Tightened credit markets have severely limited financign option for potential homebuyers, and FHA loans have become a primary means of financing for many buyers. But investors have been hesitant to purchase and hold homes for the 90 day waiting period, because of costs associated with carrying a loan, as well as the risk of vandalism with a vacant property.

The policy will be revisited by HUD after the twelve-month trial period. The move is an attempt by HUD to stabilize and possibly provide a mild lift to har hit real estate values. The administration is also hoping the policy will help revitalize neighborhoods and communities that have suffered high foreclosure rates.

Investors and buyers must meet a variety of condition to qualify for a loan under the new policy.

The propery cannot have a pattern of “flipping” in the previous twelve months.

All transactions must be “arm-length” . In other words, there can be no identity of interest between the buyers and sellers or other parties participating in the transaction.

I have an exterior door in my home that is difficult to open or close. When we bought the home four years ago, it worked properly and it now seems that the door is too targe for the frame. What can we do to fix the problem?

Answer:

Doors that drag or rub on their frames can be difficult of even impossible to open or close. When the home was built, the doors should have been installed with a uniform distance between the door and its frame, and the frame should have been a perfect rectangle.

If the door an frame were installed correctly and it no longer closes properly, then some outside force has distorted the frame. That force could be structural movement and should be determined before attempting to fix the problem.

In this situation, if structural movement is the cause of the problem, check for a sianonal crack in the wallboard radiation out of one or both of the upper corners of the door opening. Diagonal cracks are a connom result of structural movement; however, if you don’t see any cracks, structural movement may still be the culprit. You should have a home inspector or other qualified professional diagnose the problem. Once you have stopped or ruled out structural movement, you can proceed. In a best case scenario, you can use sandpaper over the areas of the door that rub on the frame. If this does not resolve the problem, the door may need to be planed or the door frame may need to be reset.

What should you do with leftover paint once your painting projects are completed? That’s the question thousands of home owners ask each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 10% of the house paints purchased in the United States each year… about 65 to 69 million gallons is ultimately discarded.

Leftover household paint is a concern to communities throughout the country because of its high volume in the wast stream, resulting waste management costs, and potential for reduction, recovery, reuse and recycling. Leftover paint can also contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fungicides and, in the case of very old paint, significant quantities of hazardous metals such as lead and mercury.

If you want to keep the paint for future touch-ups, cover the opening with plastic wrap and then make sure the lid fits securely so the paint doesn’t leak. Then store the paint can upside down. This will create a tight seal around the lid and keep the paint fresh longer. You may want to keep inside some sort of containment in case of some spillage.

What to do with unwanted Paint:

Consider donating the paint for reuse. Many organizations will accept paint that’s in good condition (defined as uncontaminated paint still with a smoth consistency). The paint must be donated in a leabeled container. You can check for donation options by contacting charitable organizations in your area. Your local high school or community theatre group may accept paint donations as well.

Recycle… Water-based, or latex, paint can be recycled into new paint or used to create other products. Each municipality has different requirements, depending on wheather the paint is oil-based or water-based. You can check with your local environmental agency and also visit www.earth911.com for recycling options.

What else is new with shower enclosures? Accoeding to some bathroom designers, quite a bit is new, starting with the finish. Chrome can still be found in bathrooms, but many builders have moved far beyound chrome, and are including silver, brushed nickel and bronze for faucets, hinges, towel racks and other hardware. The colors and hues of the hardware then can be echoed elsewhere in the room, from the floor and wall tiles to the artwork hung on walls.

Glass choice has taken center stage as well, and frosted and patterned glass are no longer the only choices. Fluted, beveled and etched patterns are options for homeowners desired more provacy in the bathroom. However, clear glass is definitely the most popular choice for doors, giving the shower stall a larger appearance and increasing the visibility of stylish fixtures and decorative tile work.

Shower doors are changing too. In addition to a frameless option, designers offer many other door styles as well. Single-swing and sliding doors are still popular, but Basco, a leading shower door manufacturer, offers a clear glass model that features two French-style swinging doors.

Within the shower enclosure, a bench or a seat provides comfort to a shower and makes up for the lack of the tub. It may also help older homeowners, those with physical challenges, and those planning to age their home.

More luxury can be added with the type of showerhead and jets built into the shower.

How often does this happen to you? You find a terific property and you go see the home, adore the neighborhood and think the home has great curb appear. You go inside and the interior looks every bit as promising as the outside. There is a large master suite, plenty of natural light throughout the home and beautiful floors. Fall deeply in love with the home, then move to the kitchen. No matter how big the house, it seems there is never enough room in the kitchen. How do you do more with less space?

Lots of cabinets and appliances designers have been thinking along the same lines and offer some interesting products that multi-task as efficiently as their owners.

When there’s no room for a pantry, a pantry cabinet can provide a similar function. With two sets of interior shelved doors, one behind the other, space for canned and boxed goods is abundant. Roll-out shelves in lower cabinets also double storage space for pots and pans, and make them easy to reach. A built-in trash unit keeps floor space unobstructed, and a tilt-out drawer in front of the sink can be used to hide sponges and scrubbers.

Is the kitchen missing a dishwasher or does the existing dishwasher take up too much room? How about a dish drawer? This product can scour a dinner service for six and uses less energy than a conventional dishwasher. The dish drawer is small enough, at 23 inches wide and 16 inches high, to fit under the sink. Countertop and table-top dishwashers are also available.

For the smallest kitchen spaces, several manufacturers now offer combination kitchens. One UMMIT C-48E, is 48 inches wide and combines a twenty-four inches wide refrigerator, a two-burner electric cooktop and a one piece sink.

Double duty appliances can also make a difference. A microwave and coffee maker combo allows you to save countertop space.

Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled, but the public demand for water tripled. Americans use an average of 100 gallons of water each day (the equivalent of 1,600 glasses of water). And a recent government survey showed at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013.

The Increase demand has put additional stress on water supplies and distribution systems, threatening public health as well as the environment. To help meet these concerns, the EPA has developed a rating system, called WaterSence, to certify  that participating new homes have been independently inspected and certified to meet specific water conservation criteria. WaterSence-labeled new homes are projected to save about 10,000 gallons of water per year.

Homes receive certification if they consume toughly 20% less water than standard new homes. Along with criteria for high-efficiency toilets and faucets, the program has a landscaping clause that limits the amount of tuf grass participating builders could plant. Focusing on exteral water usage makes sense, because estimates suggest that 30 to 70 percent of all water usage goes into landscape maintenance.

Landscape irrigation does nothing more than waste water – as much as 1.5 billion gallons every day acrross the country.

How does the WaterSence program wor? Outdoor, WaterSence-labeled homes feature water – efficient landscaping and irrigation. Builders have the option of developing an outdoor “water budget” and planning the landscaping accordingly. One way of staying within budget is through the use of a variety of water – efficient plantings, as well as limiting landscaping to less than 40 percent coverage by grass.

Cities in Florida, Nevada and Texas are already familiar with water shortages. To combat the problem, these and many other cities across the country offer financial incentives to builders who plan for water conservation by planting native species and limiting grass cultivation. But EPA’s plan will widen the scope of the WaterSence prgram, sparking concern on the part of turf grassindustry suppliers.

Regular cleaning and inspection of your home’s gutters and downspouts may prevent damage to your home’s interior. When gutters and downspouts are full or become clogged, flooding can occur as well as roof leaks caused by water seepage. Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned and inspected at least semi-annually. Typically, the best times to tackle the job are spring and fall.

The tools you’ll need include thick work gloves, an extension ladder, a garden hose with a spray attachment, and possibly a plumber’s snake. A bucket with a handle on it and an s-hook make the job a little easier.

Attach a garbage bag or bucket to the ladder before extending the ladder up to the roof. Position the ladder near a downspout and make sure the ladder is securely in place before clibing up to the roof. Clear and deposit debris from gutters into the bag or bucket. Work gloves help protect your hands from any sharp objects such as rofing nails, commonly found in gutters and downspouts.

Next, use the garden hose to rinse away dirt or residue. If the downspout is clogged, spray water into the top of the downspout to flush it out. If the clog perists, try to same thing at the other end to help break up whatever is stuck inside. As a last resort, you may need to use the plumber’s snake to dislodge the clog.

Looks mean a lot, and one way to make a home market ready is to highlight its best features. You can make a good start be decluttering every room, kitchen to closet, and basement to attic. While you don’t want to make a home look empty, you do want to make it look spacious, so removing possessions such as knickknacks and perhaps a few pieces of furniture will open up the space. Many people forget what their house looked like back when they first moved in, and before they began to furnish and decorate it.

To declutter a kitchen for example, the counters must be completely cleared, with extra items stored in cupboards. If this creates a logjam in the cabinets, extra pots, pans, dishes and small appliances need to be boxed up and stored, preferably off-site. By Limiting the amount of items in cupboards, prospective buyers will be reassured that the cabinets and cupboards offer plenty of space for their needs.

The same holds true for closets. They need to be only half-full rather than crammed full. By boxing up and storing clothes, shoes and other items and storing them elsewhere, the closets will echo the feeling of spaciousness that will be displayed throughout the house.

The concept of removing a favorite recliner of floor lamp from  a home may seem foreign, but an overabundance of tables, lamps, chairs and couches take up the floor space. Empty space allows buyers to visualize how they could fill it.

In living, dining and family rooms, the window treatments should be minimal, furniture and knickknacks should be reduced, and photos and protraits of family and friends should be put away. It’s easier for buyers to imagine themselves in a house when its owners and their family members aren’t in view in frames on the walls or tables.

Once some of the clutter has been relegated to boxes or bins, the temptation is strong to head right downstairs, or to the garage or attic and pack them away. Sadly, it’s a temptation that must be resisted. Storage space needs to be obvious, not hidden underneath all those boxes. Again, buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the home.

A good way to learn home fire safety tips is by looking online. There is all kinds of tips and information online about fire safety. You just have to set aside time to learn all you can because if you don’t and the unthinkable should happen to your family, you may lose more than you bargained for, such as your family’s lives. Don’t let this happen to you. Research and learn all you can.

When you get online to research, there are many different news stories that you can read about fire safety to help you learn home fire safety tips. There was one news story done by homesafetycouncil.org about how to keep your family safe at home. Here are some of the different tips that they give.

1. “Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.”

2. “Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. For the best detection and notification protection, install both ionization – and photoelectric-type smoke alarms. Some models provide dual coverage. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries once a year.”

These are not all of the home fire safety tips that you need to know but they are some of the most important ones. You have to make sure that everyone in your family knows what to do during a fire. You also need to have a way to be alerted to fire danger if you want to get your family out alive. So, do your homework and work with your family to make sure everyone knows what happens if this danger should occur.

It is a good idea also to research different fire safety products such as, smoke alarms, that will alert you of the danger. One that is popular with many people is the DXS-73 – Supervised Photoelectric Smoke Detector Transmitter. This smoke alarm has a built-in transmitter that is designed for use with Linear’s DXS and DX format receivers. When smoke is detected, the alarm sounds a loud local alarm. Twenty seconds after the local alarm sounds, the built in transmitter sends a digitally coded wireless signal to its companion receiver. The wireless signal will be repeated every 20 seconds as long as smoke is still present.

Another one that you want to research is the FSA-410BST – DSC 4 Wire Smoke Detector W/Heat and sounder. Automatic drift compensation, High/Low sensitivity trouble, easy maintenance replaceable chamber, magnet activated test, unique, non-contact sensitivity reading with hand-held FSD-100 test meter, Built-in, fixed temperature heat sensor option with an alarm threshold of 135 degrees F. Both of these can be researched at homesecuritystore.us.

You want to remember that your family can face many different dangers. So, do everything you can to protect them against all of them, including fire. Fire safety is something that every family needs to know. There are many home fire safety tips that you can learn to help you keep your family safe.

Ralph Winn has over 35 years of education and experience in the security industry. Are you one of the many Americans who have begun to look into improving their home security? This is an important matter and the Home Security Store offers the best protection against burglary and vandalism.

Stay up to speed with breaking security news and technology.

If you really look at it, staging is not that hard or expensive, many but I do see homeowners that have a hard time being objective with their own home since they have lived there for years. If you get in this mode, you can be pulling thousand out of your own bank account at closing, and with the real estate market the way it is, you are going to need to pull out all the stops.

If you take a look at homes that are “model” homes for Boise area builders, you will see how much better it feels inside the home and how their staging effects the feel of the home. They obviously think that the benefits outweighs the cost, because it does almost every time.

Basic Home Staging Rules

#1 – Clean. In the real estate market, your home has got to be clean and sparkling! The is your first staging step. The best way to do this is to hire a good cleaning crew. Even if the crew comes in every week or two, it is probably a good way to go. Make sure your windows are clean too.

#2 – Fix. Do you have leak or cracked tile? These problems will give the buyer a bad impression of your house right off the bat. Make sure to get these things fixed. Have you thought about getting a pre-listing inspection from a licensed real estate inspector?

#3 – Get rid of Clutter. When staging, Live by the “50% Rule” which requires that you get rid of clutter by at least half. This can be tough! Even though some of our clutter brings back memories and gives comfort, it does not sell homes! In the Boise market, clutter makes homes seem much smaller and unorganized and it can cost you thousands too.

#4 – Neutral, Neutral. Neutral colors help you sell and I see this everyday in my Boise market. If you are in New York city, it might be a bit different or more liberal, but it is a fact that you need to appeal to the most buyers you can. Neutral colors and decor make it more likely that someone will pay more for your Boise home.

#5 – Get rid of the “personal”. When staging, get rid of things that most real estate buyers don’t relate to. For example, religious and political items may turn off entire groups of potential buyers. I have seen someone walk away from their perfect home because it had an elk head mounted in the family room. They must have been a vegetarian.:)

A good comparison tool for your house is to visit some model homes and try to match their styles, configurations, colors, and feel. Most of them will be a great tool for you to copy. Don’t reinvent the wheel, look at what real estate buyers are purchasing and duplicate it. Use the MLS as a guide and a resource.

Make your house worth thousands and thousands more just by spending a bit of time and money upfront. You could even get a pre-offer inspection. We can save that topic for another time. Happy staging, and happy home selling!

Ben Janke is a Idaho real estate broker that has written free real estate guides that you can access by clicking the following link Boise Real Estate