If you have any questions about how home improvements affect the sale of your home please use the contact form to find multiple ways to get in touch with me.
Bankrate surveys mortgage experts each week to find out which direction they think rates will go over the next 30-45 days. Last week 75% of them saw mortgage rates going up. This week 50% think rates will increase and 50% think rates will decrease.
Here’s the latest numbers on interest rates for the week of November 7th - November 13th. This national survey was performed by Bankrate.com on Wednesday, November 9th.
One of the rooms that’s closest to the top of the list with people searching for a new home is the kitchen. The kitchen needs to wow the prospective buyer or at the least not be a detractor. This being said, when most sellers decide to spruce their place up or do some renovations, the kitchen is one of the main places to hit. The Remodeling Online figures from their 2004 Cost Versus Value Report show that doing a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 92.9% of the cost put into the project. If you choose to perform a major upscale kitchen remodel you’ll recoup 80.3% of the cost and with a major mid range kitchen remodel you’ll get back 79.4% of the money you put into the project. These numbers lead me to believe that if you’re remodeling to sell quickly, go with minor kitchen remodel due to the higher value added percentage. However, if you plan on staying in the house and enjoying your upgrades for awhile, go ahead and do the major remodeling project.
Here are a few other sources of information regarding kitchen remodeling:
The Kitchen Sells Your Home [Realty Baron]
Trade show reveals latest in kitchen design [RealEstateMate.com]
Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Remodeling Kitchens: Getting Started [Hometime]
I am a big believer in getting your finances in order before (or very, very early) you begin the house hunting process. Do your research about financing. Talk to mortgage professionals. Get copies of your credit reports. Getting the right mortgage and the best rate is so very important in home buying. To help, I found the beginning part of a seven part series on what to know before you start mortgage shopping.
Sign here. Now sign here. And here. Here. Three times on this one. Here, there, there. ARGGGHHHHHH. I’m not quoting anyone here, but I’m sure you’ve listened to this just about as many times as you’ve gone through a real estate closing. Even though a good, clean closing may only take 30 minutes or so, you’ll still leave with a cramped writing hand and the feeling that you need to go re-plant a forest. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Inman News initiated a campaign that just about every real estate, mortgage, and financing professional has been begging for. The campaign is known as the Paperless Crusade and will include these professionals plus others who will help bridge the gap between the mountainous use of paper at a real estate closing to a pain free (human and forest alike) paperless closing.
The Crusade will also include a Paperless Leadership Council, a group to meet regularly to discuss ideas, technological breakthroughs and quite possibly, legislation.
Here’s the latest numbers on interest rates for the week of October 31st - November 6th. This national survey was performed by Bankrate.com on Wednesday, November 2nd.
West Village, in Cobb County, hasn’t finished their first home yet, but they’re still looking to expand their boundaries.
The mixed use development is looking to purchase 5.6 additional acres of land to further grow the planned village community zoning category.
Originally approved in November 2004, West Village is a mixed use development currently under construction in Cobb County. Conveniently located in Smyrna in the I-285 / Oakdale Road corridor, West Village promises to be a community designed around the pedestrian. Residents and visitors will enjoy beautiful landscaping as they take peaceful walks and enjoy sidewalk dining within the community’s borders.
West Village will sit upon nearly 60 acres and include approximately 1,000 residences comprised of single family homes, townhomes and condo flats. Along with the homes, West Village will boast a community library, offices, restaraunts and retail outlets, making this a true live, work and play community.
If you have any questions regarding West Village or would like to learn more, please use the contact form to find a number of ways to contact me either electronically or via phone.
