Dreamy Real Estate of the Day: Elvis’ home for rent

Annie — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:38:23 +0000

For 25,000 p/month, you can live in what was once the Beverly Hills home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley! For more photos and information, please visit the Trulia listing.

FHA 90 Day Flip Rule is Waived Until December 31, 2011

Annie — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:21:40 +0000

The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it is instituting a one-year moratorium on the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 90-day anti-flipping rule.

With certain exceptions, such as HUD-owned and bank-owned properties, FHA currently prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. However, beginning Feb. 1, buyers may use FHA-insured financing to purchase properties resold through private developers and investors, providing access to a broader array of recently foreclosed properties.

Under the temporary waiver, all transactions must be arm’s-length, and most properties will require additional documentation of improvements and justification of the price increase. Additional documentation may include a second appraisal and a property inspection ordered by the lender.

from the Maryland Association of Realtors

First-Time Buyers Demand Move-In Ready Starter Homes

Annie — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:29:34 +0000

RISMEDIA, February 14, 2011—The term “starter home” seemingly refers to an entry-level property—one that is affordable yet needs tender love and care. But amidst the many homes available in today’s market, current first-time buyers want places with a little less room for improvement. In a survey of 300 consumers who purchased their first home in the last year, 87% said finding a move-in ready home is important to them.

This survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate explored what was most important to new buyers to provide insight for those looking to buy or sell in 2011.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), first-time home buyers accounted for half of the market in 2010.

What Surprised First-Time Home Buyers
Several consumers experienced unexpected benefits after buying their first home:
-67% said the market afforded them the opportunity to buy a home sooner than expected
-Half said they found a home in a more desirable neighborhood than expected
-61% were able to get the home at a better price than expected
-40% got more space than expected
-43% locked in a lower interest rate than expected

“There’s a real ‘a-ha’ moment for sellers revealed by this survey that the condition and quality of their home matters a great deal to first-time home buyers,” said Diann Patton, consumer real estate specialist, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “On top of that, our agents have reported that on average, first-time home buyers now look at more than 11 homes before making a decision, which is higher than in the past. They can be choosy about what appeals to them and are recognizing the benefits of the low prices and wide selection of homes in many areas.”

What They Want
In addition to move-in conditions, first-time buyer results revealed the old adage “location, location, location” still holds true:
-78% of respondents said the home had to be in an area convenient to shops and services
-Three-quarters of buyers said it was important to be close to their place of work
-Nearly two-thirds said it was important to be near “highly-rated” schools

Before you begin your home search…

Annie — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:50:59 +0000

1. Check your credit score: Check your credit score in advance to be sure you meet the minimum credit standards to qualify for a mortgage. A mortgage company can run the necessary credit report and recommend a credit repair company should there be credit concerns.

2. Obtain a preapproval: Some of the information your mortgage company will need are: W2s for the past two years, 30 days of consecutive pay stubs, all pages of the two most recent statements for checking, savings and all investment accounts.

3. Set aside the proper amount of cash for closing. Keep current on all loan payments, do not make any large purchases on credit, or sign or co-sign on any other loans. If there is any change in employment, you should make all parties in the process aware. These things can affect your credit as well as your ability to qualify for a mortgage.

4. Be prepared to pay closing costs unless you qualify for a no-points, no-closing cost loan.

Please consult your mortgage partner for specific mortgage related issues.

* information from “4 Tips to Ensure a Smooth Real Estate Transaction” by Chip Poli

kitchen renovation on a budget

Annie — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:29:41 +0000

i loved this inspirational post over on apartment therapy. click through to see how Edgaroso renovated his kitchen on a tiny budget!

906 McKewin – JUST LISTED in Ednor Gardens

Annie — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:43:08 +0000

906 McKewin Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218

169,000
Come see this bright & airy Ednor Gardens home on a quiet block. Details include inlaid wood floors, contemporary kitchen, open main level floor plan w/French doors to the front porch, sunny 2nd flr sitting room w/balcony, garage w/driveway, tons of storage room in bright, clean basement & more! Roof warranty through 2018. Blocks from YMCA, Waverly Farmers’ Market, Lake, JHU, Bus. Welcome Home!!…

For Additional Photos, Please Click Here

FREE Homeownership Workshops!

Annie — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:17:58 +0000

FREE Homeownership Workshops!

Click Here to Register

a charles village dream

Annie — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:56:32 +0000

loving this listing. reduced from 245k to 229k.

listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

please click on the photo for more information and pictures

Annie — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:42:38 +0000

The Charles Village Civic Association proudly announces its 2010 holiday house tour in partnership with the Village Learning Place: Sunday, December 19, from noon till 4:00 P.M.

Come visit the festively decorated historic homes of Charles Village, featuring three-story Victorians and Edwardians, porch-fronts and “painted ladies,” 1920s arts and crafts homes, and much more. Also, some of the village’s finest churches and private buildings will be open for viewing.
Your ticket includes free admission to the Homewood Museum on the Johns Hopkins campus. Other highlights include a tour of historic Seton High School, Saints Philips and James Church, the Homewood Friends Meeting House, and much more!

please click on the image for more information and photos!

10 Ways to Make a Small Room Look Larger

Annie — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:01:06 +0000

Here, Lowe’s offers 10 designer tricks to help you make any room look larger:

1. For the illusion of a larger room, use a color scheme that is light rather than bright or dark. Pastels, neutrals and white are all color possibilities.

2. Use a monochromatic color scheme on the furniture, rugs and walls. Select different shades and textures of your single color.

3. Lighting is a key element in opening up a space. Recessed spot lighting is visually appealing and is perfect for a small space. A torchiere light is great for bouncing light off of the ceiling and back down on the room.Skylights and solar tubes are natural alternatives for adding light to a room.

4. Limit the number of accessories to avoid the cluttered feeling.

5. The floor and the ceiling are the fifth and sixth walls of every room. A light-colored flooring such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same applies to the ceiling—use a light color or white to “open up” the space above.

6. Increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding wall mirrors. They not only reflect images, they reflect light and color. Be a little daring! Use mirror tiles to mirror an entire wall. Your room will appear to double in size.

7. Don’t place too many pieces of furniture in a small space. A love seat may work better than a full-size sofa depending on the size and shape of the room. Add two medium-sized chairs or two small wood chairs. Place the chairs closer to the wall and then pull them into the area when additional seating is needed.

8. Add paintings or prints to the walls. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings.

9. The visual balance of a room is also important. A large, brightly colored element can overwhelm a room and decrease the appearance of space.

10. A glass table, whether it is a dining, coffee or end table, will keep the appearance of an open and free space.