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Neighbors pry over condo sale etiquette
DEAR BENNY: My wife and I own a condo in a two-unit building. Our downstairs neighbor, who bought the property only two years ago, recently put her unit on the market. Her inability to cover her mortgage obligation is the reason she is forced to sell now, instead of waiting for the market to improve.
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Time is serious in real estate deals
When you sign a contract to buy or sell a home, you agree on the price, the closing date, and a myriad of other details. The contract may also specify that time is of the essence. If so, this means that you agree to perform on time.
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Eight ways to conserve water this summer
In February of this year, the Governor of California declared a state emergency due to drought. “ …California faces its third consecutive year of drought and we must prepare for the worst,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. As of this writing, the state has not issued a mandatory water rationing order, but asks that the residents of California participate in a voluntary reduction. With the summer months ahead, the drought is even more cause for concern. Lawns and gardens will be watered more often, more cars will be washed; essentially the hose will replace the rain. By adjusting their lifestyle a bit, homeowners can reduce water waste -- and save a buck on the monthly water bill. Here’s how:
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Closing costs vary by location
Closing costs, the costs associated with buying or selling a home, can add up. It's wise to get an estimate of how much you're likely to pay in closing costs before you make an offer to buy a home or accept an offer to sell.
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How can I buy if I have a home to sell?
The recent rise in interest rates is causing many homeowners who have outgrown their current home to seriously consider making a move. Some own a home that's too small; others have school-age children and want to move to a better school district. Whatever prompts the desire to move, the goal is the same: make the move before interest rates increase further.
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Rate-lock dos and don'ts
Interest rates dropped at the end of last year after creeping up over the summer, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with interest rates below 5 percent readily available.
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Staging tips that sell
Home prices have fallen and many homeowners are mortgaged to the hilt. This makes it difficult for some sellers to justify spending a penny to get their home ready for the market.
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Presale inspections for smoother sales
Homes are selling for less. Everyone's trying to cut back. Yet, many real estate agents think it's wise for sellers to provide presale inspections for buyers to review before they write offers. Is the cost, which could run from a few hundred to $1,000 or more, worth the expense?
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Not all buyers are worth a counteroffer
After mustering the emotional energy to make an offer on a listing, it can be devastating if you hear nothing back from the seller.
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Pre-approval vs. pre-qualification
Is pre-approval a general endorsement by a bank?
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How does your garden grow?
If you’d like to have a garden, but think you don’t have the space, think again. Urban gardening techniques are allowing small-space gardening to take root in unlikely places, such as balconies, raised planters, roofs, windowsills, and postage stamp-sized backyards. Condominium dwellers and homeowners alike are getting their fingers dirty and growing their own produce, succulents, and flowers in these tiny slivers of dirt.
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Need fencing? Think vinyl
If you're exploring the different options for new or replacement fencing, one material to be sure to have on your list of possibilities is vinyl. Vinyl fencing manufacturers have made great strides in recent years, offering a tremendous array of sizes, styles and options to choose from. The overall quality is up; the prices have come down; and competition among the growing number of manufacturers makes it a good time to consider vinyl for your next fence project.
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Your retirement move
Pat Tanaka knew exactly when she wanted to move from the large family home she'd owned for over 35 years to a smaller one--when she found a more manageable home where she could live comfortably for the coming years.
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Buying a new home
It's tempting to assume that new construction is sound construction, but that's not always the case.
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