If your loan is an FHA loan, you might qualify for an FHA short sale. FHA short sales are known as a preforeclosure sale, and they are typically preapproved by HUD. The bank will appraise your home and agree to do a short sale providing you receive an offer that nets HUD a minimum of 88% of appraised value.

The cash incentive paid to a seller varies and depends on the type of loan, the seller's financial situation and the guidelines inherent in the portfolio, among other unknown factors. I have seen cash incentives paid to sellers that range from $750 to $1,500, but it doesn't mean a seller might not receive more. Agree to leave the home in good condition and close on time are the two main requirements.

Chase Bank Pays Cash Incentives for Certain Short Sales

It would appear that Chase Bank pays cash incentives for old Washington Mutual loans. It is rumored that payments are made because of a lawsuit against Washington Mutual but I have not called Chase Bank to confirm the rumors. That's because I don't believe a spokesperson for JP Morgan Chase would confirm nor deny this rumor.

Payments to Chase Bank customers range from a few thousand to $25,000 to $35,000 and possibly more since there is really no way to track this data. If your original loan was with Washington Mutual, you have a financial hardship and you are upside down, it's certainly worth it to apply for a short sale in hopes of receiving a cash incentive.

Wachovia Bank Pays Sellers To Complete a Short Sale

If your mortgage is a Wachovia Bank loan or an original Golden West Financial or World Savings, you are a prime candidate to receive a cash incentive. Although Wachovia Bank is now owned by Wells Fargo Bank, it continues to pay sellers for short sales, providing certain criteria is met. For example, in a Wachovia short sale, the bank might insist that the seller close by the contract date to earn the cash bonus, which ranges from $1,000 to $7,500.

Litton Loan Servicing Pays Select Seller Incentive for Short Sales

Litton Loan Servicing takes a proactive approach. Litton has been sending letters to prospective candidates for short sales, offering an incentive in the letter. This cash payment varies and can be as much as $5,000, but sellers need to comply and follow every guideline set forth in the letter.

Citimortgage Offers Seller Incentive for Short Sales

A seller in San Diego reports being offered $35,000 by Citimortgage to do a short sale. This is not a case in which the seller had thought about a short sale. Citi contacted the seller directly by mail. If you see a letter from Citimortgage in your mailbox, do not throw it away.

Bank of America Rolled Out a Cooperative Short Sale Program That Pays Sellers

Bank of America also wants to clean out is inventory of underwater homes. Out of all the banks that approve short sales, Bank of America is one of the best for implementing innovative systems. The Bank of America Cooperative Short Sale pays sellers up to $2,500 to do a short sale and, in most instances, requires only a financial hardship letter.

What does this mean for you? If you are a seller, we need to talk because you need to jump on this market! If you are a buyer we also need to talk because it is tough to navigate a sellers market! While markets come and go, timing is everything. I'll give you an example.

In 2005 I sold a home for a client in the desert ridge area, out of the 38 purchases offers we got for the property, I was able to sell it for $80,000 over list price, the buyers had to bring 75K cash to the closing because it did not appraise for the full sales price. The sellers got way more than they expected and I have a client to this day that sends me anyone they know for real estate services. Whether you are a buyer or seller and you need an agent who works exclusively and tirelessly for you, please let me know if I can help you in anyway or if you have any questions.

Shane M Higginbotham.Pllc

602 391 7777

ShaneTheRealtor@Gmail.com

Here’s why:

Mortgage rates at historic lows: They can’t get any lower. Four to five-year fixed mortgages at 3 per cent are unheard of. It is lower than the variable rate that most Americans have been paying for years. Rates have nowhere to go but up, either later this year or next. If you are paying a variable interest rate, lock in now.

Arizona’s appeal: This state has everything going for it — a stable banking and political environment, steady real estate market, the natural resources people want and few social tensions. That makes us a safe haven in a volatile world. High tech and Medical companies are flocking here.

If you are looking to buy your first home, moving to or around Arizona, want add to or start an investment portfolio get in touch with me. I have an army of people including myself, who ready to help you achieve any goals you wish to pursue. Call or write at any time and I will discuss your options with you.

The second home here is for those who want to live on Camelback mountain in a Mediterranean pad. This seven thousand square footer boasts endless views, four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. Rental price set at $16,000 per month.

Let me know when you want to move or visit Arizona!

Shane The Realtor

These properties can be purchased as a primary residence, second home or investment.  If you plan to occupy the home, HomePath offers seller credits up to 6 percent to help offset closing costs. That’s double Fannie’s 3 percent limit for seller credits on conventional loans.  

Another cool feature … Fannie allows the buyer to choose the title company.  In a typical “bank owned” purchase transaction (except in California) the seller chooses the title company which many be located in a completely different part of the state. This can cause delays, high escrow charges and often complicates closing escrow.  

Fannie has made it easier to qualify for financing by lowering the adjustments for FICO scores below 720.  And … if you put 5 percent down instead of the minimum 3 percent, the LTV / interest rate adjustment is significantly less. 

To avoid mortgage insurance on a traditional conventional loan, you need 20 percent down payment.  Not true for HomePath. The minimum down payment is 3 percent.

Now that FHA appraisals are managed by the lender, they take longer.  Since NO appraisal is required, you not only save money… you save time closing escrow.   

But many homeowners feel trapped in houses they can't sell.

Some real-estate agents can't find enough new listings to keep up with demand from buyers.

But others say there aren't enough buyers, and homes are selling too slowly.

The housing market in metro Phoenix may never have been as confusing as it is today.

Nearly five years after the beginning of the housing crash, the region's market has fractured into countless different niches.

Each niche is defined by who's selling, what kind of home is for sale and where the home is located.

And each niche has become a market of its own.

Some - such as the market for small central Phoenix foreclosure homes being sold at auction - are booming, with prices rising and a huge demand from buyers.

Others - for example, traditional resales of newer large family homes in some neighborhoods in the far west or southeast Valley - have ground to a halt, where homes seemingly won't sell at any price.

Location is one traditional factor in a home's value that still holds true. But in this market, its effect can be extreme. A seller in one neighborhood might receive 10 offers, while the owner of a similar house 5 miles away won't receive any.

In a market this splintered, once-reliable measurements just don't provide enough information for buyers or sellers.

One reliable measure of real-estate activity was the number of homes for sale. Traditionally, 20,000 to 25,000 homes on the market at any given time was considered normal. More than that meant an oversupply, and sellers might have trouble attracting buyers. Fewer meant a limited supply, a seller's market with rising prices.

As the housing market crashed, too many homes had been built. The region's inventory soared to more than 60,000 homes for sale in 2007, and prices plunged.

Today, according to the online real- estate publication the Cromford Report, listings in metro Phoenix are at 27,400 and falling - traditionally, a sure sign of rising demand and rising prices to follow.

But agents and analysts see the same thing many homeowners feel. While some homes are selling easily, others simply won't.

"Phoenix's housing market is a mixed bag now," said Marcus Fleming, manager with the real-estate brokerage Redfin Phoenix. "There's a new normal for the market, but it's a weird one."

Who's selling

One factor that has a big effect on home sales is the nature of the seller.

To understand, consider just how much things have changed in the past decade.

In June 2001, there were about 10,000 home sales, according to the Information Market, a Phoenix firm that analyzes real-estate data. Of that total:

- 7,300 were regular resales between a homeowner and a buyer.

- 2,700 were new home purchases

- 82 houses sold at foreclosure auctions.

- One home was sold by Fannie Mae, the federal mortgage giant that backs lenders and takes over those homes when borrowers default.

Ten years later, during June 2011, there were just over 11,000 home sales in metro Phoenix. But the variety of sales was far wider:

-  3,684 were regular resales between a homeowner and a buyer.

- 540 were new-home purchases.

- 1,350 homes sold at foreclosure auctions on the Maricopa County courthouse steps.

-  1,255 houses were sold by lenders that foreclosed on them.

-  2,183 houses were sold by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

- 1,822 homes were sold in short sales, in which lenders agree to let a homeowner sell for less than what is owed on the loan.

-  401 homes were sold by the federal departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development.

Because all of these kinds of home sales work in different ways, the market overall becomes more complicated.

Different categories

The different splinters in the market have each begun to work in their own ways, real-estate market watchers say. Some parts see a lot of sales but low prices; others, the opposite.

- Traditional resales: Fewer of these happen because of competition from cheaper foreclosures and short sales. The ones that sell best are in popular neighborhoods with good schools, near freeways and shopping centers. But the percentage of foreclosure homes listed for sale in metro Phoenix has dropped by 5 percent in the past year, so regular sellers have less competition and might soon find it more easy to sell.

- New-home sales: Homebuilding has slowed to a crawl in metro Phoenix as the market continues to sell the many houses built on speculation during the boom years. Even with low land prices, it's still hard for homebuilders to compete with the prices of foreclosure houses that were built less than five years ago.

- Foreclosure auctions: These have become very popular, and a large volume of homes sell at metro Phoenix trustee auction each month. But homes sell at auction for lower prices, and that makes the market's overall average sales price lower.

- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Homes owned by these entities now dominate the metro area's market. But the agencies often change their policies on appraising, maintaining, renting and selling their houses, so some buyers and real-estate agents steer clear of the hassles of these deals.

"The government's role in the housing market is making things more confusing and bringing down prices," said Mary Gomez, a real-estate agent with RE/MAX Renaissance Realty.

- Short sales: This type of sale was rare a decade ago. Banks were reluctant to agree to them in the early part of the crash, but they have now become common. Because they're not a foreclosure sale, but also are not a traditional sale, the value of a short-sale transaction skews the overall market in ways that are hard to measure.

The bottom line: Today's market is complicated and can't be summed up as simply as in years past.

"Everyone is trying to figure out Phoenix's housing market now, but there's no one set of data that truly tells the story. All the regular models for tracking the market are broken now," said Tom Ruff of the Information Market. "There is not just one market in metro Phoenix anymore."

The effects

That confusion makes it especially hard for homeowners and homesellers to know what their houses are worth.

Traditionally, a home's value could be estimated from its "comps," comparable sales of nearby homes. Those offered an idea of the going price in a neighborhood and the price per square foot.

Today, a regular home sells for $112 a square foot. A house sold through short sale goes for an average of $72 a square foot. A bank-owned, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae home sells for $61.50 a square foot. And foreclosure homes selling at auction are averaging $57 a square foot.

"Comps for properties are inconsistent and can be confusing," said Jennifer Hillier, an agent with the Scottsdale office of West USA Realty. "People just don't know what to believe anymore."

Measures of the overall market are harder to trust, too. Currently, metro Phoenix's overall median sales price is $124,000. But because many of the homes sold are foreclosure auctions - in which low-priced homes are common - that number could be seen as low. Other homes may be worth far more. But few of those homes are selling, so they're not represented in the median price.

"Homes activity is still very concentrated at the bottom end of the market," said housing analyst Mike Orr, who publishes the Cromford Report.

What's selling now

"Homes in central Phoenix area priced under $100,000 are moving like gangbusters with very few homes remaining on the market for long," Hillier said. "I believe this is because of the location to jobs and public transportation" and because the low prices mean investors get a reasonable return, in the form of rent, on their cash investment.

Market watchers also say three- to four-bedroom homes in suburban neighborhoods with good schools are also selling fast to both regular homeowners and investors who want to rent them out, often to families who have lost similar homes to foreclosure.

The region's less-expensive neighborhoods experienced the crash first, and now high-end housing areas are feeling more pain because there are fewer buyers who can afford those houses.

Sales of homes in the million-dollar range have definitely slowed, said Walt Danley of the Phoenix office of Christies' International Real Estate. He said there are cash buyers looking for deals in Paradise Valley and north Scottsdale, but those deals bring prices down.

Some million-dollar homes also go to foreclosure auctions. Recently, a house in Paradise Valley that sold for $3.5 million in 2005 sold at auction for about $1 million.

But there are still homes in Paradise Valley and other high-end neighborhoods selling for prices just 20 percent lower than they sold during the market's peak. Other neighborhoods are also beginning to see homes sell for pre-boom prices from 2003-04, despite the fact the metro area is back to 1999's level.

"The one indicator we can still count on is location," Ruff said. "Homes in the right areas will continue to sell for the highest prices."

When buying a bank owned property it is an asset to them, no emotions and you can afford to be aggressive. When its a private seller, emotions can come into play. Would I treat them differently? Perhaps. It would depend on many factors like what is the sales price? 250K and under is where most of the sales happen in the valley, meaning you have more competition for the same home. Higher priced homes above 300K are still moving, but you have a little more time with out a competitor to get a lower price on the home.

The bottom line is be prepared and be patient, have your loan pre approved so you can get the property you want. if you are in the 250K and under buyer be patient and don't get frustrated if you miss a few homes, eventually the right one will come together for you. I've sold more homes to home buyers for less money because their financing was more solid that other competing higher offers.

There are amazing short sales and foreclosures out there. To find them, you'll have to hire a great agent who really knows what they are doing, has connections with the foreclosure sale (also known as real estate owned, or REO) departments of big lenders, and can help navigate a tricky and frustrating negotiation cycle.

If you need direction or the incentive to get off the fence, call or email because the time is here.

Another even larger problem is a larger Economic diversification is woefully lacking in Arizona. Which is the main reason we are feeling the crunch. The State of Arizona is largely reliant upon construction, tourism and education. When the housing market dried up from being overbuilt there was no other sector to sustain the downturn in one of our largest employment pools. Luckily most recently companies like Intel are investing heavily into Arizona including building a five billion dollar plant in Chandler, it will add four thousand permanent jobs and countless construction jobs, they break ground next month.

While home values took a hit and we nearly tanked, the market is correcting itself, some totals show that nearly fifty thousand homes were sold to investors last year, so the question begs to be asked, are renters a bad thing? Of course not but what neighborhoods and Arizona needs are people who intend to live in a home and to stay there because of the abbundance of employment options to attract permanent and part time residents.

#1 Kitchen Remodel: You would be hard pressed to find a home improvement, addition, or remodeling project that comes anywhere close to kitchen remodels in either popularity or payoff. Consumer reports cites kitchens as the single most popular home remodel of 2008, while a perusal of the last ten years of remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value report reveals that both major and minor kitchen remodels consistently rank among the highest in the business when it comes to getting maximum return on your investment. In short, whether you're doing it for yourself, or looking to make your home more attractive to others, shelling out for a kitchen remodel is on of the best investments a homeowner can make.

#2 Bathroom Remodel: According to a Harvard University study on the home remodeling industry, money spent on remodeling bathrooms and kitchens accounts for over 20% of all the money spent on home remodeling and improvements in the United States, and if you believe the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), those figures are even higher (25%). What are these two home improvements so popular in home remodeling circles? Because these projects are the total package. Take a bathroom remodel, for example. Where else can you improve your quality of life, the function of your home, and your home's ability to sell in one fowl swoop? Throw things like heated tile floors, spa showers, and whirlpool tubs into the mix and it's easy to see why these items are so popular.

#3 Master Suite Remodel: It shouldn't be a big surprise to find out that master suite remodels come in at number three. Contractors from LA to Chicago consistently count Master Bedroom upgrades among their most popular projects, including Tom Sertich, a Phoenix based contractor who told Remofdeling magazine that "of the additons we do, 85% are master bedroom suites." Theories abound for why this particular addition is gaining so much steam, though one of the most popular ones attributes the trend to aging baby boomers that have finally sent their kids off to college and have a little more time to spend under the covers!

#4 Deck or Patio: According to the Re-modelers Council of South Eastern Michigan, decks and patios rank #3 on the list of the most popular remodels in America. In Arizona a great patio with a fire-pit, seating areas both covered and not, really make a back yard pop.

#5 Wet Bar: Okay, so wet bars don't really make any top 5, or even any top 10 lists I've ever seen when it comes to home improvements however, a wet bar can be an exciting and fun addition to basements, decks, and even poolsides for homeowners that enjoy throwing a good party!

But propping up the housing market has only prolonged the housing slump -- a depressing fact brought home by the recent dismal home-sales reports.

So what to do?

Perhaps President Obama could learn a lesson from our neighbors to the north. Canada, after all, didn't have a housing bubble. What explains the difference?

For decades, the U.S. has actively promoted homeownership through a raft of programs: generous mortgage interest tax breaks, subsidized loans, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan guarantees, limits on what banks can repossess when a borrower defaults and so on.

The result has been an increase in homeownership, true, but it's also convinced far too many people to buy homes who couldn't afford them, helping to unrealistically push up home prices, which inevitably led to the subsequent collapse.

Even now, with interest rates near zero, millions continue to struggle to make mortgage payments, making it likely that the number of mortgage defaults will increase when interest rates rise. That means more homes will be offered by individual homeowners and banks with an urgent need to sell, depressing home prices.

Contrary to popular belief, a home isn't a good investment for everyone. First of all, it's imprudent for people of limited means to have virtually everything tied up in a single asset such as a home, whose value can go down as well as up. The bills are never-ending. For many, owning a home makes it almost impossible to save money for anything else.

And when people get the government help to make their mortgage payments, they still have more debt and housing-related expenses than they can handle. In such circumstances, it's almost impossible to save money for the future.

Until the affected homes have been transferred to people who can afford the costs and risks of homeownership, those homes will hang over the market and continue depressing prices, as we're seeing now. When the government steps in to keep financially stretched people in their homes, it simply delays inevitable adjustments.

What's needed isn't more government involvement to help to prop up homeownership, but less. And if you don't think so, look at what's happened in Canada. More Canadians (68 percent) than Americans (66 percent) own their homes, yet the Canadian government has interfered very little in the private housing market.

• Canada doesn't have an income tax deduction for mortgage interest. Nor is there a tax advantage to converting home equity into debt.
• In Canada, mortgages aren't issued without verification of employment and income.
• Unlike Americans, Canadians cannot walk away from their homes without serious consequences -- Canadian mortgages are generally full recourse, which means a bank can attach an individual's other assets and wages/salaries if necessary to pay the deficiency in the event of a mortgage default.
• Canada has nothing like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, subsidizing subprime mortgages on a gigantic scale.
• Nor has Canada had anything comparable to the U.S. Community Reinvestment Act that promotes political influence over mortgage lending decisions.

The principal Canadian intervention in the housing market is to require that people buy mortgage insurance if their down payment is less than 25 percent of the purchase price.

As a result of these policies, in Canada people generally buy a home when they can afford it. Canadians tend to have significantly more equity in their homes than Americans do.

The Canadian housing market has been remarkable for its long-term stability. Occasional fluctuations have mainly reflected local circumstances, such as the oil-driven housing booms in Calgary and Edmonton, and the waves of Chinese money that have flowed into Vancouver.

Obama should end government interference that does much to prolong the housing slump. He should stop trying to prop up the housing market and let inevitable adjustments take place, so we can get through hard times as quickly as possible -- enabling a genuine housing recovery to begin.

“We need one and a half million houses per year just to keep up with population growth,” Wesbury said in an interview with Steve Forbes. “And then if you throw in, you know, fires and tear-downs and just worn-out properties, we need 1.6 million or more per year. Right now, we’re down to about six and a half, seven months’ inventory whether you look at new homes or existing homes.”

Privately owned housing starts in December 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 557,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 4% less than where it was in November, which had 580,000 housing starts.

For people who can get a mortgage, homes are very affordable as are interest rates. If you have any questions about the market or want me to keep an eye out for your next home let me know.

For some mortgage applicants in Maricopa & Pinal counties the loan approval process will simplify. For others, it will toughen. How you’ll be affected personally will depend on your credit profile and your loan characteristics.

Among the biggest changes from Fannie Mae is a new set of guidelines for gift funds. When the new rules roll out, accepting cash gifts for a down payment will be easier.

The top three changes are:

1. Buyers of owner-occupied, 1-unit properties (i.e. single-family homes, condos, townhomes) no longer need to contribute at least 5% of the down payment contribution. Down payments on homes meeting the above criteria can be comprised of 100% gifted and/or granted funds.  Buyers of second homes and multi-unit properties, however, are not exempt.
2. Debt with less than 10 payments remaining may no longer be waived in debt-to-income ratio calculations.
3. Debt lacking a monthly payment on credit must be assigned a payment equal to 5% of the outstanding balance.

Both #2 and #3 will increase the number of loan denials in 2011 and/or significantly reduce how large of a loan a buyer may qualify for.

And, lastly, Fannie Mae noted (as a reminder) that homeowners with a foreclosure on record will have to wait 7 years before being eligible to qualify for a new conforming mortgage.

Loan applications taken prior to December 13, 2010 are exempt from the new rules.  SO talk to your loan officer and plan accordingly.  If you don’t have a Loan Officer you consider to be a friend, call or email me at ShaneTheRealtor@Gmail.com  I answer all my own calls and emails.

Fannie Mae’s complete guideline changes are available online at http://efanniemae.com.

Many economists speculate on a housing recovery and when or if it's coming. If you look at the rise and decline we have seen in Maricopa and Pinal counties over the past decade a picture emerges, we currently have very low prices and a great supply of inventory but they are not going to get cheaper and believe it or not, they are being bought up. The other great news is that this has helped keep interest rates low.

This is the perfect storm of a buyers market. The time to buy in that overpriced neighborhood with the best schools are now not just a dream for you, it's in fact very possible.Moving to that retirement or first home has never been wiser. 1031 exchanges and cash buyers despite reports are abundant.

For those of you who can't sell but are instead riding the storm out, rehabbing your current home for your own enjoyment and future sales or appraisal opportunities has never been a smarter move. Contractors and materials are very reasonably priced. Get that new kitchen you always wanted or deck out that master bathroom, get the solar panels on your roof and take advantage of the almost ridiculous rebates. It is an investment that you will be glad you did when Realtors again start knocking on your door to ask you if your home is for sale.

If you have a housing question that you want answered feel free to drop me a note.

Shane The Realtor

This is not entirely true. The transaction tax is for "high income" home sellers or business sellers alike who exceed the already in place threshold on profits over and above the capital gains threshold, most of the high earners make up a five percent margin, and not all will be taxed.

In home sales if you are single you can sell your home every two years and keep up to 250K, 500K if you are high earner (200K a year or more) single or a married couple, you sell your property and If you exceed that capital gains profit margin you may be taxed at the 3.8%.

Could you enjoy living in your present neighborhood for the next few years? Whatever your home needs, it can be updated for pennies on the dollar as compared to moving.

If you answered “Yes!” to these questions you have just discovered two great reasons that now is your best time to remodel. 

Here are six more:

1. Let’s Talk Cheap Money
   For many years banks enthusiastically supported the risky dreams of big-boom borrowers but that pond has dried up.  Standards are tight. They are no longer ready to go with the flow. Lenders need to offset bad loans with good ones.  Interest rates have been moving down (also good news) but you must have three things before they will show you the money:
         - A good credit rating
         - At least 20 percent equity in your home
         - Proof of income.
   Once again, if you can answer “Yes!” to these questions then now is your best time to remodel.
2. Contractors Are Available
   When everyone was keeping up with the Joneses, contractors could afford to choose only big-budget projects.  Now quality tradesmen find that they must dedicate some of their schedule to smaller projects. This is good news for you.
3. Time Is On Your Side
   In booming building markets, you wait in line.  Projects can be delayed for months ... or a year or more – as builders are overbooked.  Today`s market means you can get your work done fast.  We all know that time is money.  Once again now is your best time.
4. Building Material Prices are Dropping
   Declining demand means declining prices for construction materials. Another boost is that with inventory availability, your job is not held up by back-orders. As soon as you have booked your time or a contractor's you can move forward quickly.  Turnaround is half what it has been in recent years. Watch building suppliers and you can take advantage of great specials. 
5. Today`s Real Estate Market is Looking for Resale Value
   More than ever value for the housing dollar is important to buyers.  Is your home functional, economical to maintain and, above all, liveable? Once these questions are answered three major concerns face homeowners today
        - Building for the neighborhood
        - Mortgage rates
        - Employment
   In many cases upgrading existing space is a better option than building new.  The cost of building from the ground up can grow exponentially, with all the variables, cost inputs and changing financial circumstances.  Having the framework, electricity and plumbing already in place means that the most expensive aspects of your project are already at hand. An attic conversion, basement remodel or mid-range bath or kitchen makeover can give the best return on your investment. Don’t overbuild.  Think maintenance and functionality first.   
6. Remodel to Improve Maintenance. It Makes You Money.
   Houses age no matter what the market is doing.  Roofs need replaced, plumbing repaired and worn out appliances fixed or upgraded. Remodeling now for energy efficiency, water and resource conservation with the use of sustainable or recycle products means money in your pocket and a healthier environment.  Consistent home maintenance raises the value of your home, but even better it makes your home a comfortable place to live.

If you are a homeowner who has decided to stay where you are, consider remodeling.  You will be improving your home investment and you will enjoy living there even more. 

Remodel now. It`s your best time to go for it!

There are beautiful homes out there and as a Realtor I just instictively have to know how much it will cost for me or my clients to live in a place. Hey it's my job to find this stuff out, right? My research showed

You can get in there in an older home say late 1980s for the high two hundreds and low threes. The homes out there can get up to a million, I think the really nice ones were four hundred to 800K but very nice.

If you are looking for a place like this to move to let me know, I may have just seen your next home today!

In previous years kitchen remodeling was reported as the most common activity by more than 70%. Most remodelers report they are continuing to struggle, however they expect the rest of 2010 to be a period of stabilization for remodeling, with the first stages of recovery emerging by the end of the year, followed by a robust recovery in early 2011.

No matter which room you're going to remodel, doing your homework and knowing exactly what you want will save you not only money but also potential headaches. Things like checking references and visiting some of the recently remodeled projects are a great way to determine if the company you plant to hire will be suitable for your needs. Neglecting to do this could mean that you bring in the wrong company and, worst case scenario, a simple job turns into months of work and extra expenses.

Here are a few things to consider when remodeling. Some experts say, if you're planning to stay in the home for five years, remodel it how you like. In other words, put in the countertops that make you happy--even if they're not the most popular. Use the color paint that expresses your inner feelings. However, I always say, remember there's a balance. If you remodel and create something that is so unusual, you may run the risk of it not appealing to the masses and therefore you will have to find the few that are searching for that particular look. That doesn't mean you shouldn't design and decorate based on your likes, it's just a matter of considering how the remodel will impact you when it comes time to sell the home and then choosing the best option for you for both short and long term.

In previous years kitchen remodeling was reported as the most common activity by more than 70%. Most remodelers report they are continuing to struggle, however they expect the rest of 2010 to be a period of stabilization for remodeling, with the first stages of recovery emerging by the end of the year, followed by a robust recovery in early 2011.

No matter which room you're going to remodel, doing your homework and knowing exactly what you want will save you not only money but also potential headaches. Things like checking references and visiting some of the recently remodeled projects are a great way to determine if the company you plant to hire will be suitable for your needs. Neglecting to do this could mean that you bring in the wrong company and, worst case scenario, a simple job turns into months of work and extra expenses.

Here are a few things to consider when remodeling. Some experts say, if you're planning to stay in the home for five years, remodel it how you like. In other words, put in the countertops that make you happy--even if they're not the most popular. Use the color paint that expresses your inner feelings. However, I always say, remember there's a balance. If you remodel and create something that is so unusual, you may run the risk of it not appealing to the masses and therefore you will have to find the few that are searching for that particular look. That doesn't mean you shouldn't design and decorate based on your likes, it's just a matter of considering how the remodel will impact you when it comes time to sell the home and then choosing the best option for you for both short and long term.