http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/purchasing-a-scope-property-in-baltimore.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/purchasing-a-scope-property-in-baltimore.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:40:43 -0500
In Baltimore, one such program is the Selling City Owned Property Efficiently (SCOPE) program. This is a program set up by the city of Baltimore to promote property restoration and occupancy. In this program, the city offers properties that it owns for a nominal fee based on square footage and the condition of the building.

Some SCOPE properties have stipulations incorporated in their sales. Some properties require that the buyer actually take occupancy of the rehabilitated property when it's finished, while others do not have such stipulation and may be rented. All of the contracts have the requirement that the property is to be complete and ready for occupants within 18 months of the sale closing. Anyone interested in looking at SCOPE listings must sign a Hold Harmless Right of Entry form to acknowledge the possible dangers which could be encountered in a home that has been vacant for possibly a long period.

SCOPE listings will include an estimated cost for rehabilitation. The city makes these estimates based on the condition of the building and what they think needs to be replaced. Be aware, that these are rough estimates and your repairs will certainly cost you more than the estimate.

In the years since the program's inception, many properties have been sold through the SCOPE program. As with any program to revitalise inner city neighborhoods however, the transition can only happen as quickly as new buyers become interested in investing in these projects. If you have the means to invest in one of these properties, talk to a qualified real estate agent to help you find an appropriate property listing.

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Metro Washington D.C. real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in Foxhall DC.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/buying-a-home-be-upfront-with-your-agent.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/buying-a-home-be-upfront-with-your-agent.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:40:12 -0500
They wanted to buy a horse, having not previously mentioned wanting to keep large animals. Ever.

I have to admit, I was really impressed when he told me that he had kept calm when they mentioned that to him; I can't say I would have been as restrained. In effect, his clients had wasted weeks of time that he could have been looking for a more appropriate property for them on which they could have kept horses. Don't assume that your agent is the Amazing Kreskin; I can assure that you that very few realtors will claim to be able to read your mind.

While I think that agents should ask their clients questions, I don't believe that it is up to the agent to ask his or her clients for every possible combination of needs that they might require out of a property. At some point it becomes the responsibility of the buyer to let the agent know what they need.

When you start out with a new agent it is imperative that you express not only what your current needs are but also what your projected needs will be in the near future. If you're planning on having children, caring for an elderly parent or buying a horse, let your agent know. If you're looking for a home to fix up and sell in a few years, let your agent know. Any hints that you can give your agent about what kind of property will best suit your needs will help ensure the best possible outcome.

What some buyers do not seem to understand is that the most effective real relationship between agent and client is not one where the client is completely passive. Your agent will lead you through the process of home buying but in order to get what you want out of the experience, you have to actually know what you want. Take some time before beginning the home purchasing journey to reflect on what you want now and in the near future so that you can share that with your agent.

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Metro Washington D.C. real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in King Farm MD.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/new-appraisal-system-impacts-consumer.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/new-appraisal-system-impacts-consumer.html Wed, 13 May 2009 14:37:12 -0500
This new system has numerous flaws and has been widely criticized from both the Appraisal Institute (which represents over 20,000 appraisers nationwide), and the National Association of Realtors.

Some of the major criticisms include:

Homeowners don't choose who they want to complete the appraisal of their home or how they calculate the value. The appraisal management companies are actually unregulated and the quality of their appraisals may be inferior to those of an established professional appraiser.

The costs are actually increased since the appraisal management companies charge extra for their role. Typically, an appraiser charges approximately $325, but when consigned by the management company they only receive about $200. The customer is charged $400 and must pay up front for the appraisal instead of during closing. If the deal doesn't go through, the consumer absorbs the cost and the management company still pockets the extra charge.

There doesn't seem to be any fee management and the costs for appraisals have increased dramatically. As reported by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, one lender, EverBank, advertised its fees as follows: $465 for GHA appraisals and $390 for standard single family appraisals. Flat fees in Hawaii are a hefty $700.

The new system is being extended to FHA mortgages, even though they are not included under the new code of rules.

This new regulation increases the overall closing time and the waiting time before the customer can receive funds.

Appraisal portability is also decreased since each lender will require a new appraisal.

Small business appraisers will be squeezed out even though they may have a better knowledge of the area and may be considerably more qualified than the employees of the designated unregulated appraisal management company. This removes competition and equitable pricing guidelines for the consumer. The larger management companies will distribute orders through a central area which may be located hundreds of miles from the property being appraised. The chances of the consumer of receiving a below standard appraisal by employees who are not familiar with the area are increased.

The HVCC was never required to pass through the Administrative Procedures Act, the regulatory Flexibility Act or any other procedural filter generally required by a federal agency. There are some that consider the HVCC code invalid and unenforceable due to its failure to comply to the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) regulates the the way lenders and mortgage brokers close a sale and do business. The HVCC is in violation of rules against up-charging and fee-splitting. Every lender could leave themselves open to a possible HUD lawsuit on each loan they issue.

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Montgomery County real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in Garrett Park MD.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/breaking-ground-on-the-national-mall.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/breaking-ground-on-the-national-mall.html Wed, 13 May 2009 12:50:49 -0500
The People's Garden includes a 1,300 square foot vegetable plot, pollinator gardens, mini-wetlands, green roofs and various workshops for educational purposes. The wetlands area will demonstrate how to handle surface run off and prevent pollution.

Different gardening techniques will be employed such as the traditional native American "Three Sisters" garden. This method combines the planting of corn, pole beans and squash in such away that each sustains the other. Planted in small hills, the corn stalks support the pole beans, and the large trailing squash vines provide shade and their prickly leaves deter garden pests.

The organic garden will include the spring crops such as field peas, lettuce, spinach and kale. Next summer or late season crops will be planted and will include tomatoes, peppers, squash and herbs. Nearby demonstration tents will display the meaning and principles of organic gardening and the public will be able to view an actual working concept.

The vegetables will be grown in the ground, in raised beds and in containers to display the different ways of planting a garden and demonstrate that you don't need a large plot of land to have a successful garden.

Local food banks will receive the harvest from the People's Garden, but the main goal is education on sustainability and organic gardening. They are aiming to have the garden certified organic within three years. Workers from Melwood, a nonprofit organization that employs developmentally disabled adults, will take on the task of working the garden. However, employees from the USDA are encouraged to help.

Inspired during one of his daily runs on the grounds, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noticed the tourists taking interest in the various trees and dedication plaques; what better venue than a working garden to drive home the message of sustainability and the importance of growing fresh fruits and vegetables in your own home.

As most great plans, the People's Garden began as a much smaller venture, but as word spread and positive feedback began pouring in, the garden grew larger. Now with national goals, Vilsack plans to work with organizations across the country to spread the message to schools and communities on how they too can start gardens. In fact he has already met with over 47 such groups including the Rodale Institute, Seed Savers and the American Gardeners Association to brainstorm how to best promote the gardens. The response was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging for many smaller groups who were now part of a larger, unified effort.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "The garden will help explain to the public how small things they can do at home, at their business or on their farm or ranch, can promote sustainability, conserve the nation's natural resources, and make America a leader in combating climate change."

"I don't care what anybody says: Nothing is better than a tomato you grow," he said. "There's something about it that's different than a tomato you can buy. It's a great thing."

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Gaithersburg MD real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in Montgomery County.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/can-you-tweet-your-way-to-a-home-sale.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/can-you-tweet-your-way-to-a-home-sale.html Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:08:52 -0500
One of the keys that Twitter has given people who use its services is SEO optimized titles that have had an immediate effect on rankings for the individual or group represented on the page. The simple reorganization of the Twitter page title from "Twitter / anytownrealestate" to "Anytown Real Estate (anytownrealestate) on Twitter" is making a BIG difference in how the page is ranked in Google.

The wonderful thing about Twitter is that the 140 character limit releases one from the obligation to write a "real" blog post. One can dash off an "is waiting for the start of the Open House at 123 Anyroad, Anytown. Come visit!" (your name is automatically appended to each post). in a few seconds on a BlackBerry. Twitter helps keep your presence in your clients' and contacts' lives by inserting your name into their daily life when they read their Twitter page.

One of the keys is to be interesting. It's not enough to talk about or post links to homes you're representing. Try to make your Tweet interesting in a general sense. "...is representing this home (link). It is a classic Victorian "gingerbread" house, so named for the lavish ornamentation..." is better than "is representing this home (link)" Make people interested in the house for some reason. You don't have to always do this when posting a link, but at least intersperse interesting facts and news about your area.

Area events are great ways of getting your name out there. "Are you planning on coming to the (Area) community meeting? It's at The Meeting Center: 123 Anyroad, Room 1 @ 7:30PM." shows that you're aware of events in your community and can also be followed by people wanting to keep up to date about area events. If you're a go-to person for community information, people are more likely to think of you when they need someone to "go to" for a real estate transaction. (It also helps if you're at the community meeting!)

These terms are not only good for getting people's attention; they are also good Google attention-getters. If you're constantly talking about "Area homes", Google is more likely to rank you higher for that. If you have relevant content that people are looking for, the more Google love you're gonna get! Keep adding pictures and information and be interesting! You will get more attention from people who are not real estate minded, but that only serves to drive up your popularity in general.

Twitter, like so many other social networking tools, is one weapon in an arsenal. It can materially help your online presence and keep people's attention once you've got it. Being that it's so easy to use and doesn't require a lot of writing, it can be great for the real estate professional who doesn't have a lot of time to compose blog posts and articles.

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Metro Washington D.C. real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in Germantown MD.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/green-staging-your-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/green-staging-your-home.html Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:12:35 -0500
Cleaning is the number 1 home stager's weapon. Nothing can take the place of soap and water when it comes to marketing your home. Clean homes smell better - even if you or the buyer doesn't notice it - and look better. Invest in some orange oil cleansers for a fresh citrus scent and scrub, scrub, scrub! Instead of replacing bathroom fixtures, clean and polish them. Have your home powerwashed if it is covered with vinyl siding.

You may want to repaint your home's exterior and interior to give it a fresh, new look. There are low- and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds - bad environmental juju) paints available and recycled paint made from bucket leftovers. By carefully cleaning your brushes and rollers, you can make them last longer and be usable for more paint jobs in the future. Trays can also be cleaned and reused. Reusable dropcloths can be used for years instead of temporary plastic ones.

Instead of buying new furniture, reupholster, recover or repair the old. Many chairs and tables only want a couple of turns of their screws to steady out wobbles and a new coat of that recycled paint can make them shine again. You can also buy or make inexpensive slipcovers to quickly and easily cover your couches and chairs to harmonize with your living and bed room walls. Secondhand, good quality bedspreads can completely transform the look of your bed, as can a coat of paint applied to most frames.

In the kitchen, cleaning and staining old kitchen cabinets can give them an entirely new look, which is cheaper and less wasteful than buying new ones. When it comes to the kitchen, replacing old appliances with new can be better for the environment - replace your old stove and refrigerator with ENERGY STAR certified ones, which use less energy than appliances from former years. (And don't forget to buy certified appliances for your new home!) Your old appliances can be disposed of at your local recycling or reclaim center.

Bathrooms are another place where ENERGY STAR rated appliances can be better than the old and more appealing to environmentally-minded buyers. Low-water flush toilets can save a lot on water and water-efficient shower heads are a great selling point. This is one room that cannot be too clean, given its purpose. Everything should be sparkling, especially the toilet! You cannot be too scrupulous in this regard.

Flooring can be updated with merely a good cleaning. Further work on hardwood floors can be effected by repairing isolated spots, sanding and restaining. Carpets can sometimes look completely new with a thorough vacuuming and steam cleaning. Carpets can also be dyed to remove the traces of stains and provide a more uniform appearance to the room. Keep in mind, however, that some carpets can't be dyed and a carpet can only be dyed darker, not lighter.

Preparing your home for sale, while still trying to keep wastage to a minimum can be easy! Just adhere to the principles of "reduce, reuse and recycle" for an environmentally responsible home staging.

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Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your next Montgomery County real estate purchase. Justin Lee will help you find the perfect home in Potomac MD.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/green-houses-gaining-momentum.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/green-houses-gaining-momentum.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Solar heating is one smart choice in a sunny area. You will always have hot water to hand and solar power can be transformed into other energy and stored for when you want to run different appliances.

It may be that many of these buyers are trying to help the environment, but one good side effect of going green, is that the running costs will be less once you have set yourself up to be operating an energy conscious home. Heating and cooling systems can account for up to a half of your total energy bill in a non-green home.

One place to read about how to save energy in your home is Energy Star, the government's on line site. Their many tips point out which energy is being wasted and where and how to avoid it. The on line site offers advice and free booklets to send for, and gives dozens of pointers on how to live green and how to build green.

One of the sites on Energy Star give you the top ten tips for finding a good contractor in your area, if you want to build a 'green' house or have a radical make-over.

Of course, there are other small ways that you can save energy and money in your pocket. One of their recommendations is that you stop buying the old-fashioned light bulbs and start buying the new compact fluorescent light bulbs.

These are expensive to buy at first, but on the cost of one light bulb, you can save up to $30 over the lifetime of one light bulb. If you live in a hot climate, you may be pleased to know that they put out less heat, so will also keep your air conditioning costs down. This is a very small change for you to make, yet it does save your cash and the environment.

The local governments and/or the federal government offer a selection of rebates to try and encourage people to become more energy conscious in their homes.

These grants, or one time rebates, can cover several different areas of green living. For instance, if your own state does not offer incentives for you to buy an efficient wood stove or furnace, you may be able to get one from the federal government.

The amount of the grant does not cover the cost of buying a new stove, however, it can save several hundred dollars from the price.

If your are planning to buy a home and have it built for you, remember that many builders will add your requirements in at the end, so therefore it is often easy to ask for preferred green options in a newly built house.

There is also a scheme that is run through the Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Under this scheme you can use green building materials and designs and qualify for a green mortgage. You can even get mortgage help from these people if you are only planning to renovate, as long as you will be using green techniques and ideas.

If you want to find out more ideas about how to incorporate environmental considerations into the design, you will get some input from the green site at the National Association of Home Builders (NAH). Their site also includes such simple pointers as planting trees that let light into the home in the winter, and give shade in the hot summers, as well as tips on water conservation, and other reminders.

Some of the luxuries in a home which are not so 'sustainable' are being changed - gradually. For instance granite counter -tops are still fashionable, but buyers will often choose the look alike's made from engineered stone. These are lighter and have not used up large amounts of gas being carted around the country.

Similar 'swaps' are made with hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets. Bamboo is widely used nowadays in homes by people who prefer to use sustainable resources. Bamboo wood flooring looks like hard oak wood floors but it grows in one tenth the time of an oak tree!

Another popular flooring is cork, which feels warmer and softer than ceramic tiles and is also a sustainable source. A bathroom with cork walls and cork flooring always feels warmer due to the slight 'insulating' properties of cork.

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Justin Lee is an expert servicing the Montgomery County MD real estate market. If you are looking for Cabin John real estate, Justin is a professional who can go to work for you.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/new-market-trends-to-floor-you.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/new-market-trends-to-floor-you.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Lighter toned floors do have their advantages, of course, one of them being that instant 'lift' of lightness and brightness that permeates the room. Another is that they might raise the value of shares in floor cleaning products! Yes, there is no doubt about it, paler floors need more upkeep and so is the extra maintenance worth it?

A spokesman for BuildDirect who has just returned from this year's "Surfaces" trade show said that the lighter influence which was from the European designs was 'everywhere'. However, this does not mean that flooring manufacturers are suggesting that we all switch to light oak wood!

There were many new innovative ideas on display that could be adapted to all types of flooring. Perhaps do-it-yourselfers could even adapt their present flooring to imitate some of the new looks that were on display.

This may not be too difficult because some of the most popular looks that were demonstrated at the exhibition showed flooring that had a faded or distressed appearance. Of course some of us had trendy floors without even knowing it as we already had this distressed look!

But on a more serious note, whether the flooring was of ceramic tile, wood or vinyl, the latest trade show exhibited all of these mediums in light colors, or faded colors. Some of the finishes had a gray-washed effect or a white-washed look, reminiscent of the old scrubbed floors of a farmhouse.

For those unfamiliar with the look of white-washed floors, it means that there is almost a dusting of gray or white color over top of the wood, but that the wood is still visible beneath.

In the old kitchens the wood would already have faded to a weathered gray color, and the left-over whitewash that was applied to the outside brickwork was often watered down and slopped over the floor to 'freshen it up' each spring.

Laminate floorings will be following the market trend and anticipate the early launching of new products to meet the expected demand. Wood grain porcelain tiles are also becoming popular and they are easier to maintain than real wood tiles.

The whole idea of flooring is changing as more and more people are becoming more adventurous and even applying flooring to the walls and ceilings! The introduction of light weight products such as cork and bamboo has meant that it can be applied anywhere.

Stone is also being used on the wall and slate flooring and porcelain are often used on walls, behind fireplaces and stoves and on chimneys. Applying cork to the walls in any room is a mild form of insulation as cork will hold the warmth in a room. It has often been used on office walls and offers one large cork board on which to pin up memos!

Newly built homes are the ones where the latest in market trends first appear, so with the expectation of this new look of white-washed or gray-washed floors, should we anticipate that the minimalist look may disappear?

White or gray 'washed' floors are reminiscent of the old country farmhouses in Provence, France. There the large wooden table in the middle of the room is scrubbed daily and matches the bleached look of the wooden floor. Does this mean that the French country kitchen look will be creeping back?

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Justin Lee is an expert servicing the Montgomery County real estate market and surrounding areas. If you are looking for Gaithersburg real estate, Justin is a professional who can go to work for you.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/quick-home-sales-in-maryland.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/quick-home-sales-in-maryland.html Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The process of preparing a home for sale is as complicated as the seller wants it to be. There are any number of things that can be changed in a home to increase its value. From new floors to new appliances, from something as minute as new towel racks to something as major as a whole new bathroom, the possibilities are endless. The trick is to be able to look at the home and discern what is necessary and what is not. Many home owners have found out the hard way that the changed they made were good but did not properly address the needs of the average home buyer. extravagant design changes may make the home look better but what about the functionality of the existing rooms? The home must be livable; no matter how good it looks it will be hard to sell if the basic necessities of life are ignored. For instance: putting in new appliances is always a good idea. Home buyers like to see shiny new appliances in the kitchen. Let them know that they are all warrantied and in proper working order.

Try to look at your home with a detached and independent viewpoint. Think about the negative things that a buyer will notice if they view your home. Buyers are picky and rightfully so as they will be spending a big chunk of money on a home. You would likely be just as picky when purchasing your new home right? so, what would you replace? Make a list and work them off before listing your home and don't hesitate to ask your realtor for advice during this process. Their expertise in home selling is a huge asset.

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Justin Lee is a real estate agent specializing in Montgomery County real estate. Justin's background in economics gives him uncanny insight into the thriving Washington D.C. real estate market. For more information contact Justin soon or visit online at www.jdlrealestateonline.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/living-in-the-dc.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/living-in-the-dc.html Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Montgomery County is one of the most highly educated counties in the country with 29.2% of the population over 25 holding advanced degrees of some kind. This is partially due to the excellent education system that is in place in this area, and the high priority places on education by the government's need for highly skilled researchers and workers. Campuses such as Johns Hopkins University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institute of Health are all headquartered here and provide an excellent opportunity for students to discover a career in the research and medical fields.

There is also a thriving home industry in this county with some of the more stunning homes reaching prices around $5 million. However there are more economical home choices starting around the mid to low $100k's. Despite being adjacent to one of the busier economic centers in the Nation, Montgomery County is a quiet and secluded area that is perfect for raising a family or simply finding that special home that is close to everything. This area is a natural choice for people employed within the Washington D.C. area who want a bit of peace and quite and to be a little removed from the bustle of city life.

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Justin Lee is a real estate agent specializing in Montgomery County real estate. Justin's background in economics gives him uncanny insight into the thriving Washington D.C. real estate market. For more information contact Justin soon or visit online at www.jdlrealestateonline.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>