Real Estate Blog 
5 Easy DIY Weekend Projects Under $300
Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 12:01pm. 1002 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: Screwdriver;…
Negotiate Your Best House Buy
Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 10:09am. 122 Views, 0 Comments.
Negotiate Your Best House Buy
Published: June 4, 2010
Keep your emotions in check and your eyes on the goal, and you’ll pay less when purchasing a home.
Here are six tips for negotiating the best price on a home.
1. Get prequalified for a mortgage
Getting prequalified for a mortgage proves to sellers that you’re serious about buying and capable of affording their home. That will push you to the head of the pack when sellers choose among offers; they’ll go with buyers who are a sure financial bet, not those whose financing could flop.
2. Ask questions
Ask your agent for information to help you understand the sellers’ financial position and motivation. Are they facing foreclosure or a…
433 Spyglass Drive - Willow Park Village
Monday, August 13th, 2012 at 12:50pm. 393 Views, 0 Comments.
The Stiles-Mund Group with Alexander Chandler Realty presents 433 Spyglass Drive in the Willow Park Village subdivision. With almost 2,000 square feet this beautiful home is listed for $175,000.
This four bedroom, two bathroom home has a large open floor plan, split bedrooms and a second living area that can easily be used as an extra bedroom, office or sitting area. The home is located in Aledo ISD. The kitchen is beautifully updated with granite countertops, center island and large breakfast area looking out on the beautifully landscaped backyard. Many extras include floored attic space for extra storage, sprinkler system, three French drains and more!
The desirable neighborhood is located off I-20 and the Willow Park exit. The home will be…
Keep Your Home Purchase on Track
Monday, August 13th, 2012 at 11:33am. 121 Views, 0 Comments.
Keep Your Home Purchase on Track
Published: March 30, 2010
You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing.
1. Be truthful on your mortgage application
You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when applying for a mortgage will go unnoticed. Not true. Lenders have become more diligent in verifying information on mortgage applications. If you fib, expect to be found out and denied the loan you need to fund your home purchase. Plus, intentionally lying on a mortgage application is a crime.
2. Hold off on big purchases
Lenders double-check buyers’ credit right before the closing to be sure their financial condition hasn’t weakened. If you’ve…
How to Decide Which Plants Get Water During a Drought
Monday, August 13th, 2012 at 11:27am. 107 Views, 0 Comments.
How to Decide Which Plants Get Water During a Drought
Published: July 18, 2012
High heat and drought present home owners with a Sophie’s Choice: Which plants deserve to live, and which should die? Here’s how to choose.
1. Is my lawn really worth it?
No! Lawns take lots of water and fertilizer to stay green. In drought, let your grass die and reseed when (and if) the rain returns. Better yet, replace your lawn with native and drought-resistant plants, and low-maintenance turf grasses.
2. How valuable is this plant?
The longer a tree or shrub takes to grow, the more valuable it is. Fast-growing pines, for instance, can quickly replace older pines sacrificed to drought; slow-growing American beeches take…
Air Conditioning Equipment: Repair or Replace?
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 at 2:13pm. 155 Views, 0 Comments.
Air Conditioning Equipment: Repair or Replace?
Published: December 4, 2009
If you're deciding whether to repair or replace central air conditioning equipment, assess the quality of your house's ductwork and insulation first.
If your air conditioner is more than eight years old, repair is probably not worth the expense, unless it's a simple problem like debris clogging the condenser unit or a worn fan belt. Still, to best weigh your repair-or-replace decision, ask your contractor to assess not just the condition of your existing equipment, but also the ducts that deliver the cool air and the overall quality of the insulation in your house. Improving those elements might increase the effectiveness of the system…
Refi and Mortgage Options
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 at 1:46pm. 213 Views, 0 Comments.
Have You Seen Your Refi and Mortgage Options Lately?
- Published: April 25, 2012
- By: Dona DeZube
- 2Comments
Low interest rates and new loan programs abound this spring, so if you assumed your refinancing and mortgage options were dismal, you’ll be surprised by these three offerings.
1. Refinance with new FHA fees
In a nutshell: FHA raised insurance premiums for new borrowers, while lowering fees for some existing customers who refinance, making comparison shopping with private mortgage insurance worthwhile. Mortgage insurance covers the lender against losses caused when borrowers stop making payments.
The details: FHA’s new insurance premium rates…
Evaluate Your Yard for a Patio
Thursday, July 12th, 2012 at 2:54pm. 112 Views, 0 Comments.
Evaluate Your Yard for a Patio
Published: March 18, 2010
Evaluate your yard for a patio by understanding costs, the shape of your property, and variables such as sun and shade.
In addition to helping expand usable square footage, patios add to the salability and curb appeal of your property, according to the American Society of Landscape Professionals. An attractive and functional landscape that complements the home and adds function increases value, too.
Mack Strickland of Strickland Appraisal Services, Inc., in Chester, Va., pegs patio recovery costs at anywhere from 30% to 60%, depending on the region of the country and material choices. “In general, the less elaborate and costly the improvement,…
The Texas Economy Is Strong!
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012 at 4:23pm. 121 Views, 0 Comments.
Forbes "25 Best Places for Business and Careers" includes five Texas cities, with Fort Worth ranked as #15. The U.S. Department of Commerce 's report states that Texas accounts for 8.7% of the nation's economy, compared to 7.4% a decade ago. And according to The Business Journals' On Numbers analysis, Texas had one of the largest gross state products in 2011 at $1 trillion, and the percentage change from 2010 to 2011 was the fourth largest at 3.31%.
**Information summarized from the Texas Assocation of Realtors
Dos and Don'ts of Homebuyer Incentives
Monday, June 18th, 2012 at 1:56pm. 209 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…