Remodeling Your Home? Don’t Forget Your Outdoor Living Space

If you are considering remodeling your home, don’t forget about your outdoor living space. The exterior of your home contains valuable outdoor space and making certain changes or additions can help ad value and appeal to your real estate invest ment.

Improvements to the exterior of your home can involve something as simple as new patio furniture and a fire pit, adding a patio or deck, or installing an outdoor oven. An attractive and usable outdoor area appeals to family living as well as entertaining.

Landscaping additions can involve making an area more green by the addition of low maintenance plants that use less moisture. Landscape architects are more and more adept at making more sustainable environments.

Other appealing elements can include fountains, swimming pools, solar lights, tennis courts and the like. Realize that much of what you put into the space that surrounds your home will enhance its value and catch the eye of a potential buyer. Often an investment to the outside living space gives a better return than interior improvements to your home. 

Best way to spend your money on landscaping

For more information please contact me at 818.269.5550.

You may also visit my wesbite: http://www.caroledelacruzrealty.com/ or

email me at: carole@caroledelacruzrealty.com

Economy Improving Slowly

The last couple of years have been tumultuous, the economy taking its toll, and the majority of Americans are looking forward to moving on and putting the recession behind them. 2010 is off to a better start, yet we have suffered a few dips in the past couple of months that have been reminiscent of the depths that we are all looking to forget. It is important to remember that the dips are just that, small divots in the road of recovery, according to those in the seat of knowledge.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been quoted as saying, “The economy … appears to be on track to continue to expand through this year and next,” music to many ears. Bernanke has also said that the European debt crisis will have only a “modest” effect on the US economy.

People and businesses have increased spending and the Federal Reserve System has committed to keep interest rates low. The economy is improving. While recovery remains modest and many are anxious to recover at full speed, it is important to remember that slow and steady wins the race.

For more information please contact me at 818.269.5550.

You may also visit my wesbite: http://www.caroledelacruzrealty.com/ or

email me at: carole@caroledelacruzrealty.com

Buying A Home? Secure A Mortgage First

People love to say that there is more involved with buying a home than just money, and while this is indeed true, you cannot buy a home without it. When thinking about real estate and purchasing a new home an important first step is securing a mortgage. Before even stepping foot in a lender’s office take a good hard look at your finances.
Examine your household’s income and expenses and determine what you are capable of paying each month. Affordability has been calculated at a mortgage being 30% of your monthly income and a mortgage that swallows up over 35% of your monthly income is seen as unaffordable.

Be prepared when you approach a potential lender and check with at least three different lenders. Not every lender will offer the same deal. It is important to read between the lines and look at other costs involved. There might be closing costs, points to pay down, hidden fees, etc., do some research and read the fine print.

The more traditional mortgages are 15 and 30 year fixed rate loans. A 15 year loan will typically have a lower interest rate and obviously a shorter time to pay off the loan but will involve higher monthly payments. A 30 year fixed loan spreads the payments over twice the number of years and will have a higher interest rate but lower payments. If a traditional loan doesn’t fit the bill there are many creative financing options available, many unique to a particular situation.

While money isn’t everything but it is an important first step to buying a home

For more information please contact me at 818.269.5550.
You may also visit my wesbite: http://www.caroledelacruzrealty.com/ or
email me at: carole@caroledelacruzrealty.com

Heat of Summer, Time to Cut Back on Water

The heat of summer means barbecues, water fights, trips to the pool and lots of outdoor fun, it also means higher than normal water usage. In most parts of the country water is a precious commodity and an increase in usage can not only hurt your wallet but your environment as well. Here are a few ways to cut back on water consumption.

 When it comes to the outside attempt to plant flowers, shrubs and plants that require less water than others. Xeroscaping can be beautiful and conserve water at the same time.

 Examine your sprinkler system and if it is on a timer system set it for once a day, every other day, preferably at night when the water won’t evaporate in the heat of the sun. If your sprinkler is a manual one, turn it on after the sun goes down.

 Inside your home make sure that your appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines, are energy star compliant. It is also a good idea to wash full loads whenever possible to make the most of your water consumption.

Do your part to pay attention to your water consumption and cut back where you can. It is important to conserve water for both your community and your bank account.

Conserving water at your home.

For more information please contact me at 818.269.5550.

You may also visit my wesbite: http://www.caroledelacruzrealty.com/ or

email me at: carole@caroledelacruzrealty.com