Important items to consider…

The following article reports: Real estate is typically a person’s biggest investment. 

©Grand Canyon NPS

nwitimes.comSo why is it that more than half of U.S. homeowners (53 percent) do not perform maintenance on their homes…by Bettina Chang CTW Features

What the taxman doesn't want you to know…

The following article asks: Are You Leaving Money on the Table? 

source: public domain

5 Often Overlooked Tax Deductions…by AMRIK RANDHAWA


http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/startingup/start-ups/are-you-leaving-money-on-the-table-5-often-overlooked-tax-deductions/?hootPostID=525248167e7246cf89b65885c891a5f3

Economic data that some may find helpful…

The following article reports:

Source: © Freddie Mac

Low and stable inflation is placing downward pressure on fixed mortgage rates…
http://www.freddiemac.com/news/finance/index.html

What's your preference?

Recent article highlights: Millennials favor tech over curb appeal!

© F. D. Richards

We’re not sure what to make of these lat­est data on mil­len­ni­als and hous­ing: Accord­ing to a new sur­vey from Bet­ter Homes and Gar­dens Real Estate, 82% of young peo­ple age 18 to 35 would rather…By Teresa at MSN Real Estate realestate.msn.com

Port Orange appears financially strong…

Port Orange receives high credit rating Fitch Ratings of New York City reaffirmed last year's AA- credit rating — a "stable outlook." 
news-journalonline.com

So many good options…

Product: Yolo Colorhouse - Paints, Low Voc - Architect Magazine 

©Iroc8210

Nontoxic and no-VOC, Yolo Colorhouse comes in 92 colors.

architectmagazine.com

What features do you have? What features are you looking for in your next home?

Make the Home Improvements Buyers Most Want 

What home improvements do buyers want the most? A new study surveyed buyers to find out which home features are the most desired…http://www.houselogic.com/news/home-improvement/make-home-improvements-buyers-most-want/

Valuable tips…

For More... - Budget Home Security Options - Bob Vila

©mikeh727

If the cost of a high-tech security system is beyond your means, consider these low-cost options to keep your home safe.bobvila.com 

Wow, this is great, especially for baby/children(s) bedrooms!

Product: Formaldehyde-Reducing Paint from Sherwin-Williams - Green…

The Harmony Paint line's enhanced formula helps reduce VOC levels from indoor building materials.http://www.ecobuildingpulse.com/news/2013/ecobuilding-pulse/formaldehyde-reducing-paint-from-sherwin-williams.aspx

Interesting perspective…

The Five Year Rule for Buying a House 

© BrendelSignature

When I first con­sid­ered buy­ing a house, my entire fam­i­ly got involved. I have the luck of being relat­ed to real estate agents, investors, and other experts that are more than happy to give advice http://moneyning.com/housing/the-five-year-rule-for-buying-a-house/

Great ideas for great thinkers…

37 Home Library Design Ideas by Micle Mihai-Cristian on Bobvila.com 

©H.-P.Haack

Article displays home libraries that combine relaxation with personal growth and completes the genuine atmosphere of a modern residence or apartment…http://www.bobvila.com/nation/post/37-home-library-design-ideas-with-a-jay-dropping-visual-and-cultural-effect

For the gardener in you…

Tools and Products : Garden Basics : HGTVGardens

Learn more about Tools and Products from HGTVGardens photos, tips and how-to projects. Or join the community and share pictures of your garden.http://www.hgtvgardens.com/tools-and-products/?soc=gardenslaunch_20130311_6174334

Sinkhole insurance, check your policy…

Sinkhole: A Case for More Insurance?

©dstroup92

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/03/12/doris-jenkins-pennsylvania-sinkhole-insurance/

Great ideas…

The New Neutrals: Infusing Bold Color Into the Home
Neutral shades such as white and beige will always work in a home, but sometimes a space calls for bolder colors…

©Sarenawhite

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-12/the-new-neutrals-infusing-bold-color-into-the-home/

If you like the look, give it a try…

DIY Antique Zinc Finish Tutorial

©mshuster_2010

Thanks to Pin­ter­est, most of us have seen sev­er­al very good takes on the faux antique zinc fin­ish. The basic idea of all of them is to recre­ate this look from Restora­tion Hard­ware…http://www.chichistudio.com/2012/11/diy-antique-zinc-finish-tutorial/

Before the heat of summer, consider this…

Tips to Improve Your Home’s Insulation

©78xtc

How did you fare this winter? If you’re a homeowner in a cold climate, the level of insulation in your home might have made a huge difference in your comfort and also in your pocketbook these past few months. If you found your house...

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-12/tips-to-improve-your-homes-insulation/

Return on Investment!

2012-13 Cost vs. Value: Make the First Impression Count

© Sardaka 

Updating the outside of a home pays off, according to this year’s Cost vs. Value Report. Real estate professionals ranked exterior improvement projects as winning the buyers’ eye and providing...realtormag.realtor.org

Interesting Perspective on Luxury Home Sales…

Luxury Sales Approach Sellers’ Market 

Top tier properties are getting close to ending their multi-year buyers’ market and quickly reaching a more equal balance between buyers and sellers, catching up with less expensive homes .Since early December, the Institute for...realestateeconomywatch.com

Valuable information…

8 Tips To Sell An Old Home To Young Buyers

© Ben Salter from Wales

Selling any home can be challenging, depending on the market. But if you have an old home and want to appeal to young buyers in their 20s and early 30s, you may need to take some extra steps...
bankrate.com

What colors are you thinking about?

©Iroc8210

8 Great Color Combinations We all know how to do blue walls with white trim. Now what about some more intriguing color combinations, like eggplant and pale green? Here's what designers recommend.housebeautiful.com

Improving signs…

Construction Job Gains a Sign of Positive Growth The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its February Employment Report, and the numbers are promising for the housing market.realtormag.realtor.org

Decluttering makes a difference!

©AgnosticPreachersKid

Decluttering — How to Get the Help You NeedDon't worry if you can't shed stuff and organize alone; help is at your disposal...

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7856758/list/Decluttering-----How-to-Get-the-Help-You-Need

A new credit score model may have benefits for you…

New credit score could help millions…

VantageScore unveiled a new credit scoring model that will potentially boost scores for many credit applicants and help establish credit for millions of people who previously had little or no credit history. money.cnn.com 

©efariel

ROI…As housing, job markets improve, homeowners spend on remodeling...

©Jennifer D. Ames

Area contractors, architects, interior designers, and others tied to the home construction industry are getting a lot of inquiries these days from people like the Feldmans of Medfield as an improving economy and housing...

http://bostonglobe.com/business/2013/03/10/housing-job-markets-improve-homeowners-spend-remodeling/bkXUd9VQtgMr7wdmo0gklN/story.html

More great DIY…

10 Budget Updates and Easy Cosmetic Fixes 

© Si Griffiths

DIY Network has inexpensive updates and cosmetic fixes that will give your home a whole new look.
http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvement/10-budget-updates-and-easy-cosmetic-fixes/pictures/index.html?i=1

Really good to know…Mike Holmes: The blueprint on hiring an architect

Anyone thinking about doing a major renovation will likely work with a professional architect at some point…

http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/01/21/mike-holmes-the-blueprint-on-hiring-an-architect/

For those who like to DIY…

How to paint your kitchen cabinets {professionally}I promised it wouldn’t be long before the tuto­r­i­al was ready on how to paint your kitchen cab­i­nets. I have worked hard to include all the infor­ma­tion that you will need to do a pro­fes­sion­al …
http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2012/08/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets.html

Investment property is better with knowledge…

Tax Savings: Rental Property Depreciation Explained One reason you might be thinking about investing in rental properties is because you think you’ll save money on federal income taxes. While this may be true, you really need to fully understand how rental properties and taxes work...
http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-08/tax-savings-rental-property-depreciation-explained/

Spring is a great time for renewing your home!

Bob Vila’s 5 ‘Must-Do’ Tasks for March

By Bob VilaSource: On the cusp of spring, March is the month to start readying your house for the warm weather ahead, as well as to address any projects you put off over the winter.Get a jump on...

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-11/bob-vilas-5-must-do-tasks-for-march/

elfiestudenblog.blogspot.com

I'm listening to you…

Because Service Matters

Do you remember how good the food was at a restaurant if the service was terrible? More importantly, would you go back and endure terrible service just for the food? If you are like me, meals always taste better when accompanied by...http://rismedia.com/2013-03-07/because-service-matters/

Why a professional can make a difference…

blog.coldwellbanker.com

Interesting article: How I Came to Believe in Working with a Real Estate Professional

http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/how-i-came-to-believe-in-working-with-a-real-estate-professional/#.UTx_FneaQBg.twitter

Why hasn't the Internet changed homebuying and selling?

realestate.msn.com A new arti­cle from Busi­ness­week comes with a provoca­tive head­line: "Why Redfin, Zil­low and Tru­lia haven’t killed off real-estate brokers."It is true that putting real-estate list­ings online…

6 Questions to Ask Your Loan Officer Before Starting the Loan Process

blog.homes.com» No one likes unpleasant surprises, especially if you are going through possibly the largest purchase of your life…

7 Renovation Tips to Boost Resale Value

bobvila.com  Making the right renovation decisions can help you sell your house quicker, and for more money.

Interesting news to know concerning forclosures in Florida…

Informative article: Florida Foreclosure Bill Passes House Committee 
After putting on the full-court press, a Florida foreclosure bill called HB 87 was able to pass the House committee. The proposal gives lenders just one year to pursue a judgment against a home owner if the...

palmbeachpremierrealestate.com

Economic Update…

Good to know—EmploymentIn each Economic Update, the Research staff analyzes recently released economic indicators and addresses what these indicators mean…

http://economistsoutlook.blogs.realtor.org/2013/03/08/employment-4/