Posts from July 2014
Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
RSS Feed
Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 15 Posts
- 2025 | 77 Posts
- 2024 | 85 Posts
- 2023 | 73 Posts
- 2022 | 72 Posts
- 2020 | 44 Posts
- 2019 | 27 Posts
- 2018 | 20 Posts
- 2017 | 29 Posts
- 2016 | 85 Posts
- 2015 | 85 Posts
- 2014 | 117 Posts
- 2013 | 50 Posts
- 2012 | 32 Posts
- 2011 | 35 Posts
- 2010 | 16 Posts
Area Information | 146 Posts
BPT | 10 Posts
Buying | 31 Posts
Homeowners | 64 Posts
Real Estate Blogs | 323 Posts
RREIN | 62 Posts
Selling Your Home | 26 Posts
Uncategorized | 200 Posts
July
31
31
Down Payments for First-time Buyers
Fewer first-time homebuyers are finding a way to buy a house with a relatively low down payment as their options shrink and lenders' down payment requirements rise.
From April through June 2014, about 67 percent of first-time buyers made a down payment of 6 percent or less, down from 74 percent in 2009, according to the latest Realtor Confidence Index report from the National Association of REALTORS®.
One reason the average down payment is growing may be that more and more first-timers are choosing conventional over FHA financing, which requires only 3.5 percent down.
Underwriting standards have been getting tighter and borrowers' costs are going up. Tight underwriting standards are especially challenging for first-time buyers, who generally need mortgage financing with low down payment terms, w...
July
31
31
Five Tips for Air Conditioner Maintenance
The season's warm weather means homeowners will be increasingly reliant on air conditioning to make the long, hot days more tolerable. Keep in mind these five maintenance tips to keep air conditioners running smoothly through the summer months.
Combat moisture - Air conditioning systems should not have moisture within the refrigeration system. Most systems have moisture indicators located on the high or low-pressure lines. Once the system is running and the compressor has started, a color indicator on the pressure line will show if moisture is present. If moisture is in the refrigeration system, a trained air conditioning technician will have to vacuum the line and make any necessary repairs.
Clean air condition...
July
28
28
How to Prep for an Exterior Paint Job
Summer is the perfect time to update your home's exterior. Adding a fresh coat of paint will create a whole new look and instant curb appeal. Ideally, the home should be painted in warmer seasons, when the temperature falls between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Before painting, keep in mind these tips:
1. Clean – Whether you do it yourself or rent a power washer, be sure to thoroughly clean your home's exterior. For really tough stains, scrub the surface with a wire brush. Use a commercial grade cleaner or chlorine bleach to eliminate any mildew. Allow several days for any remaining moisture to dry completely.
2. Prep – Scrape away cracked caulk from windows, peeling paint or rotted areas. If the entire board is rotted, replace it. Re-caulk where needed. Fill holes wit...
July
24
24
Preparing Yourself for Closing
(MCT)--The challenging part of the closing process is perusing the transactional documents that indicate whether or not you are getting the deal you believe you negotiated or were promised.
This is the most challenging part of the process because the stakes are high, and the time pressures severe. The transactional documents that define the terms of the deal are subject to change as the transaction moves toward closing, but it is only the final set of documents that matter. In the typical case, the first disclosure is sent before the borrower's property is appraised, and before the loan terms (interest rate and points) are locked. This usually results in a second disclosure following receipt of the appraisal, a third disclosure when the loan is locked, and sometimes a fourth disclosure if the loan terms change for some other...
July
22
22
The Best Home Investment: A Wood Deck
(BPT)-As the seasons turn, more homeowners look for projects that not only make their homes more livable, but also offer great return on investment. With demand high across the country for outdoor spaces that bring the comforts of the indoors outside, there's no surprise that decks are one of the top remodeling projects for 2014.
In fact, a residential wood deck addition has a recouped cost of 87.4 percent, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2014 Cost vs. Value Report, the second highest ROI midrange project only behind an entry door replacement. That means adding a deck to your property will increase your livable space so you can enjoy the outdoors more, and you can rest easy knowing you're boosting the value of your home investment.
If you think you'd like to add a wood deck to your home, you might wonder about th...