June 2012 
There are 5 blog entries for June 2012.
Dos and Don'ts of Homebuyer Incentives
Monday, June 18th, 2012 at 1:56pm. 208 Views, 0 Comments.
Dos and Don’ts of Homebuyer Incentives
Published: September 1, 2010
Homebuyer incentives can be smart marketing or a waste of money. Find out when and how to use them.
When you’re selling your home, the idea of adding a sweetener to the transaction—whether it’s a decorating allowance, a home warranty, or a big-screen TV—can be a smart use of marketing funds. To ensure it’s not a big waste, follow these dos and don’ts:
Do use homebuyer incentives to set your home apart from close competition. If all the sale properties in your neighborhood have the same patio, furnishing yours with a luxury patio set and stainless steel BBQ that stay with the buyers will make your home stand out.
Do compensate…
6 Reasons to Reduce Your Home Price
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 at 3:13pm. 138 Views, 0 Comments.
6 Reasons to Reduce Your Home Price
Published: March 19, 2010
While you'd like to get the best price for your home, consider our six reasons to reduce your home price.
These six signs may be telling you it’s time to lower your price.
1. You’re drawing few lookers
You get the most interest in your home right after you put it on the market because buyers want to catch a great new home before anybody else takes it. If your real estate agent reports there have been fewer buyers calling about and asking to tour your home than there have been for other homes in your area, that may be a sign buyers think it’s overpriced and are waiting for the price to fall before viewing it.
2. You’re drawing lots of…
3 Ways to Restructure Mortgage and Save Thousands
Friday, June 8th, 2012 at 10:27am. 167 Views, 0 Comments.
3 Ways to Restructure Mortgage and Save Thousands
Published: December 29, 2011
You can refinance or recast your mortgage. Or you can create your own DIY mortgage restructuring plan. We compare so you can decide.
Send in extra money to pay down principal
In the mid-1970s, Marc Eisenson coined the term “banker’s secret,” which promoted a cost-saving idea: Pay more than required on your monthly mortgage, and you’ll save a pile of money. Eisenson says, “It was a secret that bankers knew, but didn’t share with their customers.”
Here’s how it works. If you take out a $200,000 30-year mortgage at an interest rate of 6%, and hold it to term, you’ll pay a total of $382,537.97 for your home,…
6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer for Your Home
Thursday, June 7th, 2012 at 1:52pm. 145 Views, 0 Comments.
6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer for Your Home
Published: February 10, 2010
Have a plan for reviewing purchase offers so you don't let the best slip through your fingers.
1. Understand the process
All offers are negotiable, as your agent will tell you. When you receive an offer, you can accept it, reject it, or respond by asking that terms be modified, which is called making a counteroffer.
2. Set baselines
Decide in advance what terms are most important to you. For instance, if price is most important, you may need to be flexible on your closing date. Or if you want certainty that the transaction won’t fall apart because the buyer can’t get a mortgage, require a prequalified or cash…
5 Easy DIY Weekend Projects Under $300
Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 at 10:40am. 149 Views, 0 Comments.
5 Easy DIY Weekend Projects Under $300
Published: May 24, 2012
Just another weekend? Not if you take advantage with one or more of these 5 great projects you can easily pull off for under $300.
Project #1: Add a garden arbor entry.
The setup: Install an eye-catching portal to your garden with a freestanding arbor. It’ll look great at the end of a garden path or framing a grassy area between planting beds.
Specs and cost: Garden arbors can be priced up to thousands of dollars, but you can find nice-looking kits in redwood, cedar, and vinyl at your local home improvement or garden center for $200-$300. Typical sizes are about 7 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. You’ll have to assemble the kit yourself.
Tools:…