Luxury Valley Homes Monthly Real Estate Newsletter

Page: 1 2 3 4  March 2010 - Page 4 VINTAGE & GREEN Authentic Style For Less Think green when you are looking to remodel or upgrade your home, whether you just bought your home, will be selling your home or simply want to enjoy your home. Architectural salvage shops provide you with a source of unique items that can be reused in your home. You get the satisfaction of recycling while saving cash and still keeping your home stylish. Where To Look You can find salvaged goods in two types of shops: high-end collectibles stores with hand-picked items at high prices (check www.BMRA.org) or non-profit recycling centers with materials from any era, often with great prices (check www.Habitat.org and www.ReDo.org). Go Prepared Before you head out to a vintage store, know what you're looking for and what will work in your home. If you're just looking for a new doorknob or simple furniture to organize your garage, you can head out on your own. If you have your heart set on a classic claw foot tub, however, check with your plumber for specifications that will work in your space while meeting local building codes. Be cautious of any items with peeling paint (lead issues) as well as old light fixtures. In order to get the piece refinished or rewired, your cost savings at the vintage shop may be lost on putting the item into usable condition. Think Outside The Box When you visit a vintage store, consider looking at items with a new perspective, especially if you have some creative talent. Perhaps you can take some old wood paneling or flooring and transform it into a frame for a mirror. Look at old windows as a blank canvas to create a stunning work of art on glass. Turn other wood pieces into side tables or accent pieces. How To Donate When you look to remodel and upgrade your home, consider donating your old items to a local ReStore. You may get a tax deduction when you donate doors, cabinets, sinks, tubs, patio pavers and other reusable materials. You might even save on dumpster rental for your next project by giving the items away instead of throwing them away. Think green and get a return! THIS JUST IN . . . Buyer Assistance, Incentives From Fannie Mae Buyers who purchase a Fannie Mae-owned home by April 30, 2010 can take advantage of a new incentive to help cover closing costs, the purchase of Whirlpool® appliances or a combination of closing costs and appliances, as decided by the buyer. (Individual lenders, however, may impose limits on how the incentive is used.) The incentive is worth up to 3.5% of the home's final sale price. To qualify for the incentive: Your purchase offer must be accepted on or after January 28, 2010. The contract must go to closing/settlement before May 1, 2010. The home must be purchased as a principal residence. (Investors do not qualify.) To find properties owned by Fannie Mae, go online to www.HomePath.com. Support for NSP Program The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding through local housing authorities and non-profit housing organizations to help individuals purchase local properties. In support of the NSP, Fannie Mae provides some concessions to buyers who purchase Fannie Mae homes using NSP funds, including: Waiver of 5% earnest money/deposit requirement; deposits may be as low as $500. When Fannie Mae receives an acceptable offer from a buyer, the buyer may renegotiate the offer after getting an NSP-required appraisal. Buyers have up to 45 days to close/settle the purchase, an increase from the 30 days normally allowed for Fannie Mae home purchases to close/settle. To find out more about NSP programs in your area, go online to www.TinyURL.com/acuw5b. First Look Fannie Mae's First Look initiative allows owner-occupants and buyers who use public funds to get a first chance at buying Fannie Mae-owned homes. During the first 15 days a Fannie Mae home is listed with the local multiple listing service, Fannie Mae will only consider offers from owner-occupants and buyers using public funds. Investors may submit offers for homes that remain for sale after the initial 15-day listing period. Brighten Someone's Day! Among your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances, there is often someone needing to sell or buy a home, just as often looking for a professional to guide them through the process. We appreciate your spreading the word about our professional real estate services. Thank you for your business and every referral you send our way, any time of the year.   Page: 1 2 3 4