Here's a great set of pointers from CNNMoney's Les Christie. These are great things to remember - we work very hard to educate our clients, and every bit of reinforcement we can get helps.
Here's what Christie has to say:
Buying a first home can be a daunting experience. Here are five common and costly mistakes that novice home buyers make:
1. Ignoring the costs of having a low credit score. Lower-score borrowers pay thousands of dollars in increased interest rates over the life of the loan. (We can refer you to our strategic alliance partners that can help you bring your scores up, resulting in huge savings - ask us how!)
2. Muddying the waters by shopping for other things before closing. Lenders continue to check credit scores right up until the time of closing. Too much shopping could cause the lender to take back the loan.
3. Scrimping on an inspection. Being surprised by the need for expensive repairs can be financially devastating. (We always recommend an inspection. In fact, if a client chooses not to have a property inspected by a qualified inspector, we ask that they sign a waiver indicating that they have been advised otherwise and wish to skip this step.)
4. Buying without contingencies. Buyers should give themselves an out if the inspection turns up problems or the bank raises the interest rates. (In Texas, our option contract takes care of this for us. Normally we can negotiate a 7-10 day option period for $100-200 - a real steal for an unrestricted right to terminate. When we're representing sellers, we work to get a $300-500 fee for those same 7-10 days.)
5. No money for insurance. Insurance can be surprisingly pricey. Buyers who don’t budget for it can face a nasty surprise. (Again, we will refer you to several of our strategic alliance partners that can help save you tons of money on your insurance premiums.)
Source: CNNMoney.com, Les Christie (04/19/2010)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I've been looking for a computer desk...
Ok not really, but - this is kind of cool.
Meet the Victorian Organ Command Desk. Bruce Rosenbaum of Massachusetts home restoration firm ModVic literally pulled out all the stops when he built this baroque computer desk out of a demolished church's 19th century organ. He gutted the pump and innards, replacing them with three monitors, a 3GHz AMD Phenom II X4 945 processor running Windows 7 Ultimate, 3GB of RAM, a 1TB HD, and lots of other goodies including a Webcam, printer, scanner, and iPhone dock. The organ pipes were placed upside-down for effect.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Check out April's Housing Trends Newsletter
Check out the latest edition of our Housing Trends Newsletter for the most current information on the local and national real estate markets.Have some questions? Be sure to give us a call or send an email!
By the way, who do you know that could use our help buying, selling, leasing or managing a property? Please, don't keep us a secret!
Friday, April 9, 2010
6 power foods.....
Men's Health shares six superfoods that we should be eating. I'm not there 100% on some of these - but thought you might enjoy reading what they have to say...
Celery
This water-loaded vegetable has a rep for being all crunch and no nutrition. But ditch that mindset: Celery contains stealth nutrients that heal.
Why it's healthy: "My patients who eat four sticks of celery a day have seen modest reductions in their blood pressure—about 6 points systolic and 3 points diastolic," says Mark Houston, M. D., director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital, in Nashville. It's possible that phytochemicals in celery, called phthalides, are responsible for this health boon. These compounds relax muscle tissue in artery walls and increase bloodflow, according to nutritionist Jonny Bowden, Ph. D., author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. And beyond the benefits to your BP, celery also fills you up—with hardly any calories.
How to eat it: Try this low-carbohydrate, protein-packed recipe for a perfect snack any time of day.
In a bowl, mix a 4.5-ounce can of low-sodium tuna (rinsed and drained), 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion, 1/4 cup of finely chopped apple, 2 tablespoons of fat-free mayonnaise, and some fresh ground pepper. Then spoon the mixture into celery stalks. (Think tuna salad on a log.) Makes 2 servings
Per serving: 114 calories, 15 grams protein, 12 grams carbohydrates (3 grams fiber), 1 gram fat
Seaweed
While this algae is a popular health food in Japan, it rarely makes it into U. S. homes.
Why it's healthy: There are four classes of seaweeds—green, brown, red, and blue-green—and they're all packed with healthful nutrients. "Seaweeds are a great plant source of calcium," says nutritionist Alan Aragon, M.S. They're also loaded with potassium, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood-pressure levels. "Low potassium and high sodium intake can cause high blood pressure," Bowden says. "Most people know to limit sodium, but another way to combat the problem is to take in more potassium."
How to eat it: In sushi, of course. You can also buy sheets of dried seaweed at Asian groceries, specialty health stores, or online at edenfoods.com. Use a coffee grinder to grind the sheets into a powder. Then use the powder as a healthy salt substitute that's great for seasoning salads and soups
Hemp Seeds
Despite the Cannabis classification, these seeds aren't for smoking. But they may provide medicinal benefits.
Why they're healthy: "Hemp seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke," says Cassandra Forsythe, Ph. D., a nutrition researcher at the University of Connecticut. What's more, a 1-ounce serving of the seeds provides 11 grams of protein—but not the kind of incomplete protein found in most plant sources. Hemp seeds provide all the essential amino acids, meaning the protein they contain is comparable to that found in meat, eggs, and dairy.
How to eat them: Toss 2 tablespoons of the seeds into your oatmeal or stir-fry. Or add them to your postworkout shake for an extra dose of muscle-building protein.
Scallops
Perhaps these mollusks are considered guilty by association, since they often appear in decadent restaurant meals that are overloaded with calories. (But then again, so does asparagus.)
Why they're healthy: Scallops are more than 80 percent protein. "One 3-ounce serving provides 20 grams of protein and just 95 calories," says Bowden. They're also a good source of both magnesium and potassium. (Clams and oysters provide similar benefits.)
How to eat them: Sear the scallops: It's a fast and easy way to prepare this seafood.
Purchase fresh, dry-packed scallops (not the "wet-packed" kind) and place them on a large plate or cookie sheet. While you preheat a skillet on medium high, pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and season the exposed sides with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. When the skillet is hot, add a tablespoon of olive oil to it. Being careful not to overcrowd, lay the scallops in the skillet, seasoned-side down, and then season the top sides.
Sear the scallops until the bottoms are caramelized (about 2 minutes), and then flip them to sear for another 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size and thickness. Now they're ready to eat. Pair the scallops with sauteed vegetables, or place them on a bed of brown rice.
Dark Meat
Sure, dark meat has more fat than white meat does, but have you ever considered what the actual difference is? Once you do, Thanksgiving won't be the only time you "call the drumstick."
Why it's healthy: "The extra fat in dark turkey or chicken meat raises your levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that makes you feel fuller, longer," says Aragon. The benefit: You'll be less likely to overeat in the hours that follow your meal. What about your cholesterol? Only a third of the fat in a turkey drumstick is the saturated kind, according to the USDA food database. (The other two-thirds are heart-healthy unsaturated fats.) What's more, 86 percent of that saturated fat either has no impact on cholesterol, or raises HDL (good) cholesterol more than LDL (bad) cholesterol—a result that actually lowers your heart-disease risk.
As for calories, an ounce of dark turkey meat contains just 8 more calories than an ounce of white meat.
How to eat it: Just enjoy, but be conscious of your total portion sizes. A good rule of thumb: Limit yourself to 8 ounces or less at any one sitting, which provides up to 423 calories. Eat that with a big serving of vegetables, and you'll have a flavorful fat-loss meal.
Lentils
It's no surprise that these hearty legumes are good for you. But when was the last time you ate any?
Why they're healthy: Boiled lentils have about 16 grams of belly-filling fiber in every cup. Cooked lentils also contain 27 percent more folate per cup than cooked spinach does. And if you eat colored lentils—black, orange, red—there are compounds in the seed hulls that contain disease-fighting antioxidants, says Raymond Glahn, Ph. D., a research physiologist with Cornell University.
How to eat them: Use lentils as a bed for chicken, fish, or beef—they make a great substitute for rice or pasta.
Pour 4 cups of chicken stock into a large pot. Add 1 cup of red or brown lentils and a half cup each of onion and carrot chunks, along with 3 teaspoons of minced garlic. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the lentils until they're tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the lentils from the heat, add a splash of red-wine vinegar, and serve.
Read more on the Mens Health website.
Celery
This water-loaded vegetable has a rep for being all crunch and no nutrition. But ditch that mindset: Celery contains stealth nutrients that heal.
Why it's healthy: "My patients who eat four sticks of celery a day have seen modest reductions in their blood pressure—about 6 points systolic and 3 points diastolic," says Mark Houston, M. D., director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital, in Nashville. It's possible that phytochemicals in celery, called phthalides, are responsible for this health boon. These compounds relax muscle tissue in artery walls and increase bloodflow, according to nutritionist Jonny Bowden, Ph. D., author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. And beyond the benefits to your BP, celery also fills you up—with hardly any calories.
How to eat it: Try this low-carbohydrate, protein-packed recipe for a perfect snack any time of day.
In a bowl, mix a 4.5-ounce can of low-sodium tuna (rinsed and drained), 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion, 1/4 cup of finely chopped apple, 2 tablespoons of fat-free mayonnaise, and some fresh ground pepper. Then spoon the mixture into celery stalks. (Think tuna salad on a log.) Makes 2 servings
Per serving: 114 calories, 15 grams protein, 12 grams carbohydrates (3 grams fiber), 1 gram fat
Seaweed
While this algae is a popular health food in Japan, it rarely makes it into U. S. homes.
Why it's healthy: There are four classes of seaweeds—green, brown, red, and blue-green—and they're all packed with healthful nutrients. "Seaweeds are a great plant source of calcium," says nutritionist Alan Aragon, M.S. They're also loaded with potassium, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood-pressure levels. "Low potassium and high sodium intake can cause high blood pressure," Bowden says. "Most people know to limit sodium, but another way to combat the problem is to take in more potassium."
How to eat it: In sushi, of course. You can also buy sheets of dried seaweed at Asian groceries, specialty health stores, or online at edenfoods.com. Use a coffee grinder to grind the sheets into a powder. Then use the powder as a healthy salt substitute that's great for seasoning salads and soups
Hemp Seeds
Despite the Cannabis classification, these seeds aren't for smoking. But they may provide medicinal benefits.
Why they're healthy: "Hemp seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke," says Cassandra Forsythe, Ph. D., a nutrition researcher at the University of Connecticut. What's more, a 1-ounce serving of the seeds provides 11 grams of protein—but not the kind of incomplete protein found in most plant sources. Hemp seeds provide all the essential amino acids, meaning the protein they contain is comparable to that found in meat, eggs, and dairy.
How to eat them: Toss 2 tablespoons of the seeds into your oatmeal or stir-fry. Or add them to your postworkout shake for an extra dose of muscle-building protein.
Scallops
Perhaps these mollusks are considered guilty by association, since they often appear in decadent restaurant meals that are overloaded with calories. (But then again, so does asparagus.)
Why they're healthy: Scallops are more than 80 percent protein. "One 3-ounce serving provides 20 grams of protein and just 95 calories," says Bowden. They're also a good source of both magnesium and potassium. (Clams and oysters provide similar benefits.)
How to eat them: Sear the scallops: It's a fast and easy way to prepare this seafood.
Purchase fresh, dry-packed scallops (not the "wet-packed" kind) and place them on a large plate or cookie sheet. While you preheat a skillet on medium high, pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and season the exposed sides with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. When the skillet is hot, add a tablespoon of olive oil to it. Being careful not to overcrowd, lay the scallops in the skillet, seasoned-side down, and then season the top sides.
Sear the scallops until the bottoms are caramelized (about 2 minutes), and then flip them to sear for another 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size and thickness. Now they're ready to eat. Pair the scallops with sauteed vegetables, or place them on a bed of brown rice.
Dark Meat
Sure, dark meat has more fat than white meat does, but have you ever considered what the actual difference is? Once you do, Thanksgiving won't be the only time you "call the drumstick."
Why it's healthy: "The extra fat in dark turkey or chicken meat raises your levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that makes you feel fuller, longer," says Aragon. The benefit: You'll be less likely to overeat in the hours that follow your meal. What about your cholesterol? Only a third of the fat in a turkey drumstick is the saturated kind, according to the USDA food database. (The other two-thirds are heart-healthy unsaturated fats.) What's more, 86 percent of that saturated fat either has no impact on cholesterol, or raises HDL (good) cholesterol more than LDL (bad) cholesterol—a result that actually lowers your heart-disease risk.
As for calories, an ounce of dark turkey meat contains just 8 more calories than an ounce of white meat.
How to eat it: Just enjoy, but be conscious of your total portion sizes. A good rule of thumb: Limit yourself to 8 ounces or less at any one sitting, which provides up to 423 calories. Eat that with a big serving of vegetables, and you'll have a flavorful fat-loss meal.
Lentils
It's no surprise that these hearty legumes are good for you. But when was the last time you ate any?
Why they're healthy: Boiled lentils have about 16 grams of belly-filling fiber in every cup. Cooked lentils also contain 27 percent more folate per cup than cooked spinach does. And if you eat colored lentils—black, orange, red—there are compounds in the seed hulls that contain disease-fighting antioxidants, says Raymond Glahn, Ph. D., a research physiologist with Cornell University.
How to eat them: Use lentils as a bed for chicken, fish, or beef—they make a great substitute for rice or pasta.
Pour 4 cups of chicken stock into a large pot. Add 1 cup of red or brown lentils and a half cup each of onion and carrot chunks, along with 3 teaspoons of minced garlic. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the lentils until they're tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the lentils from the heat, add a splash of red-wine vinegar, and serve.
Read more on the Mens Health website.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
10 Home Buying Mistakes
Buying a home is perhaps the most arduous, expensive and, ultimately, valuable acquisition you'll ever complete
Just one mistake could mean disaster -- perhaps the worst mistake you'll ever make.
In order to avoid titanic trip ups during such a trying transaction, RealEstate.com suggests buyers get to know the most common home buying blunders.
To know them is to avoid them.
Going solo Buying a house is a complex transaction. It should be a team effort. You'll need a real estate agent, lender, inspector, insurer, perhaps a lawyer and other team members to help you through each step of the way. Team build before you start the search.
Love at first sight If you believe in fairy tales you probably shouldn't be buying a home. You won't live happily ever after if you emote your way through the home buying process. Your home should fit your real needs, not your yen for drama. Buy a home that fits your budget and your lifestyle. Be sure the home is in a community and neighborhood you desire. Visit neighborhoods several times before you buy to check out schools, noise and traffic patterns.
'Loanless' shopping Being pre-qualified gives you a general idea of how much you can afford to borrow. It's better to be pre-approved for a given loan. Sellers will take you more seriously. You'll stay on budget.
Overbuying Home buyers buying more than they could truly afford, in part, led to the collapse of the housing market. Buy more than you can afford and your dream home will become the same nightmare. Analyze all your monthly costs including debts, food, transportation, entertainment, and savings. Your total monthly debts, including your mortgage, should not exceed 36 percent of your income before taxes. Don't forget to budget closing costs (often two to five percent of the home's purchase price), plus moving, redecorating and maintenance. Look ahead and allow for increases in ongoing expenses such as utilities and taxes.
Misplaced trust You are engaged in what's likely your most valuable acquisition ever. It's a business transaction. Ask family, friends, co-workers, professionals and others you trust for referrals, but don't take their word for it. Vet your team members.
Accepting oral agreements Get it in writing. The rate lock, the home inspection, disclosures, the contract. Always. Should a dispute arise, you've got the details documented.
Skipping the fine print Understand what's really in any document before picking up a pen. Get documents in advance, take time to read them and ask questions. Get copies of your mortgage and closing papers a few days ahead of closing.
Forgetting or betting on resale Avoid buying a home that costs 50 percent more than neighboring homes. Reconsider buying the most expensive home on the block. Neighbors' lower home values will weaken yours. Buy intending to flip your investment only to have the market fail means when it's time to sell your price may not cover your costs.
Making an unconditional offer Protect yourself with these contingencies:
• Mortgage financing. You may be preapproved but is the house? A formal appraisal confirms -- or not -- that there is sufficient value in the home to warrant the loan. If the house appraises lower than the sales price, the loan may be declined.
• Inspection. Never buy an existing or new home without a thorough home inspection. Walk through the home with the inspector to learn more about the house and any concerns he or she may have.
• Insurance. Confirm you can get adequate insurance coverage. In some areas, or following certain disasters, it can be difficult to get types of hazard insurance.
by Broderick Perkins; from the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council Hotsheet
Just one mistake could mean disaster -- perhaps the worst mistake you'll ever make.
In order to avoid titanic trip ups during such a trying transaction, RealEstate.com suggests buyers get to know the most common home buying blunders.
To know them is to avoid them.
Going solo Buying a house is a complex transaction. It should be a team effort. You'll need a real estate agent, lender, inspector, insurer, perhaps a lawyer and other team members to help you through each step of the way. Team build before you start the search.
Love at first sight If you believe in fairy tales you probably shouldn't be buying a home. You won't live happily ever after if you emote your way through the home buying process. Your home should fit your real needs, not your yen for drama. Buy a home that fits your budget and your lifestyle. Be sure the home is in a community and neighborhood you desire. Visit neighborhoods several times before you buy to check out schools, noise and traffic patterns.
'Loanless' shopping Being pre-qualified gives you a general idea of how much you can afford to borrow. It's better to be pre-approved for a given loan. Sellers will take you more seriously. You'll stay on budget.
Overbuying Home buyers buying more than they could truly afford, in part, led to the collapse of the housing market. Buy more than you can afford and your dream home will become the same nightmare. Analyze all your monthly costs including debts, food, transportation, entertainment, and savings. Your total monthly debts, including your mortgage, should not exceed 36 percent of your income before taxes. Don't forget to budget closing costs (often two to five percent of the home's purchase price), plus moving, redecorating and maintenance. Look ahead and allow for increases in ongoing expenses such as utilities and taxes.
Misplaced trust You are engaged in what's likely your most valuable acquisition ever. It's a business transaction. Ask family, friends, co-workers, professionals and others you trust for referrals, but don't take their word for it. Vet your team members.
Accepting oral agreements Get it in writing. The rate lock, the home inspection, disclosures, the contract. Always. Should a dispute arise, you've got the details documented.
Skipping the fine print Understand what's really in any document before picking up a pen. Get documents in advance, take time to read them and ask questions. Get copies of your mortgage and closing papers a few days ahead of closing.
Forgetting or betting on resale Avoid buying a home that costs 50 percent more than neighboring homes. Reconsider buying the most expensive home on the block. Neighbors' lower home values will weaken yours. Buy intending to flip your investment only to have the market fail means when it's time to sell your price may not cover your costs.
Making an unconditional offer Protect yourself with these contingencies:
• Mortgage financing. You may be preapproved but is the house? A formal appraisal confirms -- or not -- that there is sufficient value in the home to warrant the loan. If the house appraises lower than the sales price, the loan may be declined.
• Inspection. Never buy an existing or new home without a thorough home inspection. Walk through the home with the inspector to learn more about the house and any concerns he or she may have.
• Insurance. Confirm you can get adequate insurance coverage. In some areas, or following certain disasters, it can be difficult to get types of hazard insurance.
by Broderick Perkins; from the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council Hotsheet
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Did you miss the TX Appliance Rebate? Check out these options...
If you are like me and you tried and tried and tried to make it through the on-line rebate registration process only to find out there were no more funds left, the good news is there are some other options. The City of Austin and the federal government have some ongoing programs that provide funds to qualifying energy efficient appliances.
The City of Austin has multiple energy rebates available for some appliances as well as rebates for efficient toilets.
Mark your calendars for the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday on May 29-31, 2010.
Check into Federal tax credits for energy efficient purchases.
The US Department of Energy also has information on tax credits available.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Mobile search now available from Cardani Group, REALTORS®
Have you ever been driving around town and noticed a house you'd like to know more about? Gone are the days of having to call the number on the sign, or remember the address of the house for when you get home.
Just download our new mobile app and you'll have real time access to listing information. The app is currently available for iphone/ipod touch/ipad - and we will have both blackberry and android versions available soon.
Just click the icon below, or search for "IDX" in the app store. Once the app is installed, put in the 6438 code and you'll have access to the most up to date listing information available. Pretty slick, eh?
Who do you know that needs our help buying or selling Real Estate in the Austin area? Please - don't keep us a secret!
6438
Just download our new mobile app and you'll have real time access to listing information. The app is currently available for iphone/ipod touch/ipad - and we will have both blackberry and android versions available soon.
Just click the icon below, or search for "IDX" in the app store. Once the app is installed, put in the 6438 code and you'll have access to the most up to date listing information available. Pretty slick, eh?
Who do you know that needs our help buying or selling Real Estate in the Austin area? Please - don't keep us a secret!
6438
Monday, April 5, 2010
The April edition of our monthly newsletter is now available!
Our April newsletter is now available for download.
Nowadays millions of people are sending billions of text messages. Texting is great fun and can be a great way to save time, but it can also be hard on your hands, wrists and arms. Check out the article on page three to help avoid “Blackberry thumb.”
If you’re a fan of poetry – and especially if you’re not – April is the perfect time to get acquainted (or renew your acquaintance) with this literary genre. Read more about National Poetry Month on page four.
Enjoy the newsletter! As always, if you have any friends or neighbors who are looking for a better way to buy a home or get their home sold, think of us first and be sure to give us a call.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
