The Real Deal

Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money or even a lot of time. Sometimes, you don’t have to look any further than your own pantry to find the ingredients you need! Here’s a basic “recipe” for a window cleaner; feel free to check out the whole article by visiting the link below.

The first time you clean your windows with a homemade vinegar solution, include a few drops of dish detergent to eliminate the waxy buildup. Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle for streak-free windows:

• ¼-cup white vinegar
• ¼- to ½-tsp. eco-friendly dish detergent
• 2 cups water

After an inaugural washing, keep your windows spotless with a window cleaning solution made from 2 teaspoons white vinegar mixed in 1 quart warm water. (Too much vinegar can etch window glass, which results in clouding.)

Here’s the whole article:
http://www.houselogic.com/articles/green-window-cleaning-makes-glass-pane-fully-clear/

Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Some people have heard of grant money that is available to help first-time homebuyers achieve their dream of owning a home, but most don’t know how to find it. Check out this great article written by my real estate team’s leader on decoding some of the grant money mysteries: http://essex.patch.com/articles/free-money-available-for-first-time-homebuyers

My team and I work with some great lenders in the Maryland area that can walk you through this process. Feel free to give me a call or send me an email for more information!

Did you know that more than 70% of the energy used in our homes is for appliances, refrigeration, space heating, cooling, and water heating? Replacing old appliances and equipment with those that are ENERGY STAR labeled can help you save significantly on your utility bills. Each state and territory has selected its own set of ENERGY STAR qualified products to rebate, based on this DOE list of recommended appliances:

- Boilers
- Central air conditioners
- Clothes washers
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Furnaces (oil and gas)
- Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
- Refrigerators
- Room air conditioners
- Water heaters

To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. For more information on products and how you can save money and our earth, go to the EPA’s page on Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/

Last week I discussed some of the benefits of buying a foreclosure or a short sale property. Today I want to mention a few things to be aware of before committing to a distressed home.

1. Sometimes these types of properties are in very poor condition and require a lot of repairs to make them livable and comfortable. If you find one that you’re really interested in, take a qualified inspector or contractor to see it with you BEFORE you make an offer so you have an idea of what it will cost to fix it up. There’s no point in buying a place that will end up costing you more time and money than a comparable house in good condition.

2. Be prepared to wait. There’ s nothing “short” about a short sale, and even foreclosures can take longer than the typical home sale. If you have a lease that is about to run out, make sure you have alternative living arrangements in case your settlement takes longer than you expect.

3. Distressed properties can sometimes be tricky to finance. Unless you’re coming in with cash or getting a conventional loan, lenders may have trouble getting approval for a property that has major problems. Talk to your loan officer about the options available to you and find out what the potential repair requirements of your loan may be.

Depending on your perspective, buying a foreclosure or a short sale property may seem like either the best or the worst idea in the world. This week I will discuss a few benefits to buying in this type of market, and next week I’ll discuss some of the things you should watch out for when buying a distressed home.

1. When properly researched, a distressed property may yield a significant amount of equity in a very short period of time. These homes have to be sold quickly, so the prices are often far below market value. Since real estate is widely considered an excellent way to invest, having equity in a market in which most people are losing value is a great advantage.

2. Although the term “distressed” often conjures up images of houses in bad areas on the verge of collapse, the reality is that the mortgage crisis has affected borrowers of all kinds. It’s not unusual to find a short sale or foreclosure in a desirable area that needs minimal repairs. This allows new or move-up buyers to purchase in areas that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

3. The government, various financial institutions, and savvy Realtors are working together to streamline the distressed property sale process. Although it’s by no means perfect, it’s starting to become easier to process these transactions in a shorter amount of time.

Interested in taking a chance on a distressed property, but not really sure how to pay for the repairs it will need? A 203k Rehabilitation Loan may be just what you’re looking for!

* Loan amounts up to county limits, which includes the sales price AND the cost of repairs

* Up to 6 months to complete the work

* Eligible expenses can be included in the cost of the rehab

* Improvements can be structural, modernization, health or safety

* Eligible work includes: roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, painting, appliance replacement, remodeling, or weatherization

Contact me to find lenders in the area who can help you finance that fixer-upper!

Think you missed out on getting help to buy a house? The tax credit may be gone, but there are still many programs available to qualified buyers through select lenders. There are a variety of grants and fund-matching programs that offer thousands of dollars towards closing costs and even your down payment! Don’t miss out on these opportunities–funds ARE limited, and it’s first-come, first-serve. Contact me for more information!

We’ve all heard the saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, but we don’t always think of it when we’re selling our homes. If your home has been on the market for a while, take a good look at your surroundings. Do you have a Barbie Pink nursery, a Bananarama Yellow playroom, or a Ravens Purple man-cave? While those colors may be perfect for you and your family, they may also be causing potential buyers to envision weeks of painting parties in their future. And although the thought of hauling out paint supplies gives most of us the willies, a weekend of work to transform a room into a more neutral oasis will definitely pay off. Just make sure to tape off ceilings and trim for a nice, crisp finish, and don’t forget to have new pictures taken for your online listing when you’re done!

From that first day of school, to our first date, to that crucial job interview, we all want to create the best first impression possible for the most important events in our lives. Why? Because we all know that making a solid first impression increases our chances for success!

Selling your home is a very important event, so why not make the best first impression to increase your chances of selling it in a timely manner? Over 90% of buyers are now using the Internet to search for homes, and since there is so much competition in the market nowadays, your home should stand out from the rest with bright, crisp, well-composed photos. If the online pictures of your house are dark, blurry, or grainy, your house may not get the chance to impress in person, because it may be passed over in the initial buyer selection process in favor of a house that looks more inviting. Make sure your agent uses a professional photographer, that (s)he can show you examples of their other listings, or that you can use some of your own good pictures so that you get the best online presence possible. This will increase your chances of getting a showing, which then increases your chances of getting an offer!

Hello visitors! I’m very excited to be bringing you real estate information via “The Real Deal”, my new blog on BaltimoreAgent.net! Here you will find helpful tips, important real estate news, and interactive discussions on everything real estate. Keep checking in, and feel free to comment!