A lot of these issues can be avoided when you have a clear plan in place with your agent. I would be happy to go over any of these issues before listing your home to minimize these mistakes when you go to sell your home.

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The Stonegate neighborhood is somewhat unique in Davis in that all of the homes in the neighborhood pay quarterly dues to also have membership in the Stonegate Country Club. The club has several swimming pools, clubhouse, tennis courts and a man-made lake. It does not have a golf course on site. This is a really nice photo montage showing the development of the neighborhood and Stonegate club.

The neighborhood today is still on the western edge of Davis – the city has not developed past this neighborhood even though it was basically built-out in the the mid 1980′s. View Stonegate and other West Davis Homes for sale.

When purchasing a home, you will likely want to do everything you can to minimize your maintenance and upkeep costs. One way to accomplish this goal is to take steps to make your home more energy-efficient. Whether interested in Nashville condos or a home in Davis, here are five simple ways to save on energy costs.

Energy Cost Reduction Tip #1: Replace Faucets

One simple and inexpensive way to save on energy costs is to replace your faucets with a more energy-efficient model. Not only can you save on water by choosing a water-efficient model, but leaky faucets that drip once per second actually waste 20 kilowatts per month. The same concept is true when it comes to showerheads.

Energy Cost Reduction Tip #2: Install More Insulation

Adding more energy-efficient insulation to your attic will help maintain a more comfortable temperature in your home. By keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, you will not have to pay as much each month to heat or cool your home.

Energy Cost Reduction Tip #3: Replace Appliances

Another energy-savings option is to replace your appliances with more efficient models. While it would certainly be costly to toss away appliances that are perfectly functional, you should select Energy Star models when the time comes to make replacements.

Energy Cost Reduction Tip #4: Install a Programmable Thermostat

You can also save energy and money by turning your temperature down just two degrees and bundling up in a blanket or extra clothing. This small change will help you save 24 kilowatt hours per month, which can add up to a significant savings over time. To assist with keeping your thermostat set at a more efficient level, you might want to consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. One good way to keep costs down while staying comfortable when at home is to program the thermostat to automatically go down at the time you leave each day. By programming it to go back up a half hour before you return, the home will be a comfortable temperature by the time you arrive.

Energy Cost Reduction Tip #5: Replace or Repair Windows

Depending on the quality of your windows, you might find it advantageous to replace them with new ones. If your budget can’t handle replacing your windows, you can make them more energy efficient by repairing them where necessary. Simple steps such as installing new weather stepping can go a long way toward making your windows more energy-efficient. A little caulk can go a long way toward making your windows more energy-efficient as well. The same holds true for using caulk over cracks and small holes around telephone wires, pipes, drains, vents and other places where energy leaks may be a problem.

About The Author – Josh Anderson is a Realtor with Keller Williams Nashville, working with buyers and sellers in Tennessee’s music capital.

Are you ready to put your home on the market? Whether you need to size-up or size-down, or you are moving to a new neighborhood or state, selling your home can be a stressful situation. After all, most sellers want to keep their homes on the market for as short of a time as possible. At the same time, you want to get as much money from the sell as you possibly can. Whether selling Bethesda real estate or a home in Davis, there are a few key steps you should take to help get the best price while keeping the home on the market for as little time as possible.

Step #1: Hire a Reputable Agent

The first step toward getting your home sold is to hire an agent who has experience selling homes in your neighborhood. If you do not have any friends or family members who have recently sold a home, finding a good agent may be a bit tricky. A good place to start is to simply drive through your neighborhood to view real estate signs in the yards of your neighbors. The names you find on these signs may very well be a good choice for you as well. Of course, you will also need to take the time to interview a number of real estate agents and to check their references. This way, you can be sure you are hiring the person that is bests for you and your needs.

Step #2: Set the Right Price

Setting the right price is an essential part of getting your home sold quickly and at a fair price. If you set the price too low, you may sell it quickly, but you will not get the full amount possible for your home. Conversely, if you set the price too high, your home will sit on the market for far too long. While it may seem like a good idea to set a higher price so you have room for negotiation, the reality is that setting a price that is too high will result in a loss of potential buyers. Furthermore, if your home sits on the market for too long due to a lack of interested buyers, it will go “stale.” When a home goes stale, it typically needs to be removed from the market for a period of time before it can be placed back on the market at a lower price.

Step #3: Prepare Your Home for Buyers

If you want to generate interest in your home, you will need to take steps to generate interest in what you have to offer. One obvious way to do this is to make repairs to anything that may be damaged in the home. Beyond making repairs, however, you may also need to do some remodeling in order to bring your home up-to-date. Once your home is in shape, you should “stage” your home for sale. Staging the home involves making it appealing to all of the five senses in such a way that the buyer feels “at home” in the house. An experienced real estate agent will be able to give you easy and inexpensive tips for staging your home for sale.

About The Author – Kevin Koitz is a Bethesda luxury homes specialist, Realtor, and member of The Koitz Group based in Washington DC.

There is a new commercial that really speaks to the value of a home. I’ve written in the past about the intangibles of buying a home and believe there are several compelling non-financial reason to buy a home.

A home to call your own is a place to build memories. While it’s possible to create memories anyplace you live a home can be the lynchpin for creating memories. We all likely have childhood memories of someone’s home – whether it is the home you grew up in or a relative’s home – it can be the place where families gather for special occasions. A home can also help foster a sense of security when you don’t overextend yourself with your house payment.

Yes, this is a corporate Coldwell Banker commercial – but I do like the message. I think this speaks to the core of why we place a strong emphasis on home ownership. It may answer some questions you might have if buying a home in Davis where home prices are still expensive would be worth while. Should you buy now or rent for another year? Buying a home won’t solve many underlying problems, but can create some stability. What are some other non-financial benefits to owning a home?

The National Association of Realtors is reporting a 20% increase in mortgage fraud for the 3rd quarter of 2011 compared with the same quarter in 2010. Some of this is due to increased reporting and investigation by law enforcement but there is an unfortunate number of people taking advantage of the distressed property market and home owner’s misfortune. If you find yourself in financial trouble there are some things you can do to protect yourself and your financial investments including your home. In the most recent report California was second highest in mortgage fraud reports.

1. Be proactive with your creditors – don’t just avoid their letters and phone calls. Reality has sunk in for many companies and more and more will work out payment plans, interest rate and even in some cases principal reduction among other options.

2. Don’t respond to credit councelors that contact you on the phone or by mail looking to “help” you reduce your debts – the majority of these offers (pay us a fee and we will help save your house) are the ones that law enforcement and consumer protection agencies are targeting.

3. Get real information on your options. Vist http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov or http://www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org/ Go through the information on the website. Keep your Home California lists events sponsored by legitimate companies and organizations aimed at providing information. There is an event called Help for Homeowners at the Sacramento Convention Center on March 20th from 1-8 PM.

Whatever has created your current financial difficulties although it can be painful to research solutions in the long run you will feel better about facing your difficulties instead of ignoring them. They won’t just disappear or get better without some sort of plan. There is a lot of help/resources available for homeowners in financial difficulties. Take advantage of FREE resources to help you and stay away from anyone who seems to be making incredible promises for a price, application fee, membership or anything else designed to take advantage of you when you are feeling vulnerable.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

–Dr. Seuss

My baby girl turned one yesterday. Kids grow up so fast – my son will be eight in a couple of weeks. While real estate has been a passion of mine for a long time, I only have this time with my kids once so I’m making sure I don’t overcommit to clients and relying on other great real estate agent partners to help out as well. My family is my inspiration and I’m very lucky to spend a lot of quality time with them.

Both of my kids like this video by Laurie Berkner – the baby can probably watch the entire Party Day video two or three times a day.

When you meet with a mortgage lender to discuss your loan options, you might think the money the lender loans to you comes from the bank’s safe. While banks in the old days did have the money simply lying around, this is no longer true with today’s lending institutions. Whether buying Davis CA or Potomac real estate, today’s lending institutions typically get the money for mortgage loans from either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Furthermore, while you may make your payments to the lender, the lender is not the one who actually owns the loan.

What Does the Lender Have to do with My Mortgage Loan?

When it comes down to it, the lender that you deal with is really nothing more than a middle man between you and Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. When you meet with the lender, that institution is responsible for gathering the necessary documentation, verifying your information and processing your loan. The lender is also responsible for collecting your mortgage payments. Nonetheless, the lender is really nothing more than the “servicer” of your loan.

How Does Ownership of My Loan Transfer?

After the lending institution finalizes your mortgage loan, your loan is packaged with other loans and sold in bulk to one of the aforementioned institutions. The lender that serviced your loan also receives a monthly fee for processing the payments and maintaining your loan. While this fee is usually equivalent to just around 3/8ths of a percent, the fees add up for companies that service billions of dollars worth of home loans. As such, mortgage servicing is actually where lenders make the most money from the transaction.

What Happens After My Loan is Sold?

Since mortgage lenders make the bulk of their money from servicing loans, their main goal is generally to get as many loans into their portfolios as possible. While the goal is to reach a “break even” level, they actually suffer a loss on occasion. Yet, by selling their loans and being paid to service the loans, the lenders still continue to make a profit on the transaction. Furthermore, once your loan has been packaged and sold to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, the lender is once again able to access additional funds in order to make more loans. The cycle then continues from there with the borrower never even realizing that so much has taken place with the loan behind-the-scenes.

About The Author – Kevin Koitz helps clients interested in Bethesda real estate and other Maryland area homes as a Realtor with the Koitz Group.

When it comes to buying a home, there are many things to take into consideration. In addition to finding a home that suits both your lifestyle and budget needs, you should also consider the resale value of the home. Whether looking at Austin real estate or a home in Davis CA, if the time comes for you to move, you want to be sure to get as much of your investment back as possible. By selecting the right home and by taking a variety of factors into consideration, you may even be able to make money when the time comes to sell your home at a later date.

Considering the Community

Everyone is well aware that the number one rule of real estate is “Location, Location, Location.” When considering the location, however, you need to think about more than just the beauty of the setting or how close the property is to your friends and family. If you are looking for a home with built-in resale value, you need to think about what the buyer will look for in a community. These include:
- Proximity to retail establishments, employment opportunities and entertainment venues
- Types of programs and facilities offered to community members
- Economic stability of the community
- Quality of the school system
- Crime rate, unemployment rate and other measures of quality of life

By selecting a property located in a community with a strong economic base that is located near to a variety of amenities, you are more likely to enjoy a strong resale value.

Choosing the Right Home

Once you have selected the right community, you need to choose the home that provides the best resale value. Those homes that offer the best resale value are those that offer opportunities for expansion and are located on larger lots of land. If there are restrictions in terms of adding-on to the home or otherwise renovating the property, you will have far more difficulty getting the home sold at a later date. Similarly, if there is little to know yard or if the home is located along a highway or next door to a commercial establishment, you are not likely to enjoy a high resale value. Ideally, you should purchase a home that is located in an area where the surrounding land has all been zoned as residential. This way, you can be sure it will maintain the same look and charm as it does today.

About The Author – Eric Bramlett works with buyers and sellers in Steiner Ranch and Downtown Austin condos as broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin, Texas.