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Monthly archives for March, 2010

Featured City: Riverview, FL

Mar30
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s featured city: Riverview, Florida!

Located near Brandon in Hillsborough County, Riverview is a Tampa suburb with easy access to I-75. Location alone makes it an ideal place to call home, as it’s not only 30 minutes from Tampa but also 50 minutes from Bradenton beaches, an hour from Disney and under three hours from the Kennedy Space Center.

Within Riverview, natural beauty abounds, from Lithia Springs State Park and Alafia River to the Gulf of Mexico’s fishing, surfing and water sports. Take your pick of golf courses, entertainment options and plenty of shopping and dining.

With its excellent location and amenities, Riverview is a perfect place to call home.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale in Riverview!

  • $249,900: 3 BDRM, 2 BA Upgraded Single-Family Home on Corner Lot
  • $225K: 6 BDRM, 2.5 BA Single-Family Home with Modern Kitchen
  • $178,500: 3 BDRM, 2.5 BA Like-New Single-Family Home
  • $160K: 2 BDRM, 1 BA Log Cabin
  • $88K: 2 BDRM, 1.5 BA Villa

Image Credit: shane_guy

Posted in Buying Tips, Regional Info - Tagged featured city, florida, profiled community, riverview, tampa
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Prepare Your Yard for Spring

Mar29
2010
1 Comment Written by Alicia

In springtime, while it’s easy to excuse yourself from yard work because of constant rainfalls or annoying allergies, you really should prepare your yard for the season, and for the one to follow, summer. If you wait too long, it could take longer for your grass to appear lush and weed-free, for your gardens to redevelop and for your fruit trees to produce.

And this is never more true than when you’re trying to sell. Now is the time to make your home—and its surroundings—look its best.

Here are steps to keep in mind:

  • Remove anything in your yard that doesn’t belong. That means raking dead, crumbled leaves that reappeared from under melted snow, picking up twigs and branches that snapped off of nearby trees, and disposing of any litter that blew into your yard from unknown sources.
  • Dethatch your lawn by using a rake to get rid of the layer of dead grass that has taken residency over your lawn. This is vital for your grass to receive the natural nutrients needed to grow. Also, if you use fertilizer or weed killer, it will not reach the lawn unless you remove this layer of thatch.
  • Lay a slow-release fertilizer on your lawn. This type of fertilizer will slowly release nutrients in your yard that will not cause the grass to grow before it’s ready. This way, even if Mother Nature decides to cover us with an April snowfall, your lawn will still be slowly working its way toward a green June.
  • Dig your lawn mower out of the shed or the corner of the garage and test it. Check for wear on the spark plugs, sharpen the blade, change the oil if needed, clean out old grass clippings and fill up the gas. If the mower is in need of repair, you have plenty of time to fix it. If not, it’ll be all ready for the first cut.
  • Scale back trees and bushes by trimming back limbs that are damaged or have grown beyond the rest. This will make room for the tree to grow faster and healthier. Keep branches out of your walkway and patio/porch area. Evenly trim bushes to look neatly manicured.
  • Now is the time to plant new foliage in the yard. Spring rain creates soft soil that makes digging as simple as ever. Plant new rose bushes, berry bushes or fruit trees now so that they have time to begin their spring growth.
  • While you should wait to plant and decorate with new perennials, you should pick them out now. Research the types of perennials available, find out which will grow in the sunlight and type of soil available in your yard, and plan a layout.
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged home selling, real estate tips, selling a house, spring
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Go Green With Your Hot Tub

Mar25
2010
1 Comment Written by Carrie

Remember this article about eco-friendly plumbing?

According to Mindfully.org, “the average [American’s] individual daily consumption of water is 159 gallons,” while people in other countries live off of a small 25 gallons. Americans use a lot of water by performing everyday activities like bathing, going to the bathroom, washing dishes, cleaning the house and doing laundry.

The article goes on to list several plumbing fixtures that will help you conserve water and energy inside your home. But did you know that you can conserve water and be more environmentally conscious when using your outdoor hot tub, as well? Here’s how:

Try a portable hot tub. Portable hot tubs are slightly smaller than heavy, mounted spas, so they hold less water. You won’t need to worry about draining excess amounts, and they require less energy to reach and maintain your desired temperature.

Use solar covers. Not using your hot tub? Keep it clean using a solar cover! It does double duty by holding in heat and keeping debris out of the water, which does the filter a favor, and you won’t need to put as many chemicals in the water to cleanse and purify it.

Opt for a 100% no-bypass filtration system. Looking for another way to keep the water clean longer? Find a hot tub that features a 100 % no-bypass filtration system in which all water passes through before it enters the spa. Some hot tubs also boast a special technology that uses a three-dimensional surface area in order to maximize filtration power to extend time between cleanings. Instead of draining the water every three months, as you would with most of your typical hot tub models, you may only have to do it twice a year!

Look for a hot tub that has an ozone system or ion purifier. Reduce the need to use harsh chemicals in order to clean your hot tub. A Fresh Water ozone system produces highly concentrated ozone bubbles in that neutralize contaminants on contact. A silvre ion purifier provides silver ions as a natural alternative to water care to limit the use of chemical sanitizers like chlorine.

Change the display temperature. Once the hot tub water reaches your desired temperature to the touch, try lowering the display temperature a degree or two. You won’t feel too much of a difference, but you will save energy. The less work your hot tub has to do, the less energy it produces.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged conserve water, eco-friendly, eco-friendly tips, environmentally safe, Fresh Water ozone system, Green Living, Home Improvement, hot tub, ion purifier, no-bypass filtration system, plumbing, solar cover, varying temperature
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5 Reasons to Buy a Home

Mar23
2010
1 Comment Written by Shanna

Long called The American Dream, home ownership is a privilege worth pursuing. There are a lot of reasons to choose to buy a home, especially right now:

  1. OWNERSHIP: Whether you rent or buy, you have to live somewhere, right? Buying your own home gives you pride of ownership, a sense of pride in what you’ve purchased, not to mention the peace of mind of no rent increases.
  2. LONG-TERM INVESTMENT: If you’re planning to settle down and put down roots in your city, buying a home is usually a smarter financial decision than renting. Think about it: At $1,000/month for 10 years, you will have put $10,000 into your housing, and you’ll have absolutely nothing to show for it. If you buy your home, however, you could have $10,000 in equity. Plus, over time, most properties appreciate in value, giving you even more increased equity.
  3. TAX BENEFITS: There are consideration tax benefits for owning a home. If you itemize, your mortgage interest is deductible, up to one million dollars. Also, if you have owned your principle residence for at least two of the last five years, when you sell it, you can keep up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) of the sale price, totally tax free.
  4. BUYERS’ MARKET: Because we are currently in a buyers’ market, there’s never been a better time to shop around. You’ll have plenty of properties to choose from and, most likely, they will be priced affordably.
  5. TAX CREDITS: Plus, one of the great perks of buying a home right now is that the government wants to make it easier for you. The current tax credits still provide significant financial savings, up to $8,000 in tax credits for first-time buyers, in addition to possible credits for existing home buyers.

Think you’re ready to take the plunge? Head over to BuyOwner.com to search through available properties!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a home, buying buy owner, real estate, should you buy a home, why buy a home
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Spring Clean Your Way to a Sale, Part 2

Mar22
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Spring means spring cleaning, especially when you’re selling a home.

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on spring-cleaning suggestions!

  • Depersonalize every room. The winter holidays tend to leave our home’s looking like a giant scrapbook. Enough time has passed to now recycle your saved stash of Hallmark cards, to organize the family photos into a photo album for the shelf and to store the newly framed photos into a box for your next house. You want the house to appear homey, but you also want the potential homebuyers to imagine themselves living there. That’s hard to do when your family and friend’s faces are smiling back at them. Instead, substitute your personal attributes with pictures of your house in other seasons, or with neutral photography or artwork.
  • Clear your kitchen counters of everything and give them a thorough cleaning with eco-friendly cleaners or just vinegar and water. Our kitchens tend to overfill with comfort foods during the winter months that most of us probably wouldn’t mind tossing now that tank top and shorts season is right around the corner! After you clean the counters, clean each individual appliance as you place them back where they belong back. Toss the stale cookies or leftover fruitcake that you just aren’t going to ever eat.
  • Disinfect everything. Using an eco-friendly spray cleaner or anti-bacterial wipes, clean all door handles, sink faucets, light switches, and any object that multiple hands grasp on an average day. Though this isn’t a visually obvious change, it’ll keep you and your family healthier during this potentially stressful time, and it won’t spread the germs of potential homebuyers that walk through your house.
  • Rid your home of all odors. Using a scentless cleaner, spray all of your carpeting, furniture, toys, throw rugs, pillows or anywhere that an odor could easily linger. Give your pets a thorough cleaning, wash all of your bedding and switch all of your towels for new, clean towels. Start taking the garbage out more often. Consider adding air fresheners as long as they don’t cause allergies and are not an overbearing scent.
  • Now that the seasonal work is complete, it’s time to return to the routine of dusting and vacuuming. Keep up with these chores on a weekly basis so that your house looks ready for whenever a potential homebuyer decides to pop in. Lift objects off of shelves and counters instead of dusting around them. Vacuum under objects too. Dust the top of fans and the blinds. Clean surfaces with eco-friendly cleaners. Scrub showers and toilets free of stains, even if they are just water spots. Wash the kitchen table after every meal. Make your house look as spotless as ever!

Not only will these spring cleaning suggestions help to make a positive impression on potential homebuyers, but they will also make your day-to-day living healthier and more pleasant while you wait for a sale. If you’re the type to need an excuse to clean, here it is.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged home ownership, selling a home, spring, spring clean
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Buy Now to Get the Tax Credit!

Mar19
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Home buyers, there’s still time to lock in a home purchase before the federal tax credit’s April 30 deadline. True, you won’t have several more months to look around, but you will have a pretty big incentive sweetening the deal if you don’t wait.

Here’s how to find and buy the home of your dreams fast.

1. GET PREQUALIFIED FOR A MORTGAGE.
No sense visiting homes if you can’t afford them. Getting prequalified for a mortgage lets you know exactly what you can or can’t afford to spend. Then you’re ready to search. Plus, this will make sellers more comfortable with accepting an offer from you, and it will make the process faster once your offer is accepted.

2. SEARCH ONLINE.
Hands down, the fastest way to find your next home is by researching listings online. Rather than spending days at a time touring different properties, you can point and click your way through hundreds of homes in one evening. Go to BuyOwner.com now to search for for-sale-by-owner residences in your price range!

3. NARROW DOWN RESULTS & GO VISIT.
After you’ve done your online research, looking at what’s available and comparing prices, narrow down the list of possibilities. Call Buy Owner sellers directly (eliminate the middle man by buying FSBO!) and schedule showings. When you visit, know what questions to ask, and know what you’re prepared to offer.

4. MAKE AN OFFER.
Because you’ve already been preapproved for a loan and because you’ve researched other for-sale properties, you are well-prepared to make an offer on a home. For more information on this step, see Buy Owner Blog article, “Making an Offer.”

And voila! Assuming the paperwork all goes through on time, you’re set to qualify for the tax credit, move into your new home and begin enjoying life in it!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying for sale by owner, federal tax credit, fsbo home buying, home buying, tax credit
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10 Tips for Spring Decorating

Mar19
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

It’s spring! What does that mean for your decorating?

Out with the old, dark, heavy and dreary, and in with the new, bright, light and cheery!

New seasonal decorating ideas are available every year, but the rule of thumb seems to stay the same, which is that home décor trends tend to follow those of clothing fashion. Therefore, for quick, trendy ideas, visit your favorite clothing shop to spot the fabrics, colors and patterns of this year’s spring line. Or, take advantage of these 10 ideas already laid out for you:

  1. The general idea behind decorating for spring is to rid your interior of access blankets, rugs, wintery decorations and heavy curtains that block the wind. Substitute these items with ample hardwood or tile flooring, vases filled with bright flowers and light, lacey curtains.
  2. Add brightness to every room with at least one pastel-colored accessory. This could include real or artificial flowers, a bright vase, a slipcover, pillow shams, curtains, tablecloths, artwork, picture frames, rugs or anything you prefer!
  3. Incorporate spring scents into your house. While one option is to just open the windows and let the aromas of rain and renewed grass float in, allergies might cause you to choose a different option, such as scented candles and air fresheners. Choose scents like rain, honeysuckle, lilac or lavender.
  4. To avoid allergic reactions to flowers, decorate your stairway railing or fireplace mantel with bundles or tissue paper flowers. These are easy to make, emit an artsy ambiance, come in any color and cause no allergic reactions!
  5. Choose a color scheme for your décor, such as aqua and peach, or yellow, orange and lime green, and then decorate with an abundance of different patterns that match your choice of colors. This Bohemian-style of décor adds visual interest.
  6. Start saving empty water bottles, soda cans or milk cartons to use as planting pots. Stylize these containers with brightly colored stickers, paint or lace. Fill them with dirt and add an assortment of herbs, vegetables or flowers. Place them on windowsills until it is warm enough to replant them outside.
  7. Decorate the outdoors by hanging a colorful spring wreath, an Easter bunny or a brightly colored bow to the outside of your front door. Dig the outdoor furniture out of the shed, clean and place back on the porch. Hang attractive bird houses and feeders in the trees. Hang a spring flag, such as the logo of a baseball team.
  8. Purchase some spring magazines with themes such as gardening, spring cleaning, healthy eating and getting into shape. These magazines tend to display bright, cheery colors that every guest will want to pick up and read.
  9. According to fashion experts, the color for 2010 is turquoise. Use this color liberally to decorate your interior. It pairs well with yellows, browns and pinks. Looking ahead to summer 2010, start decorating now with gold, bronze and other warm, metallic colors.
  10. As far as patterns, fashion experts boldly state that patterns are in, whether they are floral, striped or abstract. Other fashion statements to be seen this spring include oversized bows, sheer and see-through fabrics, futuristic/metallic accessories, leather, metal, military and tribal patterns and more. Basically, anything goes this spring.

To read our spring decorating tips from 2009, which could also work for 2010, click here.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged home decorating, home ownership, paint, seasonal, spring
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WSJ: The Forecast This Spring

Mar18
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the forecast for real estate this spring is not a bleak one:

“After polling builder communities in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Texas and California’s Inland Empire, Ticonderoga Securities Analyst Stephen East says the spring home-selling scene is coming along nicely.

‘The season is indeed under way despite being delayed a bit by bad weather,’ he writes in a client note. What’s more, ‘while the market is benefiting from the tax credit, it is also showing distinct signs of normalizing.‘”

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas - Tagged home selling, real estate, selling, spring, wall street journal
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Avoiding (Home) Buyer’s Remorse

Mar16
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

You’ve found the perfect home, or so you think.

Imagine searching endlessly for that one place where you feel warm and comfortable. After weeks, months, years even, you fall in love with a beautiful house and sign your name on the dotted line. However, a few months go by and you’re feeling empty and unsure of your decision. You’re feeling home buyer’s remorse.

Buying a home is a big commitment. In many cases, it is a lifelong commitment. And just as you would with any life-changing decision, when it comes to buying real estate, you need to weigh the pros and cons and consider all of your wants and needs before agreeing to any contracts. Otherwise, you may find yourself stuck in a house you don’t even like.

You may be thinking, “Where do I begin?” Whether you are thinking of buying a condo, a townhome or a single-family home, we’re here to get you started with two easy-to-follow checklists:

  • Home Buying Checklist: Condo/Townhome
  • Home Buying Checklist: Single-Family Home

Feel free to customize them to your own personality, adding or subtracting anything you may or may not need. Buying a home should not be a rash decision. Take your time, do your research and figure out what you truly want before you make any commitments.

Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, there are a few extra measures you should take to ensure you won’t regret your decision:

Be absolutely sure you can afford it. Do you have enough for a down payment? Have you been pre-approved for a loan? Does your monthly payment fit into your budget? Answer all these questions before making an offer. Analyze your financial situation carefully so you know what you can and cannot afford.

Ask questions during closing. After you’ve had a home inspection, if any problems arise, ask the seller the necessary questions before closing the deal. Will they make any repairs? Will they give you an allowance to fix things yourself? If you’re unsure about anything, speak up before you finalize the purchase.

Stand by your choice. Just because someone else has an opinion on the selling price, the location or the current condition of your home, it doesn’t mean they are right. Perhaps they don’t know the market of the neighborhood you’re in, and maybe they live in an area where houses cost less (or more).

Don’t look at other houses. Once you’ve purchased your dream home, stop looking. You may come across another property that you like a lot more, but you will have already made a commitment to your current property. Be happy with your choice and embrace your new home.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged avoiding home buyer's remorse, Buying Tips, checklist, closing costs, condo, contract, home inspection, single-family home, townhome
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Spring Clean Your Way to a Sale, Part 1

Mar15
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Once the winter weather finally dwindles off, we’re all thinking the same thing: it’s time for spring cleaning.

Now is when you scrub the floors clean of muddy slush from the bottom of your boots, sweep away the lasting remnants of pine needles from the Christmas tree and store away the overabundance of scarves, hats, coats and mittens.

Though spring cleaning is a smart choice for all homeowners or renters, it is increasingly important for those trying to sell their house. No potential homebuyer wants to walk into a dirty, cluttered and dreary home. While you should be constantly keeping up with housecleaning year-round, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the spring cleaning cliché and really give your house a spotless appearance.

We at the Buy Owner Blog feel that the importance of this topic is worth two posts, so here are some helpful suggestions on where to start your spring cleaning in Part 1!

  • Start with the outside front entry. This is the first part of the house that potential homebuyers really focus on and judge while they wait to enter the home. Use a hose or powerwasher to clean the home’s siding, driveway, walkway and front door. Repaint the front door, siding that has chipped, the address numbers, the mailbox and anything that’ll spruce up the appearance. Cut back branches that have grown out of control or that stretch into the walkway space.
  • Thoroughly clean all of your light fixtures inside and outside of the house, such as plastic coverings and lampshades. Depending on how fragile they are, some can be placed in the dishwasher for a quick and easy clean. Wash all of the windows, and wash or dust off the curtains and blinds. You want your house to look its brightest!
  • Shampoo your carpeting and scrub your floors clean of leftover winter residue. You’d be amazed at how much dirt accumulates in these areas, even if you routinely vacuum and sweep. It’s worth the extra cost of hiring someone to professionally clean your carpeting if it displays any noticeable stains, or if you own pets.
  • Repaint the interior walls. To save money, choose to repaint only the rooms that visually need it or that haven’t been painted in the longest time. Repainting is the most affordable way to brighten, upgrade and modernize your house all at the same time, and repainting forces you to remove all the objects in that room. By doing so, it’ll be easier to declutter and remove unnecessary items.
  • Declutter every room. Though this is one of the most dreaded steps of house cleaning, it is one of the most important steps for home sellers. A potential homebuyer cannot easily view the best features of the house if they are covered in clutter. Organize all bills and paperwork into folders or files that can be stored into office or desk cabinets. Purchase bins for toys, blankets, remote controls and other objects that appear astray.

Stay tuned for more spring cleaning suggestions coming soon in Spring Clean Your Way to a Sale, Part 2!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged how to sell, selling a home, spring cleaning
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