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Pros' guide to window screen replacement
It's getting to be that time again. The windows are open, and the bugs are clamoring at the window screens, trying to come in and join the party. If a few too many of these uninvited guests are getting in, it's probably time to get that damaged screening replaced. Luckily, this is a great do-it-yourself project that you can take care of in no time.
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Death of a real estate deal
Take a proactive approach to buying or selling a home. By anticipating what could go wrong with your real estate transaction, you can take care of potential problems before they derail the deal.
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Bailing on underwater house
DEAR BENNY: My self-employed son and his new wife built a house several years ago at the top of the market. Last year, they decided to take advantage of slightly depressed real estate values in another state, and contracted to build a house there. The first house was put on the market at substantially less than they paid for it. They got no offers until someone asked to rent it with an option to buy.
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Home improvement you can trust
The Internet certainly has revolutionized the way we gather information. From remodeling our homes to protecting ourselves from fraud, there's an incredible wealth of product and technical information that's just a mouse-click away.
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Find the right real estate stager
Buyers in some areas complain about walking into an open house and finding dirty laundry in bedrooms. In places like the San Francisco Bay Area, so many listings are well presented for sale that sellers who don't stage their homes are at a disadvantage.
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CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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Bill Clemente
REALTOR®
Security Pacific Real Estate
1555 Riviera Ave.
Walnut Creeek,
CA
94596
925.974.7679
925.943.7409
Contact Me
Visit My Web Site
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It still pays to remodel
The home-sale market has taken a beating in the last few years, which begs the question: Does it makes sense financially to invest in home improvements?
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Mortgage payoff in a divorce
DEAR BENNY: My wife and I are in the process of getting a divorce. I am prepared to give her the family home so that our children will not be disrupted any more than they already are. I know that our mortgage lender will not relieve me of our joint obligation to make the monthly payments, but hopefully that will not be a financial problem for us. We have been advised that a lender can use the "due on sale" clause in the mortgage documents to block this transaction. Can this happen? --Tom
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Tax time over, but many credits still available
If you’re a homeowner, it’s a given that you claim the mortgage interest deduction on your tax returns. If you are a green-minded homeowner, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit if you purchase or have purchased (keep those receipts) an energy-efficient product or a renewable energy system for your home.
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Divorce leads to default
DEAR BENNY: I bought a home with my husband in 2002. We are both on the mortgage. When we got divorced in 2006, he bought me out and I signed over the quitclaim deed of the house to him.
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Backup offers give sellers a Plan B
Every seller's dream is to receive offers from more than one buyer. Although multiple offers were scarce last year, in some markets and price ranges listings that are priced right are receiving multiple offers, particularly in the low-end foreclosure markets.
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Buying an existing home that’s “green”
With rising energy costs and growing awareness – and availability – of environmentally friendly products, it's no wonder that interest in purchasing green homes is rising. Green remodels on existing homes both save the environment and save homeowners money on monthly bills. As green home remodeling becomes more abundant, so does the demand to purchase these homes. This increased interest in existing green homes has created a need to educate buyers on what is really considered "green."
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Closing costs vary by location
Closing costs, the costs associated with buying or selling a home, can add up. It's wise to get an estimate of how much you're likely to pay in closing costs before you make an offer to buy a home or accept an offer to sell.
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Six ways to boost curb appeal
If you're thinking of listing your home this spring, now is the time to be thinking about one of the most important elements of real estate marketing: Curb appeal. It's your one and only chance to make a first impression on a potential buyer, so make it a good one! Here are some suggestions to make your home stand out from the rest:
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Appraisal rules tough on additions
Recently a homeowner in the hills above Oakland, Calif., applied for a refinance. An appraiser visited the property and measured both levels of the house. The appraiser called the homeowner a few days later to find out if the lower level had been added with a permit. The public record indicated the house had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,513-square feet.
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Window trim: from boring to bold
If you look closely at homes with beautiful windows, you'll typically find one thing in common: wood trim. No matter what the style of the window is or what material it's made out of, a painted or stained wood surround enhances the beauty of the window far more than the inexpensive "drywall wrap" that's common on a lot of today's homes.
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Home prices put to ZIP code test
The wealth created by the housing bubble has been wiped out, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who spoke at the group's annual conference in November 2009. Does this mean that if you bought your home in 2005 in an area that experienced rapid appreciation from 2004-2007, you'll lose money if you sell today?
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Sizing up purchase deposits
In most states, it's customary, or required by law, for the buyers to include a good faith deposit when they make an offer to purchase a home. The deposit should not be given directly to the seller, but held by a trustworthy third party that maintains a trust account specifically for home purchase deposits, such as an escrow or title company, real estate firm, or real estate broker.
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Is security sign advertising?
DEAR BENNY: I am an 81-year-old widow who bought a townhouse four years ago. There were some odd things going on here so I installed a security system. I have been told that the security sign I have in front of the townhouse is considered advertising and I have to take it down. There are three other areas in town that have townhouses and none of them have a problem with this. What happens if I refuse to take the sign down? --Lillian
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