02 Jul 2019
By noelkelman

4 Tips To Ensure A Successful Closing

Real Estate, ,
As you come up to the date of your closing, there's time to reflect on everything that led to this step. Your real estate agent, mortgage broker, title company and others all work hard to ensure a successful closing for you. They're all in your corner, hoping for the same outcome as you. They've had to do a lot of work behind the scenes that you may not even be aware of. Their diligence and professionalism has already benefited you. But did you know that it's not all riding on your team of real estate professionals? There are things you…
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28 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

Home Staging Tip – Urban Gardening in Small Spaces

Real Estate, ,
Home staging means getting a home ready for sale with the goal to maximize the sale price and close a sale as fast as possible. Some home staging tasks are very dreary, like having to get the place sparkling clean. That is really not fun work. It may be better, if it is affordable, for the homeowner to hire professionals to do that grunt work. Another part of home staging is really fun and even can start long before putting a home on the market for sale. Children like to participate in this as well. It is creating an urban…
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21 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

Pros And Cons Of Installing A Pet Door

Real Estate, ,
If you've just moved into your new home and you have a pet, you may be thinking of installing a pet door. A pet door is a permanent door feature that is cut into the bottom third of an entry door. Before making a permanent alteration to your door, consider the pros and cons of installing a pet door.  Pro: Your Pet Can Come And Go As Needed A pet door could cut down on indoor pet accidents if that's a problem you've had to deal with in the past. This is especially convenient if you get home late to…
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19 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

Buying A Home In Foreclosure

Real Estate, ,
Foreclosure is a process that happens over many months. There are various opportunities to acquire real estate that is in a different stage of foreclosure, including before the foreclosure process completes. This short guide identifies the different stages and the opportunities that may exist to acquire a property at a discounted price. Get The Money Lined Up First To acquire a property at any part of the foreclosure process requires cash or pre-approved credit. Have the full amount of cash available to pay for the transaction or have a recent pre-approval letter from a reliable lender. The letter shows the…
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18 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

The Benefits Of Adding An In-Law Apartment To A Home

Real Estate, ,
One renovation that may add value to a home is an in-law apartment. Even if a homeowner does not have any relatives, an in-law apartment makes wonderful guest accommodations. It is possible to rent it when unoccupied to earn some money. Homeowners who rent out part of a home need to check with their insurance agent to upgrade insurance to accommodate commercial use of a part of the home. Additionally, a person staying in an in-law apartment, who is not a member of the owner's household, may need to get renter's insurance to cover any personal property kept in the…
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13 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

How To Buy A Bargain Home As A Short Sale

Real Estate, ,
A short sale is when the mortgage lender(s) agrees to sell the property for a lower amount than the loan-balance remaining. During the worst moments of the 2006 to 2008 real estate crisis, homes sold as short sales for a fraction of their value. Lenders had so many properties with loans in default that they could not manage the ones that they had in foreclosure. Foreclosure is an expensive legal process that causes a lender to lose more money on a property. This is one of the motivators that encourages lenders to accept a short sale because sometimes through a…
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11 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

7 New Home Upgrades that Could Save Your Life

Real Estate, ,
One of the best things about moving into a new home is personalizing it and really making it yours. From hanging wall art to arranging furniture to finding the perfect spot for your grandmother's hand crocheted afghan, it's a real joy to decorate. But are you forgetting about the big investment you just made? Consider the following important home upgrades that will protect your home and your family. 1. Smoke Alarm Take an afternoon and upgrade all your new home's smoke alarms. Smoke alarms save lives and it's not worth it to assume that just because it's there it's working. …
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06 Jun 2019
By noelkelman

Renovations That Improve Resale Value And Those That Don’t

Real Estate, ,
Those who want to renovate a home usually do this to make it more spacious, improve its condition, and to add amenities. However, it is also important to consider if the renovation has the potential to add value to a home. Unless the plan is to live in the same place for life, there is a strong likelihood that, at some point, the home will go on the market for sale. It is nice if it sells for a high price and there is some profit for the seller in the transaction. It is not the amount spent on renovations…
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