Monday, May 26, 2014

This is What Buyers Want in a Home

Home builders across the United States are most likely to focus on “convenience, livability and energy efficiency” when constructing a typical single-family home today, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders.

Beyond those big three features, plenty of other “practical and functional” amenities were cited by the builders in the survey as key selling points, so I found examples of some of them.



Saturday, May 17, 2014

Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100



First impressions count — not just for your friends, relatives, and the UPS guy, but for yourself. Whether it’s on an urban stoop or a Victorian front porch, your front door and the area leading up to it should extend a warm welcome to all comers — and needn’t cost a bundle.

Here’s what you can do to make welcoming happen on the cheap.
1.    Clear the way for curb appeal. The path to your front door should be at least 3 feet wide so people can walk shoulder-to-shoulder, with an unobstructed view and no stumbling hazards. So get out those loppers and cut back any overhanging branches or encroaching shrubs. 

2. Light the route. Landscape lighting makes it easy to get around at night. Solar-powered LED lights you can just stick in the ground, requiring no wiring, are suprisingly inexpensive. 

3. Go glossy. Borrow inspiration from London’s lovely row houses, whose owners assert their individuality by painting their doors in high-gloss colors. The reflective sheen of a royal blue, deep green, crimson, or whatever color you like will ensure your house stands out from the pack.

4. Pretty up the view. A door with lots of glass is a plus for letting light into the front hall -- but if you also want privacy and a bit of decor, check out decorative window film. It’s removable and re-positionable, and comes in innumerable styles and motifs.

A way to get the look of stained glass without doing custom work or buying a whole new door: Mount a decorative panel on the inside of the door behind an existing glass insert,
 $92 for an Arts and Crafts-style panel 20-inches-high by 11-inches-wide.

5. Replace door hardware. While you’re at it, polish up the handle on the big front door. Or better yet, replace it with a shiny new brass lockset with a secure deadbolt.

6. Please knock. Doorbells may be the norm, but a hefty knocker is a classic that will never run out of battery life, and another opportunity to express yourself (whatever your favorite animal or insect is, there’s a door-knocker in its image). 

7. Ever-greenery. Boxwoods are always tidy-looking, the definition of easy upkeep. A pair on either side of the door is traditional, but a singleton is good, too. About $25 at garden centers.

8. Numbers game. Is your house number clearly visible? That’s of prime importance if you want your guests to arrive and your pizza to be hot. 

9. Foot traffic. A hardworking mat for wiping muddy feet is a must.

10. Go for the glow. Fumbling for keys in the dark isn’t fun. Consider doubling up on porch lights with a pair of lanterns, one on each side of the door, for symmetry and twice the illumination. Many mounted lights are available well under $100.

11. Snail mail. Mailboxes run the gamut from kitschy roadside novelties masquerading as dogs, fish, or what-have-you to sober black lockboxes mounted alongside the front door.


Sunday, May 11, 2014

SHOULD YOU RENT OR BUY YOUR NEXT HOME?

Privacy, proximity to family and friends, ambiance, environment and a sense of community all contribute to the emotional side. Tax breaks, transportation, amenities, and the opportunity to build equity are also factors. But the number one reason people buy homes is the desire to own a home, with the desire for more space a close second.
For most households, renting is less of a financial stretch than buying a home. Even in the best of times, homeowners must come up with a substantial amount of cash to cover the downpayment and closing costs, as well as be prepared for upcoming repairs and maintenance. While renters typically have to pay a security deposit plus the last month's rent, the total outlay is usually more modest than the upfront costs of buying. Equally important, renters who want to move do not incur the steep costs associated with selling a home.
Renting also brings greater certainty to household budgeting because tenants do not have to cover the costs of unexpected but necessary home repairs. Owning a home, however, requires money, time, and skill to manage its upkeep. Renting transfers responsibility for maintenance to a landlord, reducing risk and worry for those who prefer to avoid these obligations.
Beginning in 2009, the edge began to move to homeownership. Due to still-low home prices and rising rents, The Center for Housing Policy predicted that home buyers who purchase can build equity within four years, about the same length of time it takes to recoup closing costs. The reason building equity is important is that you can take money out of the home when you leave, which is not possible for renters.
One of the disadvantages of renting is that rents can go up. If you get a fixed-rate mortgage, your costs will stay the same, although hazard insurance and property taxes can rise. However, rental insurance can rise, too.
Renting is a convenience and a great hedge when property prices are spiraling downward, but for long-term gain, tax benefits and equity is a better bet.

To search for homes for sale go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Privacy, proximity to family and friends, ambiance, environment and a sense of community all contribute to the emotional side. Tax breaks, transportation, amenities, and the opportunity to build equity are also factors. But the number one reason people buy homes is the desire to own a home, with the desire for more space a close second.
For most households, renting is less of a financial stretch than buying a home. Even in the best of times, homeowners must come up with a substantial amount of cash to cover the downpayment and closing costs, as well as be prepared for upcoming repairs and maintenance. While renters typically have to pay a security deposit plus the last month's rent, the total outlay is usually more modest than the upfront costs of buying. Equally important, renters who want to move do not incur the steep costs associated with selling a home.
Renting also brings greater certainty to household budgeting because tenants do not have to cover the costs of unexpected but necessary home repairs. Owning a home, however, requires money, time, and skill to manage its upkeep. Renting transfers responsibility for maintenance to a landlord, reducing risk and worry for those who prefer to avoid these obligations.
Beginning in 2009, the edge began to move to homeownership. Due to still-low home prices and rising rents, The Center for Housing Policy predicted that home buyers who purchase can build equity within four years, about the same length of time it takes