Monica Cook Home and Lifestyles

1. Appraisals provide an objective opinion of value, but it’s not an exact science so appraisals may differ. 2. For buying and selling purposes, appraisals are usually based on market value — what the property could probably be sold for. Other types of value include insurance value, replacement value, and assessed value for property tax purposes. 3. Appraised value is not a constant number. Changes in market conditions can dramatically alter appraised value. 4. Appraised value doesn’t take into account special considerations, like the need to sell rapidly. 5. Lenders usually use either the appraised value or the sale price, whichever is less, to determine the amount of the mortgage they will offer. If you would like a FREE home evaluation done on your home I am always available to accomadte you. I can also sign you up for a free service I offer to all my clients you can recieve an emailed report monthly since the market is always changing. Used with permission from Kim Daug...

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process . Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Get objective information and opinions . REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the prop...

Rocky Mountain Gardener's November Checklist Remodeling , decorating , and more ∨ From Shabby Chic home decorations to contemporary furniture and the perfect wall mirror , browse thousands of decorating ideas to inspire your next home project. Find inspiring decorating ideas, from tufted beds to custom window treatments , to help you redesign your bedroom .

Daily Real Estate News | Monday, June 03, 2013    With shrinking inventories, many home buyers are finding only competitive offers will win them the house they want. A recent article by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance highlighted several ways that home buyers can make more competitive “irresistible” offers. 1. Be preapproved: About three or four months before home buyers even shop for a home, they should review their credit reports to make sure they’re accurate and take short-term steps to improve their credit score, says Michael Corbett, author of Before You Buy! Corbett says buyers then should get a bank’s preapproval. While that won’t guarantee they’ll get the loan, it shows sellers that a lender has verified the buyer’s income and credit score to determine that she can afford payments on a mortgage for a certain amount. 2. Don’t lowball: Buyers may only get one chance to get the home they want in a competitive market. They may not get a second try to sweeten...

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013 The Wall Street Journal highlighted four primary reasons why the housing market recovery is strong. They are: Sales have made big leaps from year-over-year levels. Existing-home sales are up 9.7 percent compared to one year ago. Sales are at an annual rate of 4.97 million, which is the highest level since November 2009, according to NAR. Despite constrained inventories and recent price gains, home sales continue to post increases. Non-distressed home sales are increasing. Home buyers are showing high demand for non-distressed homes. In April, about 18 percent of sales were in foreclosure or a short sale — down from 28 percent year-over-year. Inventories have increased. In April, the number of homes for sale rose 11.9 percent from March. The limited supply — mixed with rising buyer demand — has helped home prices to rise around 10 percent year-over-year. “Rising inventory should ultimately slow some of the price rally while boosti...

Here’s a Great Way to Clean a Smelly Disposal An inexpensive and easy way to clean a garbage disposal. Read 6 Gardening Resolutions I Swear I’ll Keep This Year Every year I resolve to be a more diligent gardener: This year, I mean it. Read Holiday Hotline Helps with Carpet and Sofa Spill-mergencies It’s not a holiday party until someone spills something on your carpet or upholstery. Read What’s the Hottest New Remodeling Trend? A new survey says showy upgrades are out and functionality is in with today’s remodeling home owners. Read 8 Tips to Make Your Remodel More Energy Efficient and Your Home Healthier As long as you’re remodeling, why not cut your utility bill and make your home a bit healthier? Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copy

Our homes harbor more than just our families and possessions. Home is also where pollutants, allergens, and other irritants accumulate and thrive, with possible harmful effects on our health. There are simple steps homeowners can take to improve the air quality in their home and increase their comfort and well being. HANDLE HUMIDITY High humidity is one of the main contributors to mold and dust mite growth, both of which adversely affect indoor air quality. Keeping indoor humidity below 50% will help prevent further infestation, although once mold gets established it can continue to grow even at lower humidity. To reduce humidity levels in the home, always use ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms, make sure the dryer is vented to the outdoors, and address any leaks or condensation issues. Consider using a dehumidifier in especially humid locations such as basements, which usually have poor air circulation and are prone to dampness. DUST UP THE DUST Reducing dust in the home ...

 Recent studies have shown that renters are continuing to climb in numbers as well as rents continuing to increase. Also more that half of people who rent spend more that 30% on their income on housing. The following article below is an interesting and great read. DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2013 Five to six million new renter households may be created within the next 10 years, likely caused from low inventories of homes available and tight credit conditions, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.  Rental demand is expected to particularly increase among seniors looking to downsize their homes, as well as young adults and a growing immigrant population.  “We expect to see an increase in household formation and for a variety of reasons that household formation is likely to be more heavily concentrated among renters and households who are likely to be renters for somewhat longer than was the case for the last 20 years,” Barry Zigas, direc...

The economy added 155,000 jobs in December, in line with an expected increase of 152,000, according to Bloomberg. The unemployment rate remained at 7.8%, having been revised up in November. The jobs report's details contained good news, as both earnings and hours increased more than expected. December's job growth was also in line with the 153,000 average monthly gain over the past two years. While the plodding pace is disappointing, solid progress has been made, with the addition of almost 3.7 million jobs in two years. What are your thoughts?