Home ownership is important to families and communities! View this video! http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1785312249?bclid=1740033302&bctid=664750407001
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tips to Keep Your Home Safe and Sound
RISMEDIA, November 1, 2010—The well-being of our family is a priority all year, but is especially considered during the holidays when statistics about accidents abound. Most of us, with the possible exception of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, take extra precautions for the holiday season. If you’re buying or selling a home, here are a few tips for safety and security that ensure a safe and happy home during the holidays, and all year long.
1. Protect little ones.Whether you are preparing for a visit from your grandkids, nieces and nephews, or you have kids of your own, a child-proofing kit makes safety easy with grip-and-twist doorknob covers, latches and plug protectors.• Child-proofing kit (Safety 1st, #42023), oven lock (Safety 1st, #62342), cord channel kit (#69682)
2. Mark and secure entries.The holidays can be prime time for burglaries, but updating your locks with an electronic deadbolt system can provide added peace of mind. If you install a set with a numeric keypad, you’ll never have to worry about leaving keys for your guests again. Mark your entry with path lights that clearly guide the way to the door.• Deadbolt entry set (Schlage, #40179), LED metal path lights (Portfolio, #284341)
3. Clear the air.Place an air purifier in the guest room and common areas to remove allergens (especially pet dander) and prevent the spread of cold and flu germs. Choose one with a true HEPA filter for maximum effectiveness.• 200 CADR air purifier with UV-C (Idylis, #302654)
4. Be fire smart.With holiday lights, candles and lots of cooking in the kitchen, it’s important to be prepared. Safeguard your family by keeping an extinguisher on hand for small fires, and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Check the batteries frequently to make sure they are in working order.• Basic fire extinguisher (Kidde, #3741), voice-alert carbon monoxide/smoke alarm (Kidde, #143036)
5. Equip your bath.It’s a snap to convert your guest bath into a safer place for older guests and young children. Add a grab bar to make getting in and out of the tub easier, and a durable bath mat to help prevent slips in the shower.• Bath safety bar (16½ -inch, #191936), rubber bath mat (Style Selections, #6777)
For more information and ideas, please visit www.lowescreativeideas.com.
This article is adapted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Home and Garden®, November/December 2010 issue, Style & Solutions – Home Safety.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.
Have you heard about RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)? RREIN is an elite network of leading real estate companies dedicated to providing consumers and their agents with leading real estate information, and committed to the belief that Information Share Equals Market Share. Having only launched this past June 2010, the RREIN network is already comprised of 40 leading brokerages, which make up 575 offices, 30,000 agents, 167,000 closings and represents over $41 billion in transactions. How can RREIN help your recruiting efforts and differentiate your company today? For more information, email rrein@rismedia.com.
Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.
1. Protect little ones.Whether you are preparing for a visit from your grandkids, nieces and nephews, or you have kids of your own, a child-proofing kit makes safety easy with grip-and-twist doorknob covers, latches and plug protectors.• Child-proofing kit (Safety 1st, #42023), oven lock (Safety 1st, #62342), cord channel kit (#69682)
2. Mark and secure entries.The holidays can be prime time for burglaries, but updating your locks with an electronic deadbolt system can provide added peace of mind. If you install a set with a numeric keypad, you’ll never have to worry about leaving keys for your guests again. Mark your entry with path lights that clearly guide the way to the door.• Deadbolt entry set (Schlage, #40179), LED metal path lights (Portfolio, #284341)
3. Clear the air.Place an air purifier in the guest room and common areas to remove allergens (especially pet dander) and prevent the spread of cold and flu germs. Choose one with a true HEPA filter for maximum effectiveness.• 200 CADR air purifier with UV-C (Idylis, #302654)
4. Be fire smart.With holiday lights, candles and lots of cooking in the kitchen, it’s important to be prepared. Safeguard your family by keeping an extinguisher on hand for small fires, and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Check the batteries frequently to make sure they are in working order.• Basic fire extinguisher (Kidde, #3741), voice-alert carbon monoxide/smoke alarm (Kidde, #143036)
5. Equip your bath.It’s a snap to convert your guest bath into a safer place for older guests and young children. Add a grab bar to make getting in and out of the tub easier, and a durable bath mat to help prevent slips in the shower.• Bath safety bar (16½ -inch, #191936), rubber bath mat (Style Selections, #6777)
For more information and ideas, please visit www.lowescreativeideas.com.
This article is adapted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Home and Garden®, November/December 2010 issue, Style & Solutions – Home Safety.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.
Have you heard about RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)? RREIN is an elite network of leading real estate companies dedicated to providing consumers and their agents with leading real estate information, and committed to the belief that Information Share Equals Market Share. Having only launched this past June 2010, the RREIN network is already comprised of 40 leading brokerages, which make up 575 offices, 30,000 agents, 167,000 closings and represents over $41 billion in transactions. How can RREIN help your recruiting efforts and differentiate your company today? For more information, email rrein@rismedia.com.
Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Winter is a good time to sell!
Crafty Ideas for Winter Curb Appeal
Yes, it's still possible to create great curb appeal when it's cold and gray outside.
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
November 2010
During summer months when gardens are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, curb appeal comes naturally to many homes. But when the autumn chill turns to winter cold and the sun sets earlier in the day, it becomes more difficult to create that inviting exterior look that grabs buyers from the curb.
Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario—a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity.
She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips:
1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home’s winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door, suggests Elizabeth Lord, broker with Carolina Farms & Estates LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores), Storozuk says. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball—a mirrored glass ball available in various colors—into the display.
3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman- or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don’t crack, Storozuk says. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the outdoor space.
4. Light it bright. During the winter, it’s more likely that buyers will be viewing home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features, Storozuk says. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, Michele Thompson, broker-owner of White Fence Real Estate in Vevay, Ind., takes photos of listings at night with all of the interior lights on—the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash, and use a tripod to avoid blurring, she says.
5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space, Storozuk says. If the home has a hot tub, leave that open and running during showings as well.
6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. “Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck,” says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. “Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting,” she says.
7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. “This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of year,” Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what’s planted where. “Perennials can be expensive,” she says, “so treat them as a selling feature.”
8. Don’t forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home’s patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.
Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® magazine. She can be reached at mtracey@realtors.org.
Yes, it's still possible to create great curb appeal when it's cold and gray outside.
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
November 2010
During summer months when gardens are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, curb appeal comes naturally to many homes. But when the autumn chill turns to winter cold and the sun sets earlier in the day, it becomes more difficult to create that inviting exterior look that grabs buyers from the curb.
Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario—a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity.
She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips:
1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home’s winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door, suggests Elizabeth Lord, broker with Carolina Farms & Estates LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores), Storozuk says. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball—a mirrored glass ball available in various colors—into the display.
3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman- or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don’t crack, Storozuk says. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the outdoor space.
4. Light it bright. During the winter, it’s more likely that buyers will be viewing home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features, Storozuk says. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, Michele Thompson, broker-owner of White Fence Real Estate in Vevay, Ind., takes photos of listings at night with all of the interior lights on—the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash, and use a tripod to avoid blurring, she says.
5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space, Storozuk says. If the home has a hot tub, leave that open and running during showings as well.
6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. “Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck,” says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. “Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting,” she says.
7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. “This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of year,” Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what’s planted where. “Perennials can be expensive,” she says, “so treat them as a selling feature.”
8. Don’t forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home’s patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.
Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® magazine. She can be reached at mtracey@realtors.org.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
September Existing-Home Sales Show Another Strong Gain
Washington, October 25, 2010
Existing-home sales rose again in September, affirming that a sales recovery has begun, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, jumped 10.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million in September from a downwardly revised 4.12 million in August, but remain 19.1 percent below the 5.60 million-unit pace in September 2009 when first-time buyers were ramping up in advance of the initial deadline for the tax credit last November.
Existing-home sales in the Midwest jumped 14.5 percent in September to a level of 950,000 but are 26.4 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, down 5.2 percent from September 2009.
Existing-home sales for October will be released at 10 a.m. EST November 23. The next Pending Home Sales Index is scheduled for November 5; released at 12:30 p.m. EDT from NAR’s 2010 Conference & Expo in New Orleans; a news conference there begins at noon EDT, which also will cover the 2011 housing and economic forecast.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data in this release, other tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.
For the full report, go to http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/10/sept_strong
Existing-home sales rose again in September, affirming that a sales recovery has begun, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, jumped 10.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million in September from a downwardly revised 4.12 million in August, but remain 19.1 percent below the 5.60 million-unit pace in September 2009 when first-time buyers were ramping up in advance of the initial deadline for the tax credit last November.
Existing-home sales in the Midwest jumped 14.5 percent in September to a level of 950,000 but are 26.4 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, down 5.2 percent from September 2009.
Existing-home sales for October will be released at 10 a.m. EST November 23. The next Pending Home Sales Index is scheduled for November 5; released at 12:30 p.m. EDT from NAR’s 2010 Conference & Expo in New Orleans; a news conference there begins at noon EDT, which also will cover the 2011 housing and economic forecast.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data in this release, other tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.
For the full report, go to http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/10/sept_strong
Monday, October 25, 2010
What Affects Credit Scores? 7 Misconceptions
If you’re trying to raise your credit score to get a good rate for a refinance or HELOC, you might be surprised by what affects—or doesn’t affect—your score.Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/what-affects-credit-scores-7-misconceptions/#ixzz13PJUIOyj
Friday, October 15, 2010
Division of Real Estate Offers Tips for Consumers Who Buy or Sell Real Estate
The Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing has been working hard to prevent con artist activity. Through outreach and publications, the division aims to educate consumers about steps they can take to protect themselves prior to buying or selling real estate.
The recent housing market crash created a potential gateway for scammers. In response, the Division of Real Estate created a list of tips for consumers to consider before engaging in real estate activity. The tips include: know your real estate agent, choose a lender and be aware of requirements, understand earnest money and trust accounts, hire an attorney to review paperwork and ask questions often. Consumers can achieve the first tip easily by accessing the division's License Information Lookup---a database that includes relevant license information about the roughly 50,000 licensees it regulates---to find a licensed real estate professional. Working with one of the many licensed real estate professionals in Ohio can be one of the most important ways to ensure a successful, safe real estate transaction.
In addition to making its new publication available online, the Division of Real Estate has participated in National Consumer Protection Week events, professional conferences and the Department of Commerce's display at the Ohio State Fair to inform consumers of methods they should employ to ensure a successful buying or selling experience.
The recent housing market crash created a potential gateway for scammers. In response, the Division of Real Estate created a list of tips for consumers to consider before engaging in real estate activity. The tips include: know your real estate agent, choose a lender and be aware of requirements, understand earnest money and trust accounts, hire an attorney to review paperwork and ask questions often. Consumers can achieve the first tip easily by accessing the division's License Information Lookup---a database that includes relevant license information about the roughly 50,000 licensees it regulates---to find a licensed real estate professional. Working with one of the many licensed real estate professionals in Ohio can be one of the most important ways to ensure a successful, safe real estate transaction.
In addition to making its new publication available online, the Division of Real Estate has participated in National Consumer Protection Week events, professional conferences and the Department of Commerce's display at the Ohio State Fair to inform consumers of methods they should employ to ensure a successful buying or selling experience.
DFI Offers Advice on How Consumers May Protect Against ATM Skimmers
The Division of Financial Institutions is warning consumers to protect themselves from a new trend in identity theft: ATM skimmers. ATM skimmers are devices that thieves install on ATM machines to steal consumers' banking information. Skimming devices may be placed over or alongside card-reading devices on ATM machines. Thieves also may install a small camera on the machine to record users' pin numbers. The following tips may help you to protect yourself from ATM skimmers:
Beware of ATM machines with exposed wires, a loose scanner, multiple scanning devices, or a sticker that says "scan here first." If you spot any of these things, do not use the machine.
Do not use an ATM if someone offers to assist you with your transaction. Criminals may pose as another customer, a bank employee or a machine technician to make sure you use a skimming device.
Be secretive when entering your pin number. Cover the keys with one hand in case someone is looking over your shoulder or there is a hidden camera nearby.
Only use ATM machines that are familiar to you. This will help you recognize any tampering that has occurred with the machine.
Use ATM machines owned by your financial institution. These machines are often located in places where criminals cannot install their devices. Check the balance on your ATM card often so that if someone steals your information, you can minimize the damage. The faster you respond to ATM card theft, the sooner your financial institution may begin helping you recover any loss.
Beware of ATM machines with exposed wires, a loose scanner, multiple scanning devices, or a sticker that says "scan here first." If you spot any of these things, do not use the machine.
Do not use an ATM if someone offers to assist you with your transaction. Criminals may pose as another customer, a bank employee or a machine technician to make sure you use a skimming device.
Be secretive when entering your pin number. Cover the keys with one hand in case someone is looking over your shoulder or there is a hidden camera nearby.
Only use ATM machines that are familiar to you. This will help you recognize any tampering that has occurred with the machine.
Use ATM machines owned by your financial institution. These machines are often located in places where criminals cannot install their devices. Check the balance on your ATM card often so that if someone steals your information, you can minimize the damage. The faster you respond to ATM card theft, the sooner your financial institution may begin helping you recover any loss.
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