8 Houses That Don’t Seem Real, But They Are!

• By: John Riha

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? These 8 ugly houses answer that age-old question with a resounding: Yes! Despite some odd proportions, strange building materials, and off-the-wall colors, these prideful homes all have redeeming qualities that endear them to their owners. For one, they’re all unique. And in this cookie-cutter world, that’s saying a whole lot! Which is your favorite?

 

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A House that Rocks

If you’re looking for a rock-solid investment, how about this house in Portugal? Situated between two giant boulders, the house walls are formed of mortared masonry, and the living area is covered by concrete tile roofing. Fireproof, windproof, and impervious to insects, a house like this might qualify you for lower home owners insurance rates.


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Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/photos/home-thoughts/ugly-houses/slide/a-house-that-rocks/#ixzz2MDky3hKD

9 Simple Weekend Decorating Projects

By Dave Donovan

As you look around your home, you’re probably wishing you had some extra time on your hands to make a few renovations or to handle a few extra redecorating projects. But, you already have the time – it’s called the weekend! In that short 48-hour time span, there’s a lot of work you can get done. Even if you pick one task per weekend, that’s four decorating projects completed a month!

Don’t think it can be done? Well just check out these nine simple weekend decorating projects that can each be started Friday evening and wrapped up before you go to bed Sunday night.

 

1. Organize and Beautify Your Bookcases

If you have a lot of books, videos and collectibles clambering for space on your bookcases, taking a Saturday afternoon to remove, sort and organize everything will instantly make the room look cleaner and tidier. Sometimes successful redecorating isn’t about changing the way things are but more about cleaning up and organizing what you already have.

This is also a good time to de-clutter your bookcase. Tossing out old magazines or storing books you no longer want in the garage can go a long way towards making the most of your bookcase’s capacity.

 

2. Tile the Kitchen’s Backsplash

If you really want to give your kitchen an updated look but you can’t afford a complete renovation, install ceramic tile to the backsplash for an instant update. It may take some time to get up and running, but once you find your swing, you’ll discover this job moves along at a smooth pace. Both weekend days will be required for this job, and you might have to extend the finishing touches over to next weekend, but you’ll be able to get the bulk of the heavy lifting done in one weekend.

 

3. Transform the Fireplace

The fireplace is the focus of the room during the cold, winter months but what do you do with it for the other eight months out of the year? Once winter’s chill has left, clean out the fireplace and decorate the hearth with a variety of low-maintenance plants and add a touch of vibrancy to the room. Succulents work nicely because they don’t require a lot of watering or sunlight. Use tiered plant pot holders for a truly beautiful look that will also cover up the unsightly cinder stains on the inside of the fireplace.

Or, for a complete re-do, you can even consider painting the fireplace!

 

4. Install Some Molding

Crown molding makes a room feel and look larger than it really is, and it’s not really that difficult to install, especially when you use specially-made corner pieces that eliminate the need for cutting perfect mitered edges. In fact, once you get the hang of it, you might be able to install it in all of your rooms before the weekend is over.

While you’re at it, you can also install chair railing or update your baseboards with a newer, more modern style.

 

5. Unify Your Picture Frames

Odds are the picture frames that adorn your walls have been purchased over a long period of time, so no two probably look alike. But, if you take them all down and paint the frames all the same color, they will suddenly look as if they all belong together. In addition, this will help give your room the color accent it’s been missing.

 

6. Update the Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Forget about the old brushed nickel cabinet knobs. Today, hardware stores have a ton of different varieties to choose from. Pick a style that best reflects your home and replace the knobs in your kitchen for a quick and easy kitchen makeover.

 

7. Makeover Your Lamp Shades

Adding some fabric, beads or ribbons to your lamp shades will turn them from drab to fab. Choose a color scheme that compliments the room and your friends won’t stop asking you, “Where did you purchase those beautiful lamp shades and how much did they cost?”

 

8. Redecorate the Bedroom

All you need to redecorate your bedroom is some fresh paint, some new curtains and a new comforter and voila – you have a freshly redecorated bedroom. The bulk of your time will be spent re-painting the bedroom and that won’t take that long at all, so go ahead and start planning your bedroom’s new look.

 

9. Add Some Fresh Flooring

If you have hard surface floors, add some color and style to the room by incorporating a few area rugs and/or carpet runners. This is an especially good idea come winter time as the carpet will help keep your feet off the cold floor and help insulate the room.

Read more at realtor.com

5 Aesthetic Issues That Turn Off Buyers

Fixing these before listing property can reduce days on market, boost price

By Paul Bianchina
Inman News®

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February 08, 2013

 

Are you thinking of selling your house this year? You'd obviously like to get top dollar for it, but it may be looking a little tired and worn, and maybe you don't have a lot money to sink into renovations before the "For Sale" sign goes up. Luckily, there are a lot of do-it-yourself projects you can tackle that will make a big difference in how quickly your house sells, and how much you can sell it for.
Or maybe you're the buyer, and you're on the prowl for a bargain. We'll look at those same items from a potential buyer's perspective, and see if I can't convince you not to walk away from a home with some great potential just because of some minor issues!

Overgrown landscaping
As the seller: Come on, get out the pruners and the rake! This is one of the easiest things in the world to take care of, because it typically doesn't cost you anything other than time and a little sweat. And the first impression of that curb appeal can often make or break a sale.
As the buyer: Nothing better than being able to see the potential in the worst house on the block, and you'd be surprised how many people drive right on by the one with scruffy bushes and unkempt trees. Sweat equity can pay big dividends on landscaping.

Ugly paint
As the seller: Your house doesn't need to be a uniform, boring white inside, but the dark blue living room with green trim and that hot pink kitchen that you thought was a great idea for some forgotten reason? They can drive off a lot of potential buyers, as can the peeling paint on the exterior trim. Paint is one of the easiest and least expensive of the do-it-yourself fix-ups a seller can do.
As the buyer: If the location works for you and the house has a good structure, don't be foolish and walk away from it because the master bedroom paint color isn't to your liking. Even a house that needs a complete exterior repaint shouldn't drive you away, unless it's an obvious indicator of severe moisture problems. Once again, paint is an easy and relatively inexpensive do-it-yourself project, and can lead to some bargains if you see potential that others don't.

Mirror walls
As the seller: Sure, you loved the disco era. But it's past, and you need to let it go. Big walls of mirrors or, even worse, mirror tiles are a real turnoff for a lot of potential buyers, and many people see their removal as a major project. Eliminate that stumbling block to a sale by taking the mirrors down yourself, doing any wall repairs, and then painting. If the other walls in the room are OK and you don't want to try to match the paint color, consider painting that one wall a contrasting color as an accent wall, but pick something tasteful!
As the buyer: Don't panic when you see these outdated decorating features. They're not difficult to remove, so don't let them sway you against a purchase.

Wallpaper and paneling
As the seller: These two items can get a little trickier. If you have an accent wall or even a bathroom of ugly, outdated wallpaper, take the time to strip it and repaint. If your house has a lot of wallpaper, consider having a wallpaper-stripping party, or hire a company to come in and do the stripping for you, then repaint things yourself. You'll be surprised what a difference paint will make in place of drab old wallpaper.
Paneling can be a lot harder. Removing it can be a bigger task, and the paneling may be concealing a lot of sins underneath. Painting over it can make it look even worse. There are so many variables here; you'll want to have a discussion with your real estate agent about how best to handle it. You may just need to leave it alone.
As the buyer: Wallpaper is the same as paint from a buyer's perspective. Let it work to your advantage, and be the one to see the diamond in the rough. Removing it is tedious and time consuming, but cheap.
Paneling is a matter of perspective, depending on what it is. Some paneling is pretty junky, and is best removed, but be aware that there may be a few repairs to deal with behind it. Other paneling is real wood and surprisingly expensive. It can often be cleaned, then sanded and stained to a new color that brings out some beautiful highlights, so if you're not sure, talk with a designer before taking it down. If you do remove any real wood paneling, whether in sheets or individual boards, check with a local salvage yard about selling it.

Closet doors
As the seller: For some reason, closet doors are a funny thing with a lot of buyers. If they're missing, or if they're severely out of adjustment or have been replaced with beads to go with the mirrored wall, it can be a real turnoff. Make sure your closet doors are installed, adjusted and operating properly.
As the buyer: Don't walk away from a potentially good deal because there aren't any closet doors. See if the sellers have them, which is the best solution. But even if they don't, getting new ones is an inexpensive do-it-yourself fix, and may help you snag a deal on a house that someone else shies away from!
Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author's actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.

10 Questions to Ask Your Mortgage Lender

Getting the answers you need to plan your future

By Broderick Perkins

 

 If you don’t ask questions, you won’t get answers. It’s especially important to ask lots of questions of your mortgage lender so you understand everything about financing one of your most valuable assets.

Here’s what you should ask your mortgage lender.

 

1. What types of mortgages do you offer?

You need to know the full range of loans available to find one that is best suited for your needs. Basically, there are fixed rate mortgages (FRMs), for which the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan, and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), for which the interest rate adjusts after an initial period — typically one to seven years. Each category has a host of variants. Some lenders offer a few types of loans while others offer many.

 

2. What mortgage is the best fit for me?

Your lender should easily be able to answer this question once you’ve completed an application and the lender takes stock of your employment, income, assets, credit, debt, expenses, down payment and other information about your finances.

 

3. What are the full costs of my mortgage?

Since Jan. 1, 2010, the answers can be found and discussed with your lender, line-by-line, on two documents.

Home loan originators must give you the mandated Good Faith Estimate (GFE) within three days of accepting your application. At closing, the lender must provide borrowers with the new Settlement Statement HUD-1, the final line-by-line list of mortgage and closing costs.

Along with the GFE, you’ll also receive the new “Shopping For Your Home Loan: HUD’s Settlement Cost Booklet” which helps explain the two documents.

Together, the new GFE and HUD-1 documents make it easier to determine if you are getting the loan at settlement that you were offered in the GFE.

The three-page GFE, provided by the mortgage broker or lender, shows the loan terms and the settlement charges you will pay if you go forward with a given mortgage. It explains which charges can change before settlement and which charges must remain the same. It also contains a shopping chart with worksheets to encourage you to shop around and compare several mortgage loans and the settlement costs of each.

The HUD-1 is a final list of all your charges and credits. In addition to the cost of the property, your down payment, the financed amount, your monthly payment, and loan terms, it includes your loan type, annual percentage rate (APR), points, commissions, yield spread premiums, originating fees and other loan costs as well as title and escrow fees, closing costs, tax and insurance payments, inspection fees, attorney fees, as well as information and costs related to rate locks and prepayment penalties -- the works.

 

4. When will I get the HUD-1?

You have the right under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) to inspect the HUD-1 Settlement Statement before settlement occurs and you should, at least a day before to go over all costs and ask the lender any related questions.

 

5. What documents must I provide?

To prove you can afford a mortgage loan, lenders will want to see proof of income and employment and assets along with statements of expenses and debts. You’ll also have to give the lender permission to pull your credit report and credit score. If you are self-employed or an investor, lenders may also want to see tax returns, IRS 1099 forms, profit and loss or income statements and other financial business records.

 

6. What are the qualifying guidelines for this loan?

The documents you supply will help you meet requirements related to income, employment, assets, liabilities and credit history. Down payment, income-to-debt ratio, even geographic location guidelines may vary.

 

7. Who will be the title and escrow agency or attorney?

A title search will be required to make sure the property is free and clear, but you shouldn't leave selection of the title company up to the lender. Shop around based on location and price. Check for referrals from people you trust. If you’ve used a title company before, using the same one again could save you some money. Do the same when selecting an escrow agency and attorney.

8. How long will it take to process my loan application?

The answer depends on how quickly you supply the required documents as well as on the lender's workload and demand for inspectors, appraisers and other professionals involved. Lenders will often say weeks, but it could take from a month to two. Get the best guess to determine when to lock in the mortgage rate.

 

9. What might delay approval of my loan?

• Being slow to deliver documents
• Failing to fully complete required documents
• Not being readily available to answer questions
• Failing to check your credit report

You should remain available to the lender during the loan application process. Between the time you submit your application and the time the loan is funded, you much notify the lender of any changes to your job, salary, debts, marital status or other conditions that could affect your application.

 

10. What are the chances that my loan would get sold?

At first your lender and loan servicer are usually the same. Federal law requires that at the closing table you receive and sign a document stating that your loan likely will be sold. Federal and state laws dictate that both the old and new servicing company notify you in writing of any changes so that you know who to pay in order to meet your responsibility as a mortgage holder.

 

Learn more at Realtor.com