Wrapping up summer also means welcoming fall, which puts a number of “to-dos” in queue that will help you transition your home between seasons. I call it season savvy DIY and it’s all about taking on a few important, but easy, jobs to get your home ready for fall and for the coming cold weather. Here’s our go-to list:
Clean and Protect You Patio Furniture
The “elements” will cause your outdoor furniture to age more quickly if left unattended. Hose and wash down furniture with a product like Simple Green (no toxic run-off). Check for rust or paint chips – scrape any loose paint or rust, then spray paint the damaged spots with exterior paint for wood, metal or plastic. Cover or store furniture in a shed or garage. In an enclosed space, use a product like Damp Rid to help keep moisture at bay, which will lessen the likelihood of those moldy spots from growing over the winter (cleaning helps that too).
Bye-Bye BBQ
Grease left on your BBQ will not only attract pests, but left over months can clog and even damage burners. Take apart the burners, heating plate, grill, etc. and scrub everything down. Use a de-greaser like Formula 409 (inexpensive and very effective) and a scrubbing stone like Magic Stone on stubborn parts. Let parts soak in a bucket of soapy hot water if grime is really baked on. Of course, empty and clean the drip cup/pan. Wipe down the exterior too. Cover and if possible, store it in an enclosed place.
Trim & Pull
Trim trellises and all overgrown vegetation. The less leaves hanging around, the less will end up in your gutters. Pull out annuals and especially vegetable plants – vegetable plants left in the garden over the winter can become a haven for insects and disease to take root.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Foreclosure Rate Falling In Tulsa!
Tulsa County foreclosures are dropping, but the rate is still among the highest in Oklahoma.
For the seven-county Tulsa metro statistical area, foreclosure filings fell nearly 28 percent in the third quarter, according to information released Thursday by RealtyTrac Inc., a leading source for comprehensive housing data.
Metro Tulsa had 1,233 foreclosure filings for the July-to-September period, down from 1,708 in the April-to-June period, according to the U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. Compared with the 2012 third quarter, foreclosure filings for the metro were down 23.3 percent.
Statewide, foreclosure filings totaled 2,609, down 24.4 percent from the second quarter and 23.4 percent from the same time a year ago.
Tulsa County, likewise, saw its foreclosure filings fall 34 percent for the quarter, and they were down 29 percent from a year earlier.
Even so, out of all counties in the state, Tulsa County had the second-highest rate of home repossessions, with one in every 274 households filing for foreclosure during the quarter. It was surpassed only by Rogers County, which had a foreclosure rate of one for every 224 homes.
The drop in foreclosure filings is similar to what has been seen by Dennis Reecher, a certified consumer counselor with Credit Counseling Centers of Oklahoma Inc. He said that a year ago, he was handling about 30 loan cases, working with servicers to help modify clients' loans, which could take anywhere from six months to a year or longer.
In the last several months, however, his calls have dropped dramatically. That partially may be due to cases now being referred to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. But he noted that in many cases people who were in trouble have gotten their mortgages modified, completed short sales, or their homes were proceeding more quickly to sheriff sales where they are auctioned at reduced prices.
"If you look at four years ago, it was incredible the number of people that were in trouble. ... It's just improving over time," Reecher said. "The problems are being worked out, resolved."
Nationwide, September was the 36th consecutive month with an annual decrease in foreclosure activity.
September numbers helped drop third-quarter foreclosure activity to the lowest quarterly level since the second quarter of 2007, according to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac.
Nationwide, a total of 376,931 properties filed for foreclosure in the third quarter, down 6.9 percent from the previous quarter and down 29.1 percent from the same time a year ago — the biggest annual decrease since the second quarter of 2011, according to RealtyTrac.
"The September and third quarter foreclosure numbers show a housing market that is haltingly returning to health. ... While foreclosures are clearly becoming fewer and farther between in most markets, the increasing time it takes to foreclose is holding back a more robust and sustainable recovery," said Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac.
More foreclosure information can be found at realtytrac.com
Monday, October 14, 2013
Saving Up Your Down Payment
These days, it’s rare to get a mortgage without contributing some of your own cash. If you’re trying to buy a home that was foreclosed or through a short sale — where the purchase price is below the amount owed on the house — a larger down payment can speed up the process. Regardless of the percentage that one is considering putting down, here are some tips to save up for the down payment.
1. Decide How Much House You Can Afford
The first step is to set your savings goal. Research home prices and determine how much you can afford. Calculators can be found on most bank websites and on the FHA site at www.fha.gov. As of Feb 2013, the median price of existing homes in the U.S. is $173,600, according to the National Association of Realtors. A 5 percent down payment for a home that price would be $8,680. A 20 percent down payment would be $34,720. If you’re able to save 20 percent, lenders will not require you to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance, which will reduce your monthly expenses.
2. Set Up a Savings Plan
You’ll also need to create a savings plan and set a deadline for reaching your goal. One method is to find the difference between your current housing costs and your projected monthly mortgage payment, and put that much away each month. Open a separate savings account for your down payment to minimize the temptation to tap the money for other needs. Also setting up automatic transfers to your new account will lessen the chance you’ll spend the money elsewhere.
3. Pare Back Expenses and Raise Cash
Review your spending habits and determine where you can find extra cash. If you’re determined to buy a house as soon as possible, try living like a tightwad. Start by putting away the credit cards. Then cut out cable TV, switch to a less expensive cell phone plan and reexamine other aspects of your spending until you’ve pared back to just necessities. Use coupons at the grocery store and stay away from the mall. Hold a garage sale or sell unused items online. There are dozens of books and blogs you can turn to for frugal living advice that can help accelerate your savings.
4. Borrow From Your 401(k)
Most 401(k) plans allow participants to borrow from their accounts to finance a downpayment. Some advantages to these loans include an easier acceptance process, generally lower interest rates than bank loans and the fact that you’ll be paying the interest to yourself. Although they don’t count toward your overall borrowing on your credit score, a mortgage lender may note such a loan as part of your overall debt load.
5. Find Out if You Qualify for Assistance
If you’re hoping to take advantage of the down market but haven’t got that much saved, you may be able to find help through various programs.
There are FHA-backed programs in every state. Most are aimed at low- and moderate-income, first-time homebuyers and usually require recipients to make some contribution. Visit the agency’s website at www.fha.gov to learn if you qualify for a program in your area.
The Veterans Administration and the Agriculture Department are among other government agencies that offer down payment assistance.
Last, but certainly not least, stay focused. Once you really commit to this goal stay with it. The second you are handed the new keys to your home it will all be worth it!
1. Decide How Much House You Can Afford
The first step is to set your savings goal. Research home prices and determine how much you can afford. Calculators can be found on most bank websites and on the FHA site at www.fha.gov. As of Feb 2013, the median price of existing homes in the U.S. is $173,600, according to the National Association of Realtors. A 5 percent down payment for a home that price would be $8,680. A 20 percent down payment would be $34,720. If you’re able to save 20 percent, lenders will not require you to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance, which will reduce your monthly expenses.
2. Set Up a Savings Plan
You’ll also need to create a savings plan and set a deadline for reaching your goal. One method is to find the difference between your current housing costs and your projected monthly mortgage payment, and put that much away each month. Open a separate savings account for your down payment to minimize the temptation to tap the money for other needs. Also setting up automatic transfers to your new account will lessen the chance you’ll spend the money elsewhere.
3. Pare Back Expenses and Raise Cash
Review your spending habits and determine where you can find extra cash. If you’re determined to buy a house as soon as possible, try living like a tightwad. Start by putting away the credit cards. Then cut out cable TV, switch to a less expensive cell phone plan and reexamine other aspects of your spending until you’ve pared back to just necessities. Use coupons at the grocery store and stay away from the mall. Hold a garage sale or sell unused items online. There are dozens of books and blogs you can turn to for frugal living advice that can help accelerate your savings.
4. Borrow From Your 401(k)
Most 401(k) plans allow participants to borrow from their accounts to finance a downpayment. Some advantages to these loans include an easier acceptance process, generally lower interest rates than bank loans and the fact that you’ll be paying the interest to yourself. Although they don’t count toward your overall borrowing on your credit score, a mortgage lender may note such a loan as part of your overall debt load.
5. Find Out if You Qualify for Assistance
If you’re hoping to take advantage of the down market but haven’t got that much saved, you may be able to find help through various programs.
There are FHA-backed programs in every state. Most are aimed at low- and moderate-income, first-time homebuyers and usually require recipients to make some contribution. Visit the agency’s website at www.fha.gov to learn if you qualify for a program in your area.
The Veterans Administration and the Agriculture Department are among other government agencies that offer down payment assistance.
Last, but certainly not least, stay focused. Once you really commit to this goal stay with it. The second you are handed the new keys to your home it will all be worth it!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Projects That Actually LOWER Home Value
Here is a great article from Yahoo Finance on some projects that homeowners will do that actually LOWERS the value of their home! Avoid these projects so that you are able to retain your home's value. A high home value will allow you to sell your home quicker and for more money, getting you into your dream home sooner!
Most upgrades, renovations, and home improvement projects raise a home’s resale value. But in this episode of Destination Home Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV’s "The High/Low Project," reveals five renovations that can do just the opposite.
That is, Soto qualifies, if you're planning on selling in the next five years. “If you’re going to stay in your home for a long time, do whatever makes you happy — surround yourself with Pepto Bismol pink if that's what you like,” she tells Destination Home. But if resell value matters, here’s what to avoid:
Converting bedrooms into other spaces: If potential homebuyers "see it’s a four-bedroom house, they want to go to the open house and see four bedrooms. You have to take the guesswork out,” says Soto. If you do convert a room, there's one feature you should absolutely never mess with. Watch the video to find out what that is.
Hot tubs: Soto thinks inheriting someone else’s hot tub is a turn-off — and she’s not alone. “You’d be surprised how many potential buyers find them to be a little gross.” And once a hot tub is installed, it's not an easy feature to remove from a deck or backyard.
Colored trim and textured walls: It seems like any potential homebuyer would see these features and know they can easily paint over them, but not so fast, says Soto. “I would much rather paint walls than trim any day — it's a beast of a job,” she says. And textured walls are "a mess to sand down and remove. The fad is over anyway, so just let it go.” If you feel your trim is outdated, see the video for Soto’s tips on what to do.
Children's theme bedrooms: Spending hundreds of dollars on a mural for your child's wall is throwing money away. Not only will they outgrow it in a matter of years, but “you're never going to get that money back when you sell, so just keep it neutral,” posits Soto.
Too much landscaping: Conventional wisdom says you want your yard to look as nice as possible, but heed Soto’s warning: you want to “keep up with the Joneses — but don’t exceed them.” To a potential buyer, gorgeous, overdone landscaping screams high-maintenance.
Most upgrades, renovations, and home improvement projects raise a home’s resale value. But in this episode of Destination Home Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV’s "The High/Low Project," reveals five renovations that can do just the opposite.
That is, Soto qualifies, if you're planning on selling in the next five years. “If you’re going to stay in your home for a long time, do whatever makes you happy — surround yourself with Pepto Bismol pink if that's what you like,” she tells Destination Home. But if resell value matters, here’s what to avoid:
Converting bedrooms into other spaces: If potential homebuyers "see it’s a four-bedroom house, they want to go to the open house and see four bedrooms. You have to take the guesswork out,” says Soto. If you do convert a room, there's one feature you should absolutely never mess with. Watch the video to find out what that is.
Hot tubs: Soto thinks inheriting someone else’s hot tub is a turn-off — and she’s not alone. “You’d be surprised how many potential buyers find them to be a little gross.” And once a hot tub is installed, it's not an easy feature to remove from a deck or backyard.
Colored trim and textured walls: It seems like any potential homebuyer would see these features and know they can easily paint over them, but not so fast, says Soto. “I would much rather paint walls than trim any day — it's a beast of a job,” she says. And textured walls are "a mess to sand down and remove. The fad is over anyway, so just let it go.” If you feel your trim is outdated, see the video for Soto’s tips on what to do.
Children's theme bedrooms: Spending hundreds of dollars on a mural for your child's wall is throwing money away. Not only will they outgrow it in a matter of years, but “you're never going to get that money back when you sell, so just keep it neutral,” posits Soto.
Too much landscaping: Conventional wisdom says you want your yard to look as nice as possible, but heed Soto’s warning: you want to “keep up with the Joneses — but don’t exceed them.” To a potential buyer, gorgeous, overdone landscaping screams high-maintenance.
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