·:[ The Judy Niemeyer Team Blog ]:·
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Just as fashion styles and automobile designs vary with time, so do house features most desired by potential home buyers. Current surveys concerning home trends indicate an emphasis on open space, use and function, size, design, and environment. The majority of these topics involve changes that go beyond the scope of home improvement projects and require actual remodeling of your Mobile Eastern Shore home.

Floor Plan

Probably having the greatest impact on a potential buyer is your floor plan. Open spaces which make the living area appear large, airy, and unobstructed are most desirable. Flexible floor plans feature an eat-in kitchen which opens up into the dining and family rooms, thus allowing for family togetherness and ease of entertaining. To achieve this sense of space and unity, you should provide multiple accesses to the kitchen and ensure an unobstructed line of sight and a practical traffic flow. Here are specific suggestions regarding these layouts.

While buyers are no longer clamoring for extremely large homes with excess square footage, they do insist on functional areas with both specific and multiple uses. Home offices are still in demand, but several smaller work stations spread throughout your Mobile Eastern Shore home are also in vogue. Dual office/bedrooms, large and plentiful storage spaces, and a children’s retreat for study and recreation have become popular, as have entertainment centers such as a bar, a home theater, or an exercise room. Of primary importance is the idea that no space is wasted and that the need for both privacy and togetherness has been considered throughout your home.

Going Green

In keeping with the “greening” of real estate, rooms which bring the outside in are valued by buyers. This effect can be achieved by a large expanse of windows overlooking gardens, a pool, or inviting landscaping and by carefully selecting eco-friendly paints. These should reflect the soothing colors of nature–from pastels to earth tones.

Of equal importance to a potential buyer of your Mobile Eastern Shore home are features which bring the inside outside. Today’s buyers want to extend their “open” atmosphere to a yard which has spaces, furniture, and equipment designated for specific uses–an outdoor cook/dining area, for example, a reading/relaxation corner, a children’s activity space, or a conversation area grouped around a fire pit.

Trends

You may also want to consider generational home buying trends as you plan your remodeling. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), both young buyers and the over 50 set are “driving the demand for smaller, smarter homes designed to function more efficiently with no wasted space and plenty of room for storage.” The Boomers desire “high-tech features, an open floor plan, and spaces to enjoy outdoor living.” (NABH Builders’ Magazine, July 2009, “Brave New World.”)

What’s your Mobile Eastern Shore home worth?

There may come a time when, after exploring all your real estate options for the future, you decide that you really don’t want to sell your Mobile Eastern Shore home and that you’d rather “age in place.” In that case, you should investigate applying for a reverse mortgage, also known as home equity conversion mortgage (HECM). As with any program or plan that is financially based, there are many pros and cons to be considered before you make a final decision.

Eligibility: you must be at least 62 years of age, own your own home (or have a very low balance that can be paid off), and be living in it as your primary residence. Your Mobile Eastern Shore home must meet FHA property standards, and you must provide on-going maintenance and pay property taxes, association dues, and insurance. In addition, you must also agree to attend an information counseling session

Amount: Factors used to determine the amount of your eligibility include your age, interest rates, and the value of your home. Most reverse mortgages provide you with a monthly payment. The are online websites that allow you to calculate/estimate the amount. Go to www.AARP.com, www.USAReverseMortgageAdvisor.com, or www.ReverseMortgageGuides.org for assistance.

Advantages: As stated in Gilbert’s Guide, a reverse mortgage includes these advantages:

• Reverse mortgages for seniors can be set up as a monthly payment, line of credit or a lump sum—whatever works best.
• No matter how the reverse mortgage is set up, the home owner does not make any monthly payments.
• No monthly payment is due from the home owner unless he or she dies, moves or sells the home. At that time, the loan is due in full, plus interest and fees.
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To sell or not to sell? That is a question with which many seniors are wrestling these days. One the one hand, older homeowners are faced with rising maintenance costs, personal physical constraints, a desire to live a more carefree and less complicated lifestyle, a realistic look at future needs, such as being near public transportation and/or quality health care, and living in a “too-large” home. On the other hand, they are reluctant to leave a neighborhood where they are known and respected, move further from friends and family, consider downsizing and parting with treasured items, and undertaking the seemingly overwhelming job of emptying one home and setting up another. In addition, they don’t want to give up the security or the memories tied to their current home.

A knowledgeable and understanding real estate agent who is familiar with the needs and desires of the 55+ set, combined with the services of an attorney who specializes in both real estate and estate planning and an accountant who deals with senior tax implications, can be invaluable to you in looking at all aspects of selling your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate and helping you determine what is best for you. Senior Expert Margie Behr also advises that you think about taking out a home equity loan before you put your house on the market and that you involve your whole family in the decision-making process.

Deciding to Sell

If you do decide to sell, BankRate.com cautions you to first get a written market analysis and a financial evaluation which will help you and your team of advisors address the realities of the market, your investments, and tax objectives.

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To sell or not to sell? That is a question with which many seniors are wrestling these days. One the one hand, older homeowners are faced with rising maintenance costs, personal physical constraints, a desire to live a more carefree and less complicated lifestyle, a realistic look at future needs, such as being near public transportation and/or quality health care, and living in a “too-large” home. On the other hand, they are reluctant to leave a neighborhood where they are known and respected, move further from friends and family, consider downsizing and parting with treasured items, and undertaking the seemingly overwhelming job of emptying one home and setting up another. In addition, they don’t want to give up the security or the memories tied to their current home.

A knowledgeable and understanding real estate agent who is familiar with the needs and desires of the 55+ set, combined with the services of an attorney who specializes in both real estate and estate planning and an accountant who deals with senior tax implications, can be invaluable to you in looking at all aspects of selling your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate and helping you determine what is best for you. Senior Expert Margie Behr also advises that you think about taking out a home equity loan before you put your house on the market and that you involve your whole family in the decision-making process.

If you do decide to sell, BankRate.com cautions you to first get a written market analysis and a financial evaluation which will help you and your team of advisors address the realities of the market, your investments, and tax objectives.

Once underway in the selling process, you‘ll have to prepare your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for showing to potential buyers. That includes removing, storing, or giving away some large furnishing, heirlooms, or collections, and making your home as “clutter-free“ as possible. If this task looms too large for you to deal with by yourself, your real estate agent can provide you with qualified, responsible people who will make the burden much lighter. Remember that a well-maintained property with plenty of open space makes the house seem larger and shows off its assets.

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As every Mobile Eastern Shore home owner knows, property insurance is a necessity. The cost of adequate insurance may seem daunting initially, but there are certain steps you can take to reduce your costs to a reasonable level.

1. Shop around for the best value. Check online for quotes from at least three reputable agencies. Be aware that some companies offer a discount of 30% to 40% if you buy online. Other possible discounts can result from insuring both the home and the contents or by insuring your home and your car with the same firm.

Also know the replacement value of your home, taking into consideration any unique features that will be expensive to replace. Keep in mind probable inflation increases at renewal time. Does your insurer automatically adjust your coverage or do you have to request the change?

2. Make periodic updates to your Mobile Eastern Shore home or property. Ways to reduce insurance costs include the following:

A) replacing the existing heating system to one which is safer and more cost-efficient.

B) keep plumbing in good working order and protect it from freezing

C) replace fuses. Inspectors are looking for circuit breakers and a safe wiring system

D) install fire detectors or even a central alarm system. Be sure to keep a record of all repairs/replacements and inform your insurance company of each one.

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The home improvement trend appears to have gained momentum in recent months, be it in simple upgrades or major remodeling. Owners of Mobile Eastern Shore real estate are rapidly joining the ranks of do-it-yourselfers, hirers of handymen and specialists, or clients of architects and general contractors. Which of these categories best describes you depends on your time, ability, and motivation; the complexity of the job; approval/certification required by local authorities; financial considerations; and the availability of reputable help.

Improvement Decisions

After you have identified the improvement desired and the level of expertise required to do the job, your next step is to find the appropriate worker. If that person is you, there are many sources to assist you. Businesses such as Home Depot, Lowes, and carpet/tile retailers often give free “how to” clinics in the evenings or on weekends and have helpful handouts to guide you. There are also innumerable web sites for the novice to advanced do-it-yourselfer which provide, articles, diagrams, videos, advice from professionals, and step-by-step instructions for a myriad of fix-ups or upgrades ranging from hooking up an icemaker tore facing kitchen cabinets to laying floors and constructing a patio. Some helpful sites are DYInetwork.com, DYIAdvice.com, HomeandGardenAdvice.com, and HomeImprovements-and-Financing.com.

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The federal governments’ Section 203 (k) program is designed for the rehabilitation and improvement of single family properties and is viewed as a tool for neighborhood revitalization and expanding home ownership. In the past, when a Mobile Eastern Shore real estate buyer wanted to purchase a home in need of repair or modernization, he/she had to first obtain financing to finance the dwelling and then find additional financing to do the rehabilitation work. With the 203 (k) plan, however, the buyer can get just one mortgage–at a long-term fixed or adjustable rate–to finance both the purchase and the repair of the property.

USES AND APPLICATIONS: This program can be used in various ways:

1. To purchase a home and its land for rehabilitation

2. To purchase a dwelling at one site and move it to another mortgaged property for rehabilitation

3. To refinance existing secured loans on a home for rehabilitation

4. To convert a one-family dwelling to a two, three, or four family residence OR

5. To convert a multi-family dwelling to a one-family home.

ELIGIBILITY:

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In addition to the demands of current Mobile Eastern Shore home buyers for environmentally-friendly, or green real estate, there is also a growing segment of consumers who are looking for houses which incorporate the principles of feng shui. An ancient Chinese practice, feng shui is believed to improve one’s life through the use of color, location and positioning, and specific materials and objects, all of which combine to produce a positive energy, or chi, in your home.

The primary focus of feng shui is the positive flow of energy, which contributes to the creation of harmony in life. Integral components of the philosophy are the five elements of fire, earth, water, metal, and wood, and each of these is enhanced by color selection and use in your Mobile Eastern Shore home as follows:

• FIRE – Passion and high energy. These strong colors include red, orange, purple, pink, and bright yellow.
  
• EARTH – Nourishment and Stability. Beige and various earthy sand colors.
  
• WATER – Ease, freshness, and abundance. Blue and Black
  
• METAL – Clarity and preciseness. Grey and white
  
• WOOD – Health and Vitality. Brown and Green

Other feng shui principles to follow include:

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Many of today’s buyers in the market for a Mobile Eastern Shore home are looking for one that is eco-friendly. They want a house that is energy-efficient and combats detriments to the environment. Listed below are some relative easy to do and cost-efficient ways you can appeal to potential eco-conscious buyers.

1. Insulate. Insulate. Insulate. Use pipe insulators to keep hot water hot for a longer time and a hot water heater blanket ($10.00 to $20.00) to both prevent temperature loss and reduce the amount of electricity/gas needed to maintain the water temperature. Be aware that the further heat or air conditioning has to travel, the greater the temperature loss. Insulating your heating and cooling ducts can prevent up to 60% of this loss. Remember that even a small area of inadequate or damaged insulation can greatly reduce efficiency.

2. Reduce heating/cooling expenses. Replace or clean all filters on a regular basis to reduce inefficiency. Eliminate all sources of drafts by checking windows, doors, electrical outlets, fireplaces, and attic floors for leaks (even small cracks lead to energy loss) and by using caulking or weather stripping to seal them. In addition, for a cost of $200 to $400, you can run a blower door test to discover the main, and many times hidden, sources of energy leaks in your home.

It is also important to schedule a HVAC cleaning/checkup every two years and to investigate the need for a programmable thermostat to save energy while you sleep or are away from home. If your windows, aging appliances, furnace, or hot water heater needs to be replaced, you should certainly consider purchasing ENERGY STAR products to save 10% to 30% of the usual operating costs.

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You are selling your Mobile Eastern Shore home and the first Open House only a week away. The house is filled with clutter and things you don’t want to throw away. But the clutter is not appealing to potential Mobile Eastern Shore home buyers. What do you? Here are staging tips for an Open House.

Staging Tips For Your Mobile Eastern Shore Open House

1. Remove the clutter.

Having a garage sale is out when removing clutter because the Open House is only a week away. You don’t want to stuff the garage or closets to the gills either. One solution is to rent an off-site storage facility or stack boxes neatly in a basement or crawlspace.

2. Stage each room.

The first thing to do is clean from top to bottom. Make sure windows and light fixtures shine and are in working order. If the room is crowded, put some furniture in the storage facility. Finally, pick a focal point that will attract buyers when they see the room. For example, the focal point of a bedroom is usually the bed, and for a music room, it’s the piano.

3. Use the rule of three.

First, remove everything from counters and table tops, including coffee tables and side tables. Then re-accessorize using the rule of three…using 3 items of varying heights. For example, on an end table you can place a lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).

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