HELP! Flying Space Junk Hit My House!

After a meteor struck western Siberia and more meteors threatened the entire globe this past Friday, the question is begged, "Who pays for damage to a home if hit by a space object?"
Rest easy!  "Your insurance covers falling objects," says Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute.  In the rare events when meteors have crashed through home owners' roofs over the years, insurers have paid the damage for those insured, Harwig says.

NASA scientist Laurie Leshin says, "The earth is peleted with 40 tons of space debris a year.  Most of that is teeny dust particles and rarely does it injure people or damage property."
Source:  "Who Pays for Damage From a Meteor?"  CNNMoney (Feb. 15, 2013)

Real Estate myths, debunked!

With most any business or profession, the general public has often formulated a group of beliefs that are commonly held as fact. Some of these beliefs may be well deserved; others may be born out of an isolated incident or reflect past practices that are no longer in place.

In this week’s column, we thought we’d go through a few of the more common real estate myths and try to separate fact from fiction.

1. When buying, working directly with the listing agent will help me get a lower price for the house. Some buyers think a seller can save money on real estate commissions if there is no buyer’s agent involved with the transaction.

In reality, sellers have usually negotiated to pay a total amount of commission, regardless of whether one or two agents are part of the process. If you don’t have a buyer’s agent representing you, it just means more commission for the listing agent. There can be exceptions, but in most cases, there’s nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by not availing yourself of the expertise offered by a buyer’s agent.

2. The higher I price my house, the more money I’m likely to get for it. Pricing a house for sale is one of the most important yet most often bungled parts of a real estate sale. Some sellers think they’re building in extra negotiating room. But overpricing your house right out of the gate almost always results in a negative impression by buyers, as well as agents, and that impression will ultimately depress the perceived value of your property.

Removing the stigmatization of being overpriced usually requires that you compensate with multiple price reductions, resulting in a lower sales price than would have been achieved if the house was reasonably priced from the start.

3. If I look long enough, I’ll find the perfect house. Unfortunately, there is no perfect house. Unless you have an unlimited budget, buying a house is a set of compromises.

You might find a place that has the perfect lot, but the house isn’t everything you want it to be, or vice- versa. So unless you want to make house shopping a multi-year hobby, try to prioritize your needs and recognize there will be trade-offs. If you get 85 percent or more of everything you want, that’s doing pretty well.

4. Working with a lot of real estate agents will improve my chances of finding the right house. Some buyers go out there and fire up half a dozen real estate agents, thinking that the more agents they have beating the bushes, the better their chances will be in finding the right house at the right price.

First off, agents are all playing with the same deck of cards since there’s only one multiple list system to draw listings from. There really aren’t any “secret” listings that can give certain agents the inside track.

Second, developing a close relationship with just one agent will allow that agent to more fully understand your real estate needs and wants.

And third, agents work on 100 percent commission, so be judicious about using their time if you’re not really serious about including them in a transaction to buy or sell.

5. With all the information available on the Internet, I don’t really need a real estate agent. It’s true that you can find just about anything on the Internet. We’re sure you can find detailed instructions on the Web about how to remove your spleen. But that doesn’t mean such a thing is necessarily a do-it-yourself kind of project.

There are many internet sites that can help you locate possible homes to buy. But when it comes to negotiating a purchase or making sure a transaction actually gets to settlement, a laptop will never replace a real live agent.

6. In today’s market, it’s always a good idea to first lowball sellers. Since we’ve been in a buyer’s market for some time now, many buyers think “what the heck, let’s throw a lowball offer in there and see if we get lucky.” If it’s a house you’re willing to walk away from, that may be fine. But, if it’s a house you really want, lowballing the seller might poison your ability to ultimately do a deal.

When the initial offer is unreasonably low, sellers frequently get their back up, and they can become significantly less pliable when it comes to further price negotiations.

7. Sellers should never take the first offer. Every once and a while, we put a house on the market and it gets an offer right off the bat. Even if that offer is a good one, sellers frequently start second-guessing themselves and are reluctant to take a contract that comes in quickly.

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen a seller turn down that offer, only to find (six months later) that it was the one they should have taken. A fast offer for top-dollar doesn’t automatically mean you underpriced your house. You may have just been lucky to get someone who wanted a place exactly like yours, who was out there shopping right when you put it on the market.

8. If I wait, the market will turn in my direction. The only problem with this theory is that we’re in a very uncertain market, and trying to time the market is nearly an impossible thing to do.

Since we’re in a period of transition, the chances that market conditions will appreciably change to benefit either buyers or sellers is very low. In all likelihood, we will experience slow price appreciation, which will benefit sellers. But, along with that price appreciation, we will also have more homes come to market, something that will be to the advantage of buyers. As a result, neither side will find themselves in the driver’s seat over the foreseeable future.

9. Real estate agents try to drive up home prices so they will get paid more. People know agents get paid as a percentage of a property’s selling price. So it’s not unreasonable to assume that agents would have a vested interest in higher prices. But that’s not really true.

If someone pays an extra $5,000 for a house, the additional commission for the agent will be less than $100. Plus, if an agent were to blow a deal apart by pressing for a few more dollars in the sales price, their commission would become zero. No agent is going to risk a $7,000 commission in hopes of making an extra hundred bucks. Besides, the market, seller motivation and comparable sales dictate prices, not agents.

10. Now is a bad time to sell, or now is a bad time to buy. You wouldn’t think that both of these could be true at the same time, but unless you’re an investor, they can be. The reason is that houses aren’t purely a financial decision.

There are many other non-financial factors that can come into play. People get married; people get divorced; they have babies; any number of things can happen that may inspire you to buy or sell a home. Waiting for the most favorable economic environment to do so, isn’t always possible. Saving a few extra dollars in a real estate transaction usually isn’t worth compromising the quality of your home life.

As we said, there are misconceptions that exist in every business. Real estate is no exception, and there are many more myths than the few we touched on here. Solid information is always a key to success in making good decisions. So, when it comes to real estate, make sure you’re dealing with reality, and not being misled by perceptions that are out of date with how the process works, or out of sync with what’s going on with the market.

7 Things To Do Before Buying a House

1. Recognize home-buying as an investment.

For many military personnel aboard Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River, the Jacksonville, North Carolina area is not a permanent location.  However, the basic-allowance-for-housing, or BAH, is generous enough to cover a mortgage.  Many times, the mortgage ends up being cheaper than a comparable rental in the area.  Investing your BAH in your own mortgage can only help you in the long term, in most cases.

2. Ask yourself a lot of questions before you buy.

Buying a home can be of the biggest purchases in your life. Make sure you're making the right decision by answering questions about how this will better suit your long term goals:

• Is this a smart move?
• Do you need a house with a yard for a growing family or your beloved pooches?
• Are you tired of mowing a lawn and think a condo might be more suitable?
• Who will be responsible for the maintenance when I'm gone?
• What will be the return on my investment, should I decide to rent it or sell it?

Qualified Accredited Buyer's Representatives (ABR®) can better help you protect your interests.  Read more about this designation here.  Not every REALTOR® is an ABR®!

3. Don't rush into a home purchase.

Be methodical and make a well considered decision.  The real estate market in Jacksonville, North Carolina is ever changing.  When you think you've found "the one", it's time to negotiate the best deal!  

Spend time making sure your credit reports are in shipshape to get the best rates offered when you decide to buy. You can check your reports free once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Food for thought: a 1% difference in a $200,000 mortgage can cost you more than $45,000 in additional interest over the life of a 30-year loan.

4. Focus on what you can afford.

Lenders will check your debt-to-income ratio. That is how much money is coming in versus going out in debt payments.

Here's how to calculate debt-to-income ratio before you start loan shopping: Add up all of your debt payments including mortgage principal, property taxes and insurance plus other recurring debt like credit card, student loan and car payments and do the math. Your ratio should be 36% or less. You want to do what ever you can to stay out of the debt danger zone.

If you gross $5,000 per month (before-tax income) you should not pay out more than $1,800 per month toward those bills. If you are, your credit-to-income ratio is not ideal. Remember: just because your lender says you qualify for a particular loan amount doesn't mean you can afford it.

If everything else is on target, buy a home you can comfortably afford on one income. That gives a couple some financial wiggle room in case one partner loses a job or decides to be a full-time parent.

5. Maximize your tax benefits.

As the tax law stands now, mortgage interest is generally tax deductible, which is great incentive for you to buy a home. You can lower your taxable income by the amount you pay in property taxes and interest.

Here's an example: If you earn $60,000 in gross income, and pay $10,000 in interest and another $2,000 in property tax, you can lower your taxable income to $48,000.

6. Build a move-in fund.

In addition to your earnest money deposit, appraisal fee and home inspection fee, you'll need a move-in fund to cover closing costs, furniture and other stuff that you didn't need in an apartment — like a lawnmower, for example.  

7. When in doubt, rent.

All of these tips may make you wonder if you're truly ready to buy. No problem, rent instead. Ultimately, putting off the purchase until you're truly ready — both financially and career-wise — carries much less risk than leaping before you look. 

Give me a call! I'm more than happy to help you with all of your real estate needs, and I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!!

10 Tips for Decorating on the Cheap

Top 10 Tips For Decorating On The Cheap

10If you’ve scrimped and saved and now are finally able to afford to buy a bigger or better place, the last thing you want to do is ramp up your debt on fitting her out. However, having beautiful bare walls and nothing much else may appeal to those with minimalist inclinations but will shortly send any one else into fits of depression. Preferable to that is using your pennies wisely and being price-smart over purchases.

Curtains or Drapes

Windows take up a good deal of wall space. By using sheers, windows can be transformed into ethereal lightscapes. Illuminate a room by capturing and bouncing natural light off sheers or semi-transparent drapes. This type of fabric creates interesting points in any room. Plain sheers will break up and diffuse light while patterned ones make pretty dapples. Adding privacy to your home is inexpensively achieved and when more money can be allocated to the decorating budget, tails, frills, valances and swags may be added over the sheer. To get shine into your home use sheers made from silk, organdy, diaphanous synthetics or plain cotton. Textured sheers in cheesecloth, gauze, voile and muslin bring in some busyness (necessary where you’re trying to dress up a bare room) and are more dramatic with the small shadowing they create. Once a window is dressed in sheers a billowing, gossamer effect is created when the wind moves which adds to the sense of satisfaction that a room now has life in it.

9

Used Furniture and Throws

More and more popular, throwing a length of fabric over your existing furniture is an instant way to change mood and ambience of a room. When buying used furniture the throw is an inexpensive way to hide faults until they can be dealt with at a later stage.

2nd hand couches and chairs are an economical way to decorate your home for less. If you know your budget will be stretched for a fairly lengthy time into the future, yet you still need furniture then 2nd hand is a way forward. Steer clear of those establishments which are obvious junk shops and concentrate on places whose owners have given a little thought to their wares. Check for quality. Beware of pieces where you can feel the frame through the fabric. If you sit and your legs or arms connect with timber this is a sign of bad manufacture – something you’ll seldom find in well-crafted makes.

What you’re looking for is well made furniture that through years of use has become tatty and torn, the filling has lost its plumpness and it’s ready for a spruce up. When you have the resources you’ll be able to do a proper reupholstering job but for now, a throw covering a grand, though tired old lady, will serve you, and your money, well.

8

Chair Rails and Moldings

This is one of the cheapest ways to add style and detail to a boring room. A host of dado moldings are available on the market and are quite easily fixed to the wall. The dado rail, usually positioned about a third of the way up the wall, was originally used to show a break between two types of wall fabrics and to keep chair backs from scraping the fabrics and damaging them. From a simple plain design to one filled with flourishes and curlicues, dados, once painted have a remarkably decorative effect. If the room is small it is best to stay with an unfussy rail. Dados will assist in widening a room by directing the eye downwards so that walls seem more apart than they are.

A large baronial-type room can support excess so decorate accordingly. In some houses the walls are tall enough to add extra decoration to the standard cornices. These moldings can then be painted in a contrasting, or complementary color.

7

Paint and Color

Versatile, cheap and with selective use paint can fool the eye. Rooms with a low ceiling usually feel claustrophobic. By playing with optical illusions a room can be made more spacious. Using vertical stripes draws the eye up and down and fools us into believing the ceiling is higher than it is. Stick to soft contrasting colors and make the stripes broad or thin depending on the proportions of the room. Bold stripes can be used if you are sure of your color sense but be careful to not end up with a room that looks like the inside of a circus tent. Before painting carefully mark off the stripes and take care around windows and doors.

6

Using the Color Wheel

The color wheel is an integral part of coordinating hues, tones and tints. Once you are confident about color you’ll find painting a bathroom in dark green, or a wall of a study in midnight blue, less intimidating. Buttercup yellow is a shamelessly delicious color that uplifts and punches you in the eye the minute you see it. No-one can remain gloomy for long in a buttery yellow room, yet almost no-one dares use it in their home. The average person instantly labels those ‘arty’ or ‘bohemian’ who actually put yellow on the wall.

Strawberry red, toned with complementary or contrasting colors from the color wheel will provide a visually pleasing room in which the strong color will take centre stage. Adding plainer, coordinating furniture can come later as the boldness of the room will carry it through sparse times.

5

Shelves

A beautifully decorated room is quickly marred by lack of order and neatness. Storage space is cheap to install and reduces the chaos inherent in a busy household. Most people do not return items to their rightful place, even more so when the item is buried under a heap of mismatched objects. Without a place for each, items soon vanish and endless searches made hunting it down when needed. A place to put things helps keep sanity in the home. Lots of simple shelving, a bookcase or two and chests with lids go a far way in bringing calm to the environment.

From a practical point, if your family has a large collection of ceramic frogs or delicate figurines then consider glass fronted cabinets. It cuts down on the dusting, displays all that is important to you and if you buy ready-to-assemble units you can keep costs down.

If you have a great deal of books then consider building shelves across a wall and incorporating the windows into the design. This way visual pleasure is gained by the mix of different sizes and the attention will be drawn to the wall and views through the glass panes. Painting the shelves the same color as the walls cause them to recede and the decoration of the books emphasized. Shelving can also be built around doors and in awkward spots. Incorporate space for displaying a few treasured possessions. Bulky vases, that enormous hat you bought the last time you went to Lesotho, all can find a home between novels and magazines.

4

Storage and Side-Tables

In the lounge or living room, storage chests can double as side tables. If the chests are padded, place a large ceramic or cork tile on top to serve as a stable surface for your cup of tea, glass of wine or juice. The wet marks are easily wiped from the tile and the price of a tile is a tenth of purchasing side-tables.

3

Seating

For a cheap solution buy plain, sturdy wooden chests with lids. Paint to suit the room. Add thick removable cushions. Extra dense foam will cope with the occasional visitor as well as providing them with a comfortable seat. Plan around how you actually live. If you have lots of elderly aunts and cousins to tea then proper chairs will be used for them while you use the chests. If it’s a younger set, lounging around on your living room floor on a throw down pillow will be quite acceptable.

2

Screens and Room Dividers

Compartmenting off areas in a big room is achieved by using various screens. For the sake of style, and to keep air flow and airiness alive, use lightweight dividers, preferably with a slatted or meshed effect which doesn’t entirely obscure what’s beyond. If the light is good enough, potted indoor palms help the screening effect and soften hard edges.

Screens are under utilized in the modern home and often a long uninteresting room can be made more secret and intriguing by stopping the eye from easily seeing the other end. For very little money you can customize your screen through painting, stenciling or just hanging bits of your favorite memorabilia from it. If you have boisterous children and/or pets choose a screen with a sturdy base that can deal with the odd collision or two.

1

Indoor Plants

These can be used everywhere, require minimal outlay, can be layered, stacked or grouped and provide texture and visual appeal until such time as real furniture is affordable.

After buying a new house resist the urge to tear off to the shops and snap up everything your eyes fall upon. The joy of a new home quickly sours when the owners are fraught with money problems. Rather enjoy the spaciousness and emptiness of the home, use cheaper decorating options and save up towards a time when you can install your dream kitchen. There is no need to sacrifice style when there is a restrictive budget but patience is required when you wish to end up with fine things.

Getting Ready to Sell Your Home? Read this!

Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Seven to 10 Days

Here's How:

1. Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.
   • Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
   • Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
   • Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
   • Say goodbye to every room.
   • Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
2. De-Personalize.
   Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."
3. De-Clutter!
   People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
   • If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
   • Remove all books from bookcases.
   • Pack up those knickknacks.
   • Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
   • Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
   • Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets. 
   Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:
   • Alphabetize spice jars.
   • Neatly stack dishes.
   • Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
   • Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
   • Line up shoes.
5. Rent a Storage Unit. 
   Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"
6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
   If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.
7. Make Minor Repairs.
   
   • Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
   • Patch holes in walls.
   • Fix leaky faucets.
   • Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
   • Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
     (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
   • Replace burned-out light bulbs.
   • If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!
8. Make the House Sparkle!
   
   • Wash windows inside and out.
   • Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
   • Clean out cobwebs.
   • Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
   • Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
   • Clean out the refrigerator.
   • Vacuum daily.
   • Wax floors.
   • Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
   • Bleach dingy grout.
   • Replace worn rugs.
   • Hang up fresh towels.
   • Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
   • Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.
9. Scrutinize. 
   
   • Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
   • Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
   • Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
   • Make sure window coverings hang level.
   • Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?
   • Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.
10. Check Curb Appeal.
    If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
    • Keep the sidewalks cleared.
    • Mow the lawn.
    • Paint faded window trim.
    • Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
    • Trim your bushes.
    • Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

Don't Beat Around the Bush! Come Grow Roots at Tall Pines!!

Tall Pines of New River is one of the newest neighborhoods growing in the southwest area of Jacksonville, North Carolina!  Located two miles from New River MCAS, and about fifteen minutes from MARSOC in Stone Bay, there is no question that this is the place to grow roots!

The entire neighborhood is be surrounded by original "tall pines."  The builders and developer decided that instead of eliminating all the vegetation and wiping the slate clean, it would give the neighborhood a better feel in providing for a more established homesite, and I agree!  

Homeplans such as the Edenton, by 70 West Builders, will be planted in Tall Pines, and you'll be barking up the right tree with the features it has to offer!  Each home built by 70 West Builders will be beautifully appointed with granite countertops, contemporary style interior doors, upgraded trim packages, stylish designer cabinetry, exciting kitchen design plans, and "No-Slam" doors and drawers on all the cabinetry.  On the first floor of these homes you will find gas log fireplaces, smooth ceilings and crown molding in place as fun standard features!  With many energy efficient features put in place throughout the building process and the comprehensive warranty included with every home, you can be assured that these builders care about the homes, and mostly the homeowners!  H&H Homes of Fayetteville will also be building homes in Tall Pines of New River.

Are you ready to come home to your new home, minutes away from the beaches of North Carolina, but tucked away from it all?  Tall Pines of New River might just be for you!

For your personal tour, call me!  I would love to help with all of your real estate needs!  And I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

How To NOT Sell A Home? Bad Listing Photos!

Atrocious listing photos are an excellent way to insure no one will look at your home, let alone buy it!  If you've spent any time at all on the internet shopping for homes, I'm sure you've come across some pictures of homes and thought, "What the heck?"

I have!  This blog is in no way meant to be offensive, but merely to shed some light on the world of Bad Listing Photos and encourage sellers to think about how they are presenting their home to the world, via the internet.

You can have this home, creepy doll included!!

Multi-purpose kitchen- do your dishes and your laundry!

Either this ghost means business, or the home has a ventilation problem...

Wait....are we in the kitchen or the garden or...wait...what's going on here?

Always nice to see a dirty toilet.

They're all looking at you.  Don't you want to buy this house?

Yep.  This screams, "Fabulous Home!"  Not really.

Couch potato included!

"I'm too lazy to get out of the car to take a picture, but you can bet I'll work hard to sell your house," said no successful Realtor ever.

So, the alternate potty seat is on the trash can, why?  Just put your stuff away!

"I'm such a fabulous Realtor, I'm going to be in the picture too!"

"Fireman pole and party included in the purchase of this home!"  Liability insurance may vary.

Have you heard the saying, "Can't see the forest for the trees?"  This is kinda like that.  Can't see the kitchen for the clutter.

If you want to sell your home, take the time to put your home's "best foot forward!"  There are enough challenges as it is when your home is on the market, don't create more with bad listing photos!  Your Realtor should be providing professional photos to best market your home, otherwise they're not working in your best interests.  If you would like a referral for a professional photographer in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area, please contact me.  

I would love to help you with all of your real estate needs!  I'm never too busy for your referrals!