Why Debt Can Be a Good Thing
When it comes to the best ways to use money, too many Americans operate under a key misconception, says investment adviser and financial planner Ike Ikokwu. “Money is opportunity, and having a blind spot for maximizing investment can drastically reduce one’s future options,” says Ikokwu, author of “Winning the Money Game: Separating the Myths from the Truth.” That blind spot is debt, he says. Just as Americans have learned there are such things as good fats and good cholesterol, so too is there good debt for a prosperous financial future. As Ikokwu explains, the three most common ways of becoming wealthy involve debt: “They use it to launch businesses, invest in real estate, or pay for advanced degrees in order to become high-income earners.” Ikokwu...
Read MoreDoes Your Kitchen Work Like a Dream?
Forget about the living room; the kitchen is the social hub of a home. Today’s homeowners want their kitchens to reflect their personal tastes and accommodate their daily lives; however, a kitchen that can do all this is in need of one thing—smart storage. According to renowned chef Curtis Stone, “A dream kitchen is one that’s designed for the way you live. The best advice I’d give anyone looking to remodel their kitchen is to think about how they will use it, and to choose the right storage features to suit their lifestyle.” Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat cabinetry, agrees, “Everyone uses the kitchen to prepare food, but many homeowners use their kitchen for entertaining, crafting, or just spending time...
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Prices are UpInventory is Down
Is it time Buy or Sell?
This story was published yesterday to the OC Register by Jon Lansner. I found it interesting and wanted to be sure you all got to see it. As always, if you have any questions about buying, selling, or would like to know what the market trends are in your neighborhood, give me a call today! 1st price hike for low-end homes since ’10 Sellers of Orange County’s more affordable homes this month took their first collective price hikes since November 2010. Source: DeptOfNumbers; click to enlarge! That’s one highlight from a slightly different view of the Orange County housing market from DeptofNumbers.com, formerly HousingTracker.net. It tracks trends in asking prices from brokers’ MLS system of homes for sale. In addition, DeptofNumbers breaks down...
Read MoreFix That Foundation: Spending Some Now Can Save Thousands Later
Most homeowners have a long list of things to get done around the house. However, very few are more important than making sure the residence foundation is in good shape and not threatened by issues that are easy to fix. After the purchase of the house itself, one of the biggest expenses, especially in terms of out-of-pocket costs the homeowners may incur, is foundation repairs. Taking a pro-active approach to caring for the residence’s foundation is economical, and the pay-off can be tremendous. 1. Homeowners should check the drainage around their residence by making sure gutters and spouts drain away from the foundation. 2. Plumbing leaks under the house foundation are not uncommon. The homeowner can have a plumbing pressure test done to make sure there are...
Read MoreGarage Door Upgrade Amps Home Renovation Value
Homeowners seeking a renovation project that will add long-term value and attract buyers should consider a facelift for their garage, a national study on remodeling costs and value has found. At a time when buyers are evaluating homes based on curb appeal and online photos, the 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report released last month by Remodeling magazine confirms that replacement of a basic garage door with a mid-range or upscale model is one of the smartest and best value buys prior to a home sale. Statistics show that more than 90 percent of home buyers turn to the Internet first in their home searches, often basing their decisions to learn more about a property from the photos they see of a home’s exterior. With large portions of a home’s facade often...
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Brian Liberto
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