DO'S AND DON'TS ON GETTING READY TO SELL!

Pre-Sale Renovation: Home Seller Do’s and Don’ts

  ^[1]RISMEDIA, January 25, 2011—You’ve probably seen those depressingly cheery home-themed TV shows: a couple needs to sell their house, they have an outdated kitchen, and a designer comes in and proceeds to convince them to renovate the kitchen into a stainless-steel-clad shrine to culinary greatness—for tens of thousands of dollars. In an ideal real estate market, that would add value, but in today’s market, expensive pre-sale renovations, for the most part, aren’t worth it.

THE FIGHT FOR MORTGAGE TAX BREAKS

Housing Industry Readies Mortgage Tax Break Fight

 RISMEDIA, January 18, 2011—(MCT)—The housing industry is girding for a fight in Congress to protect the mortgage interest deduction, along with a number of other housing-related tax breaks. The National Association of Home Builders is putting a high priority on lobbying in favor of

Home Health Tips

Around the Home: How to Clean Your Fruits and Vegetables

^[1]RISMEDIA, January 15, 2011—(MCT)—Recent reports of illness caused by fresh produce have upped awareness on the need to wash before eating. Each of the basic rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is “equally important,” says Robert Buchwald, environmental health

2011 MARKET PREDICTIONS

2011 Housing Market to See Stable Pricing, Increased Mortgage Rates and Escalating Foreclosures

 RISMEDIA, January 11, 2011—The federal tax credit extension, coupled with an uptick in seasonal buying, helped keep the real estate market on its tracks in the first two quarters of 2010, according to RE/MAX of New England. Single-family home sales across New England showed the

DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY NOW!

What Home Buyers Can Expect from the Real Estate Market in 2011

  ^[1]RISMEDIA, January 7, 2011—(MCT)—The drumbeat from the housing community was loud and clear in 2010: There was never a better time to buy a home. For most of the past 12 months, home prices tumbled, mortgage rates ticked downward, and the inventory of available traditional and distressed homes was plentiful.

But would-be buyers, even if they were able to overcome job worries, found that the hurdles to obtain a loan were formidable. They remained on the sidelines, and housing analysts opined that if the broader economy improved and unemployment fell, pent-up demand would be unleashed, credit guidelines would ease and home sales would improve.

FRESHEN UP WITH FRESH PAINT!!

  ^[1]RISMEDIA, January 4, 2011—Individual style, mixed with budget-conscious decorating will drive 2011 paint color trends, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert at the Paint Quality Institute.

“There’s no escaping the state of the economy, even for homeowners who want to beautify their homes,” says Zimmer. “Rather than diving into large-scale renovation projects, in the coming year, consumers will search for inexpensive ways to freshen and update their homes. Many will conclude that painting is the perfect solution.”