And as for 2012? Well, it promises to be a great year...because I'm going to make it one. The best is yet to come!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!
As this year comes to a close, I've been reflecting on the roller coaster that was 2011. I've been so blessed to find success as a realtor--a career I enjoy, one that gives me the opportunity to help others and allows me to have a balanced and rich family life. I'm so thankful for family & friends, clients & colleagues who have helped me to grow in 2011.
And as for 2012? Well, it promises to be a great year...because I'm going to make it one. The best is yet to come!
My wish for you is that 2012 is full of health, happiness and prosperity; that you can live your dreams and make it your best year yet.
And as for 2012? Well, it promises to be a great year...because I'm going to make it one. The best is yet to come!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
No Chimney for Santa? No Problem!
If your house doesn't have a chimney for Santa, hang a special key on your doorknob. Santa's magic will allow him to open your door, deliver the presents and enjoy the milk and cookies you've left for him.
Santa will leave the magic key by the empty plate of cookies so you can hang it up again next Christmas. No chimney, no problem!
Rent vs. Buy
Should you rent or buy a home? With interest rates at their lowest point in sixty years and rents briskly increasing in most cities, for most people, the answer is buying a home.
Of course, home ownership carries other costs in addition to the monthly mortgage payment—including taxes, insurance, homeowner association dues and maintenance—which may dissuade some potential home buyers. But keep in mind these extra costs allow you to build equity in your home. If you plan to stay in your home for at least five to seven years, the equity from your down payment and monthly mortgage payments is a primary way for middle class families to build net worth.
The New York Times buy vs. rent calculator is an interesting tool. It takes into account the costs of home ownership, even calculating the lost opportunity cost of using funds for down payment versus investing that money. It also calculates the lost opportunity cost of using rental payments for investment purposes. The reality is that you need to pay to live somewhere, whether you rent or buy, so really those funds wouldn't go solely to investments.
Whether you use an online calculator to crunch the numbers or follow the anecdotal principle that real estate success is to be made on the "buy side" (and, wow, is it a great time to buy), give me a call and we can talk about renting vs. buying in your specific situation.
The New York Times buy vs. rent calculator is an interesting tool. It takes into account the costs of home ownership, even calculating the lost opportunity cost of using funds for down payment versus investing that money. It also calculates the lost opportunity cost of using rental payments for investment purposes. The reality is that you need to pay to live somewhere, whether you rent or buy, so really those funds wouldn't go solely to investments.
Whether you use an online calculator to crunch the numbers or follow the anecdotal principle that real estate success is to be made on the "buy side" (and, wow, is it a great time to buy), give me a call and we can talk about renting vs. buying in your specific situation.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Deadline for Deductions Approaching
You have until December 31, 2011 to file your homestead and mortgage exemptions. If you've purchased, sold, refinanced, or changed title, please make sure you have taken care of this to drastically reduce your property taxes owed. Deductions reduce the amount of assessed value a taxpayer pays on a given parcel of property.
For more information, in Hamilton County, visit the website for the auditor's office. In Boone County, visit the auditor's website or call (765)482-2940.
You do not need to do this every year, only in the cases of selling, refinancing or changing title. Give me a call if you need any further assistance. I'm happy to point you in the right direction.
For more information, in Hamilton County, visit the website for the auditor's office. In Boone County, visit the auditor's website or call (765)482-2940.
You do not need to do this every year, only in the cases of selling, refinancing or changing title. Give me a call if you need any further assistance. I'm happy to point you in the right direction.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Neighborhood Holiday Traditions
Our neighborhood has a lovely tradition of lighting luminaries. The entire neighborhood just looks so cozy and charming.
My valiant husband tried to light our luminaries in near-blizzard conditions last year. The kids and I watched him trudge through the snow to light each one, only to have each luminary be extinguished by wind gusts as he lit the next. We may have giggled.
That's the beauty of traditions. They provide great memories and good laughs.
Does your neighborhood have any special holiday traditions?
That's the beauty of traditions. They provide great memories and good laughs.
Does your neighborhood have any special holiday traditions?
Monday, November 28, 2011
Exterior Doors
Doors have been on my mind since hanging our holiday wreath. We recently had our house painted, and while that really improved the looks of our front door, we could still use an improvement in the charm category. Isn't this door inviting and festive?
But the following article from House Logic highlights the fact that it's not just looks, but energy efficiency, that matters, too. And since light is visible through the cracks of our door, I think we have our next home improvement project! I learned a lot from this article and hope it's beneficial for you, too.
If you're looking to save money, a steel door may be a good choice, particularly if you have the skills to hang it yourself. A simple, unadorned steel door can sell for as little as $150 (not including hardware, lock set, paint, or labor) and typically runs as much as $400 at big-box retailers. Steel offers the strongest barrier against intruders, although its advantage over fiberglass and wood in this area is slight.
Even better, replacing your entry door with a steel model actually reaps a profit in added home value. Remodeling Magazine estimates the total project cost of installing a 20-gauge steel door at about $1,200--and the project, on average, returns about 73% of cost.
Still, the attractive cost of a steel door comes with an important caveat: Its typical life span under duress is shorter than either fiberglass or wood. A steel door exposed to salt air or heavy rains may last only five to seven years, according to Bob Bossard, general manager of 84 Lumber in Clarksville, Del. Despite steel's reputation for toughness, it actually didn't perform well in Consumer Reports testing against wood and fiberglass for normal wear and tear.
With heavy use, it may dent, and the damage can be difficult and expensive to repair. If your door will be heavily exposed to traffic or the elements, you may be better off choosing a different material.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors come in an immense variety of styles, many of which accurately mimic the look of real wood. And if limited upkeep is your ideal, fiberglass may be your best bet. "Nothing is maintenance-free," Bossard says, "but fiberglass is pretty close. And it lasts twice as long as wood or steel."
Fiberglass doesn't expand or contract appreciably as the weather changes. Therefore, in a reasonably protected location, a fiberglass entry door can go for years without needing a paint or stain touch-up and can last 15 to 20 years overall. Although it feels light to the touch, fiberglass has a very stout coating that's difficult for an intruder to breach; and its foam core offers considerable insulation.
Fiberglass generally falls between steel and wood in price; models sold at big-box stores range from about $150 to $600. Remodeling Magazine lists the cost of a fiberglass entry-door replacement project at around $3,600. Although a fiberglass door doesn't generate as high a return as a steel door, it recoups about 56% in home value.
Wood
Wood is considered the go-to choice for high-end projects; its luxe look and substantial weight can't be flawlessly duplicated by fiberglass or steel, though high-end fiberglass products are getting close. If your home calls for a stunning entry statement with a handcrafted touch, wood may be the best material for you.
Wood is usually the most expensive choice of the three--roughly $500 to $2,000, excluding custom jobs--and requires the most maintenance, although it's easier to repair scratches on a wood door than dents in steel or fiberglass. Wood doors should be repainted or refinished every year or two to prevent splitting and warping. (Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report doesn't include a wood entry-door replacement project.)
If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your door as well as its energy efficiency, you can purchase a solid wood door certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which assures you that the wood was sustainably grown and harvested.
Tracing the environmental impact of a particular door--from manufacturing process to shipping distance to how much recycled/recyclable content it contains--is quite complicated and probably beyond the ken of the average homeowner, notes LEED-certified green designer Victoria Schomer. But FSC-certified wood and an Energy Star rating are an excellent start.
A final note on choosing a door based on energy efficiency: Because efficiency depends on a number of factors besides the material a door is made of--including its framework and whether it has windows--look for the Energy Star label to help you compare doors.
Choosing an Exterior Door
You should understand the pros and cons of steel, fiberglass, and wood exterior doors before choosing the one that's right for you.
SteelIf you're looking to save money, a steel door may be a good choice, particularly if you have the skills to hang it yourself. A simple, unadorned steel door can sell for as little as $150 (not including hardware, lock set, paint, or labor) and typically runs as much as $400 at big-box retailers. Steel offers the strongest barrier against intruders, although its advantage over fiberglass and wood in this area is slight.
Even better, replacing your entry door with a steel model actually reaps a profit in added home value. Remodeling Magazine estimates the total project cost of installing a 20-gauge steel door at about $1,200--and the project, on average, returns about 73% of cost.
Still, the attractive cost of a steel door comes with an important caveat: Its typical life span under duress is shorter than either fiberglass or wood. A steel door exposed to salt air or heavy rains may last only five to seven years, according to Bob Bossard, general manager of 84 Lumber in Clarksville, Del. Despite steel's reputation for toughness, it actually didn't perform well in Consumer Reports testing against wood and fiberglass for normal wear and tear.
With heavy use, it may dent, and the damage can be difficult and expensive to repair. If your door will be heavily exposed to traffic or the elements, you may be better off choosing a different material.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors come in an immense variety of styles, many of which accurately mimic the look of real wood. And if limited upkeep is your ideal, fiberglass may be your best bet. "Nothing is maintenance-free," Bossard says, "but fiberglass is pretty close. And it lasts twice as long as wood or steel."
Fiberglass doesn't expand or contract appreciably as the weather changes. Therefore, in a reasonably protected location, a fiberglass entry door can go for years without needing a paint or stain touch-up and can last 15 to 20 years overall. Although it feels light to the touch, fiberglass has a very stout coating that's difficult for an intruder to breach; and its foam core offers considerable insulation.
Fiberglass generally falls between steel and wood in price; models sold at big-box stores range from about $150 to $600. Remodeling Magazine lists the cost of a fiberglass entry-door replacement project at around $3,600. Although a fiberglass door doesn't generate as high a return as a steel door, it recoups about 56% in home value.
Wood
Wood is considered the go-to choice for high-end projects; its luxe look and substantial weight can't be flawlessly duplicated by fiberglass or steel, though high-end fiberglass products are getting close. If your home calls for a stunning entry statement with a handcrafted touch, wood may be the best material for you.
Wood is usually the most expensive choice of the three--roughly $500 to $2,000, excluding custom jobs--and requires the most maintenance, although it's easier to repair scratches on a wood door than dents in steel or fiberglass. Wood doors should be repainted or refinished every year or two to prevent splitting and warping. (Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report doesn't include a wood entry-door replacement project.)
If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your door as well as its energy efficiency, you can purchase a solid wood door certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which assures you that the wood was sustainably grown and harvested.
Tracing the environmental impact of a particular door--from manufacturing process to shipping distance to how much recycled/recyclable content it contains--is quite complicated and probably beyond the ken of the average homeowner, notes LEED-certified green designer Victoria Schomer. But FSC-certified wood and an Energy Star rating are an excellent start.
A final note on choosing a door based on energy efficiency: Because efficiency depends on a number of factors besides the material a door is made of--including its framework and whether it has windows--look for the Energy Star label to help you compare doors.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Housing Market and Consumer Confidence
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination."
The housing market in central Indiana is undeniably getting better. The last quarter has seen listing inventory, that is the number of homes for sale, decrease while the average price has increased, and interest rates are amazing. And it's highly likely that the housing market will continue to get better.
But it doesn't always feel that way, does it? The economic news of the past few years has us all beaten down a bit.
David Caveness, vice president of Carpenter Realtors, explains, "The biggest challenge to a sustained recovery in central Indiana’s housing market continues to be consumer confidence. The downward trend in the monthly Consumer Confidence Index continues to put a drag on the housing recovery. Despite favorable prices and interest rates, many prospective home buyers simply lack the confidence in their personal situation to undertake such a major purchase."
A bright spot today highlights a drop in initial unemployment claims to a seven month low. While national data doesn't convey your personal story, you should nonetheless know that if you want or need to make a housing change, there are reasons to be optimistic. There is data to prove that things are moving positively, if slowly, but positively.
The wind is changing direction. We should make our sails ready.
The housing market in central Indiana is undeniably getting better. The last quarter has seen listing inventory, that is the number of homes for sale, decrease while the average price has increased, and interest rates are amazing. And it's highly likely that the housing market will continue to get better.
But it doesn't always feel that way, does it? The economic news of the past few years has us all beaten down a bit.
David Caveness, vice president of Carpenter Realtors, explains, "The biggest challenge to a sustained recovery in central Indiana’s housing market continues to be consumer confidence. The downward trend in the monthly Consumer Confidence Index continues to put a drag on the housing recovery. Despite favorable prices and interest rates, many prospective home buyers simply lack the confidence in their personal situation to undertake such a major purchase."
A bright spot today highlights a drop in initial unemployment claims to a seven month low. While national data doesn't convey your personal story, you should nonetheless know that if you want or need to make a housing change, there are reasons to be optimistic. There is data to prove that things are moving positively, if slowly, but positively.
The wind is changing direction. We should make our sails ready.
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