NEW HOMEBUILDING GAME HOT DOWNLOAD IN COMPUTER WORLD

“Build-a-Lot” takes a player through a series of homebuilding challenges.  The game was created for Windows by HipSoft and came out last year with a possible upcoming sequel.

If you’re not a real estate tycoon in real life, you can give it a shot with “play” money, building supplies, a work crew and real estate to get started – plus development and cash flow goals to reach in a set time.  No engineering degree required.   Home repairs and taxes are added, but no market problems or foreclosures to worry about.

See The Charlotte Observer, dated July 6, 2008, Pg. 3F, Special Advertising Section, Real Estate Today at www.charlotte.com/realestate for more information about “Build-a-Lot.”

Some of the above information provided by Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register.

Please feel free to contact your Charlotte/Lake Norman agent at 704-617-0873 for more information or assistance.

THE MORTGAGE MAZE

Some people would rather walk on glass than face the prospect of applying for a mortgage.  “Scary” is how they would describe mountains of complicated, intimidating paperwork and navigating through the “mortgage maze.”

Their need and desire for a home for their children and their future hinges on obtaining a mortgage.  To that end, they are sometimes hasty in their mortgage choices - just to “get it over with.”

Authors, Julie Garton-Good, “All About Mortgages: Insider Tips to Finance Your Home”, and David Reed, “Mortgages 101: Quick Answers to Over 250 Critical Questions About Your Home Loan”, both agree that consumers must understand what they are signing up for considering the amount of money at stake.  They offer the following six common questions a first-time homebuyer should consider:

1. WHERE DO I START?
2. HOW DO I FIND A LENDER?
3. FOR WHAT KIND OF LOAN SHOULD I APPLY?
4. SHOULD I TAKE THE LOWEST INTEREST OR NOT?
5. WHAT’S A POINT?
6. WHAT IS PMI?

Please see The Charlotte Observer, dated July 6, 2008, Pgs. 1F and 2F, Special Advertising Section, Real Estate Today at www.charlotte.com/realestate for answers to the above questions and more.

Some of the above information provided by Mary Umberger, Chicago Tribune.

Please feel free to contact your Charlotte/Lake Norman agent at 704-617-0873 for more information or assistance. 

ACCREDITED BUYER REPRESENTATIVE (ABR) DESIGNATION

“The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded by the Real Estate BUYER’S AGENT Council (REBAC), an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, to real estate practitioners who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria.”

Some of the above information provided by Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Councel see www.rebac.net.

Please feel free to contact your Charlotte/Lake Norman Accredited Buyer Agent at 704-617-0873 for more information or assistance.

FIRST TIME  HOMEBUYERS

NEW HOUSING LAW PASSED.  THE TIME TO BUY IS NOW IF YOU NEED DOWN-PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.  DEADLINE – MUST HAVE LOAN APPROVAL BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2008.

For information on down-payment assistance see: www.ameridream.org

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS TAX CREDIT

On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed a major housing bill (Housing and Economic Recovery Act into law.  Included in this bill was a temporary tax credit for first-time homebuyers.  The $7500 credit will be available for the purchase of a principal residence on or after April 8, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. 

 See www.realtor.org/gapubic.nsf/pages/hr_3221_key_provisions?OpenDocuments for a chart, frequently asked questions, and answers.

Some of the above information provided by North Carolina Association of Realtors. 

Please feel free to contact your Charlotte/Lake Norman agent at 704-617-0873 for more information or assistance.

Check out these tips for preparing to sell your home in the Charlotte and Lake Norman areas.

A first impression is hard to overcome.  If the prospective buyer doesn’t like your home from the outside, they probably will not request to see it at all.  To get buyers in, you need to: Do some exterior maintenance – Clean up the yard – Add some pizzazz – GIVE IT CURB APPEAL! 

OUTSIDE MAINTENANCE   

• Clear gutters and downspouts.  Properly grade area under downspouts so rainwater flows away from your house.  Add downspout extensions, if necessary.
• Plantings should be away from foundation so that watering does not add to soil moisture around foundation.  Lawn sprinklers should not hit the house or area next to foundation.
• Ensure that landscaping around the foundation (sidewalks, patios, gardens, etc.) starts 8 inches down from the top of your foundation and slopes away from the home.  Failure to do so may cause moisture to build up at or around the foundation and promote the environment for mold growth.
• Keep mulch, dirt and other landscaping material away from veneer drainage system weep holes commonly found on masonry and stucco homes.  If the weep holes are blocked or clogged with debris, mold may form on the interior of the exterior walls.  The weep holes are found at the bottom of the finished veneer.
• Sidewalks, steps and exterior foundation cracks should be filled to bring up to date.
• Caulk around windows, doors, chimney/siding cavity, foundation and other common leakage areas, if necessary, to prevent moisture.
• Mow lawn and keep free of leaves, sticks and debris.
• Draw attention to your house by adding a flowering plant or two to the area around the front door.

Now that prospects see your house as spectacular on the outside, they will be excited to see what wonders lie beyond the front door.

INSIDE MAINTENANCE

• Clean everything in sight. No matter what physical codition the house is in it should be clean, tidy and uncluttered.  Make it neat.
• You want buyers to view your home as their potential home.  Put away family photos, sports trophies, collectable items, knick-knacks and souvenirs.   Store in a box or rented storage area.  Make it neat.
• Shampoo rugs and wax floors.
• Wash walls and remove all cobwebs from corners of rooms and closets.
• Wash windows and clean blinds or draperies.
• Repair small things – leaky faucets, missing tiles, broken screens.
• Replace all burned-out light bulbs.
• Properly insulate and ventilate attic.
• If you are a smoker, clean, prime and paint walls and ceilings thoroughly.  Refrain from smoking in house.
• Keep pet areas clean and odor free.
• Organize basement, test sump pump, and repair any water leaks.  Make it neat.
• Organize garage.  Clean floor.  Make it neat. 
• Did I mention – Make it neat. (Very important)

DAY OF SHOWING                 

• Before you leave, turn on all lights, open curtains, shutters, and blinds to let in as much light as possible. 
• Interior smell is very important.  Make sure the interior is free of any offensive odors.

A few showing extras:    

• Bake a batch of cookies and leave out for the potential buyers to eat.  This gives the house a “homey” smell.
• If your house is being shown on a particularly hot day, put a few bottled waters in an ice bucket.
• Put out a bowl of candy or mints (If doing any of the above, leave note stating you would like for the potential buyers to please enjoy while they look at your house.)
• Have soft music playing.
• Mild air freshener or potpourri (nothing strong or heavy) will make the house smell pleasant.
• NEVER USE LIGHTED CANDLES as they present a hazard for both you and the potential buyers.

(Some of the above information provided by Victor Glauberman, The HomeTeam Inspection Service, Charlotte, NC – Member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors)

 Please feel free to contact your Charlotte/Lake Norman agent at 704-617-0873 for more information or assistance.