Housing Market Woes: Is Washington Doing Enough?

With the news continuing to be bleak (at best) around the housing market, the question is, are interest rate cuts and tax rebates enough, or should Washington be doing more to actively intervene in the struggling housing market?

The U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee recently approved a sweeping bill to enable the government to finance $300 billion in distressed mortgages with the aim of helping two million homeowners.

The latest interest rate cut by the Fed took the cost of borrowing to 2.0 percent, its lowest since December 2004.

Meanwhile President Bush has signed into law a $150 billion economic stimulus package designed to spur the ailing economy by giving tax rebates to millions of Americans.

But is all this enough?  Should (or could) Washington be doing more to help?  We'd love to hear your opinion.  Click the comment link below and give us your feedback.  Your email address (although required to post a comment) will never be published here, so go ahead, sound off.  We know you want to.

Home Improvements: Prices Improving?

When it comes to food and fuel prices, they're going through the roof. But what about the roof itself? There the news might be a little better. Stacy Johnson takes a closer look in this short (1:18) video.

Tell us what you think… we'd love to hear YOUR opinion.  Use the comment link below to sound off.

Gas Prices Continue to Spike

The average price of gasoline has jumped another 15 cents over the past two weeks to a national average of $3.62 per gallon of self-serve regular, according to a national survey.  That rise continued at virtually the same rate as the previous two weeks, and forecasts are, it will only get higher.

We'd love to hear what you think.  Do you think oil companies are just gouging us?  Or do you think it's wise to drop the tax on gasoline to help us consumers?  Use the comment link below to sound off on this gasoline price spike situation.  We'd love to hear your comments and feelings on this subject.  And don't worry, even though your email address is required to post a comment, that email address will never be published here for your protection.  So go ahead, tell us what you think about the high gas prices!

Remodeling Your Home: Five Questions to Ask First

If you're planning to tackle a remodeling project this Spring, make sure you know exactly how big a renovation you can afford and whether it justifies the time you intend to spend in your revamped home.

There are 5 big questions you should ask yourself before you even break out the legal pad and scratch out your plans:

1 - How long do I plan to stay in my house after the renovations? The longer you plan to live there, the more creative you can be. But if you're planning on selling the house in the next five years, keep potential buyers in mind with your choices. In the latter case, for instance, go with neutral colors in the kitchen and bathroom, and consider maple cabinets. Some people hate oak, others hate cherry, but the majority can live with maple.

2 - Am I doing just cosmetic fixes or am I ready for an all-out overhaul? It's OK to make small changes one at a time, but think long-term about the next step. For example, if you're buying a new sink, buy one with enough holes on the deck for the faucet, sprayer and soap dispenser you might want to add on later. And if you know you're going to buy new cabinets later, don't replace the countertop with expensive granite now. The chances of reusing it are very slim — either it breaks when you try to remove it, or it doesn't match the footprint of the new cabinets.

3 - Am I prepared for the home upheaval? Be realistic about how long your project might take. Renovations can go on for months, so you need to be prepared to make do without that bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. When checking references before you hire your contractor, be sure to ask if the company finished the work on time. You'd be surprised how quickly a week can turn into a month. And if you're bunking up with your in-laws during renovation, that month can seem like a year.

4 - Are the renovations keeping with the style of my home? Any big changes you make to a home inside should reflect what future buyers will expect from the outside. If you live in a Victorian house, don't make it too contemporary. People who see a historical exterior will expect a historical interior, so stay true to the details. The same goes for a contemporary or modern home, where future buyers may not expect old-fashioned details like antique crown molding.

5 - Are my Do-It-Yourself choices reasonable? You may consider yourself handy, but many do-it-yourself jobs demand your time more than anything else. If you have a full-time job, are you capable of taking on a second one? Some makeovers that are not technically difficult can take longer than you think. For that reason, if you start any job yourself, try to sample it before committing to the whole thing. For example, while refinishing cabinets with a new stain isn't rocket science, sanding down each one can take forever.

Selling Your Home: Presentation is Everything

In today's more challenging real estate market, selling your home becomes even more of a challenge.  With more and more homes on the market, how you present your home is key.

Uncluttered homes; spacious, clean and organized; bright and open is the desired look these days. Homebuyers are looking for a home to grow into not grow out of. So it is imperative that one make good use of the space they have in their home to prove to potential buyers that they can feel comfortable in your home, regardless of the square footage.

First, give a thorough inspection to the interior and exterior of your home, carefully going over every detail. If necessary, enlist the aid of a professional home inspector who can help you inspect your home, looking for any necessary repairs and maintenance issues. It is vital that you clear up any of these problems regarding the safety of your home before you even consider putting your home on the market for sale.

Presenting your home in a manner that will make buyers imagine living in your home is a step in the right direction to a quicker and more profitable sale.

If you want to know more about what you need to do to make your home more presentable to buyers, give us a call or drop us an email.  We'll be happy to help in any way we can.