Cathy Counti's (askcathy) Blog

   NOTICE ~ this blog is intended for our Ask Cathy family who are planning on staying in their house for several years.  If you are planning on selling, we recommend neutral colors for your home, like Sherwin Williams Latte or Nomadic Desert.  In fact, if you would like Cathy to help you select ...

One of the biggest threats to your property is something tiny, but mighty…..termites!  According to the National Pest Management Association (MPMA), termites cause more than $2 billion in damage every year to homes in the United States.  That's likely more damage than what fire, storms or earthqu...

With spring comes the feeling of renewal! The grass is turning green, the flowers are starting to bloom and the leaves are budding out on the trees.  Springs also brings the desire in many of us to clean out the closets, get organized & refresh our homes! Whether you’re considering selling your h...

Keeping your home and your household safe is very important.  Appliances and household items are recalled all the time for safety issues.  Why wait for the news media to alert you of potential dangers?  Go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and sign up for automatic email alerts.  The Safe...

NOPE!  It's all just a nasty rumor.  So, let's get the facts straight!  Check out this Snopes link: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/realestate.asp I think Snopes put it best "Health care legistlation imposes a 3.8% transaction tax on profits over the capital gains threshold".   Basically, he...

Good news! The Federal Government and the State Attorneys General have negotiated a deal with the Top 5 Loan Servicers (Bank of America Corportation, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo & Company, Citigroup, Inc & Ally Financial Inc -formerly GMAC) to speed up the Short Sale process! This is wonder...

Doing it alone.  Buying a house is a complex transaction.  Even if you don’t use an agent, you’ll need a complete, dependable team: lender, inspector, insurer, as well as referrals and advice from friends and family.  Enlist the help of these individuals early in the buying process. Buying at fir...

·         Your home is probably the biggest purchase your family will ever make, and it involves many decisions that go beyond simply choosing one you like.   As real estate agents, here is how we will guide you through the entire process, from viewing homes and financing, to making sure the fina...