Mold Cleanup in Your Home

After a flood in your property, you may decide to call a mold remediation specialist as part of the clean-up. Don’t get scammed. In addition to getting recommendations, make sure the company you hire is certified by a reputable mold remediation organization.

Another way for you to avoid hiring scammers is to contact your state’s licensing board for contractors. Protect your home and your wallet.

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, follow the Mold Cleanup Tips and Techniques.   The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a great website describing more info in detail.  Click Here To Find Out More

What's Hot In Home Design

The Home Designs Gaining, Losing Popularity

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, AUGUST 07, 2017

REPORTED:   BY CALLIE JOHNSON REALTOR, ADVANCED REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Builders are slowly switching focus from the $500,000-plus luxury market to more moderate price points, particularly when it comes to single-family move-up homes. And the shift is influencing the types of materials and upgrades becoming popular in new homes, according to Home Innovation’s 2017 Builder Practices Survey. It turns out that high-end materials aren't limited to construction of luxury real estate.

• Crazy for quartz. Despite being one of the priciest products on Home Innovation’s list of building materials, quartz had its best year in 2016. Quartz surfaces in the bathroom appeared in 13 percent of new homes last year, up from 9 percent in 2015. In the kitchen, quartz counter tops were even more popular, appearing in 15 percent of new homes last year compared to 9 percent in 2015.
• Nickel gains ground. Nickel faucets are also gaining popularity in kitchens, outselling stainless steel, chrome, and bronze. In the bathroom, nickel is also being used more often, though it fell just shy of chrome in popularity. 
• Hardwood, vinyl are tops for floors. High-end solid hardwood and luxury vinyl tile are popular for kitchen floors. But engineered hardwood and ceramic tile each rose by 3 percentage points in market share.
• No more bubble baths? The jetted tub is continuing to lose favor, going from being installed in about 15 percent of new homes in 2015 to 11 percent in 2016.
• Granite and marble are on the outs. The share of new homes with natural granite and marble showers and bathtubs dropped from 12 percent to 9 percent last year. High-end enameled cast iron and granite sinks also lost favor. Lower- to mid-range vitreous china and enameled steel sinks each increased in popularity.

9 Neighborhood Features That Bring Values Down

9 Neighborhood Features That Hamper Values

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016

REPOSTED BY CALLIE JOHNSON, REALTOR®, REAL BUY, LC  WWW.UTAHHOMESTODAY.COM

Certain neighborhood features near a home – like cemeteries and power plants -- could drag down a home’s price. Realtor.com® recently identified which of those features could have the biggest impact.

To calculate, realtor.com® analyzed home prices and appreciation rates in ZIP codes of the 100 largest metro areas across the country where a specific so-called “drag-me-down facility” – such as power plants or homeless shelter – was present.

Realtor.com®’s research team then calculated the potential discount by comparing the median home price of the ZIP codes with that facility with the median price for all homes in the same country.To calculate, realtor.com® analyzed home prices and appreciation rates in ZIP codes of the 100 largest metro areas across the country where a specific so-called “drag-me-down facility” – such as power plants or homeless shelter – was present.

The following neighborhood features emerged as the ones that could potentially drag down home values by the greatest amounts:

1. Bad school: -22.2% (translation: home owners near a bad school received 22.2 percent less than an average home in the same county could get)
2. Strip club: -14.7%
3. High renter concentration: -13.8%
4. Homeless shelter: -12.7%
5. Cemetery: -12.3%
6. Funeral home: -6.5%
7. Power plant: -5.3%
8. Shooting range: -3.7%
9. Hospital: -3.2%

Source: “The Neighborhood Features That Drag Down Your Home Value – Ranked,” realtor.com® (March 28, 2016)

New Loan For Home Energy Upgrades

Fannie Debuts Loan Option for 'Green' Retrofits

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

REPOSTED BY CALLIE JOHNSON, REALTOR®, REAL BUY, LC  WWW.UTAHHOMESTODAY.COM

Fannie Mae announced HomeStyle Energy mortgage, a program to help borrowers make energy and water energy efficient upgrades to their home. 

With the new loan, home owners will be able to finance energy upgrades when purchasing or refinancing their home. The new mortgage will also be available to properties like condos.

Read more: Multifamily Energy Retrofits Bring Big Savings

Borrowers purchasing a home or wanting to improve their existing home will be able to receive up to 15 percent of the as-completed appraised value of the home to use for energy efficient upgrades. An energy report is required. Without a report, borrowers can still finance up to $3,500 in water efficiency upgrades.

“The National Association of Home Builders has found that energy efficient features are highly desired by home owners, and we are committed to helping lenders serve these customers,” says Carlos Perez, Fannie Mae senior vice president and chief credit officer for single-family. “HomeStyle Energy mortgage will be particularly helpful to borrowers who want to pay off debt for existing energy improvements. It will also benefit home owners who want to make their home more comfortable and efficient.”

The program applies to all Fannie Mae approved lenders.

Source: Fannie Mae

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  How to Choose Stock Kitchen Cabinets

  Buying stock cabinets for your kitchen remodel can definitely save you money. Here are some tips to help you make the right buying decision. Read

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Copyright 2014 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Dorie Clark gives quick but very relevant tips for "Reinventing You" Check Out The Video