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January 19, 2011 in Blog by admin
Short sales and long lasting candles
I recently saw a short sale listing come on the MLS at what seemed to be a very attractive price. I called the listing agent to find out why it was priced the way it was. I was told, “We are just trying to getan offer so the bank will start the negotiation process.” I am sure this Realtor had the best intentions, but unfortunately they are setting both the seller and the potential buyer up for lots of frustrations.
If you choose to write an offer on a short sale, make sure your Realtor does a market analysis on the home. If you were to write an offer on the above listing example, more than likely you would be inescrow for several months, only to find out the bank wants considerable more than your offer is written for.
Is there a secret? I am not sure I would call it a secret, but basic homework, common sense, a market analysis and “qualifying the listing agent” by your Realtor can make all the difference in the world.
Qualifying the listing agent? Yes, unfortunately many Realtors are attempting to do accomplish something they have never accomplished before. Have your Realtor “qualify” the listing agent. Your Realtor should ask the listing agent, “Have you completed a short sale in the past? Do you have a system in place?” Just get a feel for how knowledgeable they are about the short sale process. Based on theanswers, you and your Realtor can make an educated decision about moving forward with an offer, or not.Short sale process:Identify a home.Have your Realtor do a market analysis on the home.Find out how many loans are on the home.Qualify the listing agent.Write an offer, your offer price is very important.Offer is accepted by seller.Wait for bank to approve the sale.Pray. (If you don’t pray, light some long lasting candles)Month one will come and go.Pray some more. (Relight candles)Month two will come and go.Keep praying. (Relight candles again)Month three to month six, you should have an answer.Move on, if bank denies.Rejoice, if bank approves.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hang Drapes
Drapes will not only help block drafts, they'll add a nice layer of softness to your walls. Choose tightly woven fabrics with an insulated lining (often foam acrylic) for the most warmth, and hang them from ceiling to floor, which will maximize coverage and anchor the room, creating a pleasantly cocooning effect.Read more at Wholeliving.com
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Boise State breaks ground to start student housing project
by Jennifer GonzalezPublished: February 3,2011 Time posted: 12:00 pmTags: Boise State, ESI Construction, Oz Architects
Construction began Feb. 1 on the Lincoln Avenue student housing project that will provide Boise State University with additional housing for 360 students.
“Additional campus housing further develops the sense of citizenship we are building by placing students in the center of campus life,” Boise State President Bob Kustra said. “This housing community will allow a student to live on campus all four years, which studies show positively impacts student success.”
The project lines Lincoln Avenue south of the Lincoln Parking Garage. The 90 two-story townhouse style units offer a campus living option for upperclassmen. Expected completion date is January 2012.
State school officials recognize the importance of junior and senior students living on campus, but have not had the money to build more housing. The $15.8 million housing project, approved in January, is paid for with a combination of redirected bond proceeds, a result of savings from previous building projects and university and student housing reserves. The university will be repaid with student housing revenues.
Boise-based ESI Construction is general contractor for the project. Oz Architects of Denver is the architect.
The Lincoln housing project is Boise State’s dedicated to upperclass students. Demand for on-campus housing at Boise State continues to grow and the university has doubled its student housing capacity since 2004. About 2,300 students currently live on campus in six residence halls and a variety of suites/apartment complexes.
“To have a residential experience you have to have the right residential facilities,” said Jeff Hale, executive director of University Housing. “This is more than just a place where students will live. It completes the collegiate experience and enables students to better connect to resources like the library, campus recreation, the Student Union and health services.”
Each unit has four bedrooms and two baths and will offer students more space than is typically found in student housing. The initial 360-bed project that began today is part of a larger 874-bed design that may be completed at a later date.
The new housing option will help encourage juniors and seniors to continue to live on campus and be active members of a growing on-campus community, said Alexa Walker, student president of the University Housing Association.
“A four-year degree plan will now be matched with a four-year residential living plan for students,” Walker said.
Construction began Feb. 1 on the Lincoln Avenue student housing project that will provide Boise State University with additional housing for 360 students.
“Additional campus housing further develops the sense of citizenship we are building by placing students in the center of campus life,” Boise State President Bob Kustra said. “This housing community will allow a student to live on campus all four years, which studies show positively impacts student success.”
The project lines Lincoln Avenue south of the Lincoln Parking Garage. The 90 two-story townhouse style units offer a campus living option for upperclassmen. Expected completion date is January 2012.
State school officials recognize the importance of junior and senior students living on campus, but have not had the money to build more housing. The $15.8 million housing project, approved in January, is paid for with a combination of redirected bond proceeds, a result of savings from previous building projects and university and student housing reserves. The university will be repaid with student housing revenues.
Boise-based ESI Construction is general contractor for the project. Oz Architects of Denver is the architect.
The Lincoln housing project is Boise State’s dedicated to upperclass students. Demand for on-campus housing at Boise State continues to grow and the university has doubled its student housing capacity since 2004. About 2,300 students currently live on campus in six residence halls and a variety of suites/apartment complexes.
“To have a residential experience you have to have the right residential facilities,” said Jeff Hale, executive director of University Housing. “This is more than just a place where students will live. It completes the collegiate experience and enables students to better connect to resources like the library, campus recreation, the Student Union and health services.”
Each unit has four bedrooms and two baths and will offer students more space than is typically found in student housing. The initial 360-bed project that began today is part of a larger 874-bed design that may be completed at a later date.
The new housing option will help encourage juniors and seniors to continue to live on campus and be active members of a growing on-campus community, said Alexa Walker, student president of the University Housing Association.
“A four-year degree plan will now be matched with a four-year residential living plan for students,” Walker said.
Hot Design Trends
By Erica Christoffer, REALTOR® Magazine
A survey of 2,000 consumers conducted by Better Homes and Gardens found that buyers don’t want any “wasted space” in their next home. They are seeking more value for their dollar, said editorial director Jill Waage, who presented the study’s findings Thursday. Affordability remains a high priority as well as energy efficiency, which was ranked highest to 68 percent of the consumers polled.
“Consumers are once again dreaming about their next home as well as planning ways to make their current home reflect their personal style and needs,” said Waage. “They are also setting priorities and watching their wallets in the process.”
The top ranked living space features listed by consumers are a separate laundry room, additional storage space with walk in closets or build-ins, a home office or workspace, outdoor living areas, at least one bathroom with its own private bath, and everyday eating space in or close to the kitchen.
“Today’s family wants a hive area where they can move seamlessly from mealtime to tech time to game/entertainment/hobby time to homework time,” said Waage.
Kay Green of Kay Green Design echoed Waage’s findings in her International Builders’ Show presentation Friday. “People want more of a clean line look with contemporary interiors,” Green said. “Stainless steel continues to be popular.”
- Outdoor amenities such as grills, sinks, showers, and entertainment areas.
- Freestanding tubs with a separate stand-up shower in the bathroom.
- Color schemes – Earth tones, blues and blue greens, chocolate browns.
- International design influence, especially Asian design in both décor and functional products.
- Ceiling details accenting rooms within open floor plans.
- Media space for flat screen TVs and gaming systems, and living areas wired for technology.
- Organizational features, built-ins, and smart storage areas throughout the home.
- Universal design features incorporated in subtle ways.
- Artistic tile in kitchens and baths, often emulating organic patterns found in nature.
- Energy efficient products – washing machines, dish washers, toilets, and showerheads.
- LED lighting incorporated into sinks, showers, and medicine cabinets
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
$112,500 Home with a Shop in Caldwell, Id.
- $112,500
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2
- Full Baths: 2
- Living Area Size: 1,680
- Lot Size: 21344
- Heating Type: Forced Air
- Roof: Composition Shingle
- Appliances: Dishwasher, Oven, Washer
- HOA Fees: $300
- Year Built: 1998
- Parking Spaces: 2
- Description: NEW PAINT AND CARPET! 2 beds downstairs and 2 beds up. Lots of light in living room. Cozy stove in the living room. Great back yard w lots of mature trees. Cul-de-sac and close to freeway.GREAT SHOP/3RD GARAGE w/extra storage. Owner occ may qualify for 3% down loan. No MI/Appr. First 15 days of listing time reserved for owner occupants/NSP. AS IS. Seller will rekey at closing at buyer's expense for their protection. If you are looking for a home to buy and need a good Realtor - call Beccie @ 850-3062
Budget Bathroom Idea
Personal Touches
Katie created the display shelf by removing the door of an old, shallow built-in cabinet. She painted the border and shelves black and decorated the back with coordinating scrapbook papers. To add even more flair to the area, she drew a simple design on the wall and painted it with black acrylic paint.
Storage Central
Katie credits her successful bathroom makeover to adding sparkle and color to stock items. To personalize the white storage cabinet above the toilet, she painted the knobs black and decorated each door with scrapbook paper.
Wall Wonders
Katie hand-drew designs on the wall above the beaded board wainscoting for a whimsical touch. White picture frames add visual interest to the painted leafy bough.
Editor's Tip: To prevent the papers from warping in the moist bathroom environment, coat doors and paper with a paper sealer.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
By the Author of Small Changes, Dynamic Results! Feng Shui for the Western World
Welcome to the wonderful world of Feng Shui and my series on Feng Shui Room by Room.
Last week we covered the Foyer area of the home and the week before that we looked at the Entryway to the Home. This week we will talk about Feng Shui for the living room.
Living Rooms
Living rooms are considered more Yin spaces (see my article on Yin and Yang for the Home) where we want to relax and rejuvenate. They should be calming places with muted colors, more tactile fabrics with soft, comfy furniture.
Place the Main Pieces of Furniture in the Empowered Position
In every room that we spend time in we want to make sure that we face the main pieces of furniture, such as the sofa and bigger chairs, in the empowered position. This is where it is facing the main entrance but not positioned directly in alignment with it. You will find that people will instinctively sit on the furniture placed in the empowered position first. We naturally feel more comfortable and safe when we can see the action and don’t have activities going on behind us.
If you cannot move the sofa in this position because of room limitations, create a faux wall behind it. This can be done by placing a sofa table behind the sofa with tall lamps and plants on it, or by placing taller screens or trees behind. A mirror placed in such a way that you can see the entrance from the sofa will provide a greater sense of protection and comfort when you have to sit with your back to the door. You can always place the smaller chairs with their backs to the entry. The room will look silly with everything lined up in a row, but try to make sure the key pieces are in the best place for easy viewing.
Televisions should ideally be disguised in an Armour or entertainment center. This is the room often use for rest and relaxation and when televisions are the prominent piece of furniture it is tempting to have them on all the time. The more we can balance our television watching with reading, listening to music or other more creative activities, the more balanced we will feel in our lives. You can also cover them up with an attractive shawl when not in use. For rooms with huge wide screen televisions, I encourage my clients to get a CD or DVD that is like a screen saver. There are wonderful fish tank and fireplace scenes you can purchase that will change it from a black hole when it is off, to a lively interesting scene, attracting chi and balancing that part of the room.Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/feng-shui-for-living-rooms.html#ixzz1C5CU9Nk9
Living rooms are considered more Yin spaces (see my article on Yin and Yang for the Home) where we want to relax and rejuvenate. They should be calming places with muted colors, more tactile fabrics with soft, comfy furniture.
Place the Main Pieces of Furniture in the Empowered Position
In every room that we spend time in we want to make sure that we face the main pieces of furniture, such as the sofa and bigger chairs, in the empowered position. This is where it is facing the main entrance but not positioned directly in alignment with it. You will find that people will instinctively sit on the furniture placed in the empowered position first. We naturally feel more comfortable and safe when we can see the action and don’t have activities going on behind us.
If you cannot move the sofa in this position because of room limitations, create a faux wall behind it. This can be done by placing a sofa table behind the sofa with tall lamps and plants on it, or by placing taller screens or trees behind. A mirror placed in such a way that you can see the entrance from the sofa will provide a greater sense of protection and comfort when you have to sit with your back to the door. You can always place the smaller chairs with their backs to the entry. The room will look silly with everything lined up in a row, but try to make sure the key pieces are in the best place for easy viewing.
Televisions should ideally be disguised in an Armour or entertainment center. This is the room often use for rest and relaxation and when televisions are the prominent piece of furniture it is tempting to have them on all the time. The more we can balance our television watching with reading, listening to music or other more creative activities, the more balanced we will feel in our lives. You can also cover them up with an attractive shawl when not in use. For rooms with huge wide screen televisions, I encourage my clients to get a CD or DVD that is like a screen saver. There are wonderful fish tank and fireplace scenes you can purchase that will change it from a black hole when it is off, to a lively interesting scene, attracting chi and balancing that part of the room.Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/feng-shui-for-living-rooms.html#ixzz1C5CU9Nk9
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