Saturday, December 20, 2014

When Good Renovations Go Bad

When Good Renovations Go Bad


 It is common sense to think that if you fix up your place, maybe add a little more counter space in the kitchen or maybe another bathroom, you’ll be able to sell your home for more than you bought it for. And in most cases, you would be right. But in a recent study done by Remodelling Magazine, there are some renovations that can actually cost you money and hurt the value of your house.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

HomeOwners Insurance






Choosing the Right Home Owners Insurance for Your Situation

Buying a home is more than just walking into a house.  Not only do you want to make sure that you have the right investments set in place, but you also want to make sure that you have the right things to protect you in case something happens.  Having home owners insurance is an important part of investing in real estate and into moving into a home. 

Friday, November 28, 2014

Buying Unfinished Homes


Buying Unfinished Homes

Unfinished homes present a great way to save a lot of money and get yourself a new home in the process.  If you buy an unfinished home, you can keep your monthly mortgage payment low and also lower your initial investment.  You may also be able to buy a larger foundation size as well, which you can easily add on to and save money in the process.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

What Type of Loan is That


What Type of Loan is That

Getting into real estate property is based off of the idea of money.  Your exchange of money will give you exactly what you want for a home.  Within each different type of loan that you decide to get will be different divisions on how you can pay off your home or office space.  If you know the terms and types of loans that are available to you, it will be easier to move your furniture into the right place. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Buying property abroad


Buying property abroad

It is said that no two countries in the world have the same legal systems, nor are the systems and policies that rule the acquisition of property the same. Unfortunately, people who are buying property abroad often assume otherwise, making them susceptible of getting into a mad run with the legal intricacies of a foreign property market.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Must Read Tips on Buying A Home


The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!

But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.

Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?

Friday, October 3, 2014

Avoiding Extra High Financing Costs


 Did you know that there are ways for you to pay less while you own more?  If you know exactly how to work with the real estate market, then you can also find ways to avoid extra financing costs.  By finding the right area to focus on for your investment, you will be able to pay lower amounts without extra charges. 

One of the easiest ways to avoid extra costs is to make sure that you pay your loan on time.  Usually, mortgage companies will add in extra finances if you don't pay by a date that they have set for you.  Over a specific amount of time, this can cause you to pay hundreds of extra dollars in financing at one time.  Staying ahead and consistent will help you to keep costs stable and lower. 

Monday, September 29, 2014

Acting Into Appraisals


Investments, terms for loans, processes, and other parts of real estate can often be overwhelming to someone who hasn't received a degree in real estate.  If you are looking for definitions and actions behind those definitions, then don't forget about getting the right appraisals.  This will help you if you are looking for the right market for your home.

Friday, September 26, 2014

A Second Home: Take it or Leave it?




 For many, wanderlust is just a part of life. You buy a beautiful home somewhere, settle down, have a family, but there is always a part of you that’s itching to get away. Vacations are part of that wanderlust; the chance to get away someplace beautiful. And then you see it. The local newspaper at your vacation destination, and lo and behold, there is a real estate section right there. Dare you even look? You can’t afford it, can you? Two homes? Is dual home ownership for you?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Is There Really A Need for Sustainable Green Housing?


Anchored on the growing issues of climate change and global warming, sustainable green housing plans and developments have been at the forefront of many real estate company portfolios. The reasons that green housing are more sustainable than the traditional or conventional houses become a primary key point in lobbying these types of homes to modern-day home buyers. The demand for more eco-friendly houses is seen to be doubling incredibly. But sans its purchasing price, is there really a need for sustainable green housing. The rest of the article attempts to explain.

Energy-efficiency

Monday, May 26, 2014

Characteristics of Green Real Estate


The face of the real estate industry has changed over the fast few years. These changes are primarily due to the changing preferences of home buyers. Today, it is very common to see advertisements from real estate agents and brokers highlighting that homes on their lists are classified as eco-friendly or environmental friendly. Sounds good because you could be helping the environment but what are the characteristics of green real estate that you should look for when you are buying your own house.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Green Real Estates


Over the past decade, more people have become interested in helping the environment than ever before. One of the best ways to help the environment is to focus on consuming as little as possible while avoiding using energy when it is not necessary. As a result, a number products of come on the market that can help people do more using less energy. There are, however, other techniques set up been employed in recent years. Today, green real estate has become popular, and buyers often look to purchase homes that designed to operate as efficiently as possible. Here are a few common elements of green real estate.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Plan Ahead for New Home Construction


Location, Location, Location

New home construction is an exciting adventure that many people dream about for years. There are a myriad of details to be considered before you get started. One choice you will have to make is the actual location. You will need to think through several questions like these before making a final determination about location.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Fix and Flip. Fact or Fiction



There are many shows on A & E sharing the concept of fixing and flipping properties. These shows reveal how properties are purchased, rehabbed and sold. Most of the time there is a profit for the investor.

I like these shows. You get to see some great ideas on how to convert properties so they can be resold at a high price. Overall the concept is good.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Planned Communities Pros and Cons


Planned communities are not exactly new. They've been around for decades. However, they have definitely evolved and are a far cry from developments of years gone by. If you are considering such a move, there are some things you'll want to consider.

Pros

Costs - It is a fact that they provide a wide array of housing prices. This makes it easy for a buyer to find a home that is a good fit financially. They can offer attractive cost options for both the first-time buyer and the experienced homeowner looking to make that final retirement purchase.

Security - With features like patrolled security and gated access, residents feel safer. In addition, these properties generally attract residents who are security-conscious and will look out for neighbors.

Shared Amenities - One of the biggest attractions are the shared amenities offered. You may not want a pool in your backyard because of the upkeep; but it's nice to have access to the neighborhood pool. Other features such as biking and jogging trails, playgrounds, golf courses, and even water parks only add to the appeal for prospective residents.

Home Design Options - When building, homeowners generally have options to individualize their home designs. This is appealing to many buyers who don't want a cookie-cutter look for their homes.

Cons


Resale - These communities are constantly being developed. Because of this, if you find you need to resell within a short period of time, it might be difficult. Existing and new homes can end up competing on the market--meaning resale could take longer than you hoped for.

Density - The large number of residents could mean that you will experience more traffic flow or have periods where there is a greater amount of commuter congestion. The amount of space per lot can also feel like it is at a premium.

Limited privacy - Because of the density factor, homeowners live close to one another. This results in limited privacy for residents.

High HOA Fees - Homeowner association (HOA) fees must be paid and can be pricey. However, they are not "hidden fees." The homeowner is aware of these costs at the time of purchase. If not paid, the HOA can take legal action. However, because these fees are used for maintenance, the homeowner reaps the benefit of living in a well-kept community.

Property Restrictions - Individuals may have limitations regarding what they can or cannot do on their property. For instance, fences may have height or building material restrictions. Your HOA may have to grant approval before changes can be made on your property.

In any situation, there are both pros and cons. Homebuyers choosing to live here know the options upfront. They will have to weigh those choices and evaluate their lifestyle to see if something is a deal breaker for them. However, the fact that they are more popular now than ever suggests that there is definitely an upside.

Check out information on planned communities in San Marcos.

http://www.blancovista.com/

Marsha Gordon

Monday, January 13, 2014

What the Green Building Industry Can Learn From Motorola



Whether driven by a genuine desire to reduce their environmental footprint, or simply to insulate themselves against rising costs, energy efficiency is becoming a significant organizational goal for many companies around the country. In order to achieve these goals, businesses are looking for direction on how they can have their buildings' designed and/or operated to consume as little energy as possible. 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Going Green Is Not So Difficult After All


People, who are worried about the declining status of the earth, are constantly on the lookout for ways with which they can reduce the carbon footprint and the effect that they have on the environment. The main cause for the carbon footprint is the increasing dependence that one has on non-renewable sources of energy. However, to reduce this dependence there are a number of simple steps that one can take, such as driving a hybrid vehicle, using eco-friendly electric appliances and recycling and reusing, as much as possible. These steps are simple and have a great effect on the overall improvement of the condition of environment.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Green Real Estate - Characteristics of Green Real Estate



The face of the real estate industry has changed over the fast few years. These changes are primarily due to the changing preferences of home buyers. Today, it is very common to see advertisements from real estate agents and brokers highlighting that homes on their lists are classified as eco-friendly or environmental friendly. Sounds good because you could be helping the environment but what are the characteristics of green real estate that you should look for when you are buying your own house.