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Just Listed! 5622 Hambrick Road Hahira, GA 31632
November 29th, 2008 4:36 PM
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$478,000.00
5622 Hambrick Road

Hahira, GA 31632



Beds: 4.0 Rooms: 0
Baths: 3.00 Sq. Ft.: 2195.00
Garage: 2.0 Built: 2004
 

This is a new listing that
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interested in. Visit this
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If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.

Peggi Pulido
South Georgia Real Estate Services
2295631198
www.sgreservices.com



 
  Visit this listing at Here

Posted by Peggi Pulido on November 29th, 2008 4:36 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Five Steps to Dressing Your House For Success
September 2nd, 2008 10:06 AM

* Unclutter: Throw away everything you can to make your rooms look more open; make your closets and shelves look spacious. Putting junk away in a closet does not help. Serious buyers want to check the closets.  If they're jammed full, it looks as though your house has a storage problem.  If you run out of room, rent a storage space or store it with a friend.

* Clean: Go beyond everyday cleaning. Clean everything; the pipes under your sinks, the bottoms of drawers and little-used cabinets, curtains and blinds; the exterior siding and the windows.  Make everything sparkle.

* Repair: Fix every leak, paint over every smudge, tighten every loose knob.

* Neutralize: Get rid of loud wallpaper and art; paint neutral colors; remove distracting accessories inside and out.

* Dynamize: This is your secret weapon.  Create a memorable cozy feeling in each room.  Think like a magazine editor creating a photo.  Set out a cookbook in the kitchen; for instance, and arrange colorful fresh fruit or vegetables nest to it.  Open a game on the family room coffee table.           

Other pointers:

* Neatly arrange clothes in your closets.  Use nice hangers; group same-size jackets together.  Use cleaar storage boxes; stack things neatly on shelves.  Line up your shoes on a rack underneath.

* Make linen closets look as neat and well organized as a linen shop.  Fold all towels the same way.

* Steal a tip from the grocery store by turning each jar or box on your shelves to put its best side forward.  Do the same for kids games and your own toiletries.

* Replace dated ceiling fixtures with a strip of track lighting.

* Do all your cleaning with lemon-scented products to leave a fresh aroma.

* Borrow artwork for bare walls.  Remove artwork that might offend a buyer.

* Let there be light.  Replace heavy, room-darkening window treatments with mini-blinds.  Make sure shades and blinds work easily.

* Make sure all lamps and lights work.  Replace light bulbs.

* Remove anything that makes strong personal statements- Unnerving art, political or religious symbols and loud paint colors


Posted by Peggi Pulido on September 2nd, 2008 10:06 AMPost a Comment (0)

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You Found A House YOU LOVE!
April 11th, 2008 2:51 PM

CLOSING THE DEAL This part can get scary, but there are lots of people to hold your hand along the way, from your Realtor to you mortgage broker to you lawyer. Just use your brain, listen to your heart, and keep your courage up-you'll be waking up in your dream house in no time says Esther Haynes.

Making an Offer: Nothing quite gets the adrenaline pumping like preparing to drop a few hundred grand on your first house.  Rely on your Realator to help you arrive at a fair price and strategize about the biddding. Once you're ready to submit an offer, your agent will deliver it to the seller's agent, along with a check for your "earnest money" - otherwise know as your "good faith" deposit. The seller will then either accept the offer or come back with a counteroffer, which you can accept or counter.  Remember, if you go bacak and forth for too long someone could swoop in and out bid you, because no matter how many times you've shaken hands, nothing is legally binding until both parties sign a contract.

Extras  worth asking for: Sometimes sellers will give in to requests for things other than a price reduction.  Ask if the'll include appliances (or take them away if they're too old) or give the place a new paint job if it needs it.  Don't get greedy, but do keep in mind that everything is negotiable. Before you sign an offer: Make sure it has at least two key "contingencies," also known as get-out-of-the-deal- free cards: (1) The sale should depend on the results of the home inspection (in case problems turn up) and (2) The lender must actually give you the mortage (preapproval is not a guarantee).Otherwise, you could end up obligated to pay for the house or its problems yourself- or lose your down payment because you have to back out of the deal.

Picking a mortgage broker: Now's the time to settle on a mortgage broker (and if one preapproved you for a loan, it's not too late to choose someone else). Instead of applying for mortgages directly with specific banks, she will send out queries to numerous lenders to try to get you the best rate.  Ask people you trust for recommendations.  you can also search for references on the "state affiliate" sites listed with the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (namb.org) When you talk with a potential broker, try to negotiate not to pay application fees-you should aim to pay only for the home appraisal and possible a credit report.  Ask for details about the pros and cons of the loans you're considering to check whether the broker is willing to spend the time to help you understand the process.

Hiring a real-estate attorney: Once again, personal recommendations are the way to go.  But make sure she specializes in real estate.  Ask her to estimate how much she will charge to complete everything involved (usually a few hundred dollars).

Hiring an inspector: your real-estate agent can probably make a good recommendations. What to look for: Ask for a sample report to judge whether the information is clear and easy to understand. It should include write in sections instead of just check boxes.  Note whether any areas such as the roof and appliances are excluded, they shouldn't be. What happens if the inspector misses something that you find later on-does the company have insurance covering such intances?  A typical single-family house should take two to three hours to inspect, so if the inspector estimates 45 minutes go with someone else. Be present if you can.


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Buying vs. Renting by Esther Haynes
April 11th, 2008 2:21 PM

Buying vs. Renting: What makes more sense economically? In a nutshell; if you plan on living in the same city for at least five years; it's usually worth it to buy.

Advantages to owning: Over the long term, real estate is rarely a bad investment. The recent market downturns in some areas just give you more choice and additional negotiating room.  You'll build equity and establish a good credit histroy, and you won't have to deal with a landlord.

Disadvantages: You'll have to take care of all your own maintenance and improvements and pay property taxes. Situations in which you should hesitate to buy: If your current rent is unusually low; if you're considering a co-op or condo apartment that has high maintenance costs that aren't tax deductible; id off or be relocated in the near future; if your credit is so bad that you can qualify only for loans with very high interest reates. Now you may be asking How much can I afford? A mortgage calculator is the simplest way to get a ballpark idea try the mortgage calculator on this website, You punch in the loan amount, interest rate, and lenght and it spits out your estimated monthly payment. Keep in mind that insurance, property taxes, and maintenance will not be added to this calculated amount. If you want to find out for certain what your upper allowable limit is: Get preapproved for a loan. Find a certified mortgage broker who will have you fill out a loan application. Based on your income, debt, and credit score, you will receive a letter stating the maximum amount a bank is willing to lend you. Keep in mind just because you get approved for a certain amount of money doesn't mean you should look for a house in that price range. Look at your lifestyle closely. Do your own detailed budget that includes all nonessential expenses, from movies to mocha lattes, travel, etc. The ask yourself how much you can comfortabley spend on your mortgage each month.

Down Payments: Putting 20% down is great if you can swing it. You'll start with more equity, pay less total interest, and avoid some fees.

Did You Know:  85% Of HOME buyers used a REAL-ESTATE AGENT to help them during their SEARCH FOR A HOUSE!


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Dealing With the Real Estate Downturn
July 9th, 2007 1:32 PM

Dealing with the real estate downturn

Thinking of selling your home or staying put? Gerri Willis suggests some smart real estate moves.

By Gerri Willis, CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home sales posted their sharpest drop in 18 years this week. As a homeowner, you can't ignore the headlines. Here are the smartest moves you can make if you're selling your home or even staying put.

1: Sell smart

If you're planning on selling this spring, you'll want to assess the market like the pros do. Find out whether median prices are falling in your area by consulting a local agent, or the Web site for the local realtors' association.

Next, determine whether homes in your area are taking longer to sell. Agents track "days on market," that is the number of days it takes a home to sell. If that number is double what it was a year ago, you'll know your market is in trouble.

Consider waiting out the cycle (and it is a cycle). If you can afford to wait a year or two, you'll have more luck getting the best price for your home.

2: Spend wisely

Now is not the time to spend a fortune on a new kitchen with all the bells and whistles or to add a first floor suite. The rule of thumb is that you should spend no more than 20 percent on renovations.

If you are planning upgrades this spring, make sure you stay well within that guideline or even less. The point is that you don't want to sink a lot of money into an asset that is losing value.

3: It's still your problem

Even if you've been making your mortgage payments on time, foreclosures in your area can hurt your property value. In fact, for every home that goes into foreclosure in your neighborhood, your property value drops by about 1 percent.

So, if you have three foreclosed properties in your neighborhood, your home will fall about 3 percent. And it will stay depressed for at least two years, according to the Center for Responsible Lending.

To find out where the foreclosures are in your area, go to realtytrak.com or foreclosurenet.net and type in your zip code.

4: Recheck your mortgage

More than one in three homeowners don't know what kind of mortgage they have. In this kind of market, you can't afford not to know your loan terms.

So, whether you're selling or staying put, dig out those closing documents. Find out when exactly your rate will reset. You will find this on the Adjustable Rate Rider which is one of the first few pages in your documents.

You'll want to find out how often you're rate will increase and what caps there are to how much that increase can be. If you can't find these documents, call your real estate agent and ask. Top of page


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Some Extra Information
July 9th, 2007 1:31 PM

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Take Your Home Outside
July 9th, 2007 1:28 PM

Take your home outside

An open-air "room" adds inexpensive living space that may come in handy at resale. And it needn't have a price tag as big as the great outdoors.

By Sarah Max, Money Magazine contributing writer

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- Pam and Mark Elmore weren't in the market for a home last summer. But when the Bend, Ore. couple happened to stop by a newly built house with a 1,000-square-foot patio, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen - fridge and range included -and a fire pit, they immediately realized they had to have it.

Now the Elmores cook dinner outside about four nights a week. "It opened up a whole new space in our house," says Pam. "We are constantly entertaining out here."

outdoor_kitchen.03.jpg

Good-bye, flipping houses. Hello, flipping burgers.

Americans, it seems, are rediscovering the pleasures of their own backyards. For many what was once a place for casual barbecues with friends has now become a full-fledged room with all the amenities of the indoors: gourmet appliances, light fixtures, cushioned furniture and even flat-screen televisions.

In colder parts of the country, homeowners are putting in heat lamps and fireplaces so they can lounge outside almost any time of year.

"The whole standard for outdoor space has changed," says Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders.

A recent NAHB survey of builders and other industry professionals found that outdoor fireplaces are fast becoming standard in upscale homes, and almost two-thirds of architects surveyed by the American Institute of Architects last year reported an increase in demand for outdoor kitchens, patios and decks.

The most compelling reason to build an outdoor room is the pure pleasure of it. But you can reap practical benefits too: It's a relatively inexpensive way to expand your living space.

"The outdoors is basically a second living room for many of our clients," says Stefan Thuilot, a landscape architect in Berkeley.

In many regions Mother Nature will heat and cool the space so it won't increase your utility bills.

Property tax assessors typically base their valuations on "livable" (that is, indoor) square footage, so outdoor additions shouldn't raise your tax bill.

And though you probably won't recoup your full investment when you sell, you may get back a good chunk.

"In the upper end of the market, houses that have outdoor rooms sell faster and at the higher end of the price range," says Teri Herrera, a real estate broker in Bellevue, Wash.

But a back-deck remodel can easily morph into a six-figure extravaganza. You could spend $500 for a basic stainless steel grill - or $100,000 or more for a kitchen with granite countertops and luxury appliances; a fireplace can cost anywhere from a couple thousand bucks to $50,000 for a custom-built stone version.

But spending too much on a souped-up backyard isn't smart, especially in a weak housing market. Before you order an open-air home theater and invite your friends over for the barbecue of the century, you need to figure out what makes sense in your yard and match your dreams to your budget.

Lay the groundwork

There's no lack of magazines to give you inspiration, but also put some thought into the following practical concerns:

What you'll do outside If you're aiming to entertain, you'll want enough space for a large table or sitting area; if you'd like to curl up with a book on chilly evenings, a fireplace might be the centerpiece of your design. If you're in a rainy region, you'll get more use out of an area that can be covered with a solid awning.

Once you have ideas, "audition" different parts of your yard with a portable grill and basic patio furniture, says Deborah Krasner, an outdoor-kitchen designer and author of "The New Outdoor Kitchen."

This will help you discover what parts of your yard have the best views or the least noise.

When Olga and Ken Hayes of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. began designing their 1,000-square-foot backyard deck and garden sitting area, they thought about the movement of the sun.

"We put the living room and water garden on the eastern side so I could enjoy the morning light on the garden on a summer day," says Olga. "In the afternoons there's light on the western-side patio where we do our entertaining."

Your local rules Depending on where you live and the scope of your project, you may need approval from the city, says Julie Moir Messervy, co-author of "Outside the Not So Big House."

Many neighborhoods ban fences and pergolas, or covered awning structures, and others dictate what materials can be used. You may also need approval from your homeowners association to make drastic changes to your property.

Your neighbors' yards Peek over nearby back fences to make sure your plan isn't off the charts. "If you overspend for your area, you'll be hard-pressed to get that back in a resale," says John Bredemeyer, an appraiser in Omaha.

What you'll spend, what you'll get If you don't have the cash to fund the project, get a fixed-rate home-equity loan (about 8 percent today). It's a better deal than a variable home-equity line of credit, which currently has an average rate of 8.7 percent.

But don't take on tons of new debt for a project that won't necessarily recoup its costs at resale, says Burlingame, Calif. financial planner Barbara Steinmetz, especially if you're not going to be around long enough to enjoy it. Says Krasner:

"If you're not sure you'll be there for five years, put in a nice patio and buy a grill you can take with you when you leave."

How to do it right

Chances are, your wish list and your wallet aren't exactly in sync. To cut the budget down to size, keep these tips in mind.

Hire the right help For anything more extensive than a simple deck, you'll likely need an expert to help you map out the plan. But unless your renovation requires complex engineering work, you can probably hire a landscape designer for $50 to $100 an hour instead of a landscape architect, who may charge twice that much.

The typical plan takes about 20 hours, although this will vary. For an elaborate project it's often worth paying a 15 percent to 20 percent fee for a "design and build" firm that can do everything from sketching out your plans to subcontracting out plumbing and electrical work.

Do it in stages Unlike most indoor projects, outdoor rooms can be built over the course of many summers. This gives you more time to save for the big-ticket items and makes it more feasible for you to do some of the work yourself.

Consider trade-offs Instead of spending $10,000 for a custom-built fireplace, pay $200 for a portable fire pit or chiminea. If you like the look of an outdoor kitchen but aren't prepared to spend $20,000 on a full setup, opt for a high-quality grill set in cultured stone, says Kevin Schaffer, a landscape designer and president of Artisan Outdoor Living in Bend, Ore.

Flagstone is often considered the must-have material for patios, but at about $30 a square foot, it can be a budget breaker.

An elegant-looking alternative is stamped concrete, says Schaffer, which costs about $13 a square foot.

When Bill and Jackie Fritsch of Broomall, Pa. put in an outdoor kitchen and sitting room, they splurged for a $13,000 grill and $13,000 hot tub. The television, on the other hand, is "the cheapest flat screen I could find," Bill says. And it's getting plenty of use.

"For five years we never went out back at all," says Bill. "Now the patio furniture stays out until a week after New Year's." Top of page


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7 Landscaping Tips
July 9th, 2007 1:25 PM

7 landscaping tips

These ideas offer some of the best returns for your renovation dollar. Plus, the payoff increases over time.

y Josh Garskof, Money Magazine contributing writer

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- If prospective buyers looked at your house today, what would they see outside? A giant evergreen that looks as if it might swallow the station wagon, perhaps, scraggly old foundation plants or maybe a kitchen-table view of the neighbors' kids' trampoline?

If so, you have a truly inexpensive opportunity to boost your home's curb appeal. By spending $500 to $3,000 on plants and materials and a few hours of time, you can achieve a well-landscaped look without shelling out for professional help.

Besides the personal enjoyment you'll get from a prettier yard, landscaping adds more value than almost any other home renovation.

A recent Michigan State University study found that depending on where the house is located, high-quality landscaping adds 5 percent to 11 percent to its price.

If you have no immediate plans to move, all the better: Landscaping is the one home improvement that actually appreciates over time.

So how do you decide which projects to tackle? That depends on how long you think you'll be around to enjoy the results.

If you're selling in a year or less

Edge the beds Cutting fresh edges where grass meets mulch makes the lawn look well kept. A move as simple as curving the edge of your flower beds could increase the value of your home by 1 percent, says horticulture professor Bridget Behe, the lead researcher on the MSU study.

Also, if your foundation plants are overgrown, widening the beds by two feet will make the shrubs seem smaller.

Nourish the grass For truly lush turf, ideally you should start regular fertilizer treatments a year before listing the house. But you can green up the lawn with just a single application.

Spend $45 on a broadcast spreader, which quickly distributes fertilizer over a lawn, enabling you to nourish a quarter-acre lot in about 10 minutes.

For a yard that size, expect each monthly application to cost about $20 (for straight fertilizer) to $30 (with weed killer).

Scatter color throughout For about $1 a plant, you can blanket your yard with petunias, impatiens and other small annuals that will flower throughout the current growing season.

Also invest a few hundred dollars in some larger perennials and in shrubs that stand at least four feet high.

"A few good-size plants have more sex appeal than 20 little ones," says Chicago landscape architect Douglas Hoerr.

If you're improving for the long-term

Cut back the jungle Many everyday yard plants, such as azaleas, forsythia, hollies and rhododendrons, will fill out with new growth after a season or so even if you hack them down to stumps, says Christopher Valenti, a landscape contractor in Lewes, Del.

Be careful, though, of yews and junipers, which won't grow new leaves on old wood and may need to be removed altogether if they're severely overgrown.

Add drama with foliage A distinctive yard will make your home more appealing to buyers, says Los Angeles realtor Dana Frank. So replace plants that don't flower, or provide interesting foliage with eye-catching alternatives, like a patch of blackeyed Susans, a flowering crabapple or a cutleaf Japanese maple.

If you're planning to stay put, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for big plants. You'll save 50 percent or more by buying small ones and waiting a few seasons to get the full visual impact (when planting, make sure to space them based on the mature size listed on the label, not how they look now).

Consider new angles Most yards have almost all the plants along the foundation and the property lines. But if you place yours throughout different parts of the property, you'll create a depth of field that makes your home look farther away from the road, says architect Hoerr.

Try putting some near the house's corners to accentuate its shape, others near the street to define the yard, and some in between, where they can block unfortunate views and be admired from indoors. Many nurseries offer free design help to buyers.

Cover your rear It's nice to wave hello to your neighbors out front, but the backyard should be a private space. If yours feels overexposed, fencing can offer a quick fix.

For each eight-foot section, you'll pay about $100 (for a plain cedar stockade fence) to $300 (for an elaborate Victorian model), plus another $50 to $150 a section for installation.

You can also achieve the same effect at a much lower cost by planting small evergreen shrubs, although you'll have to wait a few seasons for full coverage.

Or, rather than pruning those hulking foundation plants, hire a landscaper to transplant them along the property line. As long as they're healthy and evergreen, it's a great way to maximize the value of the plants you already own. Top of page


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Money 101: Buying A Home
July 9th, 2007 1:07 PM

Top things to know


1. Don't buy if you can't stay put.

If you can't commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner.

2. Start by shoring up your credit.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Aim for a home you can really afford.

The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you'll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.

4. Don't worry if you can't put down the usual 20 percent.

There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price.

5. Buy in a district with good schools.

In most areas, this advice applies even if you don't have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you'll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.

6. Get professional help.

Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

7. Choose carefully between points and rate.

When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points -- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing -- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time -- say five to seven years or more -- it's usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

8. Before house hunting, get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.

9. Do your homework before bidding.

Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 percent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that's about eight to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.

10. Hire a home inspector.

Sure, your lender will require a home appraisal anyway. But that's just the bank's way of determining whether the house is worth the price you've agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.

Are you ready to own?

Home ownership means you no longer pay monthly rent for the roof over your head. You can do what you want with your house (within reason). When you leave, you can sell it to recoup the purchase price and - with any luck - earn a profit too.

But don't kid yourself. home ownership comes with a slew of disadvantages, responsibilities, and downright headaches.

So before going any further, consider whether your lifestyle and finances make homebuying a smart move.

TIP: High costs mean you should be prepared to say put. Except in a roaring real estate market, it usually doesn't make sense to buy a home you'll own for less than three or four years. Reason: the high transaction cost of buying and selling property means you could lose money on the deal. If you do make money, you'll pay capital gains taxes if you're in the house less than two years.

So ask yourself if you can really stay put for that long. Will you need to move because you are transferred by your current employer or a new one? Are you thinking of going back to school?

TIP: It may make more sense to rent On the financial side, one key question is whether it costs more, on average, to rent or own in your area. The rule of thumb is that if you pay 35 percent less in rent than you would for owning - including the monthly mortgage, property taxes, and any homeowner's fees - then it's smarter to continue renting.

Only if all those answers still point towards owning should you proceed to the next step - getting the money right.

Getting the money right

For most people, buying a house involves a double financial whammy.

First you have to assemble a pile of cash for the down payment and closing costs. Then you must convince a bank to lend you an even more staggering sum - generally 80 percent or more of the purchase price.

So your first step, even before you start the actual hunt for a property, should be to get your financial house in order.

Start with your credit

Credit reports are kept by the three major credit agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Among other things, they show whether you are habitually late with payments and whether you have run into serious credit problems in the past.

A credit score is a number calculated by Fair Isaac based on the information in your credit report. You have three different credit scores, one for each of your credit reports.

A low credit score may hurt your chances for getting the best interest rate, or getting financing at all. So get a copy of your reports and know your credit scores. Try Fair Isaac's MyFICO.com, which charges upwards of $50 for all three reports and scores.

Errors are not uncommon. If you find any, you must contact the agencies directly to correct them, which can take two or three months to resolve. If the report is accurate but shows past problems, be prepared to explain them to a loan officer.

Know what you can afford

Next, you need to determine how much house you can afford. You can start with one of the Web's many calculators. For a more accurate figure, ask to be pre-approved by a lender, who will look at your income, debt and credit to determine the kind of loan that's in your league.

The rule of thumb here is to aim for a home that costs about two-and-a-half times your gross annual salary. If you have significant credit card debt or other financial obligations like alimony or even an expensive hobby, then you may need to set your sights lower.

Another rule of thumb: All your monthly home payments should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income.

The size of your downpayment will also determine how much you can afford.

Line up cash

If you haven't already, you'll need to come up with cash for your down payment and closing costs. Lenders like to see 20 percent of the home's price as a down payment. If you can put down more than that, the lender may be willing to approve a larger loan. If you have less, you'll need to find loans that can accommodate you.

Various private and public agencies - including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration, and the Department of Veteran Affairs - provide low down payment mortgages through banks and mortgage companies. If you qualify, it's possible to pay as little as 3 percent up front. For more, check out their Web sites at Fanniemae.com or Freddiemac.com.

A warning: With a down payment under 20 percent, you will probably wind up having to pay for private mortgage insurance, a safety net protecting the bank in case you fail to make payments. PMI adds about 0.5 percent of the total loan amount to your mortgage payments for the year. So if you finance $200,000, your PMI will cost $1,000 annually.

Increasingly, though, lenders are giving qualified buyers the option of using "piggyback loans" to cover a portion of a home's downpayment and avoid paying PMI. These second loans are usually in the form of a home equity loan or line of credit for 10 percent to 15 percent of the home's purchase price.

Once you've considered the downpayment, make sure you've got enough to cover fees and closing costs. These may include the appraisal fee, loan fees, attorney's fees, inspection fees, and the cost of a title search. They can easily add up to more than $10,000 - and often run to 5 percent of the mortgage amount.

If your available cash doesn't cover your needs, you have several options. First-time homebuyers can withdraw up to $10,000 without penalty from an Individual Retirement Account, if you have one, though you must pay taxes on the amount. You can also receive a cash gift of up to $12,000 a year (the limit for 2006) from each of your parents without triggering a gift tax.

Gift taxes are paid by the donor, not the recipient. (In fact, if your and your spouse's parents are both well-heeled, they can give you a total of $96,000 in one year - $12,000 from each of the four parents to each of you.)

Check on whether your employer can help; some big companies will chip in on the down payment or help you get a low-interest loan from selected lenders. You can also tap a 401(k) or similar retirement plan for a loan from yourself.

Picking a team

Don't buy a home without professional help.


With all the tools and advice available today ranging from books and magazines to online advice like this lesson - it would be possible for you to buy your home almost completely without the aid of real estate professionals.

That's not necessarily recommended. The housing market, like politics, is basically local, and each state, city, and even neighborhood has a thicket of local laws or customs that you need to understand. For that, it helps to have a team of professionals to guide you.

You might want to start by finding an agent who can represent your interests in the search. This is not as simple as it sounds. Sure, 85 percent of sellers list their homes through an agent - but those agents are working for the seller, not you. They're paid based on a percentage, usually 5 to 7 percent of the purchase price, so their interest will be in getting you to pay more.

What you need is what's known as an "exclusive buyer agent." Sometimes buyer agents are paid directly by you, on an hourly or contracted fee. Other times they split the commission that the seller's agent gets upon sale. A buyer's representative has the same access to homes for sale that a seller's agent does, but his or her allegiance is supposed to be only to you.

To complicate matters, there are hybrid agencies called either single-agency or dual-agency brokers. In both cases, an individual agent in the firm may represent either sellers or buyers, sometimes both, in the same transaction. Potential conflicts of interest abound in this situation, so if you are seeking a buyer agent but no exclusive buyer agent is available, make sure to ask the agent about conflicts of interest.

There are now about a dozen Web sites that help connect buyers with buyers agents, among them HomeGain.com, House.com, RealEstate.com and Reply.com.

Next start looking for a mortgage lender. Take your time, since you could be paying this loan for 30, even 40, years. Start on the Internet at places like LendingTree.com and E-loan.com. You may also want to check out the rates at CNNMoney.com, Bankrate, or HSH Associates. These sites carry nationwide listings of mortgage interest rates and other related information.

Don't limit your search to the Web, though. Once you have an idea of the best rates from national lenders, get on the phone to your community banks and any other institutions with which you may have a relationship. Ask if they can beat the national rates. Often, the local lender can offer a better deal simply because he or she knows the local market and wants to keep your business.

You might also consider using a mortgage broker, a middleman who keeps tabs on rates from a multitude of lenders. The mortgage broker isn't paid directly by you but gets paid by the bank. However, the fee - usually 1.5 to 3 percent of the loan amount - may get transferred to you in the closing costs. Most search engines have extensive listings of mortgage brokers. There's also a trade group, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, which can put you in touch with a broker in your area.

The Hunt

Now it's time to hit the pavement, or the Web, in search of a home

Your first step here is to figure out what city or neighborhood you want to live in. (Remember the old saw about "location, location, location.")

For overall demographics and data on metropolitan areas, you can visit a city site like CNNMoney.com's annual Best Places to Live list. For more detailed neighborhood information, check out sites like Yahoo! Real Estate, Homepages.com or NeighborhoodScout for comprehensive school and demographic information on a number of communities. Look for signs of economic vitality: a mixture of young families and older couples, low unemployment and good incomes.

Pay special attention to districts with good schools (high teacher-student ratios and graduation rates are among the hallmarks), even if you don't have school-age children. When it comes time to sell, you'll find that a strong school system is a major advantage in helping your home retain or gain value.

Try also to get an idea about the real estate market in the area. For example, if homes are selling close to or even above the asking price, that shows the area is desirable. Try Homegain.com, which is free, or Dataquick.com, which is available only to paid subscribers, to check out recent home sales.

Your real estate agent may also be able to show you listings. Incidentally, if you have the flexibility, consider doing your house hunt in the off-season -- meaning, generally, the colder months of the year. You'll have less competition and sellers may be more willing to negotiate.

Next, take your search to real estate sites like Realtor.com or Yahoo Real Estate which let you search for property that fit your requirements.

Be wary of choosing search criteria that are too restrictive. For example, select a price range 10 percent above and 10 percent below your true range. Add a 10-mile cushion to the location you specify. If you see a house you are interested in, save it, print it, add it to your bookmark or favorites list, and take note of the MLS code; your agent will want that code to arrange to show you the home in person.

If you're a first-time buyer, pay special attention to condominiums and cooperatives, or co-ops. Condos generally sell for 15 percent to 20 percent less than the cost of comparable detached homes in the same neighborhood, so you get much more space for your money.

What's the difference between the two? In a condo, each owner has absolute ownership of his own unit, which may be an apartment or townhouse. Owners pay a monthly fee to maintain shared areas like the lobby, the pool, or the laundry room. The chief financial risk to a condo owner is that the common charges can rise, or, in the event of a major problem such as a roof repair or boiler replacement, the condo board can assess fees to cover expensive repairs.

It's a good idea, when considering a condo, to find out how much the common charge has changed over the last five years, and whether there have been major assessments during that time. Also ask what percentage of the residents actually own their units as opposed to just renting them (many condos include both). A complex with lots of renters has fewer owners who care about the upkeep, and it may be harder to get a loan on such a property.

A co-op is a rarer animal limited to major metropolitan areas, especially New York City. Essentially, the complex is run by a corporation where each owner is a shareholder. In other words, a co-op owner is a partner in a building, rather than an outright owner of his or her specific unit within that building.

The monthly maintenance fees are generally higher than those of a condo, but prices tend to be lower. Their chief downside is that the co-op board usually has to approve new owners and may discourage you from renting your unit if you move out without selling. As with a condo, check on the group's financial health, whether shareholders have been hit with special assessments recently, and whether the unit includes many renters.

When you actually start touring homes, bring a notebook and a digital or Polaroid camera to help you remember details. Your real estate agent should supply you with a description of each house and the lot it sits on, the property tax assessment, the asking price, and sometimes a diagram of the rooms. Your camera and notebook are there to record other details, ranging from the cost of heating to the view out the rear window.

One note: Don't automatically reject a house just because it doesn't measure up to your desires, either in features or price. You can always add a deck, for instance, or update a kitchen. Since the asking price is just a starting point for negotiation, you will be making offers and counteroffers as both parties seek an acceptable price.

Closing the deal

Here's where you exercise your haggling muscles.

Once you find the house you want, you need to move quickly to make your bid. If you're working with a buyer's broker, then get advice from him or her on an initial offer. If you're working with a seller's agent, devise the strategy yourself.

Try to line up data on at least three houses that have sold recently in the neighborhood. Calculate the difference between the original list price and the final price of the homes sold.

If the average difference is, say, 5 percent below the asking price, then you know you can make an offer 8 percent to 10 percent below, leaving yourself a little room to negotiate. If you really want the house, don't lowball. The seller may give up in disgust.

Another factor to consider in determining your bid is whether the trend in recent home sales is up or down over the past year. For instance, if houses a year ago were selling at list, and recent ones are going at 3 percent below, then you might want to sharpen your pencil for your opening bid to just 5 to 8 percent below list.

There's no foolproof system for negotiating a fair price. Occasionally it's best to deal directly with the seller yourself. More often it's better to work exclusively through intermediaries. In general, don't let the other side begin to believe you are negotiating in bad faith or being deceptive -- any deal you eventually reach has to involve trust on both sides.

Be creative about finding ways to satisfy the seller's needs. For instance, ask if the seller would throw in kitchen and laundry appliances if you meet his price -- or take them away in exchange for a lower price. Remember, too, that your leverage depends on the pace of the market. In a slow market, you've got muscle; in a hot market, you may have none at all.

Once you reach a mutually acceptable price, the seller's agent will draw up an offer to purchase that includes an estimated closing date (usually 45 to 60 days from acceptance of the offer).

Have your lawyer or buyers agent review this document to make sure the deal is contingent upon:

1. your obtaining a mortgage;

2. a home inspection that shows no significant defects (make sure you're clear on the definition of "significant");

3. a guarantee that you may conduct a walk-through inspection 24 hours before closing. This last clause allows you to check the home after the sellers have moved out so that you have time to negotiate payment for repairs, just in case the movers cause any damage, or that big living room sofa was hiding a hole in the floor.

You also need to make a good-faith deposit -- usually 1 percent to 10 percent of the purchase price -- that should be deposited into an escrow account. The seller will receive this money after the deal has closed. If the deal falls through, you will get the money back only if you or the home failed any of the contingency clauses.

Now call your mortgage broker or lender and move quickly to agree on terms, if you have not already done so. This is when you decide whether to go with the fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage and whether to pay points (see "Picking a team"). Expect to pay $50 to $75 for a credit check at this point, and another $150, on average to $300 for an appraisal of the home. Most other fees will be due at the closing.

If you don't already have one, look into taking out a homeowner's insurance policy, too. Ask for recommendations from friends, your lawyer or your real estate agent. Most lenders require that you have homeowner's insurance in place before they'll approve your loan.

In addition to the appraisal that the mortgage lender will make of your home, you should hire your own home inspector. Again, ask for referrals, or check with the American Society of Home Inspectors, a trade group. An inspection costs about $300, on average, and up to $1,000 for a big job and takes two hours or more.

Ask to be present during the inspection, because you will learn a lot about your house, including its overall condition, construction materials, wiring, and heating. If the inspector turns up major problems, like a roof that needs to be replaced, then ask your lawyer or agent to discuss it with the seller. You will either want the seller to fix the problem before you move in, or deduct the cost of the repair from the final price. If the seller won't agree to either remedy you may decide to walk away from the deal, which you can do without penalty if you have that contingency written into the contract.

About two days before the actual closing, you will receive a final HUD Settlement Statement from your lender that lists all the charges you can expect to pay at closing.

Review it carefully. It will include things like the cost of title insurance that protects you and the lender from any claims someone may make regarding ownership of your property. The cost of title insurance varies greatly from state to state but usually comes in at less than 1 percent (in Iowa, as little as 0.1 percent plus a fixed fee) of the home's price.

The lender might also require you to establish an escrow account, which it can tap if you fall behind on your mortgage or property tax payments. Lenders can require deposits of up to two months' worth of payments.

After all this rigamarole, the actual closing is often somewhat anticlimactic, though perhaps still nerve-racking. It's a ritual affair, with customs that differ by region. Your lawyer or real estate agent can brief you on the particulars.

For sellers only

Preparation and timing can help you get the best price.

When you decide to sell, the first thing to do is investigate the local housing market.

Consult the large real estate sites, like Realtor.com, Zillow.com and HomeGain.com to see how similar homes are priced in your neighborhood. Many newspapers also list the selling and asking prices of recent sales, plus how long the houses were on the market. Note the prices for your neighborhood during the last several months.

Check how sales were running, say, a year ago, so you get an idea of whether the market is heating up, cooling down, or staying put. This exercise should give you a sense of what your home is worth.

Selecting an agent

You may decide that you can sell your home without an agent. It's an attractive thought, since you would save the 6 percent of the selling price that a broker typically collects. But balance that against the work involved in advertising a house and being available at all hours to show it.

If you do decide to work through an agent, ask for referrals from friends or check the Web and local newspapers for advertisements. Don't simply accept any recommendation. Make an appointment with an agent and interview him or her for the job.

Evaluate the person as though you were a buyer: Is he or she professional and personable? Does he say the right things to make you want to see the home? Also, since the agent will likely be able to advise you on a selling price, how well does his or her price jibe with the homework you did on your own? Don't be fooled by an agent who is merely flattering you with an inflated price. Go by what you already know about your house and the current housing market.

Ask whether he or she will be the agent actually showing the house. Some brokers have specialists whose main duty is to win the listing. Then another of the broker's agents takes over.

The lowdown on commissions

Once you find an agent you like, you have to formally sign a listing agreement. This is a contract, laying out the specifics of your arrangement, including how long you will let the agent represent your home and what the compensation will be.

Many agents prefer an exclusive listing, meaning you agree to pay a commission regardless of whether the agent is actually responsible for finding the seller. You should commit for no longer than three months (one month, in a hot market). In case you find the agent lacking in enthusiasm, you don't want to be locked into a bad situation.

When you discuss the listing agreement, discuss other issues as well. For instance, if there are certain times when you want the house off-limits for walk-throughs, let the agent know.

Also, consider negotiating the commission. If your house is expensive, an agent might not flinch if you suggest 4 or 5 percent instead of the usual 6. Conversely, if you know it's a buyer's market, consider offering the incentive of a higher commission if the agent can land you a sale within 5 percent of your asking price.

After you've signed a listing agreement, you may want to give your lawyer a call to notify him or her that you're selling your house and will need help reviewing bids and contracts. If you don't want to pay for a lawyer, your agent should also be able to guide you through this process.

Getting ready for an open house

Whether you sell on your own or work with an agent, you'll want to spruce up your house before it goes on the market.

Take an objective look at it: Is it cluttered? A little worn and tired? Consider a new paint job. Tidy up. Move unneeded furniture into the attic, basement or rented storage. Remove some of your personal items, like family pictures and knickknacks. Mow the lawn. Plant flowers, if it's the right season. These seemingly insignificant details can add many thousands of dollars to your eventual sales price.

If you're no good at this kind of thing, consider hiring a home "stager," someone with experience preparing homes for showings. Their fees can be more than offset by quicker sales and higher selling prices.

Speaking of which, you'll need to settle on an asking price. In doing so, forget what you originally paid for the house, how much you've spent on renovations or remodeling, and even how much money you need to move on to your next home. When it comes to pricing your property, the only yardstick that matters is what comparable homes are selling for in your neighborhood now -- which may be more, or less, than you sank into it.

Your research will already have given you a good idea of how the market is faring. Your agent should also provide you with comparable sales and discuss why your house should be priced higher or lower.

Timing is the key

Also note how long the homes were on the market. If you're in a seller's market, with listings moving in a week or two, think about adding a premium to the asking price.

In a buyer's market, it's especially important to get the price right. The critical selling time is within the first month after your home hits the market. If the price is too high, you'll turn off potential buyers and agents and then have a hard time attracting them back, even if you lower your sights later.

When you receive a bid via your agent ask for guidance in how to respond. This will depend on how you priced the house, what the housing market is in your area and your urgency to sell or wait for a better price.

Make sure your lawyer or agent reviews the contingency clauses included with the bid. For example, it's generally not a good idea to agree to sell your home with the contingency that the buyer must first sell his or her own home.

Also make sure that all the buyer's contingencies are restricted within specific amounts of time. For instance, if the deal is contingent upon the home passing an inspection, then the inspection must occur within a week to 10 days of an accepted bid. The same is true of the closing date: Make the buyer commit to a reasonable date, usually 45 to 60 days from acceptance. Top of page


Posted by Peggi Pulido on July 9th, 2007 1:07 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Remodeling Your Bathroom Could Be the Difference Between Selling and Not Selling Your Home.
July 2nd, 2007 1:16 PM
Bathing Beauties: Bathrooms Become Spa-like Retreats

Improve the bathroom and you improve the odds that a buyer will fall in love with the home.


 
 
Kitchens, media rooms, and outdoor terraces are the spots where families and friends flock to enjoy time together. But just as important for busy home owners is a peaceful escape where they can turn to unwind and refresh, if even for a few minutes.

That’s one reason why the bathroom continues to be one of the most important rooms buyers consider when choosing a home. And that’s also why home owners spend generously on upgrades to this essential space — adding more square footage, bigger showers, fancier tubs, lots of light, sitting areas, and upscale fixtures.

Because of their importance to buyers, bathroom improvements rank among the highest of all remodeling projects in terms of resale value, according to the 2006 “Cost vs. Value Report,” published by Remodeling magazine. The average midrange bathroom remodeling project costs $12,918 and recoups 85 percent of its value when the home sells, while an upscale bathroom project averages $38,165 and recoups 77 percent of its value, the report says.

A remodeled bathroom is also a strong selling point because today’s busy home buyers want work done before they move in, says Peggy Shepley with Prudential Alliance in suburban St. Louis. Homes with outdated bathrooms are more likely to sit on the market longer — and dropping the price to cover the expense of a makeover doesn’t always work. “It doesn’t factor in the time it takes to redo the bathrooms,” Shepley says.

Creating That Hotel Feeling

Bathroom design experts who are in tune with the latest remodeling trends say today’s home owners seek to recreate the spa-like feel of the bathrooms they see in upscale hotels.
After all, what’s better than having a vacation destination in your own home?

To accomplish the look, designers bring in textured materials, cool and calming colors, dimmable lighting, soothing sounds, and fragrant smells. In the largest bathrooms, you might even see a massage table or a pedicure spa tub.

Insightful entrepreneurs have picked up on consumers’ desire to bring home the plush hotel towels, comfy bathrobes, upscale décor — and yes, even the bathroom sink. Hotel Luxury, based in Boston, was launched to help luxury and boutique hotels sell their goods to guests.

“Hotels liked the idea of receiving revenue and extending their brand and loyalty into the home,” says Sara Bates, Hotel Luxury’s vice president. “And travelers loved the idea of recreating the look at home.”

As Shepley noted, luxurious bathrooms do more than help home owners unwind — they also help attract buyers. With this in mind, new developments such as the Element Condominiums — a posh 35-story high-rise going up in New York City — includes master bathrooms that are designed to impress. Element’s bathrooms include marble countertops, custom vanities, and deep soaking tubs with waterfall-style spouts.

Home owners who want their bathrooms to stand out should consult with experts to determine what makes sense in relation to the style and size of the home and the bathroom’s existing condition, says consumer trends expert Robyn Waters, author of The Hummer and The Mini (Penguin Portfolio, 2006). Also, be sure to hire a reputable installer who will ensure the fixtures, cabinetry, and accessories are hung just right, Waters says. Those little details are what make a bathroom shine.

Bathrooms Become Living Rooms

What other trends are today’s design gurus seeing (and creating) in bathrooms? In addition to adding a touch of luxury, home owners want amenities that turn the bathroom into a comfortable getaway where they can be entertained while they relax.
  • Tricked-out tubs. The old-fashioned whirlpool tub with water jets may have lost cachet, but don’t believe naysayers who declared the tub dead. “One day they may want a luxurious soaking bath with hydrotherapy and another day they may want a luxurious shower,” says Waters. Air jets and soaking tubs — similar to Japanese ofuros — hold wide appeal. Today’s tubs have a dazzling range of features: programmable massage settings, chromaptherapy mood lighting, built-in stereo speakers, pop-up TVs, and even wine chillers.
  • Furniture-style cabinets. The trend to personalize kitchens with cabinetry that resembles furniture has moved from kitchens into bathrooms. American Standard has taken the concept a step further and is manufacturing pre-assembled cabinets with fixtures like a sink already installed. “All home owners have to do is open a large box and ‘unfold’ the item,” says Gary Uhl, director of design.
  • Mini kitchens. Bathrooms are turning into mini kitchens to pare early morning and late night treks to the main kitchen, says architect Jeanne Cabral of Columbus, Ohio. One clever addition to the traditional line-up of coffee maker, microwave, and small refrigerator is a medicine cabinet with a cold storage area to keep beverages, beauty products, and medicines chilled. (Pictured here is a refrigerated medicine cabinet by Robern.)
  • Accessibility for all. A recent survey of architects shows that accessibility for the country’s aging population is shaping design, says Kermit Baker, chief economist at The American Institute of Architects and director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. “It’s being driven by baby boomers approaching retirement who are adapting their homes to meet their long-term needs, along with those who are caring for aging parents or relatives,” he says. Accessible bathroom features include wider doors, toilets with a raised lip so the user doesn’t have to bend deeply, and electronic faucets that eliminate turning a knob. In addition, contrasting colors can draw attention to steps to eliminate falls, says Chicago designer Leslie Markman-Stern.
  • Hidden nozzles, dazzling light shows. Home owners still crave jets, rainheads, and body sprayers, but the new trend is more discreet nozzles, including ones that resemble tiles. To make the shower experience more pleasurable, companies have introduced heat, light, chromatherapy, aromatherapy, and audio features. TAG Studio’s $100,000 “SilverTAG” shower allows users to program 18 different sequences on a touch screen and have the water hit six different body zones, says company founder Tag Galyean.
  • Wet rooms. The bathroom version of the “great room” is the “wet room,” which has a tub and open shower in one large space — big enough to accommodate at least two, says Eran Chen, a New York designer with Perkins Eastman. Some bathrooms are also open to the master bedroom, with a separation only for the toilet, says Michael Wandschneider, senior product manager for performance showering at Kohler Co.
  • Energy-wise products. More green designs are cutting down on water usage. Examples: toilets that flush fewer gallons, showerheads that use less water, foot pedal controls that make it harder to leave water running, countertops made of recycled-paper, nontoxic paints, and heat reclamation systems that recirculate heat in showers and tubs to avoid consuming “new” hot water, says architect Eric Corey Freed, with Organic Architect in San Francisco and author of the forthcoming book, Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies (Wiley, 2007).
  • Bye-bye brass. Polished chrome, stainless steel, brushed nickel, and handcrafted bronze finishes have replaced brass as the “it” finish for faucets, drawer pulls, and other accessories, says Sean Ruck, a spokesperson for the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
  • Warm it up. First, heated towel racks became the rage, then radiant heated floors. Now, home owners are buying toilets with warm seats, towel warming drawers, showers that can be turned on and warmed up before stepping in, and radiant heated tub and shower base liners that also have the effect of warming the water.
  • Better smelling rooms. New fans, such as WhisperGreen by Panasonic, stay on continuously and automatically boost themselves when needed through a motion sensor.
  • Pleasant sounds. While many tubs and showers now come with audio equipment, home owners also can buy waterproof speakers that match a décor. (Look closely at the photo on the right to see the white bathroom speakers from Axiom Audio, headquartered in Dwight, Ontario.)
  • Enhanced lighting. With the spotlight on bathrooms, designers know the importance of a better mix of general, ambient, and task lighting, including “green” compact fluorescent and LED lamps. Bathrooms in the Element high-rise in New York, for example, have cove lighting in ceilings and toe lighting in lower cabinets to illuminate the entire space from top to bottom.
  • Entertainment everywhere. Flat-screen TVs installed on walls, in mirrors, and in tubs and showers now allow home owners to remain in touch with breaking news or a favorite TV show while in the bathroom. At the Georgia Club community near Athens, Ga., bathrooms include a TV screen that can be programmed so that by a touch of a button it shows who’s standing at the front door if the doorbell rings for good security.
  • Ancillary bathrooms. Luxury demands that every bedroom have its own bathroom — even if it’s tiny, says Uhl of American Standard, which has introduced scaled-down designs such as its “Cadet 3 Compact” for smaller rooms. Designers are transforming powder rooms into small jewel boxes and children’s bathrooms into spaces that reflect a theme and gender — perhaps, dancing ballerinas for little girls or baseball diamonds for boys, says real-estate practitioner Shepley.
  • Bathrooms for fido. Manufacturers know you love your pets, so they’ve created special rooms just for the dog. MTI Whirlpools’ Jentle Pet spa for dogs includes whirlpool jets, air volume control pump, removable screen to trap hair, and shelves for grooming supplies. Woof, woof.

 

Found at: http://www.realtor.org/RMOArch.nsf/pages/ArchCoach200707?OpenDocument


Posted by Peggi Pulido on July 2nd, 2007 1:16 PMPost a Comment (0)

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