Archive for Uncategorized
A picture is worth a thousand words
Imagine driving by a house, snapping a photo of it with your iPhone, and then obtaining relevant data about the home and surrounding community. It’s possible with the HomeSnap app by Sawbuck. Walt Mossberg, personal technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal , reports on HomeSnap’s utility
Kitchen islands aren’t going away
Better Homes & Gardens The kitchen island is often the hub of the home, the place where family members and guests gather to eat and socialize. While the island’s function remains the same as it has been for years, its look and feel are changing. “Pare it down to the basics, and anything else is a great addition but not necessary,” says Samantha Emmerling, a senior editor at House Beautiful, as reported in the Chicago Tribune . She notes that since most homeowners want an area for prep, additional counter space, seating, and storage, the form of the actual island ought to follow its function.
Housing news for April
Housing prices for King County in the month of April were strong, and inventory was down 37 percent from one year ago, reports the Seattle Times based on data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The median house price in King County went up to $360,000, which is 9 percent better than last month and about 3 percent higher than April 2011. Snohomish County’s median house price jumped to $255,502, which is almost 10 percent better than a year ago
Herb container gardening 101
Growing herbs does not require lots of space or raised beds. In fact, all you need is a container.
Nation’s biggest warehouse rolls out mortgages
Costco Wholesale Corporation has added home loans to its growing list of financial services, reports CNNMoney . The biggest warehouse membership chain is partnering with First Choice Bank, a New Jersey-based community bank, and 10 other lenders. Thus far, Costco’s partners have loaned 10,000 mortgages to members. Lauren Kutschka, manager of financial services, expects this number to grow as the program moves from its testing phase into a full-scale retail offering
Add curb appeal
One of the best ways to increase your home’s value is to boost its curb appeal, which has everything to do with landscaping design, the color palette, and architectural interest. HGTV’s Curb Appeal highlights the transformation of one Cape Cod style property into an Arts & Crafts wonder. Now when homeowners Eric and Dominique Butters drive up to their home, they are dazzled by the bungalow-style entryway.
Seattle is one of America’s fastest-growing cities
Seattle makes Forbes’s top ten list for the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. The Emerald City’s economic growth rate for the period 2011-2016 is projected at 3.7 percent with population growth at 1.2 percent.
The real estate market blooms
“The fear factor is all but gone.” So says Mark Prather, broker at ERA Buy America Real Estate in La Palma, Calif.
Tutorial on closing costs for first-time homebuyers
When new homebuyers understand the basics of closing costs associated with the purchase of a property, the process goes more smoothly. Loan costs, legal costs, and title costs are explained in this quick tutorial produced by Federal Title & Escrow, based in Washington D.C.
America is aging
The exploding senior population in the U.S. presents an opportunity for the private sector to design communities that will provide housing and access to support services. According to Builder Magazine , individuals aged 65 and older will more than double in size to 88 million by the year 2050, based on data reported by the Center for Housing Policy’s “Housing an Aging Population: Are We Prepared?” Since aging in place is an increasingly desirable option for older households — an AARP study indicates that 9 out of 10 responded that they would like to stay in their homes for as long as possible — residential housing options must increase and expand.