Housing Answer: Principal Reduction?
Despite many programs to help underwater homeowners, the financial crisis continues and foreclosures loom throughout the country. Some experts say the housing answer is not just lowering interest rates but also actually reducing principal. In other words, these experts are encouraging banks to write down the principal and interest rates to current market value, which according to some experts would save homeowners $71 billion each year. CoreLogic reported that at the end of the second quarter 2011, underwater homeowners owed $709 billion on...
read moreBuyers: Making the Right Choice
There are so many different homes to choose from during the buying process. How can you be sure to make the right choice? From condos, downtown neighborhoods, suburbs, and country homes, there’s a perfect fit for every buyer. To make the best decision you need to be sure to really give time to your decision making process. Yes, your gut can take you in the right direction, but don’t be one of the many buyers that falls prey to listening only to their hearts, ending up biting off more than they can chew. Some homes take more work...
read moreHomeownership Still The American Dream, Fuels Economy
It’s billed as the American Dream and yet for some it’s been an all-time American nightmare. Still “the home is central to American life” writes the National Association of Homebuilders in its report titled: Homeownership Works, released earlier this year. Of course the report aims to show how housing is vital not just to homeowners but to the nation’s growth. The publication looks at the contributions that homeownership make to the economy specifically through residential construction, remodeling, rental...
read moreSuper-Easy Tips for Slashing Energy Costs
It’s 2012, and what’s a better way to start the New Year than saving money! Energy costs continue to rise, and there are many ways to whittle away at those utility bills. Replacing an older furnace, swapping out single-pane windows for more efficient double- or triple-pane models, and considering a move toward solar energy are all ways to make a dramatic difference in your home’s energy consumption, but none comes cheap. While you wrestle with whether or not to make these larger investments – which certainly pay off in the long run – there...
read moreTop Ways to Spruce up Your Home
Is your den feeling dreary? Does your kitchen have too much kitsch? Take a moment to read these tips for sprucing up your home. From time to time, or decade to decade, your home may start to look a little dingy, cluttered, or out-of-date. Have no fear! There are a few simple, inexpensive ways to update rooms for your own enjoyment or to impress buyers! First, declutter and reorganize. It’s amazing how much “stuff” we can accumulate over time. It’s time to ask yourself what you really need. Plus, there are some great charities that...
read moreWill Mortgage Rates Stay Low?
While the Federal Reserve has promised to keep rates “low” until 2013, it is clear to many experts that the current historical lows we are experiencing will not last. According to the latest projections from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), interest rates should gradually rise out of historic lows as we move through 2012. This isn’t the most welcome news for a housing market that has continued to falter and a credit market that already has tightened lending standards The NAR reports that current surveys reflect...
read moreReal Estate Outlook: Will 2012 See Improvement?
We’ve seen the effects of tight mortgage conditions over the last year. Existing and new homes sales have struggled and we are now left with sizable pent-up demand. Will this trend continue into 2012? For starters, consumer prices fell in October, meaning low wage workers and others struggling to make ends meet will find more affordability. Additionally, according to experts, this decline gives the Federal Reserve more wiggle room when it comes to policy making should the economy worsen. Why the decline, which was not wholly expected? The...
read moreShould I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays? When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations — shopping, entertaining, children’s pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in “showtime” condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken. It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the...
read moreMoving with Young Children
Are you excited and happy about moving? Or are you dreading the sorting, packing and other chores? If you look at moving as an exciting adventure full of fun, new possibilities, then you’re halfway to getting your children on board for the ride. Your children will absorb your enthusiasm like little sponges. There will be some worries, of course, but you can defeat those with a little preparation and understanding. Most children don’t like the changes associated with moving. The younger the child, the less able they are to “see into the...
read moreTop 10 Complaints and How to Avoid Them
BHGRE Metro Brokers and CBC Metro Brokers enjoy a wonderful relationship with the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), primarily due to our excellent training, readily available Broker Support and the integrity of our agents. That’s not to say we’re perfect, by any means! What are the most frequent complaints filed with the GREC by the public and other licensees which result in citations, sanctions, suspensions and revocations? The top ten complaints follow with some suggestions as to how to avoid mistakes which may lead to complaints....
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