Nalls Home Partners Blog

2012-01-31T09:18:00.000-08:00

Get organized in 20 minutes

View Photo Gallery — Bethesda-based professional organizer Rachel Strisik spends her days helping folks around the region get their lives in order. Here, she offers a peek inside her own home and shares some of her favorite organizing products.

By Terri Sapienza, Published: January 25

Whether your home is 700 square feet or 7,000, having organized spaces will make your life easier and less stressful, says professional organizer Rachel Strisik, who is based in Bethesda. Here, she offers three household projects that should each take about 20 minutes to accomplish.

If you’ve been ignoring the need to get your home in order, this is an easy way to get yourself motivated. Setting aside time this weekend to tackle one of these projects will not only leave you feeling a little more organized come Monday morning, it might even give you incentive to keep going.

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2012-01-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

Heritage trails mark the path to preserving D.C. history

View Photo Gallery — As H Street NE gentrifies, neighborhood natives are working with historians to uncover and restore the corridor’s history.

Others contain largely unknown D.C. tidbits: Who knew that go-go king Chuck Brown was a shoeshine boy outside the Howard Theatre as a child? (That story is on the Georgia Avenue/Pleasant Plains Heritage Trail) Or that deaf football players at Gallaudet University invented the American football huddle, so they could conceal their signs from opponents. (Photos of that first huddle are on the Greater H Street NE Heritage Trail).
Bennett says tracing the neighborhood’s history also brought her family together. As part of the research for the upcoming LeDroit Park/Bloomingdale trail, her cousins got together over breakfast to research the story of two priests in the family. One was Father Leslie Branch, the first African American Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy.

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2012-01-31T08:27:00.000-08:00

A lesson on real estate deductions

Daniel Acker/BLOOMBERG - U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service 1040 Individual Income Tax forms for the 2010 tax year are arranged for a photograph in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, March 23, 2011.

By Benny L. Kass, Published: January 27

“People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women.”
— Unknown

Selling your home (including condo or co-op) in today’s market is not easy, but when you are successful, you may be pleasantly surprised by the favorable tax laws.
In general, if you are married and meet two legal tests, you can exclude up to $500,000 of the profit you have made. If you are not married or file a separate tax return, the exclusion is reduced to $250,000.

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2012-01-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

Posted at 04:47 AM ET, 01/30/2012

Renovating an old D.C. home? Know this first

By Pat Kennedy

Special to The Washington Post

Pat Kennedy’s home in the Crestwood neighborhood of the District. These rowhomes were built in 1915 and some are still in need of repairs and upgrades. (Pat Kennedy)
Historic old houses are notorious flirts, and in many District neighborhoods, homes dating back to the turn of the last century are the norm. You walk in and they grab you with beautiful old woodwork and light fixtures. Oh, and the claw foot tub will seduce you every time. But before you say “I do” to one of these charmers, remember that renovating an old house can be daunting.

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2012-01-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Art of House Hunting

Sponsored By

Eight tips to help in your search

By Michele Dawson

Armed with your down payment and your pre-approval letter for a mortgage loan, the next step is finding the house that will best meet your family's needs. With realistic expectations, patience and plenty of research, you'll be well on your way.

Once you narrow the search to neighborhoods you like, you'll want to determine the maximum house price you can afford. Even though you're pre-approved for a set loan amount, it doesn't mean you can afford it. You'll want to factor in other expenses, including retirement and college savings, vacations, and home maintenance and repairs, when you calculate how much you can afford for a monthly payment. And don't forget to budget for homeowners insurance and property taxes. There's also homeowner's assocation fees, especially in newer developments.

Next, differentiate your needs versus your wants. You need three bedrooms, but a fourth room would be nice for a play room or guest room. You need a two-car garage, but a larger one would be nice for storage. You need a functional kitchen but want hardwood floors. You need two bathrooms but want a luxurious master suite. You get the picture.

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2012-01-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

Amazingly Colorful Homes

John Giuffo, Contributor

1/24/2012 @ 1:02PM

We may remember them through a sepia-toned lens, but the Victorians loved their color. In fact, many of the intricately-restored Victorian-era homes found around the country are clad in eye-catching colors.
Take the multi-toned Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington, New York, for example. Built in 1872 for a tea merchant who wanted the building to resemble a teapot, it is the only house in the world with an octagonal-domed roof, according to Elizabeth Pomada, co-author of five books on Victorian homes called Painted Ladies. “It was meant to amuse,” says Pomada. “It was meant to be a vacation home, there are whimsical touches all over.” Now owned by an architect and preservationist, the home has been fully restored to its original appearance, including painstaking matches of the original color scheme, which included 10 colors in 27 shades.

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2012-01-24T08:49:00.001-08:00

Home buying could soon beat renting

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

Falling home prices have sent many would-be buyers to the sidelines. If all goes well, record low interest rates and rising rents may soon prompt some of them to take a second look at buying.

Unfortunately, that's a big "if," according to Paul Diggle, a housing economist at Capital Economics.
Much of the decision to buy a house still depends on your personal finances and preferences, your career or family life, or level of financial security.

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2012-01-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

9 remodeling tips to make your home feel bigger

By Josh Garskof @Money January 20, 2012: 11:29 AM ET

(MONEY Magazine) -- You don't have to be underwater on your mortgage to feel trapped in your home.
Now may be a less than ideal time to put a house on the market or to take on big debt -- icing your plans to trade up or build an addition anytime soon. But that doesn't mean you're stuck living in an uncomfortable home. For a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you can make your place "live" bigger without actually making it bigger, says architect Sarah Susanka, a small-space specialist and author of "Not So Big Remodeling."

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2012-01-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

Home sales continue to improve

By Chris Isidore @CNNMoney January 20, 2012: 11:19 AM ET

Sales of existing homes continued to improve in December, lifting full-year sales volume modestly higher.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home sales ended a difficult year on a high note, resulting in a gain in full-year sales volume. The National Association of Realtors reported that the annual sales pace in December reached 4.6 million homes, up 5% from November's pace and 3.6% from a year ago.

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2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Mortgage rate continues to hit new lows

View Photo Gallery — How does your city stack up?: The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index offers a monthly assessment of how home prices are faring from city to city. In the most recent report, only one city saw an increase in prices for the month.

By Sara Kehaulani Goo, Published: January 19

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage reached a new low this week, falling to 3.88 percent, according to data released Thursday by Freddie Mac.
The average 30-year rate fell a fraction of a percentage point below last week’s 3.89 percent, the previous record low, and marks the seventh consecutive week in which the average has been below 4 percent. The average 15-year mortgage rate, which is popular among homeowners who are refinancing, hit 3.17 percent, up from last week’s 3.16 percent figure.

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2012-01-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

Cool and unusual homes for sale

From spinning UFOs in upstate New York to magical kingdoms in Arkansas, these homes offer a truly unusual living experience

MORE VIEWS

New Paltz, N.Y.

Price: $1.2 million

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 3

Square feet: 2,300

This dome-shaped home not only looks like a UFO, it spins like one. The eco-friendly structure sits on a turntable and can turn at the touch of a remote control to take advantage of lush forest views or capture the warmth of the sun. It may look small from the outside, but the interior is surprisingly spacious, according to real estate agent Ann Rajs. The first floor is 54 feet in diameter and tall windows create the feel of cathedral ceilings with a spiral staircase that winds to the second floor.

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2012-01-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/13/2012

What’s going on with...Uline Arena?

By Jonathan O’Connell

WASHINGTON, DC- JANUARY 05: The Uline Ice Arena, which was later renamed the Washington Coliseum is seen on Thursday January 05, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Beatles played a concert at the Coliseum in 1964. The structure is featured on a series of placards on the history of H Street NE and the surrounding neighborhood. The building is viewed along M St. NE. (Photo by Matt McClain For The Washington Post) (Matt McClain - FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)

Passengers aboard Red Line trains headed east out of the New York Avenue Metro station have all seen it out the window: a concrete dome adorned with graffiti and banner advertisements.
It’s the Uline Arena, a building that was erected in 1941 as the Washington Coliseum and in 1964 played host to the first U.S. concert by the Beatles, shortly after the band’s famed performance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

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2012-01-12T07:22:00.001-08:00

A House That Looks Good Will Sell

Sponsored By

How to attain curb appeal

By Al Heavens

A house should have curb appeal, they say, but what exactly does that mean?

What it means is that, if a buyer drives past a house at 5 or 10 m.p.h., the front of the place should be alluring enough for that buyer to stop the car. If the seller has done the job properly, the buyer should then get out of the car and write down the real estate agent's name and number.

You can achieve curb appeal - which the National Association of Realtors says sells 49 percent of all houses - whether you have a city townhouse with no front yard or a suburban house with trees and a lawn.

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2012-01-12T07:10:00.001-08:00

Don't Overlook a Home's Potential

Sponsored By

Cosmetic issues are easy to remedy

By Michele Dawson

Home shopping for first-time homebuyers it's an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking, experience. If you're like others in the market for their first home, you probably have in mind exactly how your soon-to-be home will look.

But it's important not to fall into the bad decorating, dingy walls and dirt-bare back yard equals bad-home trap. If you don't see past the hideous wallpaper, funky light fixtures and avocado green carpeting, you may miss out on a home with great potential.

And, if you're looking for a home in a seller's market where homes are being snatched up as soon as they go on the market, you'll come to realize you can't be choosy if you want to make a competitive offer.

One of the first things to do is to get pre-approved for a loan and determine the maximum you can afford to offer for a house. Don't look at homes that are asking for more than 5 percent above your maximum, otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for disappointment if you find the perfect—but outside your budget—home.

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2012-01-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Home Design Requests
Zillow, Contributor

Years ago, I attended a trade show for kitchen and bath products in Dallas. You know the kind: Huge convention hall, lots of booths, vendors hawking the latest in whatever the latest is. Lots of free logo pens, letter openers and key chains. A friend of mine told me that stuff is called “swag.” And it was. Heavy swag. After a couple of passes around the trade show floor, filling my canvas tote bag with catalogs and brochures and swag, I popped in on a seminar, where a representative of a national home builder was talking about new home design to a room full of eager builders.

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2012-01-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

Which Home Improvement Projects Offer the Best Returns?

When it comes to remodeling, exterior replacement projects have routinely rewarded home owners with more bang for their buck. This year is no different: REALTORS® recently rated many exterior improvements as among the most valuable home investment projects as part of the 2011-12 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.

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2012-01-11T07:35:00.001-08:00

Keep Your Energy Bill Low While Selling Your Home

by Phoebe Chongchua

Whether you are moving into a new home, getting ready to sell yours or a vacant home, keeping energy costs down is desirable to both buyers and sellers. Even though there are many energy-efficient options these days, there are a growing number of energy-suckers.You might be surprised to learn just how much that beautiful water feature costs to keep it running 24/7 year-round. Depending on where you live and the wattage needed, that fountain could cost an extra $30 per month.

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2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Tips for Sellers

by Carla Hill

Today’s sellers may face challenging conditions in many markets, but that doesn’t mean choosing to sell is a bad idea. There are many reasons to sell and most are good ones. Here are ten tips to get you on your way to getting your home sold.

1. Hire a Professional. This is no time to be navigating the rough waters of the real estate market on your own. You want someone who can help you accurately price your home, bring in potential buyers, handle contracts, and market your home to the masses.

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2012-01-10T08:41:00.001-08:00

5 Events that Really Mattered for Housing in 2011 – and Beyond

By Jed Kolko | December 29, 2011 |

Michael Melford / Getty Images

Government, the mortgage industry and forces of nature all shook the housing market in 2011. They had both an immediate impact and slow-burning effects, setting the stage for a bumpy 2012 with more foreclosures, political battles and local market risks.

2012-01-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

Washington, D.C. leads U.S. in attracting new residents

By Les Christie @CNNMoney January 6, 2012: 7:07 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Among those who moved last year, the nation's capital was once again the most popular destination.

According to a United Van Lines annual migration study, which took into account 146,000 interstate moves, nearly twice as many Americans moved to Washington, D.C. than moved out, making it the most migrated to destination in the nation for the fourth year in a row. Often, people go where the jobs are. As unemployment soared throughout most of the nation over the past four years, jobs were being created in or near D.C., thanks to one big employer: The government.

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2012-01-04T09:40:00.001-08:00

10 Things to Avoid When Applying For A Loan

If you are going through the home buying process you’ve probably heard a lot about what you should do. But, if you are planning to get a loan to help you buy the house, there are also things you should not do. Realtor® Leslie Monaco of Greenwood Village, Colorado has compiled a very helpful list of ten things to steer clear of if you are in the midst of the loan application process”
The lending environment has changed drastically over the past three years. Now more than ever, lenders are very nervous to lend money and are tightening their guidelines. The process to obtaining financing for a home is extremely difficult and often times painful. I have listed below actions to avoid before applying for a mortgage loan and during the loan process itself. Any one of these ten things could impact your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan so it is critical to avoid any of them until after your loan has closed or your loan officer has advised you.

2012-01-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

Five Ways To Prepare To Buy A Home

Did you resolve that 2012 is the year you own your own home? Making this type of purchase requires a lot of planning. Realtor® Robin Jones of Norfolk, NE gives some first steps on getting ready to be a homeowner:
As promised, my next few posts will be about how to prepare to buy a home. Today we’re starting with what you’ll need to do one year out to start getting ready. No surprises…it’s all about credit.

2012-01-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Buying or selling a home in 2012? Here’s what you need to know.

By Amanda Abrams,

Matthew Branch and his wife Rachel Sayre decided to finally put down roots in Washington. After several months of searching for a house, the couple just made an offer on a detached home in the Northwest neighborhood of Takoma. Branch, 32, doesn’t seem particularly anxious about diving headfirst into the area’s housing market. “I think it’ll probably appreciate, but it’s anybody’s game,” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

Click here for full article

2012-01-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

More parents helping kids buy homes

By Les Christie @CNNMoney December 9, 2011: 11:34 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Hey, baby boomers! Pondering what gift to get your kid who's all grown up? For many of your peers, the answer is a house.
One in five baby boomer couples have already given at least one of their children the means to purchase a home -- either buying it outright, furnishing the down payment or co-signing the loan, according to a survey from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

Click here for full article

2012-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

Mortgage rates fall to record lows

By Les Christie @CNNMoney December 15, 2011: 1:44 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Mortgage rates sunk to record lows again this week.
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.94%, matching the all-time low hit in early October, according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rate survey. Meanwhile, 15-year fixed-rate loans hit a new record low of 3.21%, surpassing the record set on October 6.

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2011-12-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

Staging to sell: Tips for homes that need a little sprucing up

View Photo Gallery — Some homeowners pay staging professionals to help make a home more appealing to buyers.

By Ellen Ryan, Published: November 30

Need to sell your house? Your broker may well recommend staging it — usually meaning winnowing down the furniture and accessories to a well-chosen few, artfully highlighting your home’s selling points, and neutralizing paint and personal touches so buyers can imagine it as theirs.

Click here for full article

2011-12-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

When is an offer on a house a contract?

By Harvey S. Jacobs, Thursday, December 1, 1:07 PM

Dear House Lawyer: My wife and I are in the process of buying our first home. On a Monday, our licensed real estate agent prepared our offer using the local standard residential real estate contract. We completed all of the blanks, initialed where indicated, signed all documents and delivered the offer, along with our $10,000 earnest money deposit check, to our agent. He delivered the offer to seller’s real estate agent in person. The list price for the home was $400,000. Our offer was for $350,000. On Wednesday, the seller’s agent e-mailed the seller’s signed counteroffer agreeing to sell the home to us but changed the price to $375,000 and inserted a clause stating that the home gym equipment would not be included.

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2011-12-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

A smaller house will make a big difference

By Carla Fried, Janice Revell, Donna Rosato and Tali Yahalom @Money November 14, 2011: 1:19 PM ET

(MONEY Magazine) -- Last year the economic forecasting firm Fiserv predicted that home values would sink around 5% in 2011, and that prices in three-quarters of the nation's major metro areas would fall. The bad news is, the firm wasn't that far off the mark. The good news: In the coming year, Fiserv thinks 95% of the 384 metro areas it tracks will see prices rise.

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2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Pending-home sales up by most in almost a year

Rick Bowmer / AP

This Nov. 28, 2011 photo, shows a home with a sale pending sign, in Portland, Ore. The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes jumped in October to the highest level in a year.

By Reuters

Pending sales of existing U.S. homes surged in October by the most in nearly a year as Americans took advantage of low interest rates for mortgages, data from a real estate trade group showed on Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in October, rose 10.4 percent to 93.3 from 84.5 in September.
That was the biggest monthly gain since November 2010.

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2011-11-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

5 tips if you have to sell your home in winter

It may not be an ideal time, but there are some things you can do to help yourself

Steven Senne / AP

Sometimes a job transfer, lease or personal circumstances require plunging into making a sale in the dead of winter.

By DAVE CARPENTER

updated 11/13/2011 12:19:59 PM ET

CHICAGO — Just your luck — you have to sell your home in winter, the slowest and dreariest sales season of all.

But cheer up. You can use staging, the reduced competition and some seasonal opportunities to your advantage.
"You wouldn't necessarily choose to sell your home in winter," says Katie Severance, a broker for ReMax in Upper Montclair, N.J. "But there are certain extra steps you can take to really help your chances."
Many homeowners pull their houses off the market by year's end if they haven't sold. That's understandable.

Click here for full article

2011-11-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Late mortgage payments rise in 3rd qtr for first time since 2009; may show start of new trend

By Associated Press, Published: November 7 | Updated: Tuesday, November 8, 7:48 AM

NEW YORK — While lawmakers in Washington debated the debt ceiling and consumer confidence dropped, more homeowners in the U.S. were having a harder time making their mortgage payments.
The rate that mortgage holders were late with their payments by 60 days or more rose in the June-to-September period for the first time since the last three months of 2009, according to TransUnion.

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2011-11-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

Linda Bond’s house in Chevy Chase

View Photo Gallery — How a dark, dreary and dated house became light and elegant.

By Terri Sapienza, Published: October 26

Two years ago, when Linda Bond had the chance to buy a house she had admired for a long time, she jumped at it.
But the house had one flaw: a dark, outdated interior. The look she imagined for the five-bedroom French manor home in Chevy Chase, Md., was light, airy and elegant.

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2011-11-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ten things you need to know about buying or selling a home

By Deborah K. Dietsch, Published: October 26

After staying put during the economic recession, you might be tempted by stabilizing real estate prices and low mortgage interest rates to sell your house and buy your next place. What you might not realize is how long and complicated the process of buying and selling a home has become. New lending regulations, appraisal procedures and consumer expectations can throw up roadblocks for even the most seasoned flipper. Many homeowners who haven’t sold or bought a home in the past few years will find that many of the old “rules” have changed. Residential real estate experts suggest homeowners become aware of the new rules before listing their current property and searching for a new home.

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2011-11-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

How to find the best refi rate? Shop around

By Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin, Published: October 21

Q:
I heard you on the radio last weekend talking about refinancing. It sounds like you got a really good interest rate. My problem is that I don’t know how to find a good mortgage lender.

There are so many ads online that I don’t know who to trust. What are your thoughts about trying out an online refinance company vs. working with a trusted bank? Where do I start? And can you recommend someone you trust?

Click here for full article

2011-11-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Mortgage lenders could soon take homes’ energy costs into account

Dozens of housing, energy and environmental groups have endorsed the new legislation including appraisers, large home builders, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Natural Resources Defense Council, green-designated real estate brokers, the Institute for Market Transformation and the National Association of State Energy Officials, among others.
Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber are backing the legislation because they see it as an employment generator that requires no federal budget outlays, no new taxes or programs. A joint study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Institute for Market Transformation estimated that 83,000 new jobs in the construction, renovation and manufacturing industries could be stimulated by the legislation if the new underwriting rules were phased in over a period of years.

Click here for full article

2011-11-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Getting your home ready for the big chill

Winter wonderlands are cute and all, but they get pretty cold too.

By Zillow
While September brings the first day of fall, October can be the harbinger of the winter and all of its frigid pitfalls. It's best to be prepared for the frost and snow with a few simple tasks that will prevent drafts, frosty windows and every homeowner's nightmare: Busted pipes.Click here for full article

2011-10-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

D.C.-area home prices lead nation in August

Washington Business Journal by Tucker Echols, Broadcast/Web Reporter

Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 10:06am EDT

Washington's residential real estate market is outperforming all other areas in the country.

Tucker Echols
Broadcast/Web Reporter - Washington Business Journal

Washington-area home prices led the nation in August, increasing 1.6 percent on average from July.
The D.C.-area gain was the largest monthly advance in the latest 20-city Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller Home Price Index and compares with a national average advance compares with a national average advance of 0.2 percent.

Click here for full article

2011-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Private survey shows prices rose in 10 of 20 cities tracked, fifth straight month of gains

By Associated Press, Published: October 25

WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in August in half of major cities measured by a private survey, a sign that prices are stabilizing in some hard-hit portions of the country.
The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the fifth straight month that at least half of the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.

Click here for full article

2011-10-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

Foreign buyers scooping up U.S. homes

By Les Christie October 21, 2011: 5:23 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Hey, wealthy foreigners! Want to live in the U.S.? Buy a home here.
International purchases of American homes are ramping up, and a new Senate bill designed to boost the ailing real-estate market would encourage globe-trotting investors to buy even more.

Click here for full article

2011-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Home prices up in half of major US cities

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in August in half of major U.S. cities measured by a private survey, a sign that prices are stabilizing in some hard-hit portions of the country.
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index showed Tuesday that prices increased in August from July in 10 of the 20 cities tracked. That marked the fifth straight month that at least half of the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.
The biggest price increases were in Washington, Chicago and Detroit. The greatest declines were in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Click here for full article

2011-10-24T12:01:00.001-07:00

Government announces new program to help ‘underwater’ homeowners

View Photo Gallery — A look at the Obama administration’s efforts in trying to help homeowners and bring the nation out of its housing slump.

By Zachary A. Goldfarb, Updated: Monday, October 24, 11:32 AM

The federal government on Monday announced new rules that would allow many more struggling borrowers to refinance their mortgages at today’s ultra-low rates, reducing monthly payments for some homeowners and potentially providing a modest boost to the economy.

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2011-10-24T11:59:00.001-07:00

Architect couple meet their match in Hyattsville house

View Photo Gallery — This custom “pyramid” house features a large solarium as its main attraction.

By Amanda Abrams, Published: October 21

Once in a while, the chemistry between a home and its owners is so strong that the phrase “it was meant to be” comes to mind. That’s how it is with Marc and Madlen Simon and the Hyattsville house they bought a year and a half ago.

Click here for full link

2011-10-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

US announces help for underwater homeowners

By msnbc.com staff and wires

A leading housing regulator on Monday announced changes to a government refinancing program that could help up to one million homeowners of the estimated 11 million whose homes are worth less than their mortgage.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage finance sources Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said it was easing the terms of the two-year-old Home Affordable Refinance Program, which helps borrowers who have been making mortgage payments on time but have not been able to refinance as home values have dropped.

Click here for full article

2011-10-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Home prices climb for fourth straight month

By Les Christie September 27, 2011: 10:47 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home prices in July climbed for the fourth month in a row, but are still down from a year ago.
According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller home price index of 120 major cities, prices rose 0.9% in July compared with June, but they're still 4.1% lower than 12 months ago.

Click here for full article

2011-10-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates drop below 4 percent for first time ever

Average rate on 30-year-fixed mortgage hits 3.94 percent

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

updated 10/6/2011 12:26:52 PM ET

WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage this week fell below 4 percent for the first time ever, to 3.94 percent. For those who can qualify, it's an extraordinary opportunity to buy or refinance. And mortgage rates could fall even further now that the Federal Reserve plans to reshuffle its portfolio of securities to try and lower long-term rates.

Click here for full article

2011-10-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

Who Slept Here? Tracking Washington, Roosevelt, JFK, Judy Garland, and The Babe, to Name a Few

Zillow, Contributor

Move over, George Washington.

When it comes to real estate listings that tout celebrities “who slept here,” the first president of the United States will have to share that bed, er, honor, with Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Judy Garland, Ernest Hemingway and Susan B. Anthony, to name a few

George Washington

George Washington slept in this circa 1750 home

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2011-10-05T08:50:00.001-07:00

Listing of the Week: Albion castle and its underground caverns

By Zillow

Zillow

This San Francisco home sits above tunneled water caverns.

881 Innes Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
For Sale: $975,000
It's not every day that you find a home for sale with underwater stone caverns, but this isn't just any home. This unique property on the San Francisco real estate market is the Albion Castle, and it has a fascinating story behind it.

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2011-10-04T12:05:00.001-07:00

Prime time for D.C. area lawn care

By Joel M. Lerner, Published: September 30

It’s the time of year to start thinking about making your lawn thicker and healthier. Fall is the best time of year to refurbish or plant cool season turf. It is the preferred ground cover that thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic material.
Lawn grasses are specialized. They must withstand regular cutting at heights of one to four inches, be perennial, stay green most of the year and grow into a tight carpet that will hold up under foot traffic.

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2011-10-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Driveway needs right shape to fight erosion

Published: September 30

Gravel roads and driveways often suffer significant erosion because they are shaped wrong. If the center of the drive or road is lower than the edges, giving it a V-shape, then the water rushes down the center and causes enormous erosion.
Road engineers discovered centuries ago that you solve this problem by creating roads and driveways with a crown in them. This means the driveway surface is not level side-to-side but has the center higher than the edges.

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2011-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

A little architectural knowledge can go a long way for homeowners

View Photo Gallery — Colonial, Federal, Victorian and Art Deco styles are commonly found in the great Washington area’s neighborhoods

By Susan Straight, Published: September 30

When was the last time you thought about the architectural style of your house? The listing when you bought it said it was a Colonial, but is it really?
When real estate agents list a property with the multiple listing service, they have complete discretion over how to categorize the architectural style of the house.

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2011-09-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Refinance Your Home Loan Now

Michael Chamberlain, Contributor

The mortgage payment is one of the biggest items in most homeowners’ budgets. A smaller payment means more to spend elsewhere.
Interest rates on home loans are at the lowest level in 60 years. This is an opportunity to save on interest payments and use the saving to finance other goals.

Image via Wikipedia

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2011-09-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates unchanged at record lows

Average rate on 30-year-fixed at 4.09 percent — lowest level since 1951

By DEREK KRAVITZ

updated 2 hours 45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — Fixed mortgage rates hovered at record lows for a third straight week. They are likely to fall even further now that the Federal Reserve said it would shuffle its holdings to drive down long-term interest rates. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 4.09 percent this week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. That's the lowest rate seen since 1951. The average rate on the 15-year mortgage ticked down to 3.29 percent. Economists say that's the lowest rate ever for the loan.

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2011-09-21T07:14:00.001-07:00

If you aren’t sure what your homeowner’s insurance covers, ask your agent

Published: September 2

Imagine my surprise when the earth started to shake recently. That surprise was only equaled when I pulled out my 25-page, single-spaced homeowner’s insurance policy and began reading. It quickly became evident that deciphering what was covered and what was not covered was no easy task.
Just what is homeowner’s insurance? How much insurance do I need? What does it exclude? How can I make sure that all my reasonably foreseeable risks are covered by insurance?

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2011-09-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

When will home prices spring back?

By Sarah Max @Money September 15, 2011: 5:58 AM ET

(MONEY Magazine) -- It was with some trepidation that Stephanie Kim and her husband, Brendan, 40 and 42, put their Chicago townhouse on the market in June. While the place was in great shape, prices in their city were off 8% from 2010 -- and of the 30 similar homes in the area listed the previous year, only nine had sold.

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2011-09-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

9/16/2011 @ 5:51PM |9,998 views

The Most Amazing And Absurd Places For Rent

You could shack up in a dank apartment or chain hotel room when your job or your family vacation beckons you abroad. But if money is no object, you might consider a more adventurous choice of lodging like, say, an old Boeing 727. In Manuel Antonio, Cost Rica you can rent one for $400 per night or $11,872 per month through Airbnb.com, a San Francisco, CA-based online vacation home rental site.

see photosAirbnb.com

Click for full photo gallery: Amazing And Absurd Places For Rent

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2011-09-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

Dodge the draft and cut home heating costs

By Josh Gars @Money September 20, 2011: 10:44 AM ET

Find the drafts that bump up your home heating bills.

(MONEY Magazine) -- You don't have to invest thousands in high-tech insulation or a super-efficient furnace to cut home heating costs. Just sealing drafts could lower your bills 3% to 18%, according to Danny Parker, a research scientist who works with the Department of Energy.

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2011-09-19T12:43:00.001-07:00

How to keep your property dry before a big storm

By Joel M. Lerner, Published: September 16

This year now has the distinction of being the tenth wettest August on record for the Washington region. The soggiest of the weather came with Hurricane Irene late in the month, leaving record rainfall and flooding in its wake. And Tropical Storm Lee made matters worse until it blew out to sea.

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2011-09-19T12:37:00.001-07:00

House Watch: Designing a kitchen that is kid-friendly.

By Katherine Salant, Published: September 16

When most parents plan a new house or a major remodel, they spend a lot of time on the kitchen, trying to make sensible choices from the staggering number of cabinet door styles, countertop materials and appliance models available.
In most cases, though, little thought is given to who will be using the kitchen. Will it just be Mom and Dad, or will the whole family be cooking together? Making a new kitchen user-friendly for kids is surprisingly easy.

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2011-09-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

House Watch: Delaying exterior trim upkeep could cost you big bucks

By Katherine Salant, Published: September 2

When most people buy a house, they tend to focus on the here and now — what it looks like and all the good times they will have living there. To the extent that they think about resale at all, the conversation centers on the features that may attract future buyers.
The real key to resale, though, is how well the owners maintain the house, but this issue generally draws little interest at the time of purchase and often falls off the radar screen soon after move-in.

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2011-09-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates at lowest level in six decades

Average rate on 30-year-fixed at 4.09 percent — lowest level since 1951

updated 9/15/2011 10:46:43 AM ET

WASHINGTON — Fixed mortgage rates have fallen to the lowest level in six decades for the second straight week. But few Americans can take advantage of the historically low rates. Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.09 percent this week. That's the lowest rate seen since 1951. The average rate on the 15-year mortgage, a popular refinancing option, fell to 3.30 percent, also a new low. Economists say it is likely the lowest rate on the 15-year ever.

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2011-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

House Calls: Making a long living room more inviting

By Terri Sapienza, Published: August 24

THE CHALLENGE
Karen and Gordon Graham and daughters Cecilia, Caitlin and Mia are stumped by the living room in their Kensington home. The front door opens directly into the 32-by-14-foot space, making furniture placement a challenge.

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(Leah L. Jones/ For The Washington Post ) - The room’s length has proved a design challenge.

2011-08-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

Stores offering designer dorm gear for the college-bound

By Jenna Johnson, Published: August 19

As soon as Amanda Zuckerman graduated from Potomac’s Winston Churchill High School in 2009, she began another rite of passage: shopping for her college dorm room.
Long gone, it seems, are the days of grabbing milk crates and grandma’s extra quilt and making do. Students prepared to spend $100,000 on an undergraduate degree increasingly are willing to invest in transforming the dorm into something closer to a first apartment.

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(Matt McClain/ FOR THE WASHINGTON POST ) - This is what your college dorm room could look like.

2011-08-16T06:56:00.001-07:00

How To: Repair cracks in a concrete garage floor before applying paint or epoxy

By Jeanne Huber, Published: August 3

Q. We have owned our home since it was constructed in 1984. The garage floor is now stained and cracked. We were going to paint it with a product advertised for use on garage floors. But we called the company and were told that the paint does not fill cracks. Do you have any advice about how to repair the cracks and remove or mask the stains? Is this something that homeowners can do on their own, or should we get a professional?

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2011-08-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

Buying is cheaper than renting in most U.S. cities

By Les Christie August 16, 2011: 6:07 AM ETNEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home prices have taken such a beating and demand for rental units has increased so much that it's now cheaper to buy a two-bedroom home than to rent one in most major U.S. cities.
According to real estate web site Trulia, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities in July. In just 12% of the cities, including New York, Seattle and San Francisco, renting was cheaper. In the remaining 14% of cities, renting was less expensive but close to the cost of buying.

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2011-08-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

Make a Great First Impression

Sponsored By

Inexpensive ways to make your home shine

By Michele Dawson

Once your home is listed and the for-sale sign is firmly implanted in your front lawn, all is ready for would-be buyers to tour your home. Or is it?

As anyone in the real estate industry will tell you, it's important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show it. That first impression is everything. Even if you're in a market where homes are selling quickly and for full asking price, it's still key to spruce up your home and prove that it's worth every penny you're asking. And it doesn't have to cost you a fortune.

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2011-08-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates plunge, flirting with new lows

By Les Christie August 3, 2011: 3:40 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- As Congress and President Obama hammered out a debt deal over the past week, mortgage rates plunged -- hitting new lows in some instances.
The 30-year fixed rate, usually the most popular choice for homebuyers, fell to 4.45% from 4.57% last week -- its lowest point since last November, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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2011-08-05T11:55:00.001-07:00

Barry Dixon, one of D.C.’s top designers, shares his tips

View Photo Gallery — Designer Barry Dixon’s second book, “Barry Dixon Inspirations,” offers tips on re-creating his famous looks. Here’s a look at some of those designs.

By Megan Buerger, Published: August 3

It has always been tough to describe Washington’s signature style. How do you relate the historic estates in Kalorama and Georgetown to the burgeoning arts quarters on H and U streets? Barry Dixon, one of the city’s best-known interior designers, thinks he’s found a way.

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2011-08-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

2011-08-03T07:17:00.001-07:00

New Md. law says condo associations can require that unit owners have insurance

By Benny L. Kass, Published: July 29

Starting in October, condominium associations in Maryland can vote to require that all unit owners carry homeowner’s insurance. What is unique about this law is that it only requires the approval of 51 percent of all condo owners.
Traditionally, to amend condominium legal documents, a super majority vote is required — usually up to 75 percent. In this case, however, the Maryland legislature has made it easier to change a condo’s bylaws.

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2011-08-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

2011 D.C. farmers market listings

Published: May 3 | Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 12:45 PM

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2011-08-02T09:59:00.001-07:00

Making a living room a sophisticated yet family-friendly space

By Terri Sapienza, Published: July 20

THE CHALLENGE
“My husband and I have no eye for design,” says Martha Murray, mother of two young daughters, Maddie and Carrie. She’d like some ideas for the 12-by-24-foot living room, which she says is the hub of their family’s Great Falls home.

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2011-07-26T09:58:00.001-07:00

Closing Costs: No Surprises

By Jane Hodges | Posted Jun 17th 2010 4:10PM

Many homebuyers mistakenly arrive at closing unprepared for a laundry list of closing costs: major and minor fees that are a routine part of any home purchase. This can be because the lender increased fees on lender-controlled aspects of a transaction, or because a buyer chose a third party (appraiser, inspector, attorney, title company) that might charge higher prices than those estimated by the lender.

Fortunately, new rules and regulations provide more clarity on the closing costs that borrowers can expect to pay. As a rule of thumb, homebuyers can expect to pay closing costs equivalent to 3 percent to 5 percent of their loan amount, says Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a Bethesda, Md.-based mortgage research firm.

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2011-07-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Strangest And Most Unusual Homes On The Market

Jul. 13 2011 - 5:20 pm

see photosRich Testa of RE/MAX Advance

Click for full photo gallery: In Pictures: 12 Strange And Unusual Homes For Sale

When Robert and Marguerite Antell told architect James Johnson they wanted to build a fun, artistic home, he handed the couple a coke bottle with a flowering sprig of Queen Anne’s lace. “This is your new home,” he explained. Forty years later the cream-colored pod that they built from his plans hit the market for $1.1 million in Pittsford, N.Y.

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2011-07-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Real estate bidding wars are back in parts of D.C. area

By Sandra Fleishman, Published: June 24

With all the bad news about the national housing market, it may come as a shock to eager Washington area home shoppers when they run into a bidding war. But that has been happening routinely in some popular neighborhoods, say real estate agents, especially when properties are priced slightly under the market and are in good condition or show strong promise for renovation.

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2011-07-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Europe's pain is US homeowners' gain

As mortgage rates drift lower, refinancing activity rises

By John W. Schoen Senior producer

msnbc.com

updated 7/20/2011 3:09:20 PM ET

The threat of a debt default by Greece and other European countries has created financial turmoil for investors, banks and government officials. It’s also provided a boon to U.S. homeowners.

Long-term mortgage rates have been drifting to their lowest levels of the year, sparking a new wave in mortgage refinancing activities, industry experts say.
The reason? Despite the anxiety over debt talk brinksmanship in Washington, investors have been flocking to dollar-based investments including U.S. Treasuries, because euro-based securities seeem riskier. Even as a potential U.S. default looms, the odds seem lower than a default in Europe. It’s like living in the nicest house in a bad neighborhood.

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2011-07-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

A local designer gives a dated bi-level home a facelift in six months

View Photo Gallery —

By Terri Sapienza, Published: July 13

The morning Lauren Liess moved into her Herndon home, she took a sledgehammer to the basement to demolish the drop ceiling. Later that day, she and her husband ripped apart the kitchen.

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2011-07-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Secrets to getting a mortgage with so-so credit

By Les Christie July 5, 2011: 2:40 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Getting a mortgage can be tough these days -- even people with near-perfect credit have been rejected for loans. But for some lucky borrowers, things aren't as bad as the doom-and-gloom crowd says.

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