Monday, February 22, 2010

NEW LISTING



MLS#699930 141 Park Lane Harrogate, TN 

Sitting on 1.5 acres this 4 bedroom, 2 bath traditional style home with over 2,000 sq. ft. features a brick fireplace, beautiful crown molding, wood floors, laundry room with built-in storage, patio and a covered carport for 2!
VERY PRIVATE!!!


Call Emily Lee for your private showing 606-499-7836
 
 
 
 
Emily Lee, REALTOR®
606-499-7836
Realty Group II
423-869-5111
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Current Home Owners: Check Out HouseLogic

HouseLogic Offers Smart Advice to Owners





The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® this week launched HouseLogic, a new, comprehensive consumer Web site designed to help home owners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their homes. HouseLogic will help consumers take responsible actions pertaining to what is likely the largest investment of their lives.



“Backed by the resources and industry insights of NAR and its REALTOR® members, HouseLogic will engage and involve consumers throughout the lifecycle of homeownership,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder. “It makes sense that, as the first, best source for real estate information, NAR should collaborate with today’s consumers to help them make the most out of owning a home. HouseLogic will help us do that.”



The free Web site helps home owners plan and organize their home projects and provides timely articles and news; home improvement advice and how-to’s; and information about taxes, home finances and insurance.



“Unlike other homeownership Web sites, HouseLogic helps consumers view their home through a financial lens and make smart, informed home improvement investment decisions,” said Golder. “Families can set goals for saving money on their home or increasing its value, and easily track the progress they are making on those goals.”



Registered users can save relevant information, create to-do lists, and set project reminders. The Web site can also be customized for individual owners depending on how handy or ambitious they are regarding home projects; how much money they want to spend or save; where they live; and their priorities, such as increasing the value of their home or improving their neighborhood.



HouseLogic also empowers home owners who want to get more actively engaged in shaping community life, advocating on neighborhood and homeownership issues that matter most to them. The site provides users with the tools and know-how to effect change, such as establishing a neighborhood watch program, building a community playground, or participating in city or county planning efforts.



“For more than 100 years REALTORS® have been bringing America home,” said Golder. “HouseLogic takes owning a home to the next level, partnering with consumers to truly help people build their futures through homeownership.”



Visit HouseLogic at www.houselogic.com


— NAR





Emily Lee, REALTOR®
606-499-7836

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

15 Top Retirement Cities


Boomers are willing to move farther than previous generations when they retire, and they are choosing places unlike stereotypical retirement hotspots, says Tom Brokaw in his report on Boomer retirement, airing on CNBC, Thursday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET.



The top places listed by AARP and explored on the show are:



1. Loveland/Fort Collins, Colo.

2. Las Cruces, N.M

3. Rehoboth Beach, Del.

4. Portland, Ore.

5. Greenville, S.C.

6. Sarasota, Fla.

7. Ann Arbor, Mich.

8. Tucson, Ariz.

9. Montpelier, Vt.

10. Honolulu

11. Santa Fe, N.M

12. Atlanta

13. Charleston, S.C

14. Northampton, Mass.

15. San Diego, Calif.



Source: CNBC, Paul Toscano (02/05/2010)




Emily Lee, REALTOR®
606-499-7836

Friday, February 12, 2010

Romantic Valentine's Day at Home

Pamper your Sweetheart without Spending a Lot of Money.
By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide



Why would you want to spend Valentine's Day at home? Perhaps the real question is why wouldn't you! You can do something romantic and special for your sweetheart this February 14th, without spending a lot of money. Most engaged couples are watching their pennies and need to celebrate in a romantic way without breaking the bank. And since many restaurants and theaters are overcrowded and overpriced because of celebrating couples, you'll avoid the crowds, and increase the intimacy at home. Here are some ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day at home where your sweetheart will feel truly special.




Romantic Valentine's Day at Home


A Fireside Picnic Have the sofa pulled up in front of a roaring fire, with some champagne on ice. For an added touch, serve strawberries to bring out the champagne's flavor, or drop pomegranate seeds into the glass to tinge the bubbly pink. If you're the cooking type, make a homecooked Valentine's Day meal. If not, order out from your favorite place, but be sure to ditch the containers and replate the meal elegantly on nice plates. Don't forget great music playing on the stereo!










Spa Night. When your sweetie gets home, draw a hot bath filled with rose petals. (Since roses are so expensive around Valentines Day, you can ask your florist for a package of plain rose petals, short stemmed roses, or for "seconds" -- ones that are slightly bruised since you won't be giving them in a traditional way.) Have a glass of wine and some chocolates to nibble on by the side of the bathtub.






Meanwhile, prepare the bedroom. Line the bed with towels fresh out of the dryer so that they're warm. Get a basin full of warm water near the bed, several washcloths and some great spa products. Start off with an exfoliating rub like the Bliss Hot Salt Scrub. Wash that away, then massage in a great moisturizer like Panhandle Girl's Bettie Spice. You might also want to throw in a foot rub for extra brownie points. (Many people have creams and exfoliating rubs at home already; you don't have to spend extra money on this step.) Afterwards the two of you can enjoy takeout in bed while you watch a romantic movie.



Emily Lee, Realtor®
606-499-7836
EmilyLeeRealty.com


Thursday, February 11, 2010

Decorate for Valentine's Day!!


Do you want to give your beloved a surprise this Valentine's Day? What can be a better idea than to decorate your home especially for him/her? We are here to help you in this task. The romantic home decor ideas given below will tell you how to decorate your home on Valentine's Day…



  • First of all, clean up your home thoroughly. Remove unnecessary clutter and make it look inviting.

  • Buy aroma candles of all shapes and sizes and just before your partner is about to comer home, light every one of them, throughout the house.

  • Now is the turn to buy some balloons, heart shaped ones, that to in red color. Write a small message on each of them and spread them in different rooms of your home.

  • Flower decorations are an all time favorite and continue to be so, even today. But the flowers should be of your partner's liking and need not be red roses only.

  • Make a carpet of red rose petals for your partner, leading from the door to the place in your home, you wish to take him/her first.

  • Set a table for just the two of you and keep a lighted candle in the middle, along with a bottle of wine.

  • Have soft romantic music playing in the background.





Follow all these tips for decorating your home on Valentine's Day and relax. Your job is complete, now the rest of the work will be done by your partner.


 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

5 Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell

~*~

To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.



1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.



2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.



3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.



4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.



5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.



Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shuiby Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)


Emily Lee, REALTOR®
606-499-7836
Realty Group II
423-869-5111




~*~

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

4 Reasons to Sell Now

Selling a property in this tough market can seem like a challenge. Here are four factors that actually make this a good time to post a For-Sale sign.





Sell low and buy low.
Because all property values are down, the loss on the property a home owner sells is really only a paper loss because the next property he buys also will be a bargain. If he buys smartly, when prices come back up in a few years, he’ll be in better shape.


Down-payment help is widely available.
While nothing-down loans have disappeared, it is easy to find down-payment assistance for lower-income and first-time home buyers. Programs vary all over the country, but one good way to find them is to search online for “down-payment assistance programs” and the name of your region.


Your uncle has money to share.
Besides the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and the $6,500 move-up credit, there are an array of energy tax credits that can make home improvements pay off in cash.



Good help is available.
Really talented real estate practitioners, contractors, and designers are available and eager for business.


Source: McClatchy Tribune, Kate Forgach (02/07/2010)





 
 
 
 

Friday, February 5, 2010

Current Home Owners! Info on Tax Credit

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?



•• First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

•• Current home owners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.


To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.


Which Properties Are Eligible?


The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.






How Much Is Available?


The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000.






The maximum allowable credit for current homeowners is $6,500.






How is a Buyer's Credit Amount Determined?


Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two additional factors:






1.The price of the home.


2.The buyer's income.


Price

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.






Buyer Income

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is effective on November 7, 2009, single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.






These income limits have changed from the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit limits. If you or your client purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and November 6, 2009, please see 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.






If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?


Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.






The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.






Can a Buyer Still Qualify If He/She Closes After April 30, 2010?


Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.






Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?


No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount credit will be recouped on the sale.


to read full article please click HERE.
Source Realtor.com



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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Cost vs. Value Report



Thinking about doing a remodel???? Check out this article to see if you will be getting your money back!

Cost vs. Value Report




Monday, February 1, 2010

Living Smaller: House and Home Special Issue: Home & Design: REALTOR® Magazine




If you feel your living space is too small then you need to check out this article with lots of great tips on how to get the most out of what you have!!!


click on link below to access article