If you’re thinking of selling your house in the near future, you need to know that updated bathrooms are one feature greatly desired—or sometimes demanded–by potential buyers. Renovated bathrooms are extremely popular in today’s market, but they can also become an expensive undertaking. However, depending on your willingness to take an active role in the updating process, you can make the bathroom a major plus when selling your Gainesville FL home–without breaking the bank. Take advantage of free or inexpensive classes or seminars given by home improvement stores—far-reaching in topics and easy to follow in technique—or search the web for instructional videos, such as this one from YouTube about applying grout.
Before you even begin your physical efforts, you should explore popular new trends in bathroom function, among which are wall-mounted toilets, recessed tubs, offbeat sinks, heated towel racks, and the use of stone. A tour of model homes in your area will give you a good idea of what’s “hot” and what you might like to include in your own bathroom. Websites such as Better Homes and Gardens and EHOW can provide inspiration, design assistance, and decorating ideas which are both clever and inexpensive, and free design software allows you to plan an entire layout and create an online model for the renovated bathroom of your Gainesville FL home. Worried that you may be spending too much money on your project? Get a cost estimate of your anticipated improvements.
If you aren’t up for a large-scale remodel or even an extensive renovation, there are many simple–and inexpensive– steps you can take to upgrade the function and appearance of your bathroom. Consider doing the following:
Repaint in neutral colors. If all walls are tiled, paint the ceiling.
Replace the sink if it’s an outdated color and change the faucet to a more modern one.
Install a new medicine cabinet, light fixture, and/or mirror.
Re-glaze the tub in your Gainesville FL home and replace caulking as needed.
Deep scrub or reapply grout.
Change window treatments. Think about bamboo blinds rather than curtains.
Use “earthy” and green materials for a more natural look.
Purchase a new shower curtain.
Paint old cabinets. White is quite popular right now.
Add shelving for storage.
Hang an unusual piece of art.
Display attractive towels and throw rugs.
Remember to feature simple accessories such as a waste can, hooks, a soap dish, a toothbrush holder, towel racks, and eye-catching containers. (more…)
Support musicians in the Gainesville area this Sunday at 2pm at Sunday at the Pops! The Gainesville Community Band will feature Bill Price as he plays arrangements from the Big Band era. Some of the other guest artist performing will be William Dishman on the trumpet, Charles Popper on the trombone and Rachel Matz on the tuba. Spend your Sunday afternoon enjoying music from the past at the Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall Auditorium.
Gainesville is home too many talented musicians, come out and see some February 19th. This is a fun event for everyone in your family.
Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.
She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.
When you buy Gainesville FL real estatewithout a down payment of at least 20%, the lender, be it FHA or a private mortgagor, requires that youpurchase mortgage insurance to protect it against financial loss. Mortgage insurance, not to be confused with mortgage life insurance or homeowner’s insurance, assures the lender of no financial loss or a very reduced one) if you default on the loan.
The cost of this insurance—from .25 to 6% of the loan—is almost always the responsibility of the buyer of Gainesville FL real estate. (There is such a thing as lender-paid insurance, but this type carries a higher interest rate and is non-refundable.) Usually the borrower has a choice of payment plans, which included the following:
Annuals. The borrower pays the first-year premium at closing; an annual renewal premium is collected monthly as part of the total monthly house payment.
Monthly Premiums. The cost is slightly more than traditional mortgage insurance plans but monthly premiums dramatically reduce mortgage insurance closing costs. Borrowers pay for mortgage insurance monthly as part of their total monthly house payment but need to pay only one month’s mortgage insurance premium at closing, rather than one year’s.
Singles. The borrower pays a one-time single premium (instead of an initial premium and renewal premiums). Since single premiums are typically financed as part of the mortgage loan amount, no out-of-pocket cash is used for mortgage insurance with a nonrefundable premium at closing.
These plans offer the choice of refundable or nonrefundable premiums. A refundable premium allows the borrower the opportunity to receive money back on any unused portion, in the event that mortgage insurance coverage is discontinued before the loan is paid in full. The cost for a nonrefundable premium is slightly less than that of a refundable premium, thereby giving the borrower a small savings. If coverage is discontinued on a loan with a nonrefundable premium, the borrower has no opportunity for a refund.
Unfortunately, rumors and myths abound about the difficulty or even impossibility of cancelling refundable mortgage insurance. Fortunately, however, the Homeowner’s Protection Act of 1998 requires lenders of insurance loans for Gainesville FL real estate to notify consumers of their rights in this regard on a yearly basis and to automatically cancel the insurance when the mortgage has amortized to 78% of the original property value. In addition, you may apply for cancellation of your mortgage insurance when that percentage reaches 80%. For specific details of the HPA requirement in terms of timing and content of these notices, click here. (more…)
There were 1,154 Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosure homes in December, 2011 according to RealtyTrac.com. The average foreclosure sales price was $92,111 compared to an average sales price of $139,836, a $47,725 savings. 1 in every 626 housing units received a foreclosure filing in December.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate
Gainesville interest rates averaged 3.96% in December while the number of foreclosed homes dropped from 195 in November to 185 in December.
Alachua County foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings – default notice, foreclosure auction notice or bank repossession – each month. Interest rate is based on the average 30-year fixed rate from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison
The number of Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosures were equal to national statistics and 0.12% below state figures in December.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity by Month
Given the lengthy and heated debate going on about the country’s debt, this may well be a good time to think about your personal debt philosophy and/or situation. While it’s almost impossible to live debt-free, it is important that we analyze and manage our loans; we all have seen in recent years the economic repercussions of taking on too much debt, both nationally and individually. Experts say that ideally your total monthly long-term debt payments should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income, but the real challenge is to judge which debt makes sense and which does not. Economic advisors suggest that you first recognize that some of your obligations are considered good debts, whereas some might fall into the category of bad debts.
Good debts are those which can be looked at as investments and those which will contribute to your overall financial health. The best example of good debt has been for many years the purchase of a Gainesville FL home and is still considered as such by many. Another good debt would include a student loan to finance higher education. Financing a car is also perceived as good debt provided that you make as large a down payment as you can reasonably afford and that you intend to keep the vehicle as long as you are paying for it. Generally speaking, good debt includes the purchase of items which you could not afford without wiping out your cash reserves or liquidating your investments.
On the other hand, bad debt occurs when you borrow to purchase a consumable item without fully comprehending the influence of that purchase on your financial well-being. Excessive credit card use is an excellent example of bad debt, especially given the high interest rates charged. One obvious flaw in the credit card system is that it encourages users to purchase things they can’t really afford, a posh vacation or the addition of a pool for their Gainesville FL home e.g., without having to pay for them at the time. It goes without saying that payday loans and paying pawn shop interest are very poor—and costly—practices which should be avoided entirely.
How to manage your debt? You can begin by figuring out your credit utilization or your debt-to-credit ratio, which tells you how much you have borrowed of the total amount available to you. The lower the percentage, the better for your credit rating. Creating a plan to pay off your bad debts, especially those with high interest rates, is another important step in achieving financial stability. Many financial counselors urge borrowers to pay off credit cards and car loans before considering taking on student debt or a mortgage for a Gainesville FL home. Another strong caveat is not to pay off one loan with another, such as using a home equity loan to repay bad debt. The best practice is to use cash to pay off debt. One way to increase your available cash is to analyze your spending pattern and carefully monitor unnecessary expenses. Other suggestions for managing debt include taking steps to lower household bills, refinancing a mortgage for a lower interest rate, and requesting a reduced rate of interest from credit card companies. (more…)
Yes, it’s once again that time of year when we examine our life and vow to make positive changes by losing weight, becoming more active, quitting smoking or drinking, managing debt, etc. But did you know that numerous recent polls indicate that a full 50% of Gainesville FL real estateowners resolve to spend less time working and more time enjoying family and friends and that 87% say that the stress of trying to balance their work and life schedules is adversely affecting their health?
While we all need a certain amount of stress to spur us on and help us perform at our best, the key to managing stress lies in that one word: balance. Achieving a healthy work/life balance an attainable goal, but in order to do so you must make changes in your life. Following are a few tips to ensure success:
Leave your work at work: Use your commuting time to transition from work to home. Rather than think about problems at work, shift gears and concentrate on your family responsibilities or enjoyable activities which await you at your Gainesville FL real estate. You can also use commuting time to unwind by listening to music or a book.Change your clothes when you arrive home to strengthen the notion of being away from work. Resist the urge to check any and all electronicdevices for work related messages.
Inquire about flextime or telecommuting: It just may be that your boss will recognize that you can do your work at different times or from different places.
Learn to say “NO” on occasion: Be it for work or for home, you don’t always have to be the one to “step up to the plate” and volunteer for yet another responsibility.
Make time in your schedule for physical activity and fun: Every Gainesville FL real estate owner knows that keeping fit by exercising and eating healthy foods is a remedy for stress and/or depression, but too many of us don’t make a concentrated effort to write in our calendars—in ink—specific visits to the gym. Consider, too, the benefits of taking up a new hobby, such as cooking, scrapbooking, or archery, that you can enjoy individually or with family or friends. (more…)
There were 1,187 Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosure homes in November, 2011 according to RealtyTrac.com. The average foreclosure sales price was $75,115 compared to an average sales price of $135,086, a $56,971 savings. 1 in every 594 housing units received a foreclosure filing in October.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate
Gainesville interest rates averaged 3.99% in November while the number of foreclosed homes dropped from 219 in October to 195 in November.
Alachua County foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings – default notice, foreclosure auction notice or bank repossession – each month. Interest rate is based on the average 30-year fixed rate from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison
The number of Alachua County and Gainesville FL foreclosures were equal to national statistics and 0.11% below state figures in November 2011.
Alachua County & Gainesville FL Foreclosure Activity by Month
Yes, we’ve reached the end of what has been a difficult year for so many, and yet we’ll celebrate the coming of 2012—and a fresh start– with glittery hats, silly horns, champagne (or beer), and kisses at midnight. We’ll reflect on the old year and make resolutions for the new one. Forecasters of the future will capture our imaginations as we wonder what is to come in terms of scientific discoveries, political unrest, wars, health issues, and the economy. So many questions—and so many possibilities…it’s enough to wear one out. So sit back in the den of your Gainesville FL real estate, relax, and ponder these points.
Did you know that celebrating the New Year is a tradition that dates back nearly 4000 years? Or that Julius Caesar was the first person to designate January 1st as the start of the new year?
Did you know that the symbol of Baby New Year dates back to ancient Greece? The Greeks marked the rebirth of their god of fertility by parading a baby around in a basket.
40 to 45 percent of American adults make one or more resolutions which include weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking, and money management. By the second week of January, 25 percent of people have abandoned their goals, however.
Certain foods play an important role in the kitchens of Gainesville FL real estate on New Year’s Day. Circular foods such as donuts and cakes represent good fortune, while legumes, especially black-eyed peas and lentils, promise good luck and wealth. Cabbage and other greens whose leaves resemble folded money are also popular, as is ham, which symbolizes progress and prosperity.
As with many other holidays, numerous superstitions and traditional practices are connected with the onset of the new year. It is thought that the first visitors to your Gainesville FL real estate will bring you good or bad luck, depending on who you keep as friends and enemies, and in Italy people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day as a symbol of good luck for the upcoming year.
And as for the future of Gainesville FL real estate? Opinions vary from the cautiously optimistic to those far less rosy, with many financial gurus still sitting on the fence. Oh, for a crystal ball! (more…)
A recent survey by Houselogic.com, the consumer website from the National Association of Realtors®, finds that jobs and the housing market will be two of the most important issues for voters in the 2012 election. Nearly one-third of respondents said housing will be the top issue on their mind when they head to the polls next November.
Respondents were asked “What issue area will have the greatest impact on your vote in 2012?” National security, healthcare, and energy/environment trailed housing and unemployment by wide margins:
Jobs/unemployment – 54 percent
Housing – 27 percent
National security – 8 percent
Healthcare – 4 percent
Energy/Environment – 2 percent
Other – 4 percent
With unemployment still high, it is easy to see why so many Americans are concerned about the job market. However, employment and the housing market are inextricably linked because economic growth and job creation cannot occur without a housing recovery.
Now take a look at how the Gainesville FL real estate market performed in November.
The Gainesville FL area single family home sales saw pending sales increase by 11% when compared with October 2010 numbers. Sold listings decreased by 7%, while new listings decrease by 5%. The average sales price decreased by 7% to $170,926, while market times decreased by 1 days or 1%.
Gainseville Area Single Family
New Listings
Pending Sales
Sold Listings
Avg. Sales Price
Days on Market
October 2011
312
186
124
$170,926
179
October 2010
328
166
134
$183,794
180
The Gainesville FL area Condo/Townhome market saw sold listings increase by 11% in October 2011 when compared to October 2010. Pending sales increased by 12%, while new listings decreased by 3%. The average sales price decreased by 12% to $69,483 when compared to October 2010, while the average market times increased by 114 days or 38%.
Linda Luetjen assists buyers looking for Gainesville FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Gainesville FL homes for sale.
She understands the purchase of any Gainesville FL home represents not only one of the largest and most significant investment a person can make, but also a decision that affects the entire life of a family. It should be handled with all the care and attention such a significant transaction deserves. You may rest assured that Linda never forgets this. Her reputation depends on your satisfaction.
For more information about buying or selling your Gainesville FL home, please call Linda toll free at 888-424-8841 or via email with our convenient contact form.
bank. Take advantage of free or inexpensive classes or seminars given by home improvement stores—far-reaching in topics and easy to follow in technique—or search the web for instructional videos, such as this one from YouTube about applying grout.
