Find an extended amount of information with over 30,000 entries on everything Real Estate.
http://www.realestatewiki.com/
Follow the link to a multi-function renovation calculator. It can calculate totals for an entire renovation project or costs for one project or room. A very helpful tool if you're currently considering a major renovation or finishing up a remaining project. Check it out below.
http://besthouseflip.com/renovationcalculator.htm
Here's a great article for tips on how a bit of housework can help boost your property appeal to buyers.
http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/52-tips-to-make-your-home-irresistible-to-buyers/
You may want to consider selling your home “As Is” under the following selling conditions:
--You have never actually “occupied” the property as it is an estate sale or you have rented it for an extended period of time and have no real knowledge as to the condition of the roof, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical or appliances.
--You need to sell the property quickly for financial reasons and are willing to price below current market value.
--You do not have the money to “fix up” the property prior to putting it on the market.
--You have negotiated a final purchase price for the property with the Buyer that you know is an exceptional “deal” for them even in the current challenging real estate market.
--You are living in another state or another country.
Source: http://sarasotahomes4sale.com/Blog-_As_Is_Sellers.html
In recent years, the emergence of induction powered stovetops may prove to be a worthy competitor for traditional gas and electric stoves.
"The induction stove is similar looking to an electric stove, however an induction stove is centered around a powerful magnetic copper coil, which creates a high-frequency electromagnetic field when electricity is turned on. Put a pot made of a magnetic material - like iron or steel - onto that field and the energy gets transferred to it in the form of heat. Nothing else gets hot, only the pot, and you can adjust the field and the heat with the knob.
Some key points about the Induction Stove:
It's faster and more precise. Because the unit heats up instantaneously and uses more of the energy, you can boil a quart of water on an induction cooktop in just over two minutes.
It's safer. Since the heat goes straight into the pot without escaping to the cooking surface, you can touch the element even when it's on, a nice safeguard for those with small children at home.
It's easier to clean. A common frustration with electric smoothtops is that bits of food become stubborn blemishes once they cook on. Because the induction unit stays cool, drips wipe right up.
You need certain pots and pans. Only cookware that's magnetic (ferrous) conducts the energy.
You can't get the whole package. Right now induction is available mainly in cooktops, and that can make installation difficult. Only one full range (meaning oven included) has come out so far."
Source:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/03/technology/power_induction.moneymag/index.htm?section=money_realestate
"Project Lifeline is the new relief plan that grants a 30-day grace period to homeowners facing foreclosure proceedings. Critics say the plan is for banks, not homeowners."
"In mid February, six major lenders (Bank of America, Citigroup, Countrywide Financial, JPMorgan Chase, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo) voluntarily agreed to an initiative known as Project Lifeline.
Less than a week after the announcement was made, the rest of the lenders in the Hope Now Alliance jumped on the bandwagon. Members of the Alliance include nearly 90 percent of the subprime servicing market and nearly 70 percent of the entire mortgage servicing market.
Although Project Lifeline has been adopted by most U.S. servicers, it will not be extended to all borrowers. The lifeline is aimed at severely distressed borrowers only. Homeowners who are less than 90 days past due will not even be considered.
Furthermore, Project Lifeline is more of a statement of intent than an actual program. All it really does is freeze foreclosure proceedings for 30 days to buy homeowners a little more time to work out their mortgage problems. It is not a workout plan, but a delay that allows borrowers more time to sell, refinance or engage in some type of loan modification program.
It is also worth noting the 30 day freeze is not automatic. All lenders are agreeing to do is initiate contact with borrowers. Homeowners who respond may or may not be considered for the 30-day reprieve. It’s up to the lender to decide who gets it and who doesn’t."
"Not surprisingly, Project Lifeline has been heavily criticized for being a stall tactic for banks versus an actual lifeline for people who are drowning in mortgage debt.
Some of the banks who have voluntarily agreed to this are so capital impaired that they can’t afford to eat the loans and just let borrowers walk away from an appreciating asset. In other words, it is the banks that desperately need a lifeline.
There is also some question as to whether or not the Project Lifeline gesture is just for show. Although lenders have been foreclosing, most have been willing to sit on a bad loan a lot longer than they normally would.
Terry Francisco, a spokesperson for Bank of America, has admitted that Project Lifeline would have little impact on what the bank was already doing to help borrowers. Francisco said the real goal of the initiative is to make the borrower process 'easy to understand.'"
Source: http://iamfacingforeclosure.com/blog/2008/02/25/project-lifeline-a-lifeline-for-you-or-a-lifeline-for-banks/
I've recently Stumbled Upon a site called ApartmentRatings.com in which you can research and review apartments from around the United States.
As the site boasts, you can "Find out what tenants say BEFORE you sign a lease" with their database of over 657,000 ratings of apartments nationwide. This can be extremely useful to anyone moving out to a new city and equally helpful if you decide to rate your current apartment complex.
