Summer Home Seller

There’s much to admire about owning an historic home. You probably don’t need to be sold on the beauty of a grand old house, and in all likelihood the home is in an established neighborhood or district where prices are projected to appreciate at a better clip than other areas. Plus, if it’s truly classified as an historic home, and not simply an old house, you probably can take advantage of tax breaks other owners might not enjoy. But before you fall in love with the gleam of summer light cascading through a century-old stained glass window, pause and consider what you’re really in for when you buy an historic home. 

1. Lead, asbestos, and other buried “treasure.” Pipes and paint can be lead culprits while asbestos in basements, attics, and walls may be lurking. Also, it’s not uncommon for there to be abandoned septic tanks, cesspools, wells, or even heating oil reservoirs buried somewhere on the property. Remediation and removal can run into the thousands, should you decide to go that route. 

2. Renovation restrictions. A truly historic home may be ineligible for certain renovations depending on preservation guidelines. Ownership of an historic home does not give you carte blanche to make changes, especially to the exterior of the property. 

3. Wiring and plumbing problems. If the electrical system in the house hasn’t been upgraded, you might find yourself facing problems if you want to add significant appliances or other major power loads to the system. Older plumbing can also prevent formidable 

repair jobs as well.  

4. Authenticity is expensive. The materials you’ll need to repair or restore original fixtures, windows, or other aesthetic components of the house can ad up quickly. While you may be investing in quality materials to keep the home in line with its original construction, it may not be an investment with a guaranteed return. 

Perhaps you’re prepared for everything an historic home has to offer, both good and bad, but if you haven’t thought it through yet, these are some handy challenges to keep in mind. If you’re exploring historic homes, be sure to ask the current owners about all of these issues (and if/when they’ve dealt with them).If you’d like to look at historic homes or think perhaps it’s time to consider 

something a bit newer, let me help you find just the right house:

Love the Job You're With!

Not all of us are lucky enough to love our jobs.

We don't hate going to work, but we don't find it fulfilling. Fortunately, there are things we can do to elevate our experience and make work more enjoyable. Experts at Monster.com give us some ideas. 

Talk to Your Boss

Think about your situation and what changes could make it better. Go to your boss with solutions and an open mind, and see if you can work something out. Chances are, your employer would rather work with you to make things better than see you leave. 

Try Something New

We can get bored doing the same things day in and day out, and boredom can easily lead to dissatisfaction. Ask to assist with a new project or cross-train in something outside your area. You'll show your value to the company and give yourself a new challenge. 

Get a Hobby

Career coach Dr. Paula Thompson says it's important to detach and revitalize when you're not at work. "Studies show that people who spend their non-work time engaged in hobbies, sports and social activities have higher job satisfaction." Having interests outside of work leads to greater life satisfaction as well, which helps keep your job in perspective? 

Focus on the Positive

Sometimes venting your frustrations helps, but if you find yourself regularly complaining about work, it can make matters worse. Thompson suggests forming friendships with coworkers who love their jobs and sharing in their enthusiasm. If others around you are spreading negativity, look for ways to boost morale yourself and make the situation better for everyone.

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5 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Home Mortgage

Here are five tips from GoBankingRates.com. 

1.Don't  confuse  prequalification  with  preapproval.
Getting  prequalified  means  the  lender  makes  a "guesstimate" of how large a loan the potential home buyer may qualify for. By contrast, preapproval means the lender has examined credit reports, incomes and other assets to determine how much the borrowers can afford. 

2.Avoid  making  major  changes  to  your  credit  behavior leading  up  to  the  time  you  plan  to  apply  for  a mortgage. Applying for new credit, such as an auto loan or credit card, can skew your credit score. Infact, CreditCards.com says how much money you owe to lenders is the second-most important factor in qualifying for a loan. It's nearly as important as paying your bills on time. 

3.Don't apply for a loan before personally checking your own credit history. Find out your credit score,tally  up  your  outstanding  debts  and  review  your  past  employment  history  before  meeting  with  a mortgage lender. 

4.Check  and  recheck  your  application  for  any  typos  or  "honest  mistakes"  that  may  cause  a  lender  to reject  your  application.  Any  misinformation  you  put  down  on  a  mortgage  application  can  be  readily verified in today's interconnected world.

5.You've probably heard this  100 times before, but don't  forget to read the  fine print. Hastily applyingfor a sub-par loan typically ends up being a waste of your time. 

How your credit score is determined:
35 percent - Your payment history
30 percent - How much of your available credit you use
15 percent - The length of your credit history
10 percent - The amount of new credit you've received
10 percent - The type of credit you've used 

Source: MyFICO.com

What do I mean when I say “MLS”?

Odds are you’ve spent a little time online searching for homes. After all, most home searches begin online. You may have even used a broker’s website or a site like Trulia or Zillow to help you browse listings. But where does listing information come from? Way back in the day, prior to the Information Age revolution, brokers used to gather and exchange information about their properties. The idea was fairly straightforward: I’ll help you sell your properties if you help me sell mine. It’s a “private offer of cooperation and compensation.” Cooperation meant the real estate industry could thrive and buyers and sellers could enjoy smoother transactions. This spirit of cooperation gave rise to Multiple Listing Service(s) (MLS). By consolidating information about housing inventory in an MLS, listing brokers and buyers’ brokers can easily share up-to-date information about homes on the market. Though an MLS is typically a private database available to brokers, much of the information is syndicated to outside sites in the interest of casting wider net for buyers and sellers. As an MLS is the primary source of information about a property, it tends to be the most accurate. It may also contain private information for use by brokers only, such as times the home is available for showings and seller contact information. There are upwards of 850 MLS databases in the U.S. alone, and to a certain xtent, there is market pressure to centralize these into a national MLS database. We’re sure to see changes in how Multiple Listing Services are used in the future, but the core benefits to home sellers and buyers is sure to remain. Ready to put the power of an MLS to work for you? Search with me today for homes on the market right now. I’d be happy to help you find your next home: 

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Stop Multitasking!

In our fast-paced world, we are always looking for ways to squeeze in more or to get more done. Multitasking has become a way of life. But research is showing that by doing more than one task at a time, we just become more frazzled and accomplish less than we had set out to do.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and Elmhurst College (Illinois) found that when we try to multitask, the brain "bottlenecks" the information and moves its attention back and forth between items rather than addressing them simultaneously.

"Multitasking actually reduces productivity and accuracy, creates stress and taxes the brain," says cognitive neuroscientist Sandra Bond Chapman of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Research also indicates that those of us who are easily distracted are more likely to attempt to multitask. Greatist.com offers some tips on how to maintain focus and improve your productivity.

1. Turn off electronics. Put down the phone, turn off the TV, and eliminate whatever distracts you from what you are doing in the present moment.

2. Establish routines. Don't approach tasks at random. Set up a schedule so you know what you'll be working on and for how long.

3. Set goals. Start with a to-do list and plan out the steps you need to take to complete each task. When you know what comes next, you're less likely to wander off course.

4. Take breaks. Catch yourself zoning out or rereading the same paragraph multiple times? Step away from what you're working on for a few minutes - grab a cup of coffee, say hi to your coworker, or take a lap around the office.

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This Month in Real Estate March 2015

This Month in Real Estate February 2015 (US)