Blog Archives
Here is When You Know You’re About to Make Criti...
If rent is too cheap, it is most likely too good to be true. There is always a reason that someone would be asking a lot less than they can possibly ask for a rental. The property most likely needs a lot of hidden repairs. Ask yourself honestly, if you were to own a place and wish to rent it out, why wouldn’t you …
Getting Ready for Colder Weather
We are spoiled, yes, here in So Cal we don’t have to deal with below freezing temperatures that often. But the human body isn’t made to withstand the cold for very long. Getting too cold can cause health problems for us and our kids. Although it isn’t freezing, having a house below 60 degrees can be dangerous unless everyone is properly insulated. There is …
House Poor?
Realtors usually don’t deliver the best news. Everybody who wants to buy a house, wants to buy the best house in the best neighborhood for the best price. That usually involves someone maxing out the payment they can afford. You may be tempted to stretch your budget and buy that larger home with the bigger yard, but remember: The more you spend on housing, …
Auction Properties Aren’t For Regular Buyers
Ever thought about getting a property via auction? Well it isn’t impossible, but it is very hard for regular buyers. Auctions take place at local government courthouses and other locations chosen by auction companies, such as hotel conference rooms. Homes are also auctioned online. Foreclosure auctions are held by bank-hired trustees. Tax lien auctions are conducted by local sheriffs. There are two types of …
Is It Worth It?
Now, we are required to have insurance for our home if we secure a loan from a bank, we are required to have auto insurance if we finance a car, but there are several forms of insurance that are not mandatory. Earthquake insurance is one such type of insurance. If you live in South Dakota, it may not ever cross your mind, but when …
Reverse Mortgage Information
I remember when I got into real estate, the market was very normal in Southern California. The Inland Empire was an affordable place to live so there were a lot of commuters as well as local economy workers. I first heard the term “Short Sale” in 2007 and I had no idea what it was. I learned quickly and it became very common. Another …
Curb Appeal Fixes
There are a lot of ways to spruce up your home. There are a lot of ways to improve your curb appeal. In big business, offering ways to make your house look more aesthetically pleasing is a certain money-maker. Who pays though? Well, we do. It is not secret that updating, upgrading, and “prettying up” your house is usually very expensive. Get a quote …
Radon: A Disclosure Disclosed
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is formed from the natural breakdown of uranium in the earth. Though you can’t see it or smell it, radon can enter your home through cracks in your foundation, well water, building materials and other sources, where it can contaminate the air you breathe. Scary enough because radon is actually radioactive, it’s also carcinogenic; radon exposure is …
There Are More Empty Homes Than There Are Homeless Peo...
I ran into an interesting fact and it seems like a simple solution, of course it isn’t. The numbers are staggering but some states are making a difference. Millions of Americans are homeless, and yet they’re outnumbered by vacant homes and government-owned buildings. A growing number of activists are calling for these empty spaces to be filled with the humans living on America’s streets. …
How Much House Can I Afford?
One of the big questions when you are going to buy a house, is can I afford it? Well, I should say can I afford the house I really want. There has to be a guideline. Mortgage companies have rules they follow to see how much house you can afford. It isn’t hard to calculate so here are those rules. Maybe this will help …