Friday, May 29, 2015

HOME OWNERSHIP AND THE EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

Home-ownership has strong emotional benefits.

Homes are a place to feel secure, build a future and raise a family. There’s immense personal satisfaction in owning a home, and with home-ownership you can gain a sense of community through the neighborhood, schools and civic groups.
Beyond the emotional benefits of home-ownership, there are strong financial reasons to buy a home.
  • A home generally builds equity over time through the combination of mortgage payments and appreciation.
  • A portion of your mortgage interest and real estate taxes are tax-deductible.
  • You may leverage your money — even though your down payment may be 20% of the home’s purchase price, you receive the full value of any appreciation.
  • In many markets the cost of ownership can be less than renting.
  • You may strengthen your credit with your ongoing and timely mortgage payments.
  • You may pass on your home to your children.
And, as a homeowner, you are free to renovate, remodel, repair and repaint your property – you’re never dependent on a landlord to get the job done right.

Of course, the decision to buy a home vs. renting one depends on many personal factors including your financial health, job security, job mobility and more.

With the housing market recovering, confidence in home-ownership and real estate is improving. Potential buyers from millennials on up are trending away from rental properties and toward home-ownership

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

13 Things to do to your Home Before Summer


    Jaymi NaciriRealty Times Feature Writer 05/04/2015

Summer is a time for fresh air and fresh linens, sunshiny afternoons and breezy relaxation. Before it hits full force, get your house in order by tackling a few projects that will help you enjoy the season even more.
1. Buy a soaker hose. If you're in a state where foundations can become problematic if not watered regularly and/or you're under drought restrictions, this will keep you sane—and potentially keep you from needing to have your foundation jack hammered and hoisted back into place.
2. Change your air filters. Some manufacturers say you should change them out monthly. Although we don't know ANYONE who actually does this, it's worth noting that they do actually work more efficiently when changed out regularly, and that can save you money - even though you're spending more on the filters.
3. Change your refrigerator filter. You've probably been a bit lax about this too, right? Presumably, you'll be drinking more water when it's hot outside, so change the filter now and improve the taste of your water before you really need it.
4. Buy some decent outdoor furniture. Or fix yours up with outdoor paint. It's easy to do, whether you're dealing with wood, metal, or plastic. Check out this before and after:


The Jones Journal.
5. Plant something pretty. Wait until it's scorching and you run the risk of floppy flowers. Get info about what to plant when for your climate here.
6. Ditch your ruddy throws and blankets. It's time to bring in something light and soft. Even if you're not one who does a big seasonal swap with your furnishings, this easy change out will make your home feel fresh and summery.
7. Change out your backsplash. If it's dark, drab, or dated, a new backsplash can give your kitchen a lift without knocking anything major down or adding anything super expensive. Choose something reflective to bounce light around the room if you have a dark space.

8. Clean your carpets. Were you aware that "E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus, and other bacteria" can live in your carpet? Gross, right?
"Research indicates that your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat," said Men's Health. "The average person sheds about 1.5 million skin cells every hour; these skin cells hit the rug and serve as food for germs. Add in food particles, pollen, and pet dander, and you have a gratis buffet."
A vacuum cleaner might not be able to reach deep down to grab all of those germs, but a professional carpet cleaner will.
9. Plant a vegetable garden. Summer is the perfect time to start eating better. Give yourself an edge with an at-home vegetable garden. Veggies that can be planted in early spring include spinach, kale, radishes, broccoli, and peas.

"Summer favorites like okra, squash and tomatoes require long, hot days to grow," said P. Allen Smith Garden Home. Get a complete how-to for planting your first garden here.
10. Clean your windows. They're probably gross, and they're also blocking the light.
11. Slap on some solar screens. If you're in a high-heat area and you want to block the sun, solar screens may be the answer.
"Solar Screens are the most effective window treatments that you can apply to your home for lowering energy bills by stopping the heat transfer through your windows and doors while still maintaining your view," said Lone Star Solar Screens.
12. Take on a project and make it a family affair. Summer fun doesn't have to be relegated to vacations. Want to lay new tile in the kitchen? Take the family to the local big box store for a workshop and then get started. It might just be fun. And even if you have to overcome some occasional (or more than occasional) whining along the way, you'll always have the pride of knowing you did it yourselves once you're done.
13. Build a firepit. You could always buy one, but why should you when you can build one of these 38 options yourself.