated electrical system, even central heating and air conditioning repairs. Your property has a life cycle. As long as you understand this, unexpected maintenance won’t be so unexpected when it’s time.

3.      Stay Focused on One Niche at a Time

Beginner property investors should start out focusing on one type of investment property at a time. That’s because it is better to do one thing well, than to do many things with low quality. Every single deal needs your full attention. By concentrating on mastering one property investment niche, you raise the chances of becoming an expert in that field: apartment buildings, retail stores, commercial land, etc…

4.      Get an Experienced Mentor

If you know someone who is experienced in real estate investing, get them to mentor you. They don’t have to hold your hand each step of the way. But, it would be wise to keep them informed of your plans of action. That way, they can advise you based on their own past mistakes. They can also help connect you to the right network of real estate experts that you wouldn’t have access to without their assistance.

5.      Protect Yourself and Your Assets

Lawsuits are an income for many people in the US. As a property investor, you must be sure to protect yourself against them. Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding whether you have enough protection:

  • What do you have to lose in a lawsuit?
  • Is your personal property, including your own home, protected from lawsuits?
  • Are any other investments you have separated from each other?

6.      Try to Get Non-Recourse Loans

This is only relevant if you’re investing in real estate property through a partnership. Non-recourse means that you are not personally guaranteeing your loan. This puts you at an advantage in two ways:

  1. You can be allowed to be removed from the loan if the partnership doesn’t work out.
  2. If the real estate investment fails, youu won’t be held personally responsible.

If you’re new to investing, don’t over extend yourself on the first deal. Make sure what you’re getting into is going to be a win-win situation and know your limits. Stay within budget, and don’t rely on emotions when buying. As said above, try to find a mentor and see if they would be willing to help you out if you gave them a small cut of the pie. If you have any more question about investing, you can talk to a Realtor who has the experience working with other investors.

If you enjoyed this guest blog, please stop by Allison Klein’s Fort Collins real estate website for more information. You can also find your first investment property in some of the Fort Collins neighborhoods including Old Town Fort Collins homes for sale and Observatory Village Fort Collins real estate.

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Why 80% Of For Sale by Owners Fail

by admin on February 7, 2012

Why 80% Of For Sale by Owners FailSelling your home on your own might seem like a great idea. Put a “For Sale by Owner” sign out in the yard, get the price that you ask for, and avoid having to pay a Realtor any commission.

In theory, it seems simple and smart. Sellers who try to sell on their own often imagine that the whole process will go more smoothly with less professionals involved. In practice, however, it rarely works. An overwhelming percentage of homes that go up “for sale by owner” end up being listed with a Realtor. Why?

Why 80% Of For Sale by Owners Fail

The failure of trying to sell your home on your own is typically do to lack of exposure and poor marketing. You may have a Facebook and a Twitter account that you can advertise your home on, but this won’t be enough. In order to market your home well, you have to be able to market to targeted potential buyers. Unless you are a Realtor, you do not have access to publishing your home in journal advertisements or real estate magazines.

You probably are not even quite sure how to write out the features of your home in a way that sells your home on paper to prospective buyers. Also, if you did feature your home in some type of ad, would you know how to photograph your home properly to attract prospective buyers? Without sufficient publicity, your home may very likely go unnoticed in the general housing market.

Also, you have no access, as a “non-Realtor,” to the Merritt Island real estate websites that market homes. While there are “for sale by owner” websites, they do not garner the website traffic that real estate websites do; this is a statistical fact. People who are in the market to purchase a home often just trust a Realtor and their websites more.

Why? Well, it seems to be a matter of trust; potential customers typically trust that Realtors know what they are talking about, know how to price a home, and know how to evaluate a home. Instead, you will only be able to rely on word of mouth, maybe placing an ad in newspapers, some social media, and hopes that people will drive by your home and notice your sign.

Hiring A Realtor Is A Smart Choice

Realtors are professionals at what they do. They are knowledgeable about the housing market in your area, and they know how to market your home. Unless you are a professional Realtor, frankly, you are an amateur Realtor. Do you trust your most valuable asset (your home) with an amateur?

Now, in theory, that does not make sense, does it? You are perhaps a professional in what you do every day, and your realty skills cannot measure up to that of a trained Realtor. So, go ahead and use a Realtor’s knowledge and skills to your advantage. Yes, you will have to pay them a commission fee, but the expense will be worth it.

Realtors have connections that you have probably never even considered. They know professional home stagers, they know professional real estate photographers, and they know people who are excellent at coming into a home and making minor repairs that can all lead to a major difference in the price that you get for your home.

Also, Realtors know what your home is really worth based on the current market in your area. They will price your home accurately and give you room to negotiate, most likely. This article is not meant to be discouraging; instead, its intent is to give you the facts on why “For Sale by Owner” is not the best way to go when attempting to sell your mot valuable asset. Instead, invest in and trust a professional to help.

This article was provided by Linda Wise a Merritt Island real estate agent. Please visit her website to search all Satellite Beach real estate and Titusville real estate and learn how her team can help you sell your home using a professional.

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New Furniture Design Ideas For A Cozy Home

by admin on February 6, 2012

New Furniture Design Ideas For A Cozy HomeFurniture is one thing that helps make a house a home. It adds character and emotion to a place otherwise dull and unresponsive. It talks to the people living in the house, as also with the visitors of the house.

Decorating a house is an adventure for many, and a passion for some other. While for the rest, furniture designing is just a task that needs to be completed as soon as it is started. Whichever category you may belong to, you are sure to like some of the new furniture design ideas listed below – ideas that define the current trend and make for an amazingly welcoming house like never before!

A silent shout

One of the latest furniture trends in housing is a silent shout – a shout that makes more impact than the regular one. As the name suggests, it is the idea of putting a strikingly hot fuchsia colored sitting table at the center of a subtly made up gray tones of the room. Though you can change the color combination as per your liking, a bright, lone, look-at-me-now piece of furniture in a subtly played out room is one of the best design ideas to bring out the life of your room in a very playful manner.

Create a new trend, let there be a shout in every room!

Tell your comic tale

Comics were everyone’s best friends in the childhood. They can become your playmate even now, with a very stylish comic book shelf in the study room. With shelves designed in the shape of a thought bubble, you can bring to life the joyfulness and the earnestness of the reading of your younger days. And if you have kids in the house, you will be amazed how much more time they now love to spend in the reading room. With each book in this shelf talking to you in its own language, you are bound to enjoy reading more than ever before!

Let your furniture tell a new tale!

Light lights!

If you are someone who believes that home should be a fun and interesting place to live in, balloon lights are definitely for you. This amazing new furniture design idea has taken the design world by the storm. Lights in the shape of balloons, floating up and touching the ceiling make for an interesting and playful addition to the room. With a playful on-off mode in the form of a thread hanging at the bottom of the balloon, there is no better way to design the living room or even the kids room.

With lights as light as a balloon, you will definitely be in a happy mood, all the time!

Rest well, rest pretty

Armchairs may not suit every interior theme, but if the décor of your house permits, make sure that you pick up one of the stylish and artistic ones. Artistic armchairs with whimsical designs in a throne-like appearance are interestingly unique and fascinatingly so. In a room that is well behaved and decent, put up a quirky armchair made of suede or leather designed to look creatively beautiful. This will bring about a creative look and feel to your house and will serve as a conversation starter in many a difficult home encounters. The best part about these imaginative armchairs is that they are comfortable and are designed to make sure you get a good rest, every time you need it.

Rest well on these pretty chairs, they are artistically designed for just that!

Furniture trends keep changing, and it is not possible to remake your house with every trend. So make sure you choose the designs that you love, as you have to live with them till you can afford a new round of designing – for newness and for fun!

About the Author – Paula Henry is an Brownsburg Real Estate agent. Visit her website to search hundreds of Brownsburg Indiana Homes for Sale and find more information about buying or selling a home at her Indianapolis Real Estate Blog.

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