PropertyMaven

Get the Job Done Right With David Ness Jr. Construction

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:32:43 -0700

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One of the most daunting elements of owning property is the maintenance that comes along with that ownership. Some things can be reasonably put off for a later day but left too long wear and tear builds up. Maintenance on a home can be costly; and how to you find the right contractors for major fixes?

Contractors who focus on quality of service can be hard to find, but David Ness Jr. Construction is dedicated to doing just that. Located in Newton Mass, David Ness has been in business for over 25. The company offers quality roofing, vinyl siding, gutters and even emergency repairs.

According to the website, Ness has been hired time and time again to fix jobs that were done by unreliable contractors which cost the customer more money in the long run. Wouldn’t it be better to have things done the right way at first, rather than having to fix something retroactively? David Ness could be your answer for roofing in Newton MA and gutters Newton MA. His experience and his commitment to customer satisfaction will ensure that your needs are met.

South Africa Homes and Property for Sale through PropertyHome.co.za

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:24:03 -0700

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It is becoming more popular and wise to invest in homes and real estate in South Africa. The South Africa economy is the largest in Africa and the 24^th largest in the world. As the country of South Africa continues to stabilize and grow, South Africa houses for sale are becoming better investments. A helpful resource to find available real estate in this country is through PropertyHome.co.za.

PropertyHome offers a variety of resources that are geared towards facilitating the search of quality property for property investors. Through this website, you can:

Search for available property, such as real estate home for sale by owner
Find a buyer or a tenant
Request various services such as home evaluation, a mortgage calculator, and contacting an agent
Find a service provider, such as attorneys, architects, and movers
Find property sellers, property developers, private sellers, and landlords
Read buyer and tenant information

To use many of these services, you will need to register with the site—this registration is free and pretty quick and easy to do. As PropertyHome states: “Whether one lists a property for sale or rent, one can virtually immediately search for a match online.”

HawaiiLife.com: The Hawaiian Real Estate Site Powered by Google Maps

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:44:14 -0700

Technology has changed the way business is done across industries. When it comes to real estate, the internet and related technologies have created more avenues that ever before for consumers to conduct their own research and connect with realtors.

When the creators of HawaiiLife.com set out to make a real estate website for Hawaiian real estate they asked themselves what the basic needs of their target audience would be and who that audience would want to work with, and what would create the appearance of a successful real estate experience.

The end result was a real estate search engine that maps available properties on the various Hawaiian Islands through Google Maps, using the Hawaii MLS (Multiple Listing Service). The website has a comprehensive listing of Maui real estate, Molokai real estate, Lanai real estate and more. Each listing is accompanied by internal and external pictures, details about the property, as well as a field for users to request additional information.

In addition to providing a great service, HawaiiLife.com is a sleek site that is simple and easy to use. Searching for the perfect property in Hawaii is a simple click away. Check it out and see for yourself. You never know, you might find the home of your dreams!

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Maybe a Custom Home is the Way to Go

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:22:59 -0700

Property Cleaning with Dallas Carpet Cleaning. Keeping your home's furniture and carpets clean is what we do best.

Possibly the only thing more exciting than purchasing a new home, is the opportunity to be involved in the building of your own custom home. Seattle home builders American Classic Homes offers buyers just such an opportunity.

What makes American Classic Homes unique? Although relatively new to the Seattle area, this team has over 35 years of home building experience and has built Seattle custom homes in Mercer Island, Maple Valley, Auburn, Renton, Bellevue, Queen Anne and West Seattle. They are dedicated to building homes from the bottom up while also taking care of the home owner. When building a custom home, the homeowner and builder are a team working on the details together.

If you are planning to purchase a home in the Seattle area, you may want to take a chance on a new home Seattle, custom built by American Classic Homes.

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Try Charlotte, There's a Little Something for Everyone

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:44:39 -0700

If you are considering moving to a new city you may want to put Charlotte, North Carolina on the list. A cosmopolitan city with southern charm, Charlotte is the second largest financial center in the US following New York. Charlotte is great for business, family friendly and a hub of cultural activity.

Charlotte real estate happens to be some of the best in the country with homeowners starting to see rising appreciation rates anywhere from 5-10% from year to year. Add the value of low taxes, affordable living, and increasing employment opportunities; Charlotte is quickly becoming the place to be for anyone seeking to escape the bigger cities.

Lake Norman real estate offers a wide range of options from ranch-styled single story homes, to condominiums, town homes, two-story homes, split-level homes and multi-million dollar residential properties. There are also waterfront properties and resort style golfing communities such as The Club at Longview.

The legendary golf champion, Jack Nicklaus fell in love with the beautiful rolling hills, lush woods and babbling creaks. This infatuation lead Nicklaus to team up with a developer to build The Club at Longview, a manor style golf residence with a signature Jack Nicklaus golf course. Longview features luxurious Charlotte homes that incorporate real stone, real hard-coat stucco and real wood in an architectural style reminiscent of old world Europe.

Simply put, Charlotte has something to fit into every type of lifestyle. Check it out, you never know, you might fall in love too.

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PropertyToday.co.uk: A One Stop Shop for Your UK Property Search

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:29:42 -0700

Shopping for real estate can be daunting, not to mention sifting through property listings to match location and other preferences. It is important to choose a good real estate agent, as well as to have tools to assist in identifying prospective property listings.

If you are looking for property in the UK, PropertyToday.co.uk is just the tool to make shopping for real estate easier. From mortgage calculators to appointing an agent and/or financial advisor, Property Today will help you at every stage of the process.

One of the features of this website is property search. This tool gives the option to narrow search criteria based on preferences—you may search by price, area location, postal code or partial postal code. If you, like myself, will be looking for dwellings in the London area for 2008, you can search for flats and houses for rent. There is also a feature for finding rooms for rent.

If you need additional resources, PropertyToday also has a news feature that will help you make an informed decision to buy property or give you tips on renting or selling property. This website even has predictions regarding the 2008 housing market in the UK.

With over 100,000 listings, PropertyToday.co.uk is a one-stop-shop for your UK real estate search.

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Don't forget Halloween Safety

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:26:03 -0700

This Halloween, children will trick, or treat right on your doorstep. Always keep in mind the following, when hosting trick or treaters:

1. Keep your home well lit.
You want to have all kinds of goblins, and ghosts show up, but to let them know you are home (and avoid trips, and falls), keep your exterior lights on! Kids in costumes may have difficulty seeing as it is, be sure to light your home.

2. Distribute wrapped candy.
In order to keep children safe, it may be best to give them candy that is wrapped. You wouldn't want anyone to be sick, or at risk from your treats!

3. Decorate your home.
It helps kids feel comfortable with trick or treating, if they know by looking that you enjoy Halloween! Be festive, and celebrate by decorating, and you will surely find children on your doorstep in their Halloween best.

Happy Halloween!

Vacant Housing Inventory Numbers Are High

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:03:00 -0700

The current market has 2 million vacant homes currently on the market. TWO MILLION!!? That is an amazing number of homes, and puts in perspective the current state of the market, however I find it interesting that someone actually took a survey of homes on the market, and found 2 million of them vacant.

The Census Bureau is responsible for this particular report stating that the number is up 7% from one year ago, and 2% from second quarter counts. The number reportedly includes homes built by builders, and homes left empty from families who bought a home, and had to move before selling their existing home.

VIPRealtyInfo.com: A Great North Texas Real Estate Guide

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:00:54 -0700

Sponsored Review

Real estate information is more important now than ever. For that reason, I love to find valuable internet resources in real estate. VIPRealtyInfo.com is a great North Texas real estate guide, for the smart, and prudent real estate client.

VIP Realty is a real estate company that wants to provide top service, and important information. Though the website is filled with information, it is broken down in an extremely easy-to-navigate format. Buyers, sellers and those looking for real estate in certain areas, can go right to information they will find useful. The VIP agents keep in tune with the most up to date happenings, and quick real estate updates on a blog.

VIPRealtyInfo.com also has a community guide. Each community guide gives you information about the area, and real estate in that area. So, for example, if you are looking for information on Highland Park real estate, Irving real estate, Coppell real estate or Forth Worth real estate, you would simply click on the link for that particular area, and be able to obtain a wealth of information.

Whether you are looking to relocate, want to upgrade your current home, or just love real estate and want to be knowledgeable about Texas real estate, be sure to stop by VIPRealtyInfo.com.

Countrywide's New Rescue Programs

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:43:01 -0700

Countrywide Home Loans, much criticized during the mortgage industry fallout, is offering new programs for it's ARM loan customers. Many of the critics who openly spoke out against Countrywide have given the programs a stamp of approval.

Looking into the company's program offering, it seems dramatic and noble. Borrowers who have adjustable rate loans can have their income, and assets evaluated, and the company will work to make sure that their home loan falls within a budget that they can afford. Helping homeowners with refinancing, lower rates over longer terms, and rate reductions will give thousands of borrowers relief they desparately seek.

To read more about the Countrywide Home Loan programs, click here.

Fire Safety In Your Home...

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:40:29 -0700

Fire can strike your home when you least expect it. Fortunately, smoke detectors have become a common staple in homes. Be sure to remember these things as it relates to fire safety as well:

1. Install fire assistance. Smoke detectors, a sprinkler system, and a carbon monoxide detector can save your home! But, don’t forget to change the batteries. Set a schedule for changing your smoke detector’s battery, and stick to it. It can be twice a year, when you change your clocks for daylight savings time, or once a year on your birthday. Some detectors sound an audible alert when batteries are running low, but be sure your battery is working by testing the detector, and changing the battery when necessary.

2. Buy a fireproof safe. Keep your records, passport, account numbers, etc. in a fireproof safe. Many times people who have found themselves victim of a fire realize that the only thing they have left in their home is the fireproof safe.

3. Be sure to have your insurance information. First, be sure that your home is adequately covered (ask about replacement cost). After having a heart to heart with your insurance provider, file away, and keep close your insurance information including your policy number, agent and agent’s contact number. Recovering your losses with your insurance company will be a long process. Know exactly what you are entitled to.

For additional fire safety tips, click here.

Realistic Equity Expectations

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:15:50 -0700

Home builders have an advantage when the market slows. They can offer discounts and incentives that most Sellers can not match. If you happen to be one of the first to have a home built in a new community, you sometimes expect that by the time the community sells the last home, you will realize some amount of equity.

For one couple noted in Newsweek, the equity on their new home is described as being in the double digits. However, they believe that their home is losing value in the current market. To read the entire story, click here.

The couple featured in the article paid $750,000 to build their home. They discuss that they believe their home is now worth 10% less than the cost to build it. However, they also describe very expensive upgrades, and features like a $40,000 epoxy-metal roof and hurricane proof windows. When purchasing their home, the couple spared no expense in building, and ended up with an extremely expensive home. While the article describes the fear that the couple will end up losing money on the home, it fails to describe the values in the area, or whether or not the fact that the many expensive upgrades in the house actually made the house more expensive than those in the area. Key information is missing from the article, and though it is mentioned that the home has double digit equity, the tone of the article leaves the reader feeling like there is a real estate crisis whereby buyers should be fearful of losing money. It is important when reading real estate articles to look for detailed information. Otherwise, you may find yourself afraid to purchase an affordable home, in today's fair market.

Stop The Forklifts: Builders Hold On New Homes

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:43:26 -0700

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is reporting that buyer traffic has decreased, but even the buyers who are interested aren’t closing deals. Mortgage loans are becoming increasingly impossible to obtain for buyers who are looking for their first home, or to purchase a larger home.

Builders have an advantage in the market because they can offer huge incentives like $10,000 cash toward closing, or free upgrades and appliances. Combine great incentives with having a brand new home, it would seem that builders would have the upper hand in a slowing market.

The President of the NAHB reports that often times buyers are interested, and out looking at homes, but media reports of a housing crisis has some worried that this is not a good time to buy a home. Other buyers are simply waiting for an opportunity to qualify for a reasonable mortgage loan.

Light at the end of the tunnel....

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:58:15 -0700

The Mortgage Bankers Association announced that relief in the real estate market should be expected in 2009. It will take about two years, they say for the inventory, currently existing to be depleted, and for the market to even out.

In the meantime, prices are expected to continue to drop between 2-4% over the next two years. The end result will be an even, affordable market. If you can afford to buy, and buy now, holding for the next 5-7 years will allow some appreciation, and possibly a return once the market has an upswing.

In over 100 years of real estate cycles, there is always a swing back up. Prepare now, for the light at the end of the tunnel. :) Happy Wednesday!

Scottie Pippen Selling His Highland Park Home

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:45:39 -0700

Former Chicago Bull star, Scottie Pippen listed his home at $3.695 million dollars last Summer. It was recently reduced to further garner interest in the home. The new price? $3.42 million.

It seems Pippen’s broker is reducing the price weekly in hopes of attracting just one buyer for the beautiful Highland Park mansion. The home is luxurious with over 13,000 square feet, on over 3 acres of grounds. Features include a movie theater, custom basketball court, a pool and spa, and a kids wing.

Price reductions are a great way to open the door for more buyers. In today’s market, since it is increasingly more difficult to qualify for mortgages lowering your price can make the difference in the number of buyers who will want to see your home. Pippen’s broker is reducing the price by $5,000 each week according to a flier.