Almost every house that has been lived in for some period of time starts to pick up some clutter.

To you, they may be great treasures or things you need at your fingertips. But to someone visiting as a guest, or even looking to buy your home, it is nothing but clutter.

Clutter visually fills your house, making it look smaller and less inviting.

There are many different kinds of clutter. Sometimes, even things that appear neatly arranged on shelves become clutter if there is simply too much of it.

Books and magazines that you are currently reading may seem very important to you, but more than one of them is disorder to a visitor.

And if you have kids, the clutter you are used to is at a much higher level than what the kid-less will appreciate.

What is most important is keeping the clutter confined to the less public areas of your house. If guests or potential buyers come over, you have that one chance to make a good first impression. Basements and attics get a pass by comparison, as long as they seem organized.

The quickest way to de-clutter is to think about what you really need to have close at hand and tuck the rest away. If you need drawers to file away your office, get them. If your home’s first impression is “open” and “welcoming”, you have taken steps in the right direction.

Having trouble paying your mortgage? You aren’t alone these days. But more and more, mortgage companies are doing their best to work things out.

Loss of a job or a sudden medical emergency are just some of the many reasons that otherwise responsible borrowers find themselves in difficulty. What’s important to remember is that you are not alone, and there are people you can talk to.

More importantly, foreclosure is a difficult and expensive proposition for a mortgage company.

The most important thing you can do is to call your mortgage company and tell them the situation. They have credit counselors that you can talk to and will work out a payment plan that fits your situation.

Never let a missed or partial payment go without first working it out, since your mortgage holder will have no choice but to assume the worst.

Bad situations happen to people who otherwise have good credit all the time. Don’t let a temporary problem destroy your credit or threaten your home. No one benefits from drastic action taken against you, so give the lender a call and work things out to everyone’s satisfaction.

Want some help putting home values in historical perspective?

Using the video game Roller Coaster Tycoon, Speculative Bubble created a roller coaster whose tracks follow home values (adjusted for inflation) from 1890 to 2007.

The ride lasts three-and-a-half minutes, but the last thirty seconds really hammer home the point.

You can almost hear the people screaming…

Wondering how the dramatic change in sub-prime mortgage lending will impact you?

Try this stat on for size:

Since 1998, 1.4 million families have used sub-prime mortgages to buy their first home.

As sub-prime lending guidelines get tighter, there will be fewer first-time home buyers and that impacts every homeowner in the country.

The reason lies in “move up” buying.

When a sub-prime family buys their first home, the sellers of that home likely “move up” to a bigger home. In turn, the sellers of the second home may move up, too. And of the third home. And fourth, and so on.

Somewhere in that chain of events, all of our homes are represented.

Without sub-prime mortgages, maybe the move-up buyer is less prevalent with fewer buyers we could see higher home supply.

We are all connected in the real estate economy. What’s good for one, is good for all. And, the reverse is true, too.

Source
Testimony of Michael D. Calhoun
Center for Responsible Lending
March 27, 2007
http://www.responsiblelending.org/pdfs/House-Calhoun-Mar27-final.pdf

You’re looking for a new home and you’ve done your homework. You know the home is just right for you except for that one little thing. That awful bathroom, the tiny living room, the backyard — no house is perfect until you make it so.

But how do you get started?

If you are not a DIY-type, a licensed contractor is a good place to start to gather estimates and to begin planning. But, after spending your down payment money on the home, what if there’s not much money left for remodeling?

Before you postpone your project work “until you have money for it”, it may be a smart move to talk to your loan officer about financing options.

A loan officer can tell you how much you can borrow, and may make suggestions about structuring your mortgages so you can afford both the home and your projects. Sometimes, the proper home loan can take that almost-dream home you’d love to buy and get everything you want in one monthly payment.

If you don’t have a loan officer that you know and trust, be sure to ask me for a referral. I am happy to help you find one.

This furry guy — the house dust mite — is considered to be the number one cause of asthma and lives in all of our homes.

Dust mites require at least 70% relative humidity to survive, and they require food. Their most common meals are dead skin cells.

The most likely habitats for mites, therefore, are the tops of mattresses, plush chairs, and clothing.

Don’t feel grossed out about mites — 90% of the population lives in complete harmony and is oblivious to mites and their existence. The other 10%, however, react to the mites’ allergens.

Although many people spend time and money cleaning air ducts to reduce dust mites in their home, the best way to keep mites at bay is to regularly clean and vacuum your home.