Posts Comments

Is Original Woodwork Worth It?

When you first buy a house in an older neighborhood, you might be tempted to restore all of the woodwork inside the house to its original splendor. However, in a lot of neighborhoods this kind of restoration effort is nowhere near justified for the additional rents you won’t get out of it. You need to carefully choose your investment of effort here.

While you might think that all you have to do is use a little sandpaper and it’ll act like a magic wand, in most cases this just won’t come to pass. First off, most of the homes old enough to have great wooden trim also have several layers of subsequent paint over it. This paint often contains lead, which will take you into either irresponsible territory or a lot of hassles to meet EPA requirements. Painting over it is just easier. However, there are times when it’s worth the investment of effort.

One of those times is when you’re dealing with an area where high price points are the norm. You can take a home that has good systems and make it into a great place to sell or rent out, and get appropriate prices to go alongside your sweat equity. However, if the neighborhood you’re dealing with has dependent families, boarded up houses and lawns that get mown by the local authorities your potential buyers and tenants likely won’t care about such characteristics. While they might find it attractive, they generally won’t pay any more for it.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , ,

Protecing Trees from Construction

Old Shade Tree In The Churchyard 

Image by A. Davey via Flickr

Buying that perfect plot of land for your dream house is just as important as the materials used to build the home. Chances are you’ve picked the location for its natural beauty, stunning shade trees, and convenient neighborhood, but if your recent purchase requires any amount of land clearing prior to building, remember to protect those trees.

Mature trees provide shade that can help lower a home’s energy costs and increase land value, so leveling the land is the last thing you want to do. Once you’ve determined where the house will go, inform your contractor which trees and other forms of plant life will be kept intact. Be committed to this conservation and ask your contractor what he or she will do to safeguard the environment surrounding your future home.

Trees can be seriously damaged by construction activities, and this damage often occurs at the roots. Mark the trees with an “Off Limits” sign construction workers can clearly see, and allow enough space for these signs or temporary fencing to incorporate the underlying root system. Monitor the construction site regularly. This alone will alert workers to your commitment to preserving the surrounding environment.

Avoid placing utility lines in critical root zones. If this proves impossible, opt for tunneling under root systems instead of trenching through. It may cost more money up front, but the shade trees will save on energy costs for years to come.

Save younger trees by transplanting them and chip any damaged or dead trees. Large trees almost never survive within five feet of the construction site, so keep this in mind when laying the home’s foundation.

 

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Construction Tagged With: , ,

"Green" Restorations

NORCO, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2010) Construction work... 

Image via Wikipedia

Restoring a historic home is both an exciting and daunting task, and even more so when you want to be environmentally friendly about it. Despite preconceived notions, including reclaimed products and green technology doesn’t have to deflect from the home’s original character.

First of all, hire a contractor that has the knowledge and experience to take on a sustainable renovation project. Ask the contractor if he or she re-uses demolition debris, recycles, and works with reclaimed materials. Some contractors simply will not work with used material, so get this information up front.

Many historic buildings are energy efficient due to their quality of construction, but others require improvements. Consider an ultra-efficient HVAC system, spray-foam insulation, low flow plumbing fixtures, and an efficient hot water heater. When remodeling an old kitchen, install energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy and water use. None of these additions will detract from the historic character of the home and will only save you money in the long run. You also want to ensure the home has proper ventilation to prevent unwanted moisture and mold, which can be a problem in most historic homes.

Depending on how much you wish to spend on the overall renovation, consider solar panel installations and energy-efficient lighting with dimmer switches. LED lights save money on the electric bill and can even be run on solar energy alone. Also shop around town for reclaimed furniture, windows, and other materials to incorporate in the remodel.

A little planning and determination go a long way in renovating your historic home, ensuring that sustainability doesn’t have to be compromised.

 

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,

Construction Loans

You’ve purchased or inherited land and are now set to build your dream home. Should be pretty simple, right? You would certainly think so.

In reality, construction loans are harder to come by than traditional mortgages. Not all lenders offer construction loans and those that do want to know every detail of your planned construction. These loans are short-term, interest-only, and are designed to revert to a traditional mortgage upon construction completion. They come in two types: the construction-to-permanent loan and the construction-only loan.

The construction-to-permanent loan, or all-in-one loan, automatically changes to a standard mortgage once the home is built. The advantage to this type is that it only requires one application and one closing.

The construction-only loan must be paid off or replaced with a conventional mortgage at the end of construction. The advantage here is that a borrower can shop around and select from thousands of conventional lenders rather than being restricted to construction-only lenders.

Regardless of the type of construction loan, the interest rate is generally fixed for the construction period. They also don’t pay out all at once. Lenders will figure up a schedule of your construction stages and hand out the funds for each stage. Most lenders also insist that you hire a professional contractor.

The best way to stick to your budget is to make a plan and live by it. It’s easy to get carried away in splurging on fancy bathroom fixtures or surface upgrades, but you may run out of money before the construction is completed. Practice a little self-control and you’ll have the home of your dreams in no time!

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Construction Tagged With: , ,

Best Style on One Product

Do you often change your wallet? Are you among those whom often feel confused when choosing a wallet which suitable for you? If so, of course you need assistance for selecting wallet products which would satisfy your desire, and at the same time, can make you remain stylish. Indeed, it is most needed, especially when you realize that it is not easy to choose one of the many wallet products of which today have many design that being offered in the market.

However, you may want to consider choosing particular type like aluma wallet, in which the latter is often referred to as the mother of all kinds of wallet. Such titles may sound excessive to us, but of course it was not come from empty space. Products like Aluma was made from the best (or rather die-cast aluminum material) which is almost indestructible, in addition, this product has 4 color options, waterproof, and have a longer durability than other brands.

In conclusion, you would not feel loss when using this product. With many advantages which can be found on it, aluma wallet represents the best option for those of you who prioritize style, as well as optimal function which can be provided by a wallet.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Funding your real estate purchase

Logo of the Federal Housing Administration.

Image via Wikipedia

Getting funded for a real estate purchase shouldn’t be something to dread. There are many different options when it comes to paying for your property. Grants can be obtained with some research and doing some paperwork. Loans, of course, are the most common form of payment for a piece of property.

The are several different types of loans that you can get approved for. A fixed loan is a loan that has a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. These types of loans generally come in a 15 or 30 year term with a fixed monthly payment. Your monthly payment is split between the principle and the interest. This is often the best choice in a volatile market that has fluctuating rates.

Adjustable rate mortgages, or ARM, have a fixed interest rate for a period of time and then adjust yearly after that. The most common ARM’s are 5 and 7 year, but longer periods of the initial fixed rate can be obtained. The drawback to these types of loans is that you pay only interest with your monthly payments and when the loan matures, you are required to pay to balance in full or refinance again.

Government back loans are guaranteed or backed by the federal government. Two types of the these are the FHA loan that is backed by the Federal Housing Administration and the VA loan, which is backed by the Department of Veteran Affairs. These types of loans tend to have a maximum amount allowed for the loan, but that amount varies by county.

Filed Under: Real Estate Markets Tagged With: , ,

Real estate in a down market

Half million dollar house in Salinas, Californ...

Image via Wikipedia

Making a real estate purchase is usually one of the biggest purchases in a persons life. However, in a down economy it can become a very challenging task. There are numerous pieces of properties tied up in foreclosure proceedings, people owe more on the property then the property is currently worth, and lenders are pickier on who they lend money to.

Foreclosure properties can be great properties to look into. These are properties that people are unable to afford and that the bank has taken possession of. The bank wants to rid themselves of these properties as quickly as possible. Do a search for foreclosure lists in the area you are looking to buy. You can also go to banks themselves to obtain a list of what that lender has. From this point, you can make an offer on the house. The banks will accept a reasonable offer that pays the remaining balance of the previous owners loan or the best offer they can get. You can find great bargains if you look hard enough.

Another way to find great bargains is to look for properties. A short sale is a way for the property owner can sell the property for less then they owe in order for the bank not to be stuck with it in foreclosure. Sometimes this is a better option for the bank and certainly is a little better on the credit of the home owner. You can find these properties the same way that you look for foreclosure properties.

Filed Under: Real Estate Markets Tagged With: , ,

Obtaining a grant to purchase real estate

Obtaining a grant to purchase real estate can be pretty tricky, but with a little effort it is possible. Grants are monies granted to a business or individual for a variety of reasons. The most popular for of grants are money for post-secondary education. However, there are grants that can be obtain for purchasing real estate for personal use or for real estate for investing.

The process for obtaining a grant is pretty straight forward, but you want to make sure that all your information is checked and double checked before submitting. First, find a website that will help you locate grants for the reason you need. This is the longest part of the process. You need to sift through the many different grants out there to find the ones that you may qualify for. The is no point in spending the time to apply for a grant if you don’t even qualify to get it. Some sites will let you do a keyword search and also allow you to search by category to find the grants you need.

Once you have found the appropriate grants, begin the process for submitting the required paperwork. Usually you will need to complete an application for the grant and write a grant proposal. When you are using the grant to purchase, or help purchase, a piece of property, you will want to also gather together all of the documentation for the property as well. Get copies of the tax records, titles, and purchase history. Submit all of this paperwork to the proper place. Make sure to proof read all documentation to help increase your chances of success.

Filed Under: Land Preservation Tagged With: , ,

Budgeting a Family Vacation

With the economy recovering a lot slower than many of us would like, many people think taking a family vacation is nearly impossible. It doesn’t have to be impossible. Family vacations are made simple by following a few simple budgeting rules. Below is a brief look at some of the ways you can take that much-needed vacation and not break the bank.

If you are short on money for the trip, take out a small loan. Payday loans are out there for this purpose. With approval in minutes, you can take that vacation, and you won’t have to worry about repayment until your next payday.

Stay close to home. Taking a vacation doesn’t mean you have to leave the state. Every state has its own unique history, so why not take a few days to learn about it? See the historical sites and parks. If you live in a big city, there is surely plenty to see and do. A simple Internet search or glance at the local newspaper will likely offer some great ideas.

Take public transportation whenever possible. Instead of renting a car, why not use the bus or subway system? No matter where you go, there will be other ways than having to spend on a rental. If the weather is nice, why not walk?

If you like museums and are planning to visit a few, check their websites for free and/or discount days. Almost every museum will have something, saving you more money than you may think. Looking into it only takes a few minutes.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With:

Don’t Take Too Much Loan To Buy A Property

Many of us do whatever it takes to buy a property. Be it a house or commercial premises. However the fact to be kept in mind is that we should never take loan in excess of what we can repay. You need to know this line very well else it could invite unwanted trouble in future. The best thing that you could do is to calculate the EMI that you need to pay each month and whether it is easily met. If your monthly income is $5000 then don’t take the risk of paying $2000 to $3000 a month as it would be really difficult to manage your needs in the remaining amount. And what is more important is that it is not just for 1 month and for subsequent months too. So you need to be absolutely sure that you can meet the expenditure every month without much effort.

The next reason why you need not take too much loan is because of the fact that the rate of interest is also pretty high. You’ll be paying that interest to the bank or financial institution. This could put in loss if the amount is high. So make sure a major part of the money is met from your end rather than loan. Never make your life miserable with the unwanted risk in life. Be assured that the loan amount is less than what you can afford each month. You can keep your life easy and trouble free this way. It is better to be careful rather than feeling bad later. You can make a difference by avoiding too much loan.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts