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.

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

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 

Add Some Bling To Your Spaces

Grays have been catching on in more interiors this year and so has the color’s “flashier cousin” – silver, which is becoming a popular accent color in 2014. Silver is adding some sparkle to rooms, through shimmering fabrics and reflective glassware to even kitchen backsplashes and furniture.

Silver can be an attention-getting touch to liven up a space’s interior.

Metal tiles gained popularity in the past decade or so with the explosion of stainless steel kitchen appliances, and stainless steel tiles were [and still are] great harmonizers. However, they’ve also made their way out of the kitchen – and all that glitters isn’t always stainless steel. Tiles are available in different metals, including bronze, copper, and titanium, as well as different surfaces, such as brushed, polished, and textured.

Metallic finishes are everywhere from metal-toned lamp shades to the detailing in fabrics and throw pillows. Brass is also making a comeback in the metal arena. But you might want to still hold off on swapping out all those light fixtures for brass and keep the trend reserved to accessories, for now. The trend is evident, though, as more accessories take on a vintage gold look, such as in mirror frames to gold curtain rods.

Some gold and silver touches may just be the modern touch to bring a room more up-to-date.

For more ideas go to http://findneworleansproperties.com/ 

MAKE YOUR HOME MOVE-IN READY!

The moment you even begin to think of putting your home up for sale is the time to start thinking like a buyer. Why? Because thinking like a buyer will help you make your home move-in ready for just the right buyer. The less they think about what  they have to change, the shorter the distance will be between the viewing, their offer, and the day you say, “Sold.”

1.      Host a pre-listing party. Invite a few trusted friends over for an inventory. Make some cocktails and go from room to room in your home asking what they would either change if they were to buy your house, or see as a red flag if they were a potential buyer. This can help you create a solid list of potential improvements to discuss with your Realtor before you list.

2.      Consult with a great agent. Now that you have your friends’ opinions, run them by an expert.  See which problems you should address before listing and which fixes won’t be of financial benefit. 

3.      De-clutter. Closets get full. Extra pieces of furniture get crammed into corners. Bookshelves overflow with odds and ends. Help the potential buyers see your actual home and not the stuff in your home by moving out the extras. Try renting a portable storage unit that can be delivered to your home. This way, you can box up extras, and they’ll be ready to be delivered to your next dream home. In the meantime, you’ll be making room for someone else’s dreams.

4.      Clean out the garage. The future owners of your home want to know that their cars can fit into the garage.

5.      Think neutral. It’s hard for potential buyers to see themselves in a home that has you written all over it.  Since your home is soon to not be your home anymore, consider taking any brightly or bold-colored walls back to neutral. A simple beige satin wall paint with a semi-gloss white or off-white pain trim can do wonders for giving potential buyers the “blank canvas” feeling. You want future owners to be dreaming of picking out paint — not how to get rid of not-right-for-them color decisions.

6.      Grout, tile, and natural stone restoration. Have your bathrooms and kitchen counters lost their luster? You might want to look into having them refreshed (and it’s much less expensive than having them redone).  For not a lot of money, you can kick up the shine on your tiling and counters and get that long-neglected grout back to clean.

7.      Make those hardwood floors spiffy. Wash all surfaces with a simple mild, soapy water first (avoid Murphy’s Oil Soap — it leaves a residue). Next, use a hardwood floor polish like Bona or a product like Rejuvenate to bring the beauty back — and all for under $40-$50 for the average sized home. Be sure to use the cleaners recommended by each product to prevent buildup and to keep the shine going through your whole listing. There’s nothing that can kill a deal like your perfect buyer thinking that they have to refinish a few thousand square feet of hardwood. Help them see hope, not hardwood-related dollar signs.

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

Closing Costs: What You Should Expect‏

When it’s time to sign on the dotted line, do you know what costs to expect?

Closing costs are a major part of buying a home. Depending on the cost of the home, they can really add up, too. Typically, a home buyer can expect to pay between 2-5% of the purchase price of a home on closing costs. That’s not an insignificant sum.

What are the closing costs? They are fees related to the purchase of your new home. These are things over and above the amount you’re borrowing for your mortgage and any associated interest charges. In addition to your down payment, there are monies due to your lender and other parties–and it’s important to note that most of these are the responsibility of the buyer (there are some exceptions, like in the case of VA and other such loans).

What You Can Expect To Pay In Closing Costs

·         A fee for running your credit report–this fee is minimal and usually paid at the time the report is run.

·         A loan origination fee, which lenders charge for processing the loan paperwork for you.

·         Attorney’s fees.      

·         Discount points, where applicable, which are fees you pay in exchange for a lower interest rate (be sure to check with your lender).

·         Appraisal fee (charged by your lender).

·         Survey fee, which covers the cost of verifying property lines.

·         Title insurance, which protects the lender (and you!) in case the title isn’t clean.

·         Title search fees, which pay for a background check on the title to make sure there aren’t things such as unpaid mortgages or tax liens or any other such holds on the property.

·         Escrow deposit or earnest money, which may pay for a couple months’ property taxes and private mortgage insurance.

·         Title recording fee, which is paid to a city or county in exchange for recording the new land records.

·         Underwriting fee, which covers the cost of evaluating a mortgage loan application.

We mentioned that closing costs average between 2-5% of the purchase price of your new house. So, if your home cost $150,000, you can expect pay between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing costs. These costs can’t be rolled into your loan, so you should make sure that you have that cash reserved.

Your lender will give you a good faith estimate of what you can expect at closing, but this isn’t an exact figure. Within a day of your closing, you will receive a form HUD-1, which will go over, in detail, all of your closing costs.

Remember: these costs aren’t always set in stone and if they’re too far removed from what you’ve been led to expect, you can always walk away.  As with all matters related to purchasing a home, be educated. The last thing you want is to be taken by surprise.

Have Questions? Need Help? Visit http://findneworleansproperties.com/

SELLER OPTIMISM GROWS

As prices continue to rise, more sellers are putting their homes on the market than this time last year. This movement is a sign of confidence in the gains sustained through the winter and an indication of a strong early beginning to the spring home buying season. Data from realtor.com® reveals the number of properties for sale in February rose 10.1 percent above February 2013 levels. The median list price at $199,000 increased 7.6 percent compared to the same month last year.

Overall these figures indicate a continued reinforcement of steady gains and market stabilization that we’ve been watching since late last summer.  This is the market these sellers have been waiting for.

Many have speculated that as homeowners gained equity across 2013, sellers otherwise prevented from making ‘life event’ associated housing changes, for various reasons such as births, children entering school, aging home owners downsizing to smaller residences and others, now are finally able to tap into the resources necessary to make those changes. The increase in inventory is even more noteworthy given the severe climate conditions that likely dampened a more typical month of listing activity across much of the nation.

If you are planning to sell or buy real estate 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/