Jasele Oita's Blog A weblog about everything

Before setting out to buy your desired home, you should consider some factors, which will help in making the whole process a little less cumbersome. Buying a home stems from a well thought plan. People often take years to plan and save for their desired homes. Potential homeowners need to draw up a list showing the characteristic features that they are looking for in a house or at the very least, they ought to have a mental picture of what their desired homes would look like.

After drawing up the list, the potential homeowners also need to have in their possession a preapproval letter for the loans they have taken to buy the house. This letter is important as its possession sets you on the right track towards owning your own home. This letter is important because it gives you a competitive edge over other bidders for the same property. Additionally, preapproval letter also help you maintain a realistic view over the price and take advantage of offers that might arise at any time. Another advice for potential homeowners entails the maintenance of an open mind during the home hunting process. Keeping an open mind does not mean settling for mediocre property, on the contrary, this simply means that the potential buyer should allow the real estate agent to make suggestions on alternatives that are available in the market. Who knows, the alternatives might end up being better than the originals.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to buying a home that needs to be renovated.  However, there are typically more disadvantages.  Of course there is the advantage of saving money on the original price of the home.  Many fixer-uppers are listed at a cheap price because it’s understood that you will have to invest money into the property in repairs.

Try to avoid the mistake of buying a home at a cheap listed price if you can’t afford the time and money that will have to go into the house.  Many people believe they can do the majority of renovations on their own without hiring handymen, however, most of the time this is just completely untrue.  Many people also seem to believe that it won’t be that expensive to make-over their new homes.  If it’s a real fixer-upper, then it will probably be more expensive after factoring in the cost of labor, materials, and time.

Perhaps you know how to install a door or two, but depending how complex the necessary repairs are, I suggest hiring professionals to help you.  On the other hand, if you are a handyman yourself or are interested in flipping homes, purchasing a fixer-upper can be a great way to both save money and potentially make a profit.

On the upside, if you buy a property that needs a makeover and you have the funds to afford it, you have the ability to create your dream home.  Fixing and reconstructing a home can give you decision power over the layout and look of the home.

Buying a fixer-upper has both advantages and disadvantages.  Make sure to evaluate your specific financial situation and timeline in order to decide if it’s the right decision for you.

Article Submitted By – Jerry Armen

You are eager to sell your house and get out of it. It is time to consider how you can make it more appealing. The sex appeal will help you attract buyers and will aid you in acquiring a higher price.

The most asked for feature in houses from potential buyers is more space. Sellers who live in their home while selling it make the mistake of not clearing out their closets, storage, and garage to prepare for the presentation of their home for sale. Buyers look and feel that it is too cluttered and that there is inadequate space.

Replace any bulb that is under wattage, clean domes, fix switches and fixtures, and clean or repair anything else inside or outside that you think a buyer might look directly at or touch. If the lighting is bad or a bulb is missing, it sends the message that you do not care for the house. This will make them think there are many more serious problems that have gone unattended, whether it is true or not.

Repair your floors and polish them. Paint your walls and they will pay more for the house. Clean your windows inside and out. Finally, steam clean any carpets to get them fresh smelling.

Outside you should mow and trim your lawn. Weed the flower beds. Prune the trees. Paint the outside of the house. Clean the driveways with a pressure washer. Repair any holes or chips in the driveway or sidewalk.

If you put in the effort to make a perfect presentation, it will pay off in higher dividends in the end.

During a Presidential election in the U.S., there is much talk about taxes and national debt. In order to close the gap on national debt, elimination of much favored mortgage interest tax deduction is taking the center stage. Some estimates indicates that if U.S. continues to allow the mortgage interest deduction for few more years it could cost the nation additional $460 billion. That accounts for one-third of the $1.3 trillion annual deficit.

One group argues that the current deduction benefits the builders, upper income people and the realtors. Some argue that it benefits the younger middle-class families more than any other group. Due to its benefit to the rich, some argue that the tax break should be eliminated for those who are earning more than $200,000 a year. Ninety-one percent who claim the benefit earn less than $200,000.

The elimination of the tax break could lower the value of higher priced homes and thereby reducing the price of all homes. That could also lower the net worth of more than 65 percent of all Americans. The elimination or lowering the mortgage interest tax deduction does not violate the “no new tax” pledge by some lawmakers.

Besides traveling for business or leisure, there are many situations in life that result in the need for short term rentals. Moving is one of these situations. Whether you’re moving to a new city or a new state, the timing between selling your current property and finding a new one may not go as smoothly as you would like. In such cases, individuals and families need a temporary place to stay. Another situation that requires temporary lodging is when your current home is being renovated. Depending on the type of reconstruction, projects can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. What’s more, displacement-related insurance claims can result in longer waiting periods. During this time, individuals and families must be able to go about their regular routine, such as going to work, school, and various evening appointments.

Corporate housing is a smart alternative to short-term accommodations. Unfortunately, many individuals and families resort to staying in hotels during periods of displacement, which can get pretty pricey. In addition to high costs, hotels lack the home-like amenities that are essential during such a transition, such as fully stocked kitchens and spacious living rooms. Other people may decide to stay with family and friends. However, this too can be uncomfortable over time, especially during longer visits. Executive housing, such as the apartments and condos provided by Rx Housing, is available in more than 4,000 cities nationwide. Individuals and families appreciate the extra space provided by these apartments. Rx Housing’s apartments are usually 700 square feet and larger and offer a homey environment.