Obama wants economic rescue approved 'right away' - Yahoo! News Elizabeth has shared a news story with you. To view the news story or to reply to the message, follow this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081124/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_economy
When thinking about polished floors, cushions in place, an exquisite flower arrangement, crisp and folded napkins on the table, take time to think about comfort, family time and kids activities also when decorating or designing your house. A lively place full of warmth and chatter is what makes a 'House' a 'Home'. There are times when we overlook some important details to give that 'Designer Touch' to our houses. Household accidents, unhealthy personal conditions and lack of family activities are the result. To avoid such a situation, take care to make your house a comfortable and healthy place to live in. Look around you and observe carefully if any difficulty and threats are being posed due to faulty placement and wrong choice of objects. Here are some tips to get you started: 1. Rubb...
First impressions are extremely important. From the moment the prospective buyer pulls up in front of your home, you want to put your best foot forward. You want the buyer to immediately feel that this could be "home". The process of preparing your home for sale is generally referred to as "staging", and involves polishing up the exterior and interior of the home. Have you ever seen "Designed to Sell" on HGTV? If not, try to catch it sometime. In each episode, some poor seller is told their home is a nightmare, and a designer is given $2000 to ready it for sale. Now, I don't recommend that you go out and blow a couple of grand to stage your home. But the show has some good ideas for showing off a home's assets, and downplaying its liabilities. Let me give you an example. Recently, one o...
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR A QUICK SALE AT A PREMIUM PRICE By Jese Gonzalez RE/MAX Associates 915-549-1962 JeseG@remax.net Why is it important to correctly prepare your home for sale? First impressions are everything, and that is also true for buyers who tour your home. A home properly presented will have buyers thinking that your home is the perfect place for them. This will translate to a quicker sale and a higher price. Tips for Preparing Your Home for Sale Outside •Ø Paint, stain or varnish front door and surrounding trim. Polish brass. •Ø Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage. •Ø Make sure gutters are swept and cleaned. •Ø Look at all plants... prune bushes and trees. K...
BUYER CHECKLIST Buying a home can be a confusing and tedious process- closing should not be! By completing this form, you may avoid possible last minute delays. ITEM NEEDED CHECK IF COMPLETE 1. CONTRACT EXECUTED- All Parties who have any potential interest in owning the property (i.e., husband and wife) have executed the contract and the effective date is complete. 2. EXISTING SURVEY- If Seller has agreed to provide existing survey; both survey and the Residential Real Property Affidavit have been provided to both Buyer and Title Officer. 3. NEW SURVEY- If Seller or Buyer is purchasing a new survey, arrangements have been made for its completion and a copy sent to the Title Officer. 4. HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION- If the property is located in a home owner association, a resale...
SELLER CHECKLIST Selling a home can be a confusing and tedious process- closing should not be! Here's a checklist of wants needs to be done to go from Contract to Closing. ITEM NEEDED CHECK IF PROVIDED TO TITLE 1. CONTRACT EXECUTED- All Parties who have an interest in the property have executed the contract and the effective date is complete. 2. SURVEY- Seller has agreed to provide existing survey; both survey and the Residential Real Property Affidavit have been provided to Buyer and Title Company. 3. HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION- If the property is located in a home owner association, a resale package and resale certificate have been provided to Buyer's Agent and Title Officer. 4. SELLER DISCLOSURE- Seller's Disclosure has been provided to Buyer's Agent, if applicable. 5. RE...
Lenders analyze your credit score to determine whether or not to approve a home mortage. Before lending you money, creditors want to determine how much of a risk you are-in other words, how likely you are to repay the money they loan you. Credit scores help them do that, and the higher your score, the less risk they feel you'll be. It's important to note that raising your FICO credit score is a bit like losing weight: It takes time and there is no quick fix. In fact, quick-fix efforts can backfire. The best advice is to manage credit responsibly over time. You can save money by just following these tips and raising your credit score. Know and Track Your Credit Score- You can get the free MyFico 30-Day Trial of Score Watch which will tell you your current score and alert you if there ar...
The first thing we need to do is review "comparables".....comparable homes to your dream home that have sold within the last 6 months or so. We review properties that are in the same basic location, with similar square footage and amenities. We want to determine that the home is appropriately priced before making an offer. My job is to make sure you don't overpay for the property. Then, we write up the offer. There's a lot more that goes into making an offer than simply price. My years of experience, real estate "know-how" and negotiating skills will help you make the strongest offer possible. Keep in mind that the "strongest" offer doesn't mean capitulating to the seller. The strongest offer is one that puts you in the best possible negotiating position to get you what you want. Rememb...
I can set it up so that you'll automatically receive a daily email from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of any new listings that meet your specific criteria. Be the first to see that hot, newly listed house! Or, I can simply do it the old fashioned way. Based on your criteria, I'll look daily to find homes that seem right for you. Things to consider: You've heard the old adage "Location, Location, Location". But this means different things to different people. For some, being across the street from a school is a positive. For others, it's a negative. Think about your commute to work, need for an excellent school system, or the availability of excellent health care. Your best location is not the same as my best location. However, as a general rule, excellent schools and the availabili...
Firstly, I want to thank the many of you who have emailed me and thanked me for my blog entries. I try to only write things that I feel will help you become either a better real estate agent. The Internet can be a huge money pit if you don't know how to use it properly. Now to my main point. I have received this question several times over the past few weeks: "What do I do with all the leads I get that have no phone numbers?" I figure I should probably set the record straight. Each time I get the question I cringe at the thought of these real estate agents throwing their money down the drain. My immediate reaction is always, "What do you think you should do with them?" Of course I usually say that to myself so I don't hurt their feelings. I have talked with so many real estate agents t...
1. El Paso, TX real estate market is moving along pretty well right now and home prices are remaining steady. 2. El Paso still has very reasonable prices on our homes (compared to other areas of the country)and there are alot to choose from. 3. El Paso, Txis getting ready to have almost 100,000 soldiers and their families move here by 2013 and we already know that we do not have enough homes to house them in. Most will be renters, either in apartments or houses and there are definitely not enough of those. Investors should be buying homes right now while the market is still a buyers market because very soon prices will be going back up again. 4. Sellers are helping with closing costs in alot of sales so your out of pocket money will be less. 5. Ideal Weather in El Paso-less weather rela...
Chamizal National Memorial celebrates Mexican-American friendship and goodwill. It is a memorial to the peaceful settlement of a long standing dispute over the location of the international boundary between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua Mexico. On August 29, 1963, after more than a century of arguing about who owned the piece of land that was created by the meandering of the Rio Grande, the question was finally settled by the Convention of the Chamizal. September 25, 1964 ~President Lyndon B. Johnson and President Adolfo Lopez Mateos unveil a commemorative boundary marker at Chamizal. The first thing to do is stop at the visitors center, located in the center of the grounds. Bilingual employees of the National Park Service are on h...
This the night scene one would see from Scenic Drive. Its a beauty. Many young couples still visit Scenic Point as part of a romantic date, just like their parents and grandparents did. From this photo one can see the outline of the Border and !-10 Freeway. Tourists and natives alike use the coin-operated telescopes to magnify a particular view as they gaze out over two countries and the sparkling night lights. The area before the construction of Scenic Drive was known as Stormsville, and the city considered it a public health nuisance. D. Storms, a lawyer, owned a great deal of land along the rim where about 400 people lived in squalor. On a clear evening, when millions of city lights shimmer in the distance, ones hearts will skip a beat or two at the marvels spread befo...
As early as 1881, El Paso leaders promoted the idea of creating a place along the base of the Franklin Mountains to provide visitors a panoramic view of the area The automobile brought new attention to the idea, and in 1920, the city council and Mayor Charles Davis approved construction of a Scenic Drive. Finished in October 1920, the route became a popular attraction. The 1.82 mile drive reaches an elevation of 4,222 feet, 500 feet above the Rio Grande. In 1932, the city contracted to widen and pave the road, and in 1934, Civilian Conservation Corps Company 855 (Fort Bliss) carried out additional culvert work. Scenic Drive continues to attract vistors to the view of El Paso, Ciudad Juarez and the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. The mountains on ...
I know that everyone is very worried about our economy with all that is going on in Washington and the financial industry. I think that sales will continue to go on as they did before but things have to change. How many of you wondered when all the 100% loans starting coming into play, how long will this take to bite us in the behind? I know that I did. I think that loans will take place, but it will be like it was in the late 80's--you need money for a deposit, money for reserves and maybe money for closing costs if you can't get the seller to help you and you will need to have good credit. DUH! Let's not all think doom and gloom because like anything else, things will turn around and we will be happy and selling homes again.
Economic bailout: In an attempt to combat financial catastrophe, the Bush administration on Friday laid out a radical bailout plan with a jaw-dropping price tag of a takeover of 700 billion dollars or more in worthless mortgages and other bad debt held by tottering institutions. Several factors have contributed to our nation reaching this depression like low but I would like to discuss the actions and responsibilities of people in the mortgage and real-estate industry. I feel that across the nation homeowners, loan officers and realtors have contributed to us reaching this catastrophic debt. Home builders and developers have built new homes in almost every possible corner of the USA. Some efforts have been taken to closer regulate the loan industry but what else is needed? What shou...
Top 10 reasons to love El Paso, TX..... 1) COST OF LIVINGEl Paso's low cost of living compares very favorably with other major cities. On average, El Pasoans pay 94% of the national average for all items. El Paso's cost of living is low compared to other U.S. cities. San Diego, CA 127.5 Santa Fe, NM 114.5 Denver, CO 108.6 Las Vegas, NV 107.0 Albuquerque, NM 102.8 Phoenix, AZ 100.8 Tuscon, AZ 98.1 EL PASO, TX 94.6 These statistics were provided by the Industrial Development Council of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. 2) CULTURAL DIVERSITY Over the past 400 years the many cultures have enriched El Paso. Native Indians, Spanish conquistadors, Central and South Americans, Europeans and Asians have all contributed in enriching El Paso's cultural life. 3) NO STATE INCOME T...
This morning as I traveled from westside upper valley to northeast part of town; there a road called Trans-mountain road that I like to travel on. The road cuts through the tip of the Franklins Mountains. The land along the road is parkland or military reservation.Trans- mountain road was completed and opened on August 5 of 1969. The roadway scenery is beautiful and magnificent to view. There are rest areas with picnic tables one can stop along the way. This is one of my favorite roadways here in El Paso. See what you think? One hads to drive the roadway to get the full view of it. If passing through El Paso. Is this a must stop place. I took this photos eariler today in between inspections.
Subterranean termites favorite food is dead wood. Like the one your house is built with, just as are wooden barrels. fence post, landscaping chips, railroad ties, and 2x4 lumber. All these little guys need is a little moisture and some dead wood contacting the soil and they are there. The form board around concrete walkway and foundations are for the most part forgotten left and alone. Especially the 2x4 form broads around gas meter and electrical service entrance adjacent to the property. Than the homeowner is all upset asking, how could this of happen. This form board is underneath the drip line. Because the termite where found here a full treatment is recommended. If you did know what subterranean termites look like, well here you go. Subterranean termites are most common spec...
A mortgage lender or broker can work with you to determine the best financing program for you. For our purposes, I'm defining a lender as someone who actually has the money and would service the loan, and a broker is a resource who works with a number of lenders and can determine the best lender and loan program for you. The lender/broker will determine what a lender would be willing to loan you, but then you need to decide if you want to "max yourself out". Just because you can afford $2500/month doesn't necessarily mean you want to spend $2500/month. Only you can decide the amount that is right for you. But at least the lender/broker will tell you the maximum, so that we'll know what price range to look in. And don't forget-.Get Pre-Approved! I can recommend lenders/mortgage brokers w...
