Archive for February, 2009
Home colors that say “Buy me”
February 28th, 2009 categories: Sellers
You’ve heard it time and again, neutral beige or off-white walls are what sells a home - Although home colors can be regional, pastels in Florida, rich earth tones here in Asheville, but a touch of color may be just what you need to revive buyers’ interest in a home that’s been on the market a bit too long. The right color on a home’s walls can trigger positive physiological and psychological responses among potential buyers. If people walk into a space and sense a warm color, they immediately get a sense of a cozy home and will probably react positively.
White, can make the room invisible. You’re missing an opportunity to create a feeling in the space. It doesn’t help buyers imagine themselves in the home. Pastels colors-which have a mostly white base, can have a similar, invisible effect.
Research on color responses has shown that warm colors, such as orange and red, can increase excitement and energy, whereas cooler hues, such as blue can be calming and relaxing.
So what color can lift a buyer’s spirits? The most potent color is green. But before you start splashing green on all your walls, not all shades of green are a safe bet. For example, lime greens-or any yellow with green undertones- “look sickly to most buyers,” says interior designer Jeanette Fisher, and author of 22 books on design psychology. Medium shades of green such as sage-and bedrooms painted in creamy tones of green-can be a good choice. Fisher also favors buttery yellows inside and out, complemented with white trim accents. A color doesn’t have to be McDonald’s yellow or Red Roof Inn red to be noticed. It can be a derivative or a subtle tint or tone of those particular colors to create the warming effect buyers want in a home.
You can also use color to provide a sense of order and balance in a home. Using variations of the same color throughout the house, rather than painting every room a different contrasting color, provides a sense of flow from one room to another and doesn’t distract buyers’ eyes.
RED - Increases energy and heart rate. Best for Dining Rooms
ORANGE - Adds comfort, warmth, and cheerfulness. Best for Living Rooms and family rooms.
YELLOW – Brightens mood and promotes welcoming and joyful feelings. Best for: Poorly lit foyers and dark hallways: buttery shades of yellow for living rooms.
GREEN - Most restful color. Reduces nervous system activity and tension. Calms and relaxes. Best for: Living rooms (light greens), accent for kitchens and dining rooms (midtones).
BLUE - Promotes feelings of calmness, security, tranquility and cleanliness. Best for: Bedrooms or any restful, peaceful area in the home.
PURPLE – Boosts creativity, imagination, and meditation. Lighter shades are perceived as more youthful. Best for: Children’s bedrooms and play areas.
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It’s here! $8,000 for 1st time Homebuyers
February 20th, 2009 categories: Buyers
Although the $15,000 homebuyers credit didn’t get passed, a better version of last summers tax credit did emerge. An $8,000 tax credit, or 10% of the homes value to 1st time home buyers. One thing I want to emphasize: To cash in on this tax credit you must buy a home between Jan.1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. It won’t last very long, so to say the least – TIME TO BUY!
I found an excellent article than explains the basics and addresses a few scenarios on how this all works. $8,000 Tax Credit
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How long do housing materials last?
February 16th, 2009 categories: Buyers
When you’re considering buying a home and are evaluating the possible replacement of roofing, appliances or windows, it can be an expensive proposition and you may need to factor in replacement costs in your offer. Now, a new study by the National Association of Home Builders provides some insight on the average useful life of more than 100 household appliances and materials.
The true longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality or installation and climate conditions, so use these averages as a general guide.
100 YEARS OR MORE
Brick siding: Lifetime of the home. All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home. Cellulose insulation material: 100-plus years
50 – 100 YEARS
Slate copper and clay and concrete roofs: 50+ years. Copper gutters: 50+ years. Kitchen cabinets: Up to 50 years. Modified acrylic kitchen sinks: 50 years. Vinyl floors: 50 years.
30 -50 YEARS
Thermostats: 35 years. Wooden windows: 30 years. Wood shake roofs: 30 years. French interior doors: 30-50 years.
10 – 20 YEARS
Built-in audio system: 20 years. Aluminum windows: 15-20 years. Asphalt shingle roofs: 20 years. Faucets, kitchen sinks: 15 years. Gas ranges: 15 years. Cultured marble countertops: 20 years. Dryers and refrigerators: 13 years. Air conditioning units: 10-15 years. Lighting controls: 10+ years. Interior and exterior paints: 15+ years. Electric or gas water heaters: 10 years. Furnaces: 15-20 years.
5 - 10 YEARS
Security systems: 5-10 years. Heat and smoke detectors: 5-10 years. Dishwashers: 9 years. Microwave ovens: 9 years. Carpet: 8-10 years.
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Asheville – Get Ready, Set, BUY!!
February 9th, 2009 categories: Buyers
I have the best news I’ve heard in at least two years – the Senate approved a subsidy for home buyers of up to $15,000 for all home purchases. The new credit, which still needs to pass the House works like this: Buyers would get 10 percent of the purchase price of any home, up to $15,000, applied to their tax bill. Buyers would also be allowed to spread out the credit over two years for those who pay less than $15,000 in taxes to benefit.
But here are a couple very important details to this wonderful and much needed credit. You must buy a house within 1 year of the bill’s signature to qualify. Buyers must occupy the house as their main residence for at least two years.
You may have heard about the tax break passed last summer which provided a $7,500 credit to first-time buyers. But that must be repaid over 15 years. This new tax credit blows last summers tax credit out of the water, and from what I know so far, you don’t have to be a first-time buyer for this new tax credit.
The stars, moon and sun are all in align, the age of Aquarias is here to all the buyers out there! But REMEMBER: this tax credit is TEMPORARY. If you’re waiting for the best time to buy your next house, I don’t see how it could get much better. Stay tuned later this week when I find out when the tax credit has passed (I’m the optimistic type).
5 REASONS TO GET OUT THERE AND START LOOKING!
Rates are low, between 5-6%,
Prices have adjusted downward considerably.
Inventory is plentiful.
An excellent possibility of a $15,000 tax credit.
Historically, when interest rates are low, prices start going up.
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Do you know the difference between Modular vs. Manufactured Homes?
February 4th, 2009 categories: Buyers
When you think of modular or manufactured homes, you may picture aluminum trailer homes in a trailer park community. But the truth is, modular homes are quite different from manufactured homes. What are the differences between manufactured and modular housing?
Modular Homes
Modular and manufactured homes are both factory-built. With modular homes, individual modules are up to 90% complete when shipped from the factory to the home site. All walls, flooring, ceilings, stairs, carpeting, and even wall finishes are completed in the factory before shipment.
Contruction of modular homes is efficient, primarily because work is never delayed by weather, subcontractor no-shows or missing materials. Many modular home manufacturers give purchasers the option to design their own floor plans, similar to the experience of a site-built home.
A modular home is places onto a transporter when it needs to be carried from the factory to its permanent site. It then must be lifted off the transport trailer by a crane and set upon a permanent foundation. Unless you were there to see the house delivered and assembled, you might not guess it’s a modular home.
Modular homes are governed by both local and state codes. They are often indistinguishable from site-built homes, and rarely have restrictions on their placement in the community. Modular homes are permanent in nature and once in place are never moved. Therefore, they are typically located on private property. Financing is also the same as a site-built homes, so you can take advantage to todays low rates.
Manufactured Homes
Simply put, a manufactured home (i.e. mobile home) is a building that is constucted in a factory and remains on its transport frame throughout the course of its use. A truck easily backs into a designated site, unhooks the home and drives off. Most sections of these homes are 14 and 16 feet wide, and 54 to 80 feet in length. Manufactured homes do not require any foundation or substructure. They sit up off the ground, with skirting used around the base to hide the wheels and jacks.
Manufactured homes are subject to federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) codes. They are often located on property owned by private individuals or companies, such as mobile home parks, and the land where the home is installed is normally leased by the property owner. Financing is limited on manufactured homes, typically 10-15 years in length and at a higher rate than conventional rates.
There are some really good manufactured homes that are hard to tell from modular or site-built homes. Make sure to check your MLS sheet for type of home, “Off-Frame” is a modular home, “On-Frame” is a manufactured home.
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