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UPKEEP
TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
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REAL ESTATE ANTHONY
Commercial, Residential, Senior Living, Apartment Services
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By Anthony Taylor
HOME
OWNERSHIP IS A GREAT THING, BUT IT’S
ALSO HARD WORK THAT COMES WITH THE OWNERSHIP.
Don’t ever think there’s nothing else to do once you
purchase your home. Just remember you wanted the best looking home in
the community when you and your realtor were out looking for it. You
were also searching for the best kept lawn in the community and a safe
place for your family.
Here’s where the article changes. Now, your home is
about 10 years old. It will require more work to keep it looking good.
Here are a few upkeep tips.
Make wood repairs when you first spot them. You will
save money when repairing them at first notice. Replacing one or two
boards now is better than replacing 50 later.
Make sure you clean your driveway once a week. Using
a bucket of soap and water can keep the cost down. Buy oil remover when
having oil spots. Once you get the oil remover find out where the oil
came from.
I think a good paint job always looks great on a
house. It’s a good idea for you to paint your house. Don’t forget the
more money you save on your home will allow you to save money in your
pocket.
Let’s focus a little on the lawn. Try not to cut your
lawn too low. Sometimes cutting it too low will kill it in some areas.
Set your lawn mower at a mid way position. Make sure to water your lawn
and plants, but please don’t over water them. I didn’t mention keeping
your lawn well trimmed.
Worrying about how your home looks in the community
will encourage others to follow. These are some very basic tips, but
sometimes we just have to hear them from someone else.
Please email me a picture of your lawn if you think
it is the best looking in town. I might select it as yard of the month.
Have a great and safe new year.
Please call
me, Anthony, at 713-723-2737 or email: realestateanthony@juno.com, if
you or someone you know needs my real estate services. |
REAL ESTATE NEWS
JANUARY'S EXISTING-HOME SALES DOWN
WASHINGTON
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The
National Association of Realtors® announced existing-home sales are
above year-ago despite declining in January. Existing-home sales,
including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, dropped 7.2
percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 5.05 million
units in January from a revised 5.44 million in December, but remain
11.5 percent above the 4.53 million-unit level in January 2009.
Total
housing inventory at the end of January fell 0.5 percent to 3.27 million
existing homes available for sale, which represents a 7.8-month supply2
at the current sales pace, up from a 7.2-month supply in December. Raw
unsold inventory is 9.6 percent below a year ago, and is at the lowest
level since March 2006.
The
national median existing-home price3 for all housing types
was $164,700 in January, unchanged from a year earlier. Distressed
homes, which accounted for 38 percent of sales last month, continue to
downwardly distort the median price because they typically are
discounted in comparison with traditional homes in the same area.
HUD ALLOWS HOME BUYERS TO USE $8,000 TAX CREDIT
FOR DOWN-PAYMENTS ON FHA-INSURED LOANS
WASHINGTON - HUD has decided to allow consumers to use the $8,000
first-time home buyer tax credit to help cover their down-payment and
closing costs on FHA-insured mortgages. The measures would allow
FHA-approved lenders; federal, state and local government agencies; and
FHA-approved non-profit organizations to supply home buyers short-term
or "bridge loans" up to the amount of the $8,000 first-time home buyer
tax credit.
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