Staging to sell: Tips for homes that need a little sprucing up
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
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Thursday, December 1, 2011
When is an offer on a house a contract?
Dear House Lawyer: My wife and I are in the process of buying our first home. On a Monday, our licensed real estate agent prepared our offer using the local standard residential real estate contract. We completed all of the blanks, initialed where indicated, signed all documents and delivered the offer, along with our $10,000 earnest money deposit check, to our agent. He delivered the offer to seller’s real estate agent in person. The list price for the home was $400,000. Our offer was for $350,000. On Wednesday, the seller’s agent e-mailed the seller’s signed counteroffer agreeing to sell the home to us but changed the price to $375,000 and inserted a clause stating that the home gym equipment would not be included.Click here for full article
A smaller house will make a big difference
(MONEY Magazine) -- Last year the economic forecasting firm Fiserv predicted that home values would sink around 5% in 2011, and that prices in three-quarters of the nation's major metro areas would fall. The bad news is, the firm wasn't that far off the mark. The good news: In the coming year, Fiserv thinks 95% of the 384 metro areas it tracks will see prices rise.
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Pending-home sales up by most in almost a year
Rick Bowmer / AP
This Nov. 28, 2011 photo, shows a home with a sale pending sign, in Portland, Ore. The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes jumped in October to the highest level in a year.
That was the biggest monthly gain since November 2010.
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Monday, November 14, 2011
Sometimes a job transfer, lease or personal circumstances require plunging into making a sale in the dead of winter.
By DAVE CARPENTER
CHICAGO — Just your luck — you have to sell your home in winter, the slowest and dreariest sales season of all.
But cheer up. You can use staging, the reduced competition and some seasonal opportunities to your advantage."You wouldn't necessarily choose to sell your home in winter," says Katie Severance, a broker for ReMax in Upper Montclair, N.J. "But there are certain extra steps you can take to really help your chances."
Many homeowners pull their houses off the market by year's end if they haven't sold. That's understandable.
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Late mortgage payments rise in 3rd qtr for first time since 2009; may show start of new trend
The rate that mortgage holders were late with their payments by 60 days or more rose in the June-to-September period for the first time since the last three months of 2009, according to TransUnion.
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Friday, November 4, 2011
Linda Bond’s house in Chevy Chase
But the house had one flaw: a dark, outdated interior. The look she imagined for the five-bedroom French manor home in Chevy Chase, Md., was light, airy and elegant.
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Ten things you need to know about buying or selling a home
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How to find the best refi rate? Shop around
I heard you on the radio last weekend talking about refinancing. It sounds like you got a really good interest rate. My problem is that I don’t know how to find a good mortgage lender.
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mortgage lenders could soon take homes’ energy costs into account
Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber are backing the legislation because they see it as an employment generator that requires no federal budget outlays, no new taxes or programs. A joint study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Institute for Market Transformation estimated that 83,000 new jobs in the construction, renovation and manufacturing industries could be stimulated by the legislation if the new underwriting rules were phased in over a period of years.
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Getting your home ready for the big chill
Winter wonderlands are cute and all, but they get pretty cold too.
While September brings the first day of fall, October can be the harbinger of the winter and all of its frigid pitfalls. It's best to be prepared for the frost and snow with a few simple tasks that will prevent drafts, frosty windows and every homeowner's nightmare: Busted pipes.Click here for full article
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
D.C.-area home prices lead nation in August
Washington Business Journal by Tucker Echols, Broadcast/Web Reporter
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 10:06am EDT
- Tucker Echols
- Broadcast/Web Reporter - Washington Business Journal
The D.C.-area gain was the largest monthly advance in the latest 20-city Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller Home Price Index and compares with a national average advance compares with a national average advance of 0.2 percent.
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Private survey shows prices rose in 10 of 20 cities tracked, fifth straight month of gains
The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the fifth straight month that at least half of the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.
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Foreign buyers scooping up U.S. homes
International purchases of American homes are ramping up, and a new Senate bill designed to boost the ailing real-estate market would encourage globe-trotting investors to buy even more.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Home prices up in half of major US cities
WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in August in half of major U.S. cities measured by a private survey, a sign that prices are stabilizing in some hard-hit portions of the country.
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the fifth straight month that at least half of the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.
The biggest price increases were in Washington, Chicago and Detroit. The greatest declines were in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
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The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the fifth straight month that at least half of the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.
The biggest price increases were in Washington, Chicago and Detroit. The greatest declines were in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
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Monday, October 24, 2011
Government announces new program to help ‘underwater’ homeowners
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Architect couple meet their match in Hyattsville house
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US announces help for underwater homeowners
A leading housing regulator on Monday announced changes to a government refinancing program that could help up to one million homeowners of the estimated 11 million whose homes are worth less than their mortgage.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage finance sources Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said it was easing the terms of the two-year-old Home Affordable Refinance Program, which helps borrowers who have been making mortgage payments on time but have not been able to refinance as home values have dropped.
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The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage finance sources Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said it was easing the terms of the two-year-old Home Affordable Refinance Program, which helps borrowers who have been making mortgage payments on time but have not been able to refinance as home values have dropped.
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Home prices climb for fourth straight month
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home prices in July climbed for the fourth month in a row, but are still down from a year ago.
According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller home price index of 120 major cities, prices rose 0.9% in July compared with June, but they're still 4.1% lower than 12 months ago.
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According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller home price index of 120 major cities, prices rose 0.9% in July compared with June, but they're still 4.1% lower than 12 months ago.
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Mortgage rates drop below 4 percent for first time ever
Average rate on 30-year-fixed mortgage hits 3.94 percent
WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage this week fell below 4 percent for the first time ever, to 3.94 percent. For those who can qualify, it's an extraordinary opportunity to buy or refinance. And mortgage rates could fall even further now that the Federal Reserve plans to reshuffle its portfolio of securities to try and lower long-term rates.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Who Slept Here? Tracking Washington, Roosevelt, JFK, Judy Garland, and The Babe, to Name a Few
Zillow, Contributor George Washington
Listing of the Week: Albion castle and its underground caverns
By Zillow
881 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
For Sale: $975,000
It's not every day that you find a home for sale with underwater stone caverns, but this isn't just any home. This unique property on the San Francisco real estate market is the Albion Castle, and it has a fascinating story behind it.
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Zillow
This San Francisco home sits above tunneled water caverns.
For Sale: $975,000
It's not every day that you find a home for sale with underwater stone caverns, but this isn't just any home. This unique property on the San Francisco real estate market is the Albion Castle, and it has a fascinating story behind it.
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Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Prime time for D.C. area lawn care
Lawn grasses are specialized. They must withstand regular cutting at heights of one to four inches, be perennial, stay green most of the year and grow into a tight carpet that will hold up under foot traffic.
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Monday, October 3, 2011
Driveway needs right shape to fight erosion
Road engineers discovered centuries ago that you solve this problem by creating roads and driveways with a crown in them. This means the driveway surface is not level side-to-side but has the center higher than the edges.
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A little architectural knowledge can go a long way for homeowners
When real estate agents list a property with the multiple listing service, they have complete discretion over how to categorize the architectural style of the house.
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
Refinance Your Home Loan Now
Michael Chamberlain, Contributor The mortgage payment is one of the biggest items in most homeowners’ budgets. A smaller payment means more to spend elsewhere.
Interest rates on home loans are at the lowest level in 60 years. This is an opportunity to save on interest payments and use the saving to finance other goals.
By DEREK KRAVITZ
WASHINGTON — Fixed mortgage rates hovered at record lows for a third straight week. They are likely to fall even further now that the Federal Reserve said it would shuffle its holdings to drive down long-term interest rates. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 4.09 percent this week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. That's the lowest rate seen since 1951. The average rate on the 15-year mortgage ticked down to 3.29 percent. Economists say that's the lowest rate ever for the loan.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
If you aren’t sure what your homeowner’s insurance covers, ask your agent
Just what is homeowner’s insurance? How much insurance do I need? What does it exclude? How can I make sure that all my reasonably foreseeable risks are covered by insurance?
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When will home prices spring back?
@Money September 15, 2011: 5:58 AM ET
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011
9/16/2011 @ 5:51PM |9,998 views
The Most Amazing And Absurd Places For Rent
You could shack up in a dank apartment or chain hotel room when your job or your family vacation beckons you abroad. But if money is no object, you might consider a more adventurous choice of lodging like, say, an old Boeing 727. In Manuel Antonio, Cost Rica you can rent one for $400 per night or $11,872 per month through Airbnb.com, a San Francisco, CA-based online vacation home rental site.
Dodge the draft and cut home heating costs
@Money September 20, 2011: 10:44 AM ET
Find the drafts that bump up your home heating bills.(MONEY Magazine) -- You don't have to invest thousands in high-tech insulation or a super-efficient furnace to cut home heating costs. Just sealing drafts could lower your bills 3% to 18%, according to Danny Parker, a research scientist who works with the Department of Energy.
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Monday, September 19, 2011
How to keep your property dry before a big storm
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House Watch: Designing a kitchen that is kid-friendly.
In most cases, though, little thought is given to who will be using the kitchen. Will it just be Mom and Dad, or will the whole family be cooking together? Making a new kitchen user-friendly for kids is surprisingly easy.
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Friday, September 16, 2011
House Watch: Delaying exterior trim upkeep could cost you big bucks
The real key to resale, though, is how well the owners maintain the house, but this issue generally draws little interest at the time of purchase and often falls off the radar screen soon after move-in.
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
House Calls: Making a long living room more inviting
Karen and Gordon Graham and daughters Cecilia, Caitlin and Mia are stumped by the living room in their Kensington home. The front door opens directly into the 32-by-14-foot space, making furniture placement a challenge.
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(Leah L. Jones/ For The Washington Post ) - The room’s length has proved a design challenge.
Stores offering designer dorm gear for the college-bound
As soon as Amanda Zuckerman graduated from Potomac’s Winston Churchill High School in 2009, she began another rite of passage: shopping for her college dorm room.
Long gone, it seems, are the days of grabbing milk crates and grandma’s extra quilt and making do. Students prepared to spend $100,000 on an undergraduate degree increasingly are willing to invest in transforming the dorm into something closer to a first apartment.
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Long gone, it seems, are the days of grabbing milk crates and grandma’s extra quilt and making do. Students prepared to spend $100,000 on an undergraduate degree increasingly are willing to invest in transforming the dorm into something closer to a first apartment.
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(Matt McClain/ FOR THE WASHINGTON POST ) - This is what your college dorm room could look like.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
How To: Repair cracks in a concrete garage floor before applying paint or epoxy
Q. We have owned our home since it was constructed in 1984. The garage floor is now stained and cracked. We were going to paint it with a product advertised for use on garage floors. But we called the company and were told that the paint does not fill cracks. Do you have any advice about how to repair the cracks and remove or mask the stains? Is this something that homeowners can do on their own, or should we get a professional?Click here for full article
Buying is cheaper than renting in most U.S. cities
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home prices have taken such a beating and demand for rental units has increased so much that it's now cheaper to buy a two-bedroom home than to rent one in most major U.S. cities.
According to real estate web site Trulia, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities in July. In just 12% of the cities, including New York, Seattle and San Francisco, renting was cheaper. In the remaining 14% of cities, renting was less expensive but close to the cost of buying.
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Monday, August 15, 2011
Make a Great First Impression
Sponsored By
Inexpensive ways to make your home shine
As anyone in the real estate industry will tell you, it's important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show it. That first impression is everything. Even if you're in a market where homes are selling quickly and for full asking price, it's still key to spruce up your home and prove that it's worth every penny you're asking. And it doesn't have to cost you a fortune.
Mortgage rates plunge, flirting with new lows
August 3, 2011: 3:40 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- As Congress and President Obama hammered out a debt deal over the past week, mortgage rates plunged -- hitting new lows in some instances.
The 30-year fixed rate, usually the most popular choice for homebuyers, fell to 4.45% from 4.57% last week -- its lowest point since last November, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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Friday, August 5, 2011
Barry Dixon, one of D.C.’s top designers, shares his tips
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
New Md. law says condo associations can require that unit owners have insurance
Traditionally, to amend condominium legal documents, a super majority vote is required — usually up to 75 percent. In this case, however, the Maryland legislature has made it easier to change a condo’s bylaws.
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Making a living room a sophisticated yet family-friendly space
“My husband and I have no eye for design,” says Martha Murray, mother of two young daughters, Maddie and Carrie. She’d like some ideas for the 12-by-24-foot living room, which she says is the hub of their family’s Great Falls home.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Closing Costs: No Surprises
By Jane Hodges 
| Posted Jun 17th 2010 4:10PM
| Posted Jun 17th 2010 4:10PM 
Many homebuyers mistakenly arrive at closing unprepared for a laundry list of closing costs: major and minor fees that are a routine part of any home purchase. This can be because the lender increased fees on lender-controlled aspects of a transaction, or because a buyer chose a third party (appraiser, inspector, attorney, title company) that might charge higher prices than those estimated by the lender.Fortunately, new rules and regulations provide more clarity on the closing costs that borrowers can expect to pay. As a rule of thumb, homebuyers can expect to pay closing costs equivalent to 3 percent to 5 percent of their loan amount, says Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a Bethesda, Md.-based mortgage research firm.
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Monday, July 25, 2011
The Strangest And Most Unusual Homes On The Market
Jul. 13 2011 - 5:20 pm
When Robert and Marguerite Antell told architect James Johnson they wanted to build a fun, artistic home, he handed the couple a coke bottle with a flowering sprig of Queen Anne’s lace. “This is your new home,” he explained. Forty years later the cream-colored pod that they built from his plans hit the market for $1.1 million in Pittsford, N.Y.
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
Real estate bidding wars are back in parts of D.C. area
With all the bad news about the national housing market, it may come as a shock to eager Washington area home shoppers when they run into a bidding war. But that has been happening routinely in some popular neighborhoods, say real estate agents, especially when properties are priced slightly under the market and are in good condition or show strong promise for renovation.Click here for full article
msnbc.com
The threat of a debt default by Greece and other European countries has created financial turmoil for investors, banks and government officials. It’s also provided a boon to U.S. homeowners.
Long-term mortgage rates have been drifting to their lowest levels of the year, sparking a new wave in mortgage refinancing activities, industry experts say. The reason? Despite the anxiety over debt talk brinksmanship in Washington, investors have been flocking to dollar-based investments including U.S. Treasuries, because euro-based securities seeem riskier. Even as a potential U.S. default looms, the odds seem lower than a default in Europe. It’s like living in the nicest house in a bad neighborhood.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A local designer gives a dated bi-level home a facelift in six months
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Secrets to getting a mortgage with so-so credit
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Getting a mortgage can be tough these days -- even people with near-perfect credit have been rejected for loans. But for some lucky borrowers, things aren't as bad as the doom-and-gloom crowd says.
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Thursday, July 14, 2011
Octagon house comes full circle
Seen from the roadway, Cooper’s eight-sided house looks farm-friendly, or maybe nautical, like the lighthouse in St. Michaels, Md. — crisp white brick against the surrounding lawn, with a red standing-seam metal roof and a porch that encircles the house at ground level. A second octagonal level sits atop the first, set a few feet back from the edge of the roof below. Popping up in the middle of this confection is a windowed belvedere topped by a cupola, again echoing the eight-sided shape. An oversize glass-topped breezeway attaches the left side of the house to a two-car garage.
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