Buy Owner Blog

The housing crisis is finally showing slow signs of improvement. Commercial and retail properties have suffered in all areas of the country, but according to an article from Realty Times, apartment rentals have remained the strongest sector.

Of all building rentals, multi-family apartment units have held up the best. Buildings have stayed full, and rent has remained stable or even increased. Particular cities with the lowest vacancy rates, around 5 percent, include Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., San Jose and Albuquerque. Areas where vacancy rates are higher, reaching up to 12 percent, include Tucson and Phoenix.
[...more...]

Estate sales are commonly run by professionals on behalf of a deceased property owner. However, you may hold your own estate sale for many reasons:

• if you are downsizing
• if you are moving to a facility where you are unable to keep your belongings (assisted living, retirement home, etc)
• if you want to get rid of unnecessary items to avoid foreclosure

Why hold your own estate sale?

The bottom line is that running your own estate sale saves you money. Not only must you pay a professional for his/her services, but you’ll also have to fork over a pretty penny for advertising, research, security, refreshments and other fees. The professional will often take a percentage of the profit, as well, which could run anywhere between 20 and 50%! If there has been a death in the family, it may be too overwhelming for you to conduct the estate sale of your loved one’s belongings. However, if any of the abovementioned reasons apply to you, it would be a great idea to run the sale by yourself.

[...more...]

This year, instead of purchasing another pesticide, try these natural pest control tips. [...]

With builder sentiment dipping lower, newer homes may be harder to come by. What does this mean for you? [...]

In a previous post, you read that it is still possible to sell your home after you have filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. But once you have received an approval from the courts, closed the sale of your property and allocated the proceeds to your trustee/creditors, what do you do now? How do you go about buying a house when you have filed for Chapter 13?

First things first: you will most likely not be able to qualify for a home loan if you are still in debt, under an active Chapter 13 payment plan. Filing for bankruptcy puts a huge damper on your credit score for a few years. However, keep in mind that other factors go into acquiring home loans besides your credit score.[...more...]

There are many reasons why people choose to file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy instead of Chapter 7. For one, if you had already filed for Chapter 7, you may not do so again for another eight years. Also, if you want to make up missed payments on a mortgage, you may only do so via Chapter 13. Whatever the reason, many homeowners that file for bankruptcy find themselves concerned with how they will make enough money to pay their debts over time. Moving to a smaller home/condo or renting an apartment might be a great plan for the budget, but the ultimate question most people find themselves asking is, “Can I sell my home while I’m under Chapter 13?” [...more...]

By adding a fire pit to your backyard, you won’t only get to enjoy more time outdoors while keeping warm, but you will also add an impressive feature to your home when it’s time to sell! [...]

A new type of composting is available for you: Bokashi composting. [...]

If you’re not spending the day at Clearwater Beach, Busch Gardens or one of the other numerous year-round attractions found in the Tampa area, head to one of these unique festivals, sporting events or concerts! Whether you want to test your luck at animation, learn more about Ybor City’s history with cigars, taste new seafood favorites or celebrate Halloween with a worldwide crowd, you’re in luck!

Sports

National league and college teams are geared up to entertain and hopefully awe their fans this fall season, which marks the start to months of football and hockey in the Tampa area. Purchase tickets in advance for the best chance at seeing live action!
[...more...]

With seasonal changes comes seasonal upkeep. Each season presents new chores to keep up with, especially outside. When your house is for sale, it’s vital that you keep up with the curb appeal of your home. When potential buyers see the Buy Owner sign in the front yard, all they have to go off of is the external appearance. When potential buyers visit for an open house, the external appearance is what they judge first. In your ads, the first picture potential buyers will view is usually of the front exterior.

• In order to keep up with the curb appeal as much as possible, consider the natural elements. Fall means raking up leaves and trimming bushes. Winter means shoveling the snow off the driveway and the walkway. Spring means cleaning out the gutters, planting flowers and fixing paint chips. Summer means planting more flowers and mowing the lawn.

• Every couple weeks, stand in front of your house and just look at it. It’s often hard to judge your own home, so consider asking a neighbor or friend for advice too. By stepping away from the home and looking at it from the view of potential buyers, you’re more likely to notice little nicks, cracks or stains that you would otherwise pass right over.

[...more...]