Make a Home Look More Expensive

When you are getting ready to sell your home, there are many things that have to be done so the house is in excellent condition when potential buyers come to look at it.

Home staging is very important and whether you do it, or hire a professional to do it, certain things should be done to make the home look and have a feeling of being in fashion and up to date. This brings up the age old problem of having to re-do the home and possibly having to go buy new pieces of furniture, or accessories.

Unfortunately, there is not just one place to find home staging supplies, so being creative is important, not only in what you use, but what you buy, and then how you use it.  You can get some ideas from your close friends.

Here are five ways to make your home’s interior look more expensive, and in fashion, but not at the cost of your bottom line:

1.  Use one expensive piece of furniture, or other item, in each room, well positioned.  It can be a piece of art, a table or something rare and expensive like valued china. The expensive piece(s) should be the focus of attention as soon as someone walks into that room.   This is what they see first. First impressions!

2.  Use white. It has always, and will always be a staple that professional home stagers use. It radiates of light, cleanliness, and open space. Try using inexpensive white pieces on an expensive table or other piece.

3.  Look at what can be recycled. Try recovering a favorite chair or sofa.  Much of the furniture of past years had great design and great lines and sometimes are worth recovering and restoring them back to life.

4.  Rotate your theme colors, and do it in each room if possible. Every new season, the design world changes the “what’s-in” color.  A good way to make your home look in-style, is to have that in-style color. Visit some ‘in’ stores in your area, and see what they are doing with different colors, how they are using them, and which is the most popular.  You will get lots of good ideas.

5.  Don’t buy new furniture or accessories at the beginning of any new season.

Some Advise For the First Time Buyer

When you are purchasing a home you will need anywhere from 3½% to 20% down, the lowest down payment being a Government FHA Loan. So what are the limits on such a loan?  The limit on a FHA Forward is $271,050.00.

Going on the assumption that your FICO score is at least 620, you will be able to qualify for a FHA loan that only requires a 3.5% down payment, so on $$271,050.00 mortgage loan you need $9485 down. When calculating your projected monthly payment, be sure and include what is called private mortgage insurance (PMI) until the principal becomes 80%. Another monthly expense is your property taxes and insurance.

This loan might cover less of a house than you were counting on, but it will keep you safe from payments you cannot afford and start you off on a good foundation of home ownership.

When Will the Real Estate Market Stabalize

This is an interesting fact: Nationally about 24%  of the homes on the market had a 1% drop in price compared to  15% of the homes dropping last month. The fact is that home prices were so high by 2006 , that it will take probably in my opinion till year 2015 to get some normalcy and back to a stable market.

 Terrie Cox, PC, GRI, CRS, CDPE, ABR, e-Pro, CLHMS
#31 Agent in the USA (2010) Ranked as high as 89 in the World
 Re/Max Equity Group – Licensed Oregon & Washington

 Direct: 888-888-8284    Office: 360-699-5100  Fax: 360-699-6100

Lots of Unclaimed Money in Washington State

Finding any unclaimed funds can be exciting for someone especially when it’s unexpected and a surprise.  Today,with the help of all the information that is available on the internet, many people are discovering that it can be exciting and very profitable to search for any funds or other assets that one may be entitled to.

For people searching for unclaimed cash in Washington State, they need to know that certain websites and state government agencies handle lost money, and the process for claims involves very specific steps that need to be followed.
Unclaimed inheritance is one of the most common forms of missing money. If a relative dies and leaves behind a life insurance policy, an unknown bank account, a final paycheck, or some other asset, then his or her heirs may not know about the unclaimed Washington State funds. The lost money must be reported by the company or bank, or agency holding it, and the amount is then transferred to the State of Washington and the Department of Revenue.  There are, of course, other types of assets and funds that go unclaimed. A person can go to the State of Washington Website and search their records, by name, to see if they might be eligible to claim the funds or assets by going through a relatively simple process.

The Vancouver 4th of July Celebration is Back !

Vancouver has celebrated July 4th at Fort Vancouver for 46 years, and in 2009, due to funding problems, the event was cancelled.  With the support of  Bank of America and other partners, businesses, corporations and individuals the event will be brought back this year with a few minor changes. Once again Business working for our community.
 
For the event to be economically sustainable, a small admission fee will be charged for those ages 13 and older, and all attendees will once again enjoy a renewed focus on family, community and having fun.  There will be a great spectacular fireworks show at Pearson Field.  Please plan to join the community by attending,  and tell everyone that the Vancouver July 4th Celebration is back !!

Next Page »