This is a continuation from yesterdays investment property blog post If you decide to purchase rental property, you’ll need to learn the landlord/tenant laws in your city or state. What follows is just a sample of what’s typical.   Tenant’s Responsibilities ·         Pay rent on or before the due date stipulated in the lease. ·         Prevent damage to the property (use heat so pipes don’t freeze, keep windows closed when it’s raining, report plumbing leaks right away, etc.). ·         Allow only the people and pets listed on the lease to live on the grounds. ·         Maintain all smoke detectors so they’re functioning at all times. ·         Allow the landlord entry for inspections, maintenance, pest control, showings, etc. ·         Refrain from storing dangerous or illegal material... 07/13/2011

One area of the real estate market that is thriving right now is rental property. In the first quarter of this year, landlords and property managers across the country have rented more apartments and homes than they have during the first quarters of the past ten years. The amount that renters are willing to pay has also jumped to a nationwide average of $991 per month.*   Wall St. Journal article, “Apartment Vacancies Decline, Rents Expected to Rise,” 4/6/11) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704587004576245230523369572.html   All indications suggest that the rental market will continue to improve because of low vacancy rates and rising rents. In fact, the demand for rentals is predicted to far exceed supply through 2015, with some 4.5 million new renters expected to enter ... 07/12/2011

Windermere’s 27th annual Community Service Day wasFriday, June 17th. Every year since 1984, Windermereoffi ces have dedicated a day of service, where we jointogether to complete neighborhood improvement projects.Past projects include partnerships with Foundationorganizations to clean, repaint, improve facilities,work with local schools, food banks and neighborhoodimprovement projects.This year we helped the Homeless Youth Resource Centerlocated at 655 S. State Street.We all joined together bright and early to spend the dayimproving and organizing their facility. The Homeless Youth Resource Center provides a safeplace for street youth to go where they can have a hotmeal, take a shower and receive case management orreferrals to housing and other community programs.It was a very rewarding ... 06/30/2011

Yard sale season has arrived!  Many people shy away from the idea of having a yard sale, but do you truley need that broken down accordian or the 80's style prom dress?  A yard sale is a great way to get rid of the old and make way for the new.  Here are some tips to help make your yard sale a success... If you haven't used it in more than a year you most likely won't use it in the next year.  Sell it. Get the community involved.  Contact your neighbors and coordinate to have one large neighborhood sale on the same day.  This will give concumers a greater incentive to come. Get your whole family involved.  Set up a lemonade stand or have a small bake sale for you kids to run. Promote yourself through your favorite social networking site...for free! Offer an incentive.  Give away a free ... 06/29/2011

It was great to see all the volunteers out Saturday June 26, 2011 working on the Rush trail up corner canyon.  Rush is a great mountain bike trail and will soon be better.  I hope to see the continued improvement on the trails for not just mountain bikers, but hikers as well.  I love to see people come out and volunteer to make the trail system better.  If you did not know a representative from IMBA was out as well teaching some of the locals how to improve trail building skills as well.  Our trails continue to be a highlight of the community.  Next time you see volunteers out on the trails working to improve our are be sure to thank them, they are a great group of people. 06/28/2011

Chances are, you or someone you know in Draper is facing the possibility of foreclosure. But you need to understand that you are not alone. Today, 1 out of every 6 homeowners in America is behind on mortgage payments. These are tough and frustrating times. Now more than ever, it's important to identify your options. Foreclosure can be avoided, your credit can be saved, and your financial future can be salvaged. Through my experience handling distressed properties at Windermere Real Estate, I've found that homeowners today have more questions than answers about their circumstances. I have created this site to help you understand the possible solutions to foreclosure, as well as provide a detailed explanation of short sales, which may be the best course of action for some homeowners. Go t... 06/23/2011

As we age and think about future living for ourselves or a senior family member, it’s wise to perform something called an “age-in-place assessment” for each room. Detailed “home assessment” worksheets can be found at AdaptMy.com. Typical home assessment questions include:   ›› Are the hallways and doorways wide enough? To safely maneuver in a wheelchair or on crutches, doorways need to be at least 36 inches wide and hallways at least 42 inches in width.   ›› Are steps the only way to get in / out of the home? If so, a ramp may need to be built.   ›› Are the walls in the shower / tub area suitable for grab bars? Old lathe-and-plaster walls may need extra support added.   ›› Can the doorbell be clearly heard in every room? Concerned neighbors, authorities and loved ones should always be ... 06/16/2011

The power of two Start sorting and packing about two months before the planned move date. And limit your work to two-hour blocks to keep from getting physically and emotionally overwhelmed.   Know the new floorplan Take pictures and careful measurements of the new home / space to determine just how much you need to downsize.   Begin with the easy stuff The things you care less about are most likely stored in the basement, garage or a shed. Start there.   Try not to store things Avoid the urge to just stick things in storage until you have more time. Make the tough decisions now, move on and save yourself the storage costs.   Use colored stickers Once you decide whether to keep, donate or throw something away, label it with a sticker.   Call the kids Give adult children a deadline for c... 06/04/2011

 So I ended last week on a very positive note. I closed with my buyer's on a Short Sale Listing in Draper, located in  Corner Canyon Estates. The home was in fabulous condition. The location? Exactly where we wanted to be and the spacious and lush backyard would entertain most buyer's needs. The Real deal maker was the price. $325,000 and $9000 in closing costs. This was not a Suncrest or South Mountain listing. This home had a very usable, almost 1/2 acre lot with a 3 car garage and on a cul-de-sac. Anyways, I don't want to brag but what a great buy! I also wanted to commend the listing agent and while I don't make it a habit to endorse the competition... TAMMY CAMPBELL with the Alliance Group was amazing. She really knows short sales, makes every effort to get approvals in a timely ma... 05/17/2011

Utah has some of the Best Mountain Biking and in Draper we have it right in our back yard.  It is great to have a race series supported by local shops like Revolution Bicycle.  There are several local event including on this weekend up at Soldier Hollow.  We have an event in Draper that is sponsored by Revolution Bicycles as well this coming Memorial Weekend, it is the 6th Annual Stan Crane Memorial XC Race.  Also, as you are out using the trails this spring be sure to follow the rules of not using the trails when muddy.  Some of the people on the Trail Committy are not supportive of Mountain Bikes on the trail systems, so let not give them an excuse to ban the use of Mountain Bikes on the trail system. 05/12/2011

Every 15 seconds, a home in America is robbed. The 2009 FBI Uniform Crime Report shows that 72.6% of all burglaries involved residential properties¹, an increase of 2.3% from 2008. Fortunately, a little preparation can go a long way toward protecting you and your family, as most burglars will not break into a well-protected home.   ¹http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/offenses/property_crime/burglary.html   To determine the security of your home, consider these six questions:   1. Will your doors withstand an assault? Most burglars will spend just four or five minutes trying to break into a home. Their preferred entry point: Your front or back door. Typically, they’ll ring the bell and knock to see if you’re home, then try to shoulder or kick an entry door open (more often the back door, ... 05/12/2011

When you’re on vacation—or even just gone for the weekend—your home is far more likely to be burgled, simply because your absence is usually obvious to the bad guys. So before you hit the road next time…   Make plans for the porch—Even if you do put a stop to the mail and newspapers, that still means door hangers, fliers and UPS/FedEx packages may pile up on the porch while you’re gone. So ask a trusted neighbor to stop by every day and collect whatever may be there.   Hire out the yard work—If you’ll be gone for an extended period, hire someone to mow the lawn and water the plants or shovel the snow during winter.   Install multiple timers—Install automatic on/off timers on multiple lights, as well as a radio or TV. Newer digital timers even let you vary the schedule.   Put a car in t... 05/03/2011

Salt Lake County Homes for Sale, Earnest Money and the REPC The Real Estate Purchase Contract involves more than just price.  You will have to discuss personal property possession, rent, tests, inspections, closing dates and more.  The one term that throws most buyers, especially first time buyers is Earnest Money Deposit.  What is it?  Why do I need to pay it?  Why do I have to pay so much? Not the Down Payment Many buyers show up to write their offer and announce to their agent that they do not have to put an earnest money deposit because they are getting down payment assistance or 100 percent financing.  Communication is very important, it is not difficult to see where an inexperienced buyer would confuse one deposit for another, so do not feel bad if you, too, just learned something... 04/19/2011

While it’s true that some lenders have made it more challenging to qualify for a home loan in the wake of the subprime crisis, a solid credit history and advance preparation will greatly increase your opportunity to turn your real estate dreams into a reality. The home loan primer that follows serves as a good starting point.   The most common types of loans Fixed Rate Loan—Choose this option, and your interest rate and monthly payment will not change, unless you chose to refinance. When the economy picks up and interest rates start climbing again, you can rest comfortably knowing your monthly payment will remain steadfast. However, in return for offering that level of predictability, fixed-rate loans also come with higher interest rates attached.   Adjustable Rate Loan—With this optio... 04/15/2011

Salt Lake County Home for Sale, FHA Loans and Lower Down-payments The FHA (Federal Housing Authority) doesn't actually fund your home loan in any way.  The FHA simply provides mortgage insurance to help consumers become Home Owners.  The FHA actually insures the lender from losses resulting from Home Owner default.  The FHA helps mortgage lenders prepare loans for people who might not otherwise qualify. One of the big advantages of an FHA Loan is that a smaller down payment is possible.  As of January 1, 2009, the down payment for a FHA Loan is 3 ½ percent of the principle loan amount.  In today's market the down payment on conventional loans can be as much as 20 percent.  FHA loans make it possible for many people to enter the Home Buyer market, just with the lower down payment alone. ... 04/14/2011

With most home loans you have a choice: Pay the lender back all the money borrowed (plus interest) in either 15 or 30 years. While the decision may seem arbitrary to some, those in the know understand that the route you choose can have a big impact on your financial future.   The 15-year option A 15-year home loan will feature a lower interest rate than a 30-year version—which means you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan. You’ll build equity faster. And, obviously, you’ll be mortgage-free 15 years sooner.   However, because the loan must be paid back more quickly, your monthly payments will be significantly higher with a 15-year loan. Plus, these shorter-term loans are more difficult to qualify for (lenders want to be sure you can afford the higher monthly payments).   The ... 04/11/2011

Salt Lake County Homes for Sale, Getting Pre-Approved Buying your first home?  , maybe your second, well this can be a wonderful experience for you or this could be a disaster.  It all depends on how prepared you are when the process starts.  Your first step is getting Pre-Approved. Financing a home can be a difficult process for you, especially finding the right loan.  What you need to be concerned about is not getting the financing, but getting the right financing.  You will want to find the best terms at the lowest cost.  You will want to meet with a loan officer to review your financing options; you will need to meet with a lender who can explain all of the different types of loans that you will be able to afford as well as the program that will help you meet your goals.  Once you d... 04/07/2011

Salt Lake County Homes for Sale, Picking the Right Realtor Well the time has come for you to sell your home; it could be for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps you need more space for an expanding family maybe your current home just doesn't fit your needs anymore.  Maybe the reason is much more stressful such as a divorce or any unexpected job relocation.  The last thing you need during this time is someone helping you sell your home that is unprofessional or doesn't understand the current real estate market. When you are selecting a Realtor, make sure you find someone whose personality is not in line with yours.  Even if the agent has terrific credentials and has sold a lot of homes over the years, they may not make you feel comfortable.  You will be dealing very closely with your Realtor ... 03/30/2011

Visit KeithSellsUtah.com for the complete home tour and thousands of other homes for sale.Awesome 2 Bedroom Townhome in Draper. NOT A SHORT SALE!. End unit, laminate flooring through out, private patio off kitchen, huge master bedroom with walk-in closet, spacious garage. Close to everything. Don`t miss this. Google™ Map to Property.View the Complete Home Tour.View all Property Detail.Price:$139,900.00Beds:2Baths:2Sqft:1,156Lot:0.01 acresTo see this home in person call..Keith Jeppson, Associate Broker, GRI, ABR, eProEverest Realty Group801-582-5882 BestUtahHomeSearchFor Maps, Street View, Tour, Dozens of Home Facts on thousands of UT homes please visit KeithSellsUtah.com 03/23/2011

Salt Lake County Homes for Sale, Sell your Home before You Purchase a New One When it comes time to purchase a new home, the question always comes up, should I sell my old home before I buy the new one?  Depending on your credit situation and your ability to qualify for two loans, this question could be easily resolved.  We will assume you have excellent credit and can do whatever you please.  It is always better to have your present home sold before you make an offer on the new home.  If you have an offer with a contingency of selling the old home, the seller will be less likely to accept the offer or allow better terms.  You will always be in a better bargaining position if you were able to move in without delay.  Credit terms on you new loan will also be better based on you living in... 03/18/2011