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Category Archives: Real Estate
Bennion Deville Homes Going Independent
Established, successful Southern California real estate brokerage leaving Windermere
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – September 30, 2015 – Bob Bennion and Bob Deville, founders and co-owners of one of the largest residential real estate franchisee brokerages in Southern California, Windermere Real Estate Southern California, are going independent starting October 1, 2015. The departure from the franchise network along with the company’s name and branding reflects an enhanced focus on the company’s ongoing growth strategy.
Both Windermere Real Estate SoCal, in San Diego and Orange counties, and Windermere Real Estate Southern California, in the Coachella Valley, will be operating under a new brand: Bennion Deville Homes. The 29-office real estate company debuted the brokerage’s innovative branding in a companywide meeting to more than 1,000 agents on Thursday, September 24. The company also announced cutting edge marketing and technology tools that will be debuting on BDHomes.com, the company’s new website, over the coming months … read more —> www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/
How EF Ratings Affect Home Water Heaters
April 16, 2015, the minimum Energy Factor (EF) ratings for virtually all residential water heaters increased. An EF rating measures the annual efficiency of a water heater – a higher EF means a more efficient water heater. Manufacturers will no longer produce units that do not meet the new standards. Products manufactured prior to April 16, 2015 can continue to be purchased and installed.
What is the new regulation for 20-55 gallon water heaters?
Both gas and electric water heaters between 20-55 gallons will have more insulation. This means they could be up to 2 inches taller and wider. If water heaters get bigger, then some units might not fit in current installation sites. (e.g. small closet)
What is the new regulation for water heaters over 55 gallons?
Both gas and electric water heaters will have unique installation requirements. Gas water heaters over 55 gallons will use a new condensing technology. Electric water heaters over 55 gallons will be required to use heat pump technology, which calls for the installation of a condensate disposal line, and the provision of sufficient air volume to accommodate the heat source, which may prevent installation in smaller spaces.
courtesy of: http://www.homecarebuzz.com/
Pros and Cons of Alternative Countertops
Looking for something more unique than granite in your kitchen and bathrooms? These beautiful alternatives are sure to make a statement.
Wood
The Pros
Wood is readily available, sustainable, comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes, and is fairly affordable.
The Cons
Natural finishes require oiling and you must also be vigilant to keep the surface dry.
Marble
The Pros
Softer stone than granite, easier to cut and work with, heat resistant, durable, sustainable, and beautiful.
The Cons
Easily scratched and stained.
Soapstone
The Pros
Durable, dense, ages well, and cost effective.
The Cons
Rough texture, requires maintenance, and doesn’t come in a wide range of colors.
Quartz
The Pros
Extremely durable and very scratch, stain, and heat resistant.
The Cons
Can discolor over time if in direct sunlight, may not look as seamless as granite when covering a large space since they are usually manufactured in pre-determined sizes.
Ceramic Tile
The Pros
Heat resistant, comes in every color imaginable.
The Cons
Grout can become easily stained, counter surface is uneven, and tiles can often crack.
Concrete
The Pros
Very durable if sealed, heat resistant, and a wide variety of textures.
The Cons
Can be easily stained with water or heat damage if not stained, not many color options, can seem outdated.
Glass
The Pros
Heat, stain, and germ resistant, and very customizable.
The Cons
Can chip or break depending on tempering, may show fingerprints.
Stainless Steel
The Pros
Heat and germ resistant, modern.
The Cons
Will show scratches and fingerprints, can be very noisy.
courtesy of: http://www.homecarebuzz.com/
Dancing On The Ceiling – Toronto, Canada
FICO Scores and Mortgage Interest Rates
If you want to take advantage of today’s low interest rates, you must qualify for your rates with attractive credit scores. High credit scores are earned through on-time credit payments, carefully managing debt, and keeping accounts in good standing, among other means.
Back in the 1980s, The Fair Isaac Company developed software that issues credit scores, a number that indicates your level of creditworthiness based on data gathered from creditors, landlords, tax bases, student loan lenders, and child support agencies, savings institutions, lack of credit and much more.
All three credit-reporting bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax use the software to determine your credit “FICO” score. It’s possible to have three different credit scores because the credit bureaus either have inconsistent data about you or they weigh your data a little differently.
Credit scores are a major short-hand tool bankers use to manage risk. They want to learn how much credit you use and how wisely, your debt-to-income, and if you have any defaults, liens, bankruptcies, judgments, etc. They look at your monthly obligations such as child support or alimony.
According to MyFICO.com, FICO scores range from 300 to 850, the higher the better.
- Payment History — 35%
- Total Amounts Owed — 30%
- Length of Credit History — 15%
- New Credit — 10%
- Type of Credit in Use — 10%
When you apply for a mortgage, the bank uses your social security number to look up your credit reports and scores. They base their decision to lend to you, plus how much interest they charge you, on your scores.
The best loan rates go to the borrowers with the best credit histories. As you can see from the FICO break-down, that most banks will be most interested in how much you owe and whether you pay on time.
You can get a loan with lower scores, but expect banks to require more money down, and to lower the amount they’ll loan you on a home so you can keep your debt-to-income ratio lower. And, they’ll charge you higher interest rates.
Rates that are advertised are typically for a benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. These low-appearing rates are given to only the most credit-worthy homebuyers. What that means is that the rate is only available to those whose credit scores are high. High scores indicate high levels of responsibility, making the borrower a better candidate for a loan.
So if you want the best interest rate, take good care of your credit.
courtesy of: http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/mortgageadvice1
Now This Is A Re-purposed Home!
The St. Nicholas Church was old and abandoned, sitting on a plot of land in Kyloe, Northumberland [England]. For years, the church remained in poor condition. It was built in the 1790s. The yard is full of headstones. Considering these facts, you’d never know this historic church keeps a gorgeous secret inside.
After one couple fell in love with the church, they decided to buy it and move in. They restored key elements, like the vaulted ceilings and original stained glass windows, and they invested time and money to maintain the structure while re-adapting the interior to give it a modern home atmosphere.
The exterior remains intact, except for skylights running the length of the roof. Original stained glass windows throughout and repurposed church fixtures abound, and much of the original seating in the church was refinished and placed throughout the home. And unused wood and building materials were fashioned into a dramatic staircase leading from the main living space to an upper-level library.
While making a home out of an old church may sound crazy to many people, this couple managed to save the structure from deterioration and create something beautiful in the process.
SEE INSIDE —> Amazing Renovation at St. Nicholas Church
Leading Economic Indicators, July 2015
August 31, 2015 — The USD Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County fell 0.4 percent in July. Five of the six components in the Index were down, led by big drops in initial claims for unemployment insurance and help wanted advertising. Down more moderately was consumer confidence and the outlook for the national economy. Building permits were also negative, but only slightly so. The only positive component was local stock prices, which were up strongly in July.
July’s decrease broke a string of thirteen consecutive monthly increases in the USD Index. Although the increase in the Index had slowed in recent months, the decline was unexpected as a couple of recently strong components (building permits and the outlook for the national economy) turned negative. Despite the drop and despite concern that five of the six components were negative, the outlook for positive growth in the local economy remains unchanged for now. Economists look for three consecutive changes in a leading index as a signal of a turning point in an economy, so the months ahead are critical. The numbers for the local economy remain good at this moment, with the unemployment rate at 5 percent and year-over-year job growth approaching 50,000. But there is concern about the deterioration of the labor market components in the Index (see below), and these need to be watched carefully in the months ahead, particularly in light of the recently announced layoffs at Qualcomm.
| Index of Leading Economic Indicators
The index for San Diego County that includes the components listed below (July) Source: USD Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate |
-0.4% |
| Building Permits
Residential units authorized by building permits in San Diego County (July) Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
-0.09% |
| Unemployment Insurance
Initial claims for unemployment insurance in San Diego County, inverted (July) Source: Employment Development Department |
-1.38% |
| Stock Prices
San Diego Stock Exchange Index (July) Source: San Diego Daily Transcript |
+1.23% |
|
Consumer Confidence An index of consumer confidence in San Diego County , estimated (July) Source: The Conference Board |
-0.51% |
| Help Wanted Advertising
An index of online help wanted advertising in San Diego (July) Source: The Conference Board |
-1.03% |
| National Economy
Index of Leading Economic Indicators (July) Source: The Conference Board |
-0.48% |
Highlights: Although the decline in residential units authorized by building permits was minor, it broke a string of six consecutive monthly increases in the component, with all six of those increases being significant. This drop was due to permits for only 207 multi-family units being authorized in July, which is the lowest number for any month this year. . . After turning negative for the first time in months in June, both labor market components accelerated their moves to the downside in July. Initial claims for unemployment insurance jumped above the 16,000 mark for the first time since last August, while help wanted advertising hit its lowest level since October. This has not been reflected yet in the local labor market, where seasonally adjusted local unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in July. This was up compared to the 4.8 percent rate in June but down a lot from the 6.5 percent rate in July 2014. . . Local stock prices did well in July, matching the performance of the broader market averages. Local stocks had run counter to the broader averages the last two months. With the recent turmoil in the markets, though, this component is likely to turn negative for August. . . Sentiment among consumers continues to fall, with local consumer confidence dropping for the third consecutive month, with the trend being more negative with each month. . . The national Index of Leading Economic Indicators dropped for the first time since February. As was the case with building permits, the drop came even though the component had been up strongly in recent months. Similar to the local Index, it remains to be seen whether this is a one month aberration or whether this signals a negative turning point for the national economy. GDP growth for the second quarter was strong, with the “second” estimate coming in at a higher than expected 3.7 percent annualized rate. This compares to the “advance” estimate of 2.3 percent and a growth rate of 0.6 percent in the first quarter.
July’s increase puts the USD Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County at 139.6, down from June’s reading of 140.1. There were revisions in the previously reported values of the Index for March and April and in the changes in the Index for March and May.
Index % Change
2014
JUL 128.0 +0.3
AUG 128.3 +0.3
SEP 129.0 +0.5
OCT 129.7 +0.5
NOV 131.4 +1.3
DEC 132.4 +0.7
2015
JAN 134.2 +1.4
FEB 135.8 +1.2
MAR 137.7 +1.4
APR 138.9 +0.8
MAY 139.6 +0.5
JUN 140.1 +0.4
JUL 139.6 -0.4
For more information on the University of San Diego’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators, please contact:
Professor Alan Gin TEL: (858) 603-3873
School of Business Administration FAX: (858) 260-4891
University of San Diego E-mail: agin@sandiego.edu
5998 Alcalá Park Website: http://www.sandiego.edu/~agin/usdlei
San Diego, CA 92110 Twitter: @alanginusdsba
Secure Your Home With Cutting-Edge Technology While On a Budget
A burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds and a property crime every 3.5 seconds, according to the FBI. In addition, Safeguard the World reports that homes without security systems are up to 300 percent more likely to be broken into. Fortunately home security products and apps help deter burglars and stop them in their tracks. While an expensive home security system helps safeguard your home, there are other ways to stay safe without breaking the bank. Check out some of the best home security technology that can be controlled from your iPad no matter where you are.
iSmart Alarm
Check out iSmart Alarm for a robust home security system with no contracts or monthly fees. Motions sensors, iCameras and contact sensors alert you to activity in your home and record what’s going on. A smart switch controls your lights remotely with a schedule of your choice, and it can be used to turn appliances off and on while you’re away. You also can mix and match products or only order those that meet your home security needs.
Hue
Couple smart lighting with your home security system or devices. Philips’ Hue is designed with style in mind if you want to set a certain mood or even match the colors of a sunset right from your favorite photograph. Hue also secures your home by scheduling when lights go on and off and changing the colors remotely. Set a lighting schedule for different rooms to illuminate when you want and program them to come on automatically the moment someone walks up to your door. Potential intruders who see the unpredictable change in lighting will think someone’s there and move onto the next house.
Presence
Download the free Presence home security app to turn your smartphone into a live video feed. This is ideal when you just need to monitor your front door or specific room. The app alerts you when motion is detected and also has convenient two-way video and audio capabilities. You can talk directly to your kids who just got home from school while you’re still at work or even verbally confront an intruder even though you’re on the opposite side of the world. A burglar who’s taken by surprise when you tell him or her to leave and you’ve called the police is likely to flee and not come back.
August Smart Lock
Send a virtual key to guests, contractors or your children with the August Smart Lock. Especially useful for real estate agents, August Smart Lock offers encrypted locking technology that is scheduled to work when you need it. You can access a log record to see who entered right from your iPhone or iPad. And if your Wi-Fi goes down, the August Smart Lock still works with the use of a back-up battery.
Goji
Try Goji if you like the idea of the August smart lock but want additional features. Goji sends out virtual keys and unlocks your door whenever you program it to. Additionally, it sends picture alerts of visitors to your door and logs it into the system. Set a date and time for guests to access your home and use the on-call help if anything happens to your smartphone. Instead of getting locked out, Goji representatives can virtually unlock your door and cancel access for your lost or stolen phone.
Regardless of what home security apps and products you use to secure your home, don’t forget to employ old-fashioned techniques. Ask neighbors to keep flyers, newspapers and mail from littering your driveway and signaling your absence. Refrain from posting updates about going out of town on social media, and check your windows and doors to ensure locks are working properly.
courtesy of: http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice1/
Stucco Facts
If you’re looking for a home with Southwest or Tuscan character or want to give more personality than wood siding provides to your home, stucco is back and is stirring up the market.
In use for more than two millennia, plaster work, or stucco, has long been appreciated for its utility. With its sand and cement base, it’s highly durable, maintenance-free, fire-resistant, and provides insulation. It also offers a wide variety of textures, colors and finishes compared to a brick, stone or wood-sided home.
But stucco hasn’t always been held in high regard with home buyers and sellers. In the 1990s, some synthetic stucco put a crack in the material’s reputation in America. Complaints about material cracks and trapped moisture that rots wood helped promote one of the biggest housing scare of the ‘90s — mold and mildew.
Synthetic stucco was introduced n the 1980s to the American market- an import from Europe that had been tested for decades. Known as external insulation finish stucco or EIFS, synthetic stucco is more commonly applied to wood siding, with a layer of foam board insulation between it and the wall, where as European stucco is applied directly to the external brick and mortar of a house.
Problems with stucco can still arise in the multi-step process that it takes to apply to your home. Depending on the makings of your home’s exterior, either wood siding or brick, synthetic stucco is first applied either with or without paper insulation on a wire mesh skeleton. Next the home is coated with many layers of plaster, to ensure adequate distribution of the material on the surface. It comes to a final depth of about one inch. If these layers aren’t properly applied, they can cause cracking and water problems in your home.
Brick homes are typically fine with synthetic stucco, though cracks around windows and doors can be a problem with moisture being trapped and unable to escape, but it’s the synthetic stucco on wood that causes the most problems. According to edubook.com “numerous houses in the USA are suffering from wood rot, caused by their EIFS coating.”
Stucco can cause minor cracks in your home’s finish, so you should expect them. They are easily patched, and are part of the natural settling of any building structure.
If you’re thinking of buying a home with stucco, find out if the home is cement or synthetic stucco. If the home is synthetic stucco on wood, that doesn’t mean there’s a problem, but make sure that there is adequate flashing around the base of material, especially where it comes in contact with new or other material. The flashing directs water away from the base of the material and is an extra safeguard against moisture buildup and future migraines. Be sure to ask the seller for any moisture, mildew, or mold disclosures.
One of the easiest ways to tell cement stucco from the synthetic stuff is to simply go up and gently rap your fist on it- synthetic sounds hollow while the real stuff will give a robust thud as it is considerably more solid.
So when considering stucco, remember that it’s stood the test of time for ages, it looks good and keeps maintenance costs low.
Unique Architecture Around The World – New York, NY
Dancing On The Ceiling – London, England
Due Process – Your HOA’s, CCR’s and the Davis-Stirling Act
The Law. First, the Davis-Stirling Act is not just a guideline, it’s the law. It encompasses Civil Code sections 4000 through 6150. Violations by the board can result in lawsuits, fines, court orders and an award of attorneys’ fees. Second, your CC&Rs are not the law, they are recorded restrictions known as equitable servitudes. CC&Rs are high on the food chain but they’re a full step below the law.
Due Process. … However, before any penalties can be imposed, the law requires that you first be given 10 days written notice of the violation and a hearing date so you can defend yourselves. Once the board hears the evidence and makes a decision, it has 15 days to give you its written decision.
Fine Policy. Finally, the board cannot create penalties on the fly. The board must comply with the association’s written fine policy (which must be published annually). If they don’t have a fine schedule, they can’t levy fines or suspend privileges.
courtesy of: http://www.davis-stirling.com
Cube House
Cube House, Rotterdam, Holland:
(Image credit: documentingreality).
courtesy of: http://www.crookedbrains.net/
U.S. Home Sales Approach 8-1/2 Year High
U.S. home resales rose in June to their highest level in nearly 8-1/2 years, a sign of pent-up demand that should buoy the housing market recovery and likely keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates later this year.
The National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday existing home sales increased 3.2 percent to an annual rate of 5.49 million units, the highest level since February 2007.
“The economy really has the wind at its back now,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York.
Home resales this year are on track to record their biggest gain in eight years, the NAR said.
Economists had forecast sales rising to an annual rate of 5.40 million units last month. Sales were up 9.6 percent from a year ago.
June’s solid home sales report came on the heels of last week’s strong housing starts and building permits data. A tightening labor market is starting to push up wages, helping to boost demand for housing, especially among young adults.
But a tight supply of properties for sale remains a constraint. The string of strong housing reports indicate the economy continues to be on firmer footing despite a drop in retail sales and a slowdown in job growth last month.
read more —> http://www.reuters.com
Returning Equity Boosts Real Estate Markets
Real estate equity is making a comeback, according to a blog post by RealtyTrac. While the market has not made a full recovery yet, there’s evidence that the housing market has become more attractive in most metro areas.
According to the Federal Reserve, homeowner equity peaked in 2005 when the value of U.S. homes — market value less debt — equaled a rosy $13.1 trillion. Unfortunately things went downhill from there as a result of the financial crisis, by 2011 homeowner equity had fallen to $6.4 trillion and millions of American homeowners saw half their real estate equity disappear.
This was not just an academic matter. Without equity, borrowers could not refinance as rates fell and they couldn’t sell without bringing cash to closing. The alternatives were short sales, foreclosures, and staying in place. In the end, more than 7 million homes were lost to foreclosure.
Now the good news: Between 2011 and 2014 homeowner equity went from $6.4 trillion to $11.3 trillion. That’s an increase of $4.9 trillion. With any luck it’s not unreasonable to believe that equity as measured on a cash basis might return to 2005 levels in the next year or so.
More equity means more homeowner options. Qualified owners can now borrow against their homes, borrow more than a few years ago or do nothing and avoid additional debt.
Read more —> http://www.realtytrac.com/news/home-prices-and-sales/returning-equity-boosts-real-estate-markets/
Holding Title to Your Home & The Supreme Court Marriage Ruling
The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance and real estate settlement services industries, released the following statement recently following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in favor of same-sex marriages in Obergefell v. Hodges:
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges has a significant impact on property rights,” said Michelle Korsmo, ALTA’s chief executive officer. “Our nation provides numerous protections for married couples that own property. In addition, the Supreme Court’s opinion gives same-sex couples the ability to take title to real property as tenants by the entirety, which is the strongest way to hold title and is reserved for married couples.”
“Today’s decision helps eliminate confusion on determining property rights of same-sex couples who move to a state that previously did not recognize same-sex marriages,” Korsmo added.
courtesy of: http://alta.org/
Unique Architecture Around The World – Malaysia
Dancing On The Ceiling – Mexico City, Mexico
Common Myths About Credit Scores
1. Your credit score drops if you inquire about your credit. That is called a “soft pull” and has NO AFFECT. Inquiries by lenders could slightly lower your score.
2. You should close old or inactive accounts to help your score. This could shorten the measured duration of your credit history. BAD MOVE.
3. Paying off a negative record means that it is taken off your record. FALSE, it normally stays on seven years.
4. Co-signing doesn’t mean that you are responsible for the account. This is FALSE.
5. Making on-time rental, utility and cell phone payments helps the credit score. Not at this time as they are not considered; a bill has been submitted in Congress, but it is not moving.
6. Your credit score reflects changes or trends in your payment behavior. Credit scores are only a moment-in-time glimpse at consumer risk.
These answers are from an article in a California Assoc. of Realtor’s publication.
courtesy of: Duane Gomer Newsletter
6 Reasons to Reduce Your Home Price
While you’d like to get the best price for your home, consider our six reasons to reduce your home price. Home not selling? That could happen for a number of reasons you can’t control, like a unique home layout or having one of the few homes in the neighborhood without a garage. There is one factor you can control: your home price.
These six signs may be telling you it’s time to lower your price.
1. You’re drawing few lookers.
You get the most interest in your home right after you put it on the market because buyers want to catch a great new home before anybody else takes it. If your real estate agent reports there have been fewer buyers calling about and asking to tour your home than there have been for other homes in your area, that may be a sign buyers think it’s overpriced and are waiting for the price to fall before viewing it.
2. You’re drawing lots of lookers but have no offers.
If you’ve had 30 sets of potential buyers come through your home and not a single one has made an offer, something is off. What are other agents telling your agent about your home? An overly high price may be discouraging buyers from making an offer.
3. Your home’s been on the market longer than similar homes.
Ask your real estate agent about the average number of days it takes to sell a home in your market. If the answer is 30 and you’re pushing 45, your price may be affecting buyer interest. When a home sits on the market, buyers can begin to wonder if there’s something wrong with it, which can delay a sale even further. At least consider lowering your asking price.
4. You have a deadline.
If you’ve got to sell soon because of a job transfer or you’ve already purchased another home, it may be necessary to generate buyer interest by dropping your price so your home is a little lower priced than comparable homes in your area. Remember: It’s not how much money you need that determines the sale price of your home, it’s how much money a buyer is willing to spend.
5. You can’t make upgrades.
Maybe you’re plum out of cash and don’t have the funds to put fresh paint on the walls, clean the carpets, and add curb appeal. But the feedback your agent is reporting from buyers is that your home isn’t as well-appointed as similarly priced homes. When your home has been on the market longer than comparable homes in better condition, it’s time to accept that buyers expect to pay less for a home that doesn’t show as well as others.
6. The competition has changed.
If weeks go by with no offers, continue to check out the competition. What have comparable homes sold for and what’s still on the market? What new listings have been added since you listed your home for sale? If [up-to-date] comparable home sales or new listings show your price is too steep, consider a price reduction.
courtesy of: http://www.clientdirect.net/newsEdit.asp
7 Tips For Improving Your Credit
Here’s how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible. Getting the loan that suits your situation at the best possible price and terms makes homebuying easier and more affordable. Here are seven ways to boost your credit score so you can do just that.
1. Know your credit score
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher, the better. They’re based on whether you’ve paid personal loans, car loans, credit cards, and other debt in full and on time in the past. You’ll need a score of at least 620 to qualify for a home loan and 740 to get the best interest rates and terms.
You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the major credit-reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Access all three versions of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Review them to ensure the information is accurate.
2. Correct errors on your credit report
If you find mistakes on your credit report, write a letter to the credit-reporting agency explaining why you believe there’s an error. Send documents that support your case, and ask that the error be corrected or removed. Also write to the company, or debt collector, that reported the incorrect information to dispute the information, and ask to be copied on any materials sent to credit-reporting agencies.
3. Pay every bill on time
You may be surprised at the damage even a few late payments will have on your credit score. The easiest way to make a big difference in your credit score without altering your spending habits is to diligently pay all your bills on time. You’ll also save money because you’ll keep the money you’ve been spending on late fees. Credit card or mortgage companies probably won’t report minor late payments, those less than 30 days overdue, but you’ll still have to pay late fees.
4. Use credit carefully
Another good way to boost your credit score is to pay your credit card bills in full every month. If you can’t do that, pay as much over your required minimum payment as possible to begin whittling away the debt. Stop using your credit cards to keep your balances from increasing, and transfer balances from high-interest credit cards to lower-interest cards.
5. Take care with the length of your credit
Credit rating agencies also consider the length of your credit history. If you’ve had a credit card for a long time and managed it responsibly, that works in your favor. However, opening several new credit cards at once can lower the average age of your accounts, which pushes down your score. Likewise, closing credit card accounts lowers your available credit, so keep credit cards open even if you’re not using them.
6. Don’t use all the credit you’re offered
Credit scores are also based on how much credit you use compared with how much you’re offered. Using $1,000 of available credit will give you a lower score than having $1,000 of available credit and using $100 of it. Occasionally opening new lines of credit can boost your available credit, which also affects your score positively.
7. Be patient
It can take time for your credit score to climb once you’ve begun working to improve it. Keep at it because the more distance you put between your spotty payment history and your current good payment record, the less damage you’ll do to your credit score.
courtesy of: http://www.clientdirect.net/newsEdit.asp
12 Tips To Make Moving Stress-Free
Packing your belongings and moving is often fraught with high emotions and involves a to-do list a mile long. So, it’s tempting to give only passing attention to hiring a mover and the related incidental costs. That could be a mistake—for your wallet and your peace of mind. Moving can be quite expensive. A typical full-service interstate move costs about $4,300, while the same in-state move might cost about $2,500, according to the American Moving & Storage Association. And while the moving industry has many fine companies, it is notorious for fraud and dirty tactics by so-called rogue movers.
Here are 12 tips to make your move simple and avoid the hassle:
Choose a type of move: You have three basic choices: do-it-yourself, full service and a relatively new hybrid of the two. Going it alone is the cheapest alternative, costing the rental price of a truck, gasoline, packing materials and, perhaps, pizza and beer for friends you rope into helping. With full-service moves, moving within a state is charged by the hour, while moving across state lines is charged by weight and mileage.
With a hybrid move, a mover will drop off a large container at your home for you to pack. The mover will then load the container onto a truck, drive the belongings to your new location and drop off the container for you to unload. Because you’re doing the manual labor of packing and unpacking, it’s far less costly than a full-service move.
Hire a quality mover: If you hire help, get at least three price quotes and do your homework before selecting a mover. Seek recommendations by talking with family and friends, even your Facebook circle. Investigate a company’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), Yelp.com and possibly the paid-membership site Angie’s List (angieslist.com). Check a company’s complaint history at the federal government site, ProtectYourMove.gov.
“People think a good reputation equals expensive, but that’s not true,” said Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving in Los Angeles. “You don’t get a good reputation by overcharging people.”
Look for two things when hiring a moving company: A full-service mover should visit your home in person, not give a quote over the phone or online, and should provide a written estimate, experts say.
Declutter: No matter what type of move you’re making, taking less stuff is cheaper and less hassle. Set up a staging area, perhaps in a garage, with various piles, such as throw out, recycle, donate and sell.
For many items, use the rule of thumb, ‘If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably don’t need it.’
Be flexible: Like airline fares, moving rates depend on when you book. The busiest time for movers, and thus the most expensive time for consumers, is summer weekends near the 15th and 30th of the month.
If you have time flexibility, ask what rates would be for different days or seasons. If you have extreme flexibility, ask about moving standby: waiting until the mover has extra space and needs to fill a truck.
Save on boxes: Buying new boxes from a moving company is the most expensive choice. To save some money on packing materials, ask if you can buy used boxes from your moving company.
Cheaper yet is finding free boxes, ideally from somebody who just moved. Ask your real estate agent to connect you with other clients who recently moved or look on Craigslist.org. Specialty boxes, such as wardrobe boxes, might be cheaper to purchase at a do-it-yourself moving store, such as U-Haul, than from your mover.
Save on packing materials: If you’re packing your belongings yourself, fill suitcases, laundry baskets and plastic containers with unbreakable items. Use pillows, scarves and towels to wrap fragile belongings.
Mail books: If you have a large collection of books, pack them yourself and ship them at the postal media mail rate as it might be cheaper than paying a mover
Consider consolidation: For long-distance moves, ask about consolidating your stuff on a truck with other people’s as most homeowners can’t fill a full-size moving van. You might have to be flexible on delivery dates and times, but consolidation can be cheaper.
Insure it: Check your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to determine whether it provides coverage for your belongings while in transit. If not, you’ll probably want more than the basic free valuation coverage a full-service mover provides. The standard valuation is 60 cents per pound per item. That means breaking a 10-pound, $1,000 stereo system would net you $6. You’ll want full replacement-value insurance, which reimburses you what it will cost to replace broken items. But don’t necessarily buy that insurance from the moving company. Moving insurance is likely cheaper from a third party, but be aware that you probably cannot get insurance on boxes you packed yourself.
Be prepared: Plot out where furniture and boxes will go before moving day arrives. The less time movers spend rearranging, the less expensive it will be.
In urban areas, reserve a space or two in front of your new home for the moving truck by parking your own vehicle there ahead of time. If the movers have to park too far away to unload, you could incur a ‘long carry’ surcharge.
Stake your claim: If you’re moving for a job, negotiate the best relocation package you can. Unreimbursed expenses might be tax-deductible. For details, see Publication 521 Moving Expenses at IRS.gov.
Tip: Tipping each mover $3-$5 per hour is customary, said Stephen Coady, marketing manager for Gentle Giant Moving Co. in Somerville, Mass.
courtesy of: rismedia.com
Bizarre Houses – Crazy House
The Hang Nga Guesthouse, Dalat, Vietnam
(Flickr/TomRavenscroft)Also known as the “Crazy House,” this Gaudi-inspired attraction in Dalat, Vietnam features ladders, tunnels, and hollowed-out rooms within its concrete-treehouse structure, according to the New York Times. Also an actual guesthouse, visitors can go on a guided tour of the building and may even get to chat with the “eccentric” owner/proprietor and chief architect, Ms. Dang Viet Nga.
courtesy of: http://www.weather.com/home-garden/
CFPB To Delay Effective Date of New Mortgage Loan Docs
Slated to begin August 1, 2015, two new forms, a Loan Estimate and a Closing Disclosure, will replace the HUD-1 Settlement Statement, the Good Faith Estimate, and the Truth-in-Lending disclosure form.
“The CFPB will be issuing a proposed amendment to delay the effective date of the rule until October 1, 2015. We made this decision to correct an administrative error that we just discovered in meeting the requirements under federal law, which would have delayed the effective date of the rule by two weeks,” Cordary said.
“We further believe that the additional time included in the proposed effective date would better accommodate the interests of the many consumers and providers whose families will be busy with the transition to the new school year at that time.”
courtesy of: RealtorPeg, https://realtorpegsdblog.wordpress.com/
& Ivan Solis, Jr. Sr. Sales Executive, Title365, Ivan.Solis@Title365.com, 619.804.9000
San Diego with RealtorPeg 