Obama promises lower mortgage costs, new loans

President Barack Obama promises to lower mortgage costs, offer job-creating loans for small businesses, get credit flowing and rein in free-spending executives as he readies a new road map for spending billions from the second installment of the financial rescue plan. Republicans also offer a plan to set up fixed-rate 4% loans designed to increase housing demands and lending.

You can read the complete article online:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-31-obama-economy_N.htm

Remodel or Move?

Do you need more space? Are you thinking about remodeling your home, or is it time to make a move?

For many people, this can be a difficult decision. Once you’ve been in a house for a few years, you can get attached to your home and your neighborhood. It’s where you know the stores, the parks, the theaters, and the best commute to work. If you have children, they may love their school. So what can you do?

Consider remodeling if you love your house and neighborhood, have the room and budget to expand on your existing property, and can potentially realize a profit on the remodel. For a major remodel, also consider that you may need to move out to avoid exposure to dust and construction chemicals.

Finally, remodeling almost always takes more time and costs more money than you may have estimated. So make sure you budget realistically.

If remodeling isn’t a good choice for your family, moving to a different neighborhood may have many advantages, including the opportunity to buy a larger or newer house, live closer to desirable schools or businesses, or shorten your commute time.

If you’re interested in seeing what is currently available on the market in your price range, please don’t hesitate to email or call me.

February Events…

February 2^nd is Groundhog Day!! Will the ground hog see his shadow? According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

The month of February has other notable days:

• National Wear Red Day to support women’s heart disease awareness (February 6^th),
• Valentine’s Day (February 14^th),
• President’s Day (February 16^th)
• Mardi Gras (February 24^th)

Pricing is Key

According to a recent report, nearly two-thirds of potential buyers use the Internet to refine their home search. Broker Web sites let buyers browse by house size, style, area, and price. If you are considering selling your home, pricing is key.

Because many buyers look only at those homes within their price range, it’s more important than ever to accurately price your home for the market. The higher the home’s price above market, the fewer the number of interested buyers, and the longer it will take to sell.

The key to selling your home quickly with the greatest return is to price it at market value right from the start. A fairly priced home will capitalize on the flurry of buyer interest your home enjoys during its first few weeks on the market.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if I can answer your questions or help with a home evaluation.

Spend Less Time Commuting

One of the quickest ways to spend less time traveling to and from your workplace is to work from home, or telecommute!

To maximize your productivity when working at home, you can set up a home office, creating a protected environment away from normal household distractions where you can concentrate on your work.

Here are some suggestions for setting up a successful home office:

• Create your office in an area away from the general household activities.
• Have enough electrical outlets to handle your computer, lights, printer, and so on.
• Make sure there is plenty of light.
• Install a phone jack for your business line.
• Get organized with filing cabinets, storage space, and bookshelves.
• Plan the space in your office to avoid tripping over electrical and phone cords.
• Include a sound system. Many experts believe that music encourages productivity.
• Keep track of all your home-related business expenses for possible tax deductions.

It’s no surprise that the number of people who want to telecommute continues to grow. Earning a good salary at a good job that allows you to work from the comfort of home does seem to be an ideal situation.

Annual Home Checkup

Once a year, it’s a good idea to give your home a checkup. Finding problems or potential problems in their early stages usually gives you the best chance to make repairs more easily and less expensively than if problems are allowed to worsen over time.

The kinds of things you’ll want to monitor in your home include:

• Gutters and downspouts: Inspect for leaf and debris buildup that can cause overflow problems.
• Paint: Make sure painted surfaces aren’t peeling or cracked, exposing wood to weather damage.
• Windows: Check the weatherproofing and caulking and replace cracked panes.
• Roof: Inspect tiles or shingles and flashing to prevent leaks; clean off any moss.
• Appliances: Check and replace frayed electrical cords, damaged plugs, and cracked or leaking hoses.

Proper care and maintenance will keep your home safe, attractive, and comfortable. Taking good care of your home helps reduce the need for expensive repairs and ensures that your home will command top dollar when you decide to sell.

Please don’t hesitate to email or call me if I can help you with any real estate needs or answer any questions for you.