Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

In your annual home maintenance routine.  Over time creosote accumulates in your chimney which can cause chimney fires, which in turn causes cracking in the structure.  This can potentially allow dangerous carbon monoxide fumes into your home.  Make a chimney inspection part of your annual home maintenance program and you’ll have peace of mind that you did.

The end of the year is fast approaching.  Don’t lose out on your tax credits for those energy efficiency home improvements you made this year.  For more information on eligibility and applying visit the Alliance to Save Energy website at  http://ase.org/

It’s a competitive market out there.  Increase your home’s appeal and get the advantage!  Here are some suggestions:

Clean:  Make sure your home is clean clean clean.  If your house needs a deep cleaning you might consider hiring a cleaning service.  Potential buyers love to see a clean home!

Curb Appeal:  For a positive impression on potential buyers, don’t forget the outside of your house, including the yard.  Tidy up the yard, put those trash cans away, powerwash your driveway and walkways and plant a few flowers.

Remove clutter:  Clear off those countertops.  Remove excessive furniture so it looks and feels roomy and uncluttered when buyers walk through.

Make sure the price is right:  Do your research and be realistic about what your home is worth in today’s market.  Due to the economy buyers are more conscious than ever!  If you price too high you run the risk of scaring away would-be buyers.  Price Right!

Don’t attempt a Sale by Owner:  Many people attempt to save money by selling on their own.  That could actually be a costly mistake.  An agent works for you and has your best interests in mind.  They also have access to a much larger pool of potential buyers.  Save yourself the hassle and hire an agent.

Taking the time to do these little things can give you the edge and can mean the difference between making the sale or not.

Washington Realtors did this study to see where people are coming from as they migrate to Washington.  Of course things are a little different for the Tri-City area as they are for the whole state of Washington. Some if this information does apply, we are doing just so much better.

 In-Migration – May 2011

ttp://youtu.be/OGujV9YeGU4

This is a great time to be a homebuyer as mortgage rates are near historically low levels.  Take a look at this chart showing the path of interest rates on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage over the past nearly four decades.

Closing costs can be costly so it’s important to understand them.  Lenders are required by RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) to disclose information to their borrowers throughout the mortgage process; information such as closing costs, lender servicing, escrow account procedures, and more.

RESPA requires a lender to give you a good faith estimate stating all the fees to be paid at or before closing.  These fees can include recording fees, title charges, loan origination fee, escrow items, and mortgage interest, to name a few.

Another thing to be aware of is that anytime real estate is sold, certain records that are a part of the closing process, (which generally takes 3 to 8 weeks) are entered into public record.  You should receive a copy of the public record at closing and can request additional copies, usually for a fee.

For more information on RESPA, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November 23, 2011 – 8:30 pm

Joker’s Comedy Club, Richland $5 admission