Jennifer Fredericks' Aggieland City Guide

Texas Home Sales

2010-10-22T12:40:00.000-05:00

Below is an article from the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center.

TEXAS (Real Estate Center) – Existing home sales in September were down from last year, according to newly released data from Texas Multiple Listing Services (MLS).

About 15,200 homes were sold in September, down 18 percent from September 2009. Meanwhile, the median price remained virtually the same at $147,700. There was a 7.9-month inventory of existing homes on the market.

Here are data for a few Texas cities (current as of Oct. 21, 2010). More data on these and other cities are available on our website.

Sales Change from Last Year Median Price Change from Last Year Months' Inventory

Abilene 124 down 3% $121,400 up 9% 6.5

Austin 1,393 down 28% $193,300 up 5% 6.8

Beaumont 124 down 15% $121,100 down 8% 11.7

Bryan-College Station 122 down 5% $149,300 down 2% 8.8

Dallas 3,066 down 24% $159,300 up 2% 7.2

Fort Worth 608 down 18% $109,200 down 3% 7.3

Houston 4,296 down 19% $154,400 no change 7.9

Kerrville 41 up 2% $190,000 up 27% 22.8

Longview-Marshall 173 down 7% $128,600 up 1% 9.1

Lufkin 36 down 22% $124,000 up 3% 9.3

McAllen 125 down 31% $102,300 down 2% 12.7

San Antonio 1,434 down 11% $149,400 up 2% 8.2

Texarkana 85 up 18% $123,800 up 27% 9

Victoria 71 up 15% $118,600 down 15% 8.2

Waco 136 down 25% $100,000 down 15% 8.7

Texas 15,199 down 18% $147,700 no change 7.9

Great Cities for Raising Families

2010-09-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Kiplinger's Magazine online just published their annual list of great cities for raising a family. College Station is in the top 10 this year based on job growth, quality education, local attractions/cultural events. Below is an except of their article with the Pros and Cons for living in College Station.

PROS: A top-ranked public school system, affordable housing and utilities, safe neighborhoods, solid wage and employment growth, it's about a two-hour drive from Houston, Dallas, or Austin.

CONS: Unvaryingly hot climate, limited local employment opportunities outside of Texas A&M.

See http://www.kiplingers.com/ for the list of all 10 Great Cities for Raising Families.

Homeowner's Insurance - Do you have the right coverage?

2010-08-06T15:31:00.001-05:00

I just attended an insurance seminar and, wow, was it an eye-opener! I thought I was doing the right thing by checking the coverage amounts every few years, but now I need to go back and see if I even have the right coverage!

So here are a few highlights from the seminar and I'm happy to answer questions or refer you to someone who can if I don't know the answers.

There are three types of Homeowner's Insurance: HO-A, HO-B and HO-C policies.

HO-A is the most basic coverage and only covers what is actually listed on the binder. If it's not listed, you don't have it!

HO-B is broad coverage and is what most of us need. It covers a lot more than an HO-A policy and this is mostly likely the type of insurance you should have.

HO-C is very extensive and expensive coverage and most people don't have a need for this type of coverage.

If you own investment property or have purchased a second home, you need to let your insurance agent know to make sure you have the right coverage. In our market a lot of parents buy homes for their college students, but if the college student's name is not on the house the parents cannot carry homeowner's insurance but need to carry investment insurance instead.

Finally, living in a house that's out of the 100-year flood plain and built up fairly high, I have never considered flood insurance for my home. However, a recent statistic shows that over 60 percent of all homes that were flooded last year were in the 500-year flood plain where most owners don't carry coverage! As the flood maps are being redrawn, some areas are being put into 100-year flood zones that will now require homeowners to carry flood insurance. If you have a house in the 500 year flood plain and you carry flood insurance on it, if the maps are redrawn to a 100 year flood plain, you will be grandfathered in at your lower rate. It's something to think about!

How do I get rid of PMI?

2010-07-27T16:24:00.000-05:00

This is a question I get a lot from clients a few years after they purchase their homes. PMI is Private Mortgage Insurance (sometimes called MIP) - it's a monthly fee charged by your lender if you don't put 20 percent down when you buy your house.

On a personal residence you can request to remove the PMI after you have 20 percent equity in your home. That can come from paying down the loan, or it can happen because the market value of your home has risen and you now have equity based on the new value of your home. Usually it's a combination of both. If you think you have 20 percent equity in your home, you can make a written request to your lender. They will probably require you to pay for an appraisal (about $350) to verify the current market value before they remove the PMI. You also have to have a history of on-time payments or they can deny your request.

This is a great way to save money every month and once your lender eliminates the PMI they can't put it back on your loan again - even if the market value falls in the future.

Hurricane Season is here - are you prepared?

2010-06-24T15:10:00.004-05:00

I found this article on HouseLogic, a site sponsored by the National Association of Realtors. Luckily we haven't had any major natural disasters in Bryan/College Station, but when disasters happen that are beyond your control, you can take charge of how you respond.

“What became clear in Hurricane Katrina is that in big events, the government isn’t going to come to your aid right away. You have to be prepared to take care of yourself,” says Rick Bissell, PhD, a professor of emergency health services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. According to a 2008 FEMA survey, more than half of all U.S. households have some sort of disaster preparation in place. If yours isn’t one of them, here’s what you need to do.

First, make sure important papers are in order
If a flood destroys your home, you could spend weeks or even months just trying to re-create the essential documents you’ll need to get back on track. That’s why it’s critical to have backups of important papers, including the deed to your house, proof of insurance, medical records, passports, social security cards, and a list of personal contacts. Keep one copy at home in a portable case and another offsite in a safe place. And while you’re at it, use the opportunity to check whether your insurance is up to date. “People often don’t know what their homeowners’ insurance policy covers, and most don’t cover flooding,” points out Bissell. Find out what hazards your area faces, and make sure you’re protected against them.

Tailor a preparedness kit to your personal needs
Humanitarian organizations and government aid agencies offer guidelines for creating an emergency preparedness kit. But along with the basics like food and water, it’s important to have what you need for your particular situation. You may not need extra blankets in southern California, but you do need escape ladders in case of wildfire. And you’ll want extra extra blankets to survive a winter power outage in Maine.

Think about what you need for the safety of your house, too. Knowing where to find the main electrical and water shutoffs—and having the right wrench to turn them—can make the difference between a house that weathers the storm and one that experiences catastrophic flooding or fire.

A basic emergency preparedness kit
FEMA recommends you keep a “grab and go” bag with these items in case you need to evacuate:

Water: One gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; double if you live in a very hot climate, have young kids, or are nursing. Bottled water is best, but you can also store tap water in food-grade containers or two-liter soda bottles that have been sanitized. Factor in your pet’s water needs, too.

Food: At least a three-day supply of nonperishables and a can opener. Pack protein, fruit, and vegetables, but make sure they’re in a form you actually like—it’s bad enough not to have access to fresh food without also having to subsist on nothing but canned tuna. Include treats like cereal bars, trail mix, and Tootsie Rolls. Store food in pest-proof plastic or metal tubs and keep it in a cool, dry place.

Flashlights and extra batteries: “Candles are not recommended because there are many house fires caused by candles left unattended,” says David Riedman, a public affairs officer with FEMA.

First-aid supplies: Two pairs of sterile gloves, adhesive bandages and sterile dressings, soap or other cleanser, antibiotic towelettes and ointment, burn ointment, eye wash, thermometer, scissors, tweezers, petroleum jelly, aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, and stomach analgesics such as Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and a laxative. (All those Tootsie Rolls can be hard to digest.)

Sanitation and hygiene supplies: Moist towelettes, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, and plastic ties. You might also want travel-size shampoo, toothpaste/toothbrush, and deodorant.

Radio or TV: Keep a portable, battery- or crank-operated radio or television and extra batteries to remain connected in case the power goes out, as well as an extra cell phone charger. You can buy a good emergency radio online from the Red Cross.

Plastic sheeting, duct tape, and dust masks: In case you need to seal your home or shelter from airborne contaminants.

Extra items: A whistle to signal for help, a favorite toy or other comfort items for kids.

Cash.

Update your kit as your needs change, and replace food and water approaching its expiration date. You might pick a specific time each year to check, such as before hurricane season in the south or after Thanksgiving if you live in the north.

Wendy Paris is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared in This Old House magazine and other publications. She keeps chocolate chips on hand in case of emergency.

Time for an Insurance Check Up

2010-04-05T09:35:00.000-05:00

For most of us, insurance is something we get when we buy a new house or car and then we never think about it again unless we file a claim.

As your life and financial situation changes, your insurance should change too. Consider the following insurance situations and then call your agent for an annual check up.

Homeowner's Insurance
If construction costs have gone up significantly in your area or if you have added costly upgrades over the years, your repalcement value coverage may not be keeping pace with actual costs. Insurance companies have charts with relacement costs in your area and they are generally very accurate, but if you have a lot of custom features in your home you definitely need to make sure the insurance company is aware of them. You might think not telling them will save you money now, but it could mean settling for a home with far fewer amenities if your house is completely destroyed.

Don't forget to check your contents coverage too. You may have much nicer furniture, clothes, jewelry, art, etc than you had when you were first starting out.

You may also want to consider a higher deductible. You may have chosen a lower deductible when you were first starting out, but if you are more financially stable now a higher deductible could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

If you don't have your car insurance with the same carrier, you may want to change to qualify for a multi-line discount.

Five Ways to Pick a Neighborhood

2010-03-05T15:59:00.000-06:00

One of the best ways to narrow your search is to drive around - a lot! You'll see lots of different neighborhoods and can compare your initial impressions as you drive through. Once you think you're intersted in an area the following tips might help you decide if this is really where you want to live.

1. Go at different times of the day, night and weekend. Are there multiple cars in the driveways and in the street? This might mean there are a lot of renters in the area. Lots of people walking at night? You probably don't have to worry about safety as much. You can also guage neighborhood friendliness by people who wave as you drive by and neighbors out talking to each other. If you don't want to be around small children, check out a neighborhood on a sunny Saturday to see if they're out playing.

2. Check out the amenities. If there's a neighborhood park or swimming pool there might be homeowner's association fees to pay for them. This isn't a bad thing, but something to be aware of when budgeting. If you frequently walk or bike, are there sidewalks or trails available?

3. Drive to work or school or church or the grocery store. Check out the commute during the times you'll be driving to and from work or other routes you drive frequently.

4. Check out the police reports. You can call your local police department to get statistics on police calls to a neighborhood or website addresses for local sex offender registration.

5. How are real estate sales in the area? A call to your Realtor can help you determine if homes have historically resold well in that area. A lot of signs doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with the neighborhood. In Bryan/College Station, we have a very definite selling season, so we see a lot of signs in every neighborhood. We also have neighbohoods that people buy in because they know they can sell when it's time.

How do I Compare Lenders?

2010-02-23T19:40:00.000-06:00

The best way to compare lenders is to ask for a Good Faith Estimate or a closing summary. Because of recent changes in lender rules, often they are reluctant to do a Good Faith Estimate until they've run your credit and you've found a house.

However, you can still compare closing costs between lenders. There are three main sections to the Good Faith Estimate or Closing Summary: the closing costs, the interest rate & loan term, and the monthly payment. Be sure to give all of the lenders the same estimated sales price or it could get confusing trying to figure out what's different between lenders and what's different because of the loan amount!

The closing costs are what you want to compare - particularly the lender fees. All of the other fees on the estimate will be actual expenses. The lenders may estimate them at slightly different rates, but ultimately you pay what the vendor charges. The lender fees, however, are what the lender makes on the loan and these can vary wildly. In the Bryan/College Station market, we generally see lender fees total about $600-1200 (if you're being quoted something higer, you need to shop around). The combination of these fees are usually the application fee, processing fee, funding fee, underwriting fee, etc. These are the fees that you can use, in combination with the interest rate, to see which lender is the best deal.

One last word of caution - internet lenders often show few or no lender fees. This isn't always true and you absolutely want a Good Faith Estimate because now lenders are required by federal regulation to be within a certain percentage of the estimate - so you won't have any big surprises at closing.

As a buyer's representative, I recommend local lenders who have historically been competitive in their fees and interest rates. I can also help buyers compare closing summaries from multiple lenders.

How Do I Raise My Credit Score?

2010-02-14T19:14:00.000-06:00

Every creditor you have an account with probably reports your payment history and outstanding balances every month to each of the three credit reporting agencies. This makes it easy to see results quickly – good or bad – when dealing with your credit.

The fastest way to improve your credit is to pay down credit card balances. If you are paying an extra $100 a month on your house or car payment, but have a large credit card balance, stop paying the extra on the house and get that credit card paid down! Chances are the house or car loan have lower interest rates. They’re also considered safer lines of credit than an unsecured credit card. Go to http://www.about.com/ and type in managing debt or managing credit card debt and read some great articles about credit scores and debt.

Credit scoring agencies have a variety of formulas to increase or lower your score, but high debt to available credit ratios are one of the fastest ways to drop your score.

Your past two years of payment history are the most important, so start paying on time NOW and in 24 months your score will rise significantly, even if you still have outstanding balances.
Finally, raising your credit score involves work – don’t try to pay someone to “fix” your credit. If there’s a true mistake, you can fix it yourself for free. It’s work to monitor it, it’s work to be sure you pay on time and it’s work to be responsible with your credit. But you’ll see results when it comes time to make your next big purchase and you get a super interest rate because of your high credit score!

Free Credit Reports that really are free!

2010-02-04T18:39:00.000-06:00

If you go to the right place, you are allowed to receive one free credit report per year from each of the three major reporting agencies. The problem is there are a lot of advertisements that say they offer free credit reports, but you really have to sign up for credit monitoring services or some other fee-based subscription. The government actually passed some very consumer-friendly legislation a few years ago that does get you a free - really, truly free - credit report. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get your copy.

All three credit reporting agencies are supposed to share their information. If that's really working the way it should, you should be able to pull one credit report from one agency and have a pretty good idea if you have any issues. You can pull all three reports at once, but then you don't get another freebie for a year. I would recommend pulling one report from each agency every four months - they're all free as long as you only pull from one agency per year. This allows you to monitor your credit throughout the year for free. If you see a mistake on one report you'll have to go to some effort to get it fixed but then each agency is supposed to share your information with each other.

For example, if TransUnion says you have an outstanding balance on a card that you paid and closed out last year, you can get a letter from the credit card company, send it to TransUnion with an explanation of the mistake and they should correct their report and forward your information to the other reporting agencies (this takes a while, usually 30-90 days once they verify your information). To be really safe, I'd send the information to all three agencies, but technically you shouldn't have to.

You won't get your credit score with this free report - it does cost a nominal fee - about $6 per report the last time I checked. You may not need it if you are just monitoring your accounts, what the balances are and whether or not they are being reported as paid on time. You won't hurt your credit pulling the report yourself, but there are issues with having multiple vendors pull your report, so be cautious when someone says they'll pull your credit for you. The exception is when shopping for a mortgage - you can have several loan officers pull reports and if they're all within a two week timeframe it should not afffect your credit score.

Stay tuned next time for things you can do to raise your credit score.

Tax Advantages to Owning Real Estate

2009-12-18T07:14:00.000-06:00

We've had a lot of bad news this past year and a half with financial markets crashing and foreclosures rising, but real estate continues to be a good investment. Certainly you have to buy and sell at the right times to make money, but there are a variety of tax advantages to owning real estate that help make it a solid investment. Remember, I'm not a CPA or an attorney, so you will always need to check with your advisors to make sure this information has not changed or applies to your situation.

Tax Credits
I've mentioned the tax credits in earlier columns, so I won't discuss them in detail other than to say that most first time buyers and many repeat buyers are eligible for substantial tax credits through June 30, 2010 as long as the house they are purchasing is under contract by April 30, 2010. There is some qualifying criteria that needs to be met, but these tax credits will go away next summer so eligible buyers need to act quickly to take advantage of them.

Sale of a Primary Residence
This has been around for several years, but I still have clients who are confused about this. Right now, a homeowner can sell a primary residence every two years and not be subject to capital gains tax on the money made from the sale of the house. A seller does NOT have to reinvest the proceeds in another home. There are limits to the sales price.

1031 Exchange
This is a tax advantage for investors and a great way to increase your investment property holdings. A 1031 Exchange is the exchange of one property you own, for another property (not your primary residence). This is not a trade or exchange with another seller. You have to take all the proceeds from the sale of your first property and place them on the purchase of one or more properties. This allows you to defer any capital gains from the first sale. You must hire a qualified exchange agent and follow some strict rules about timing and reinvestment of proceeds, but this is a great way to increase your real estate portfolio.

Mortgage Interest Deduction
We hear every year that this could go away, but the National Association of Realtors has fought hard to keep this tax deduction for homeowners.

More Green Painting

2009-11-28T13:53:00.000-06:00

A quick paint update...I decided to repaint my kitchen and breakfast area the weekend before Thanksgiving and baking almost 100 pies in my kitchen! This time I used the Benjamin Moore Natura paints, which are also No-VOC paints. Like The Freshaire Choice paints from Home Depot, they have virtually no smell or Volitile Organic Compounds. The Natura paints don't come in a biodegradable bucket, although they are made from recycled and post-consumer materials.

The huge advantage of the Natura paint line is being able to mix any color you want. Any color Benjamin Moore carries in their regular line of paints can be mixed, as well as custom colors. The paint dries fairly quickly and often only requires one coat for coverage. I originally had red walls in my kitchen and repainted it a calming gray-beige color and it only required two coats of paint to completely cover the red. So, I would say this is another great option for "green" painting.

October 2009 Sales Statistics

2009-11-16T22:52:00.000-06:00

Last month in Bryan and College Station, residential sales hit a record high for all but one October in at least the past 12 years. The majority of sales were from $120-180,000. Based on the time of year and the average sales price, we can probably assume the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit had a lot to do with this record number.

Fast Facts for October 2009:
144 homes sold
Average sales price was $177,827
Average days on market 127
Total active residential listings 1,216

To understand what our market is doing overall, we can see from the statistics above that we have about an eight month supply of homes on the market based on the number of active listings divided by the number that sold last month. That doesn't really tell the whole story - to further understand the market and how it affects individual buyers and sellers we need to look at different price ranges and the sales within those price ranges.

For example, there were 72 active listings in the $120-129,999 price range and 24 of them sold last month - which means that segment of the market is more beneficial for sellers because there is only slightly more than a two month supply on the market. However, if you look at the $500,000+ market, there are 78 homes on the market and two sold last month - with a 39 month supply on the market today, there could be some great opportunities for buyers in this segment of the market.

The market will change with the economy - or perceived economic conditions in this area, but it also changes seasonally, so stay tuned.

Environmentally Friendly House Paint

2009-11-12T12:17:00.000-06:00

I recently decided that several rooms in my house could use a little sprucing up and paint is a fast, easy and inexpensive way to make a change. Although I love a new car smell, I've never particularly loved new paint smell. Also being fairly environmentally conscious and having kids in the house, I wanted a paint with low odor and fewer toxic chemicals.
For several years now I've read about all the paint companies that have come out with Low-VOC or no-VOC paints. VOCs are Volatile Organic Chemicals. I've always been concerned that the quality of paint might not be up to par, but decided that the next time I was ready to paint I would try out one of the new, more environmentall friendly paints.

At Home Depot the other day I found a line of no-VOC paints called The Freshaire Choice. They had a nice range of colors and the consistency was fairly thick - which is important to me since I tend to drip when I'm painting. I started early yesterday evening with a light brown color called Pinecone Hill in my bedroom and was very pleased with the coverage, and I was able to sleep in my bedroom last night without opening all the windows.

This particular paint is biodegradable and comes in a biodegradable can made of 100% recycled materials with a label that is made up of 75% recycled paper and printed with soy ink. While this paint still contains chemicals and generates some waste, I think the company is working in the right direction and offers a good product.

As I work my way through repainting the whole house, I will try different brands of the no-VOC paints in each room and will keep you posted on which ones I think are the best.

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded to Existing Homeowners

2009-11-10T11:01:00.000-06:00

The extension of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is official. The bill extends the deadlines for first time homebuyers to be eligible for up to $8,000 as a tax credit when purchasing their first home. The new bill also includes some provisions for current homeowners to receive up to $6500 when they purchase a primary residence.

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit At A Glance:

First Time Homebuyers are eligible for a tax credit of up to $8000 when they purchase a home by June 30, 2010.
The home must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.
A First Time Buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in at least three years.
Income limits for the tax credit for homes purchased after November 6 have been increased to $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples.
The tax credit is only good for homes up to $800,000.

Move-up or Repeat Homebuyer Tax Credit At A Glance:

To be elgible for the tax credit, buyers must have occupied their home for at least five of the past eight years.
The home must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.
The new home must be a primary residence for the buyer.
Income limits for the tax credit are $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for married couples.
The tax credit is only good for homes up to $800,000.
Repeat buyers do not have to buy a home that is more expensive than their previous home.
Buyers cannot purchase a home from family members.
Buyers can purchase new construction or contract to have a home built, but it must be under contract and close by the qualifying deadlines above.

The National Association of Homebuilders has an excellent FAQ sheet for both programs at
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

Free Green Mini Seminars

2009-11-09T10:05:00.001-06:00

The City of College Station is offering free "Green" mini seminars. See the schedule and contact information from the city's news release below:

The City of College Station’s Recycling program will host a free “Green” Mini- Seminars for College Station residents and students! These seminars will take place in the new Public Works Office located on the 2nd floor of the College Station Municipal Court (300 Krenek Tap Rd.) at 6:00 pm.

Topics and Dates are as follows:
· Jan 15- “Green” your home or dorm! How can I make my home or dorm eco-friendly?

· Feb 12- Recycling Markets and Economics- Why don’t we recycle green glass or other items?

· Mar 12- Organic and Local Foods - What is the difference and why does it matter?

· Apr 9- Green Living

· May 14- Environmental Volunteering Opportunities

· Jun 11- Meet the professionals! Come and visit with the areas’ professionals in recycling, sustainability and water conservation.

To sign up for these classes, please visit www.cstx.gov/recycle and click on the Green Mini-Seminar link or by calling 979-764-6228.

First Friday in Downtown Bryan

2009-11-05T21:28:00.000-06:00

If you haven't been to downtown Bryan in a while, First Friday is a great reason to visit - and it's tomorrow night! Well-lit and pedestrian friendly, this is a fun date night or family outing. There are a lot of fabulous local merchants who stay open a little later on the first Friday of the month and frequently offer special sales. There are usually artists and live music and most First Fridays have a theme - arts, going green, Farmer's Market, etc. My boys and I love the free outdoor family movies at The Palace Theater. Tomorrow's movie is Rudy, which starts right after dark.

There are great restaurants in a variety of price ranges with options ranging from Mexican to Italian to German. Pizza, steaks, sandwiches and upscale fine dining can all be found within a four block range in Downtown Bryan. The weather's supposed to be fantastic - hope to see you there!

6 Ways to Wow Landscaping

2009-11-02T10:04:00.000-06:00

The weather has been fantastic lately and it offers the perfect opportunity for all of us to get out and work in our yards. Whether you're planning to sell your home, or just want to make it a little more inviting when you come home everyday, there are some easy and inexpensive things you can do to spruce up your curb appeal.

1. Dig up the Dead Stuff. This summer was brutal on plants and shrubs. If they look dead and haven't come back with all the recent rains, they probably aren't coming back. Just go ahead and dig them up - empty space looks neater and cleaner than dead bushes.

2. Add Color. Just a few pots with clusters of seasonal blooming plants will brighten up your walkway or doorway.

3. Shape Trees and Shrubs. It's easy to let stray branches grow until they're huge and unweildy. Catch them now and your trees will be stronger and healthier and neater looking. Shrubs against the house can tear window screens, attract unwanted pests and make your house look dark. Keep them pruned back so they'll be healthier and won't overwhelming the approach to the house.

4. Light It Up. Make sure the bulbs on your porch and coachlights are working. Consider adding spotlights to trees or larger shrubs. Solar powered lights are easy and inexpensive to install at walkways, back patios and in flower beds. Just don't overdo it - when strategically placed, less is more.

5. Weed & Feed. While the grass is in a somewhat dormant stage this winter, it's a good time to give it nutrients and keep the fast-growing weeds at bay. Most major home and garden centers carry organic mixes if you don't want to put a lot of chemicals on your lawn.

6. Make Windows Neutral and Consistent. This is an inside tip that translates to a neater outside look. Make all the windows that face the front of your house match. This might mean lining colored curtains or drapes with a white lining, or putting up blinds or shades that are all the same color. Different colors and materials may fit your decorating inside, but when viewed from the outside of the house they can be very distracting and break up a nice, neat curb view.

Enjoy the weather - and enjoy your home!

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Could Be Extended

2009-11-01T12:11:00.000-06:00

It appears that the $8000 Tax Credit for first time homebuyers will be extended. Set to expire on Dec. 1, 2009, Senate lawmakers, with White House support, seem to have reached an agreement not only to extend the tax credit, but to broaden its scope.

The National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Homebuilders have been lobbying to extend the tax credit, which is also endorsed by the Treasury Secretary and HUD Secretary.

As currently proposed, the $8000 tax credit would be extended for contracts written through April 2010, but buyers would still have until June 30, 2010 to actually close on the property.

Two major proposed changes to the tax credit would allow existing homeowners to be eligible for a tax credit, and it proposes to allow more affluent buyers access to the tax credit. Previously homebuyers were only eligible for the tax credit if they had not owned a primary residence in the past three years. Now, it looks like current homeowners who have been in their primary residence at least five years would be able to benefit from a $6500 tax credit on the purchase of their next home. This is meant to encourage move-up buyers. Income restrictions would increase from $75,000 a year to $125,000 for single buyers and would increase from $150,000 to $225,000 for married buyers.

If you or someone you know is considering a move, watch for updates on this blog.