Lori Blank & Associates

09

Oct

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Home Selling Tips

Tips On Passing Your Home Inspection With Flying Colors

Home inspections are a tense time for everyone. Sellers are fervently hoping that nothing major is wrong with their home that could hold up the transaction. Buyers are eager to hear that their new house is in prime condition. Whatever the wishes, one thing is for sure; any news from an inspector is usually bad news. Home inspectors have a tough job. They have to be trained to spot hundreds of potential issues with a home and be knowledgeable of local codes, community restrictions and residential permit parameters. Stay one step ahead of your home inspector by reading the list…

08

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Home Buyer Tips

City Lights Or Starlit Nights, Which Home Location Will You Choose?

If you are looking to buy a home, you might be wondering whether you should be looking for properties that are right in the center of the city or whether a better option would be to buy a property on the outskirts or in a rural area a short drive away. The rural or urban decision will ultimately be up to you, as there are advantages and disadvantages to either option. The main difference will lie in your priorities – what type of lifestyle is most important to you? Living In The City One of the main perks of buying…

07

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 7, 2013

This week's economic news commentary has been dominated by the "what ifs" of a government shutdown; opinions of potential consequences are limited only by the number of commentators sharing their opinions. Unfortunately, more concrete examples of the shutdown were evident last Tuesday and Friday. The Department of Commerce delayed release of August's Construction Spending report that were due last Tuesday and The Bureau of Labor Statistics delayed the release of September's Non-farm Payroll and Unemployment that were due last Friday. The ADP Employment report for September posted a reading of 166,000 private sector jobs added against expectations of 180,000 new…

04

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Do Fence Me In, Here Are A Few Good Yard Fencing Options

Whether you just got a puppy, have newly mobile children or built a pool, there are a multitude of reasons for wanting to keep people and animals in your yard, while preventing other from entering. Picking the perfect fence can be difficult, so below we've outlined the main fencing materials to choose from and characteristics to consider about each. Wood Wood seems to be the most common material used in yards across the country — especially when wanting privacy. Depending on the type of wood you purchase, you'll probably want to stain the planks to protect them from rot and…

03

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Home Selling Tips

Which Additions Really Add Value To Your Home?

When you own a home, there are additions that you can make to the property that will improve the value of your home. For example, a newly renovated kitchen or bathroom is a popular choice that will really make the home more desirable to buyers. Also, adding storage space or a well-thought-out family room or other practical space can be a very good investment that will bring up the home's value. However, there are other projects that are not really worth your time or money and will allow very little opportunity to recover your costs when it is time to…

02

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Mortgage Tips

How Does An Interest-Only Mortgage Work?

When you have been researching your different options for a mortgage on your home, you might have heard of an "Interest-Only Mortgage". What exactly does this type of mortgage mean and how does it work? Usually when you take out a loan, you must pay back the capital debt (the amount you borrowed) and the interest on that debt. An interest-only mortgage offers a cheaper option for purchasing a property, because you will only be making payments on the interest and not the capital. Compared to a repayment style mortgage where you are paying down the principle of the loan,…

01

Oct

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

How To Interview An Architect When Building A New Home

Making the decision to build a home might be one of the biggest you make in your life. You've found the perfect plot of land and have a vision of what type of home you want, but you need someone to bring your dream to life. That means it's time to start interviewing architects. Hiring an architect isn't as simple as just calling up a few and seeing who might have the time. You'll want to ensure you choose a professional that understands your design aesthetic, communicates well, can design on budget and has an upstanding reputation. Below are a…

30

Sep

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week-September 30, 2013

Last week brought a variety of housing related news. Highlights included the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index for July, which showed a 12.40 percent year-over-year increase in national home prices. This was up from 12.10 percent in June. The FHFA Housing Price Index reading traces home prices on properties securing mortgages owned or backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The year-over-year reading for July showed an increase of 8.80 percent as compared to a year-over-year reading of 7.80 percent in June. Rising mortgage rates and rising home prices have caused some buyers to leave the market, while others are jumping…

27

Sep

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Before And After Tips When Dealing With A Disaster

Weather patterns across the United States seem to be getting more and more erratic. From tornadoes and earthquakes to flash floods and wild fires, there are many natural disasters that can quickly consume your home without warning. Because you never know when disaster might strike, it’s best to be prepared. Disaster insurance is the only precaution you can put in place to ensure compensation for your belongings and get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Below are the tips to take before misfortune strikes. Create An Inventory Most insurance agencies prefer if you include photographs of every…

26

Sep

By Lori Blank

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Home Buyer Tips

4 Quick Tips On Becoming A Young Real Estate Investor

Investing in property at a young age seems like a bit of a daunting prospect sometimes. Most young people don't have a lot of disposable income, often have poor credit and perhaps even student loans. When you are in your early 20s, you are not likely thinking about investing in property and are probably focusing on other things. However, investing in property at a young age can bring you a lot of advantages. It requires a different approach and style and you might be the only one of your peers who is doing so, but you will definitely reap the benefits…