How to Make your Home Look Expensive on a Budget

You want your home to look luxe, but your bank account has other ideas, know that

you don't have to spend a lot to make it look like you did.

Splurge on Focal Pieces. You may not be able to break the bank on every item in your

home, but consider splurging on attention-grabbing pieces.

Layer Rugs. Rugs are a cost-effective way to add warmth and style to a room. To create

a custom look, layer rugs beneath a furniture grouping.

Employ Trim. There's no way around it. Wainscoting, crown moldings and other types

of custom millwork make a home look elegant.

Use Paint to Your Advantage. Not only is paint affordable, but it is transformative.

Simply painting walls a sophisticated color will achieve the high-end look you desire.

Paint can also transform thrift-store furniture and decor. With many types of paint readily

available, you can easily alter textures within your design scheme. Use chalk paint to

distress a vintage table or a metallic spray paint to refresh picture frames.

Paint Front Doors. Set the tone from the moment a guest arrives at your house. Paint your

front door a color that complements your home’s interior. The door's color will anchor your

home while adding drama and style to your entryway.

Opt for Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. Love the look of hardwood, but can't afford the

price tag? Luxury vinyl plank flooring is an affordable alternative. You can probably install it

yourself, which means you don't have to pay labor costs.

Fake It 'til You Make It. Expensive homes often have soaring ceilings. Your home's ceilings

may be decidedly lower, but you can make them look higher. Just hang your curtains closer

to the ceiling than the window frame. This creates an optical illusion that makes the room

seem taller.

Embrace Your Artistic Side. Large artwork is a great way to set your home apart, but it's

usually pricey. Try to make it yourself. Simply buy a huge, white canvas and create a masterpiece.

Display your art prominently in your home. When friends ask about it, just tell them you had

the piece commissioned by an up-and-coming artist!

 

Making your home look like a million bucks doesn't have to cost a fortune. You can achieve

a high-end look for less using some creativity and these tips.

For more ideas go to https://homesalesneworleans.gardnerrealtors.com/

How to Stage a Home Without Breaking the Bank

If you are selling or considering selling your home staging is what might help you to reach that desirable price tag that you feel is essential to accomplish your goals.

Many sellers think that they can't afford staging, that staging is absolutely cost prohibitive in their situation.That's not necessarily true, and to demonstate how it can be done without breaking the bank, I would like to share with you the recent publication by Rismedia Housecall /http://blog.rismedia.com/2015/golden-rules-home-staging/

For more helpful information go to http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

Are Shoffices Coming Here?

Shoffices, or shed-office hybrids, are rapidly becoming a backyard fixture for homes In Great Brittan. A handful of London homeowners have already jumped on the bandwagon, combining a home office and storage shed with the help of some serious space-saving architecture.

Will Americans follow that direction? Maybe, or maybe not, but the idea is interesting.

1.       Working from home is much different than working in an office. Who really wants to work in their home? With a shoffice, you can physically separate yourself from your home life, eliminating all possibility that your mind will start wondering…

2.       Your backyard won’t look like a barren wasteland. If your backyard’s lacking in the landscaping department, a shoffice is the perfect way to enhance it.

3.       Your kids will love it. If you don’t need an office at home, construct a shoffice anyway and let your child’s imagination do the rest. What kid wouldn't love a cave/spaceship to play in?

4.       Your home’s value will go up. Creating usable living space where there was none typically has a positive impact on a home’s value. No matter the seller’s original purpose, an agent or stager can showcase a shoffice as a functional (albeit detached) part of any home.

F     For more information visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

10 Things to Avoid When Buying a Home

Here are 10 things to avoid while you’re buying a home:

1. Don’t change your job before applying for a home loan. Also, now is not the right time to become self-employed or to quit your job. You want to show lenders stability, which means you’ll be less likely to default on the loan.

2. Don’t change banks. As with your employment, you want your banking history to show stability.

3. Don’t buy a car that you have to finance. Buying a vehicle or any other form of transportation through a loan increases your debt-to-income ratio, and loan officers don’t want to see that.

4. Don’t buy furniture on credit before buying your house. Charging big-ticket items increases your debt-to-income ratio. Save your money for the down payment.

5. Don’t be late on your credit card payments or charge excessively. You need a track record of responsibility that shows you can manage your money.

6. Don’t make large deposits into your bank accounts. Lenders like it when the money for your down payment has been sitting in your account for at least two months – what they call ‘seasoning’ – so that the funds don’t just appear out of the ether.

7. Don’t lie on your loan application. Sounds simple, right? But don’t leave out any debts or liabilities or fudge your income. It’s fraud.

8. Don’t co-sign a loan for anyone. Even if you’re not making the payments on that loan, co-signing increases your debt-to-income ratio.

9. Don’t apply for new credit cards or prompt any other inquiries into your credit rating. Looking for new credit translates into higher risk for lenders. If your inquiries are related to your mortgage search, that usually doesn’t affect your credit score, because lenders assume that you’re rate-shopping. But opening credit accounts within a short period of time represents some risk, and your credit could take a hit. Inquiries are probably not a huge factor in calculating your ability to repay a loan, but why take a chance?

10. Don’t spend money you’ll need for closing costs. Part of the price of financing a loan is closing costs, and you’ll likely have some responsibility for paying them. Make sure you have enough for your share.

For more information visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Location of Sex Offenders, Drug Labs and Toxic Dumps on Listing Pages

In a bid to bring transparency in online real estate search to new heights, RealtyTrac has baked a batch of data on unpalatable neighborhood characteristics into its listing detail pages.

The information — which could be construed as a massive collection of red flags — includes the location and details of environmental hazards such as underground spills, polluters and hazardous waste sites, as well as former drug labs, sex offenders and building permit activity.

RealtyTrac evens the playing field between heart and mind by helping consumers see behind the air-brushed perfection of typical real estate information.

RealtyTrac obtains most of its inventory through listing syndicator ListHub rather than IDX feeds. But in a growing number of markets where broker members of the RealtyTrac Network supply the site with IDX feeds, listings represented by all brokers participating in IDX — not just RealtyTrac’s partners — are accompanied by information on nearby criminal and sex offenders, environmental hazards, and other information that could rattle listing brokers and their seller clients.

RealtyTrac is importing the new neighborhood data from the Homefacts.com, which it acquired in 2012. Like Homefacts.com, RealtyTrac’s local information, including the information it’s just added, appears in “tiles” that paint a picture of a listing’s surroundings.

For more information visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

THE FUTURE OF SHORT SALES

Short sales and foreclosures played a starring role during the Great Recession. According to National Association of REALTORS® statistics, in the summer of 2009, distressed sales made up just under 50 percent of all transactions as. Fast forward to last fall, and that number dropped to only 14 percent.

Short sales are becoming less common for many reasons. For one, many markets are now well into recovery mode. Home values are rising and sellers who were underwater only a year ago have a bit more breathing room today. With fewer homeowners in financial distress—and the worst of the cleanup from the housing bubble behind us—banks and courts are finally processing through their backlogs of distressed properties. And employment growth means more homeowners can afford to stay in their homes and make their mortgage payments.

In addition, short sales are becoming less favorable for sellers. For the last few years, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, which protects sellers from having to pay tax on unpaid or forgiven debt, has made short sales a viable option for many underwater homeowners. However, the Act was sunset at the end of 2013. A short sale in 2014 could significantly impact your tax obligation, making it less attractive.

Buyer interest in distressed properties has also cooled. Too much hassle, and most short sales and foreclosures are not such a great deal after all. Finally, lenders themselves are also less interested in short sales. As market values increase, there is less need for lender/borrower negotiated sales. Added to that, the return of third-party purchasers (institutional investors or cash buyers purchasing at foreclosure auctions) is shifting the pendulum back toward traditional foreclosure auction and REO.

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THIS IS WHAT COMING TO THE JOY THEATRE

Power of Gray in Staging

Gray is a subtle color that can bring sophistication to interiors while also the neutrality that home buyer crave.

It’s the hot new neutral, a sleek and sophisticated color option that adds refinement to almost any room. Walls that are painted gray are great backdrops for almost any style of décor, and gray is such a dignified color that it can elevate the appearance of even the most modest furnishings.

Gray can be a great color choice for embellishments throughout interiors, such as a gray wash on wood furniture or the fabric in seating.

2014 color forecast expects grey to be used more in homes, and the grey’s flashier cousin, silver, used as an important accent color.

For more tips and suggestions visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Living Smart: What to Do about that Neighbor's Pesky Tree

If roots or branches of a neighbor’s tree pose problems for you, it’s likely you have the right to take action, even if the neighbor won’t.

Tree laws vary widely, but most permit homeowners to trim overhanging branches or overreaching roots that cause damage, create danger or obstruct a view, according to highly rated tree service providers and an expert on tree and neighbor law.

The right carries some limitations. One of the main ones is that whatever action you take to remedy the problem can’t lead to permanent damage to the tree. Also, some communities have ordinances restricting which trees can be cut or removed, regardless of whose property they’re on.

Talk to your neighbors before hiring a tree company. Not only is it simple courtesy, it may make the job easier for your professional.

Make sure you know for sure who owns the tree. If the full trunk is in your neighbor’s yard, the neighbor owns the tree, no matter how many branches or roots grow on your side of the property line. If the trunk rests on multiple properties, all owners must agree to trimming or removal.

Be sure you know your local laws, ordinances and restrictions. The bottom line in nearly every area is that any trimming efforts must not cause the tree permanent damage. Be aware that in many places, you’re responsible for paying for damage caused if a neighbor’s tree falls on your property. The case may be different if the neighbor’s tree is dead.

Consult a certified arborist and, possibly, a real estate attorney. If you have any questions about tree ownership or the potential effects of trimming or cutting, it’s best to get expert advice from a qualified professional.

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History of Notable Figures Called This Mansion Home

The Harvey Mudd estate, located in Southern California’s famous 90210 zip code, and designed in 1922 by noted architect Elmer Grey, is for sale at $22.995 million. The English Country estate is nestled into a well-groomed acre with a swimming pool, an aviary and gardens. With seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the home has been owned by a slew of well-knowns. Built for Charles Boldt, the home also opened doors to philanthropists Harvey and Mildred Mudd, Harry S. Rothschild of the Rothschild Oil Co., award-winning actor duo Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, and film producer Jack Rapke. Listed for: $22.995 million

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