Does Landscaping Increase Your Property Value?

Does Landscaping Increase Your Property Value?  Yes!  

With warmer days (finally) upon us and springtime in full bloom, your thoughts may be turning to projects on your home to-to list.  If you have several items that you would like to complete on a smaller budget, the good news is that home landscaping projects are worth the money you spend.  Trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers go a long way toward increasing your home's value both immediately and over time.






This home could shine with the right landscaping!








Here are a few tips to get you growing:

Even if you cannot complete your entire yard at once, it's still best to draw up a complete plan and then stick to it for several years.  A well laid plan will encourage a uniform look to your land.

 Think about including shade trees in that plan.  Placed correctly, over time they can reduce your cooling expenses by as much as 40%, besides their aesthetic qualities.

Consider plants such as perennials for your growing area.  They come back in greater numbers year after year.  In fact, within a few years you'll have so many that you'll find yourself dividing and trading with your neighbors.

A additional benefit to landscaping projects is that they get you active, outdoors and back in touch with the land!  Enjoy these nice days while they last!

Pontiac Regional Chamber Carnival and The Inside Realty Coloring Contest

      We just wanted to say thanks to the carnival organizers for inviting us to get involved! 

This was our first year, but it will not be our last!  It was great to connect with the community and receive positive feedback from our clients!  Thank you to all who stopped by our table.

Pontiac Regional Chamber Carnival

 

 

 

 

 

 

To celebrate our new Inside Realty logo, we hosted a coloring contest.  We had so many great entries, it was hard to pick winners! Congratulations to our four Toys R Us gift card winners!

 

 

 

 

 

Hope that you were able to make it and had as much fun as we did.  If we didn't see you there, keep this event in mind for next year!

Stay in touch with Inside Realty!  Drop in, call 248-758-0022, or check us out at www.insiderealty.com for the latest, local information on home sales.

 

 

 

Centro Multicultural La Familia and Cinco De Mayo!

Are communities are stronger when we join together.

Centro Multicultural La Familia is an important resource offering support services to families in our area.

La Familia describes their mission "...is to provide culturally-competent support services to families in a wholistic approach in order to improve their quality of life."

If you or someone you know would benefit from the services they offer, please visit them at:  http://centromulticultural.org/

Inside Realty is a proud sponsor of La Familia's upcoming fundraising event, Cinco De Mayo.

Tickets are still available.  Please join us for Authentic Mexican food and drink, Dancing under the stars, a silent auction, and much more!  And all to support families and children in need!

Why NOW is a great time to buy!

Whether you are thinking about purchasing a home within the next few months or the next few years, you will benefit from our FREE seminar.  By improving your understanding of all aspects of the home buying  process, we will have you in your dream home in no time! 

• Learn about your credit score and borrowing power

• Lower your costs!  Find out about today's buyer assistance programs

• Looking for a home?  Learn how to search the right (and easy) way!

• Experienced bankruptcy or foreclosure?  We have helpful tips for that, too.

Home ownership is closer than you think!

Local professionals and valuable tools will help you get their even faster!

RSVP HERE

• Learn how to improve your credit score
• Lower your mortgage interest rate
• Navigate the mortgage process
• Recover financinally after bankruptcy and forclosure

Join us and have all all your questions answered in a relaxed, casual atmosphere!

Buying a Home? The Fannie Mae Closing Cost Incentive is Ending Soon!

Attention home buyers!

Up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance is still available through Fannie Mae's First Look program!  This program is a great tool to promote home ownership and strengthen our communities. Owner Occupant buyers must request the incentive during the First Look period, purchase the property before April 30th, 2014 and close before June 30th, 2014.

You still have about 2 weeks left, so don't delay.  If you are currently looking for a home, this incentive can really make a big difference to your home buying budget.

Please find the program details on the Fannie Mae site.  Or give us a call here at Inside Realty, we are happy to help!

Like to start browsing for new homes right now?  Our website features the newest listings in real time.  Visit us today!

Inside Realty 

248-758-0022

Growing Pains? MSHDA may be able to help you finance a new home that fits your new lifestyle.

MSHDA's MI Next Home

Great news for current homeowners!  

MSHDA has unrolled a new program to assist repeat homebuyers.  Those of us who have already taken the plunge into homeownership, but may now be thinking that it's time for a newer (older, larger, smaller, taller...different!) home.  

MSHDA's MI Next Home will now make down payment assistance of up to $7,500 available to current homeowners looking for a new place to call home.

Of course you must meet MSHDA's income limits, and the required credit score is at least 640 in most cases, and the price of the home must be below $224,500.  But it looks like this program is poised to help a lot of buyers purchase a great new home!

For more details please visit the MSHDA site, or Inside Realty.  We are happy to help with all your home buying questions!

Call seven days a week!  248-758-0022

Our Neighborhoods - Oak Park

Oak Park's citizens recently participated in a Vision Program and outlined what they'd like the future of their city to be.  

They found that Oak Park is truly a city of opportunities!  Centrally located with great recreational opportunities, Oak Park's combination of stable neighborhoods and affordable housing make it very attractive to young family's and first time home buyers. The diversity of the people of Oak Park give the city a vibrant cultural heritage.


Watch for many awesome events this season:

• Expansion of the OPA! Art Fair 

Oak Park Art Fair

• Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside/Out program this summer. 

DIA InsideOut

• The Ethnic Advisory Commission’s World Day of Dance

• Friends of the Library free programs, including the Michigan Opera Theater Youth Choir 

Oak Park Recreation Brochure

A vibrant city with attractive home prices.  If you're looking for homes in Oak Park, please let us know and we will help you find your dream home.

www.insiderealty.com

Or call, seven days a week, 248-758-0022!  

Our Neighborhoods - The Auburn Hills Community

Auburn Hills

Are you looking for a city with top of the line schools and a small town family atmosphere?  

Now what if that same city boasted high-technology parks, international corporations, colleges and universities, world class shopping and entertainment venues?  

Auburn Hills has it all!

Auburn Hills is a vibrant community with a revitalized downtown area.  There are many parks throughout the city.  Take the opportunity to enjoy music while you enjoy nature at the summer outdoor concert series.

See the Pistons or your favorite band at the palace.

Great Lakes Crossing!  Amazing outlet mall!!

Great news, home values are looking up, increasing over 22% in the past year!  And since the median estimated home value is still at $124,620, Auburn Hills is one of the most affordable local cities. Get more return on your housing dollars.

Looking for a Home in Auburn Hills?

Visit www.insiderealty.com to find available Auburn Hills listings 

 

Auburn Hills Homes for Sale

Invite Inspiration When Decorating the Spare Room

Whether you have company arriving for a visit or want to design a room that offers more space to relax in your home, the spare bedroom is an excellent opportunity to explore trending design elements. The room is there, waiting for you to try a few simple but creative ideas to make everyone feel at home.

Color

It all starts with deciding on your color base. Use the guest bedroom as a place to test new colors in your home. A bold gray-and-yellow combo makes a statement, or use lighter wall colors, such as aqua, to create a soothing atmosphere. Select a clean, white-walled bedroom to provide an open and refreshing space for guests, or try a vibrant hue, such as orange, to create a fun, bold space in your home.

Flooring

Whether the room has hardwood flooring and area rugs or you choose new carpeting, keep it neutral to provide a strong base for furniture and accents. If you have a hardwood floor, select a dark or light stain to add depth to the natural coloring. Remember to keep your wall color in mind when deciding on the color of flooring, especially if you want the colors to play off each other. Use area rugs for texture, pattern and an additional pull to draw your guests in. The flooring is the foundation on which to build your room design, so take time to explore different possibilities.

Furniture

After your room is painted and ready, keep the color of your flooring and walls in mind when deciding on the furniture. Turn to magazines or online searches for inspiration. Use furniture you have in the home in new ways, or find new, one-of-a-kind pieces. Imagine a light, airy guest room with a dose of vintage charm and an antique iron bed. Custom-painted furniture and plush fabrics to contrast with your new wall colors can add to a relaxed ambiance. You'll want to curl up in your own guest room for reading and an escape during the day. If you have a pair of twin beds, cover them in the same fabrics and add a charming armchair to unify the room and offer seating. The possibilities and combinations are endless; have fun with it!

Bedding

Selecting the bedding is the icing on the cake. Be bold and brighten up a room with playful patterns and vivid colors, or stick to a corresponding palette to tie patterns together. Use a variety of pillows and fabrics, like quilts and throw blankets, for plush accents. Try tribal patterns and designs inspired by traditional Asian and African motifs, which are trending. Classic black and white are also hot colors in bedding. Whether you decide on traditional floral patterns or mod stripes, this is the best part - find the perfect look for your bedding to tie your design together.

Accessories

This is it: the big finish. But don't go overboard in the guest room with accessories. Even if you go in the direction of more dramatic design versus casual comfort, be sure to choose simple items that have great impact on your overall decor. Traditional accents like colorful table lamps, bookshelves stocked with great reads, beautifully framed mirrors, and useful wicker baskets keep the space feeling cozy and classic. Keep the wicker baskets stocked with adorable new soaps, petite shampoos and conditioners, new toothbrushes, and even new books and magazines to make your guests feel right at home.

Understanding FHA-Insured Loans

One of the few blessings to come out of the Great Depression was the FHA-insured loan. Although, contrary to what many think, it wasn't created to help low-income buyers get into homeownership. Just as during our recent Great Recession, during the Depression foreclosure rates skyrocketed, leaving lenders in the lurch. The FHA-insured loan was created to protect lenders from losses should the economy once again tank.
That said, the borrower does receive benefits from the loan. First, she benefits from the meticulous appraisal of the home, and second, from the low down payment requirements and attractive interest rates offered by lenders.

Eligibility Requirements

Although the Federal Housing Administration won't be loaning the money to you directly (you'll see a conventional lender for that), they'll take a look at your credit profile to determine whether they want to offer insurance on your loan.
Recent FHA changes call for a manual review of applicants with credit scores below 620 and debt-to-income ratios of 42 percent or higher. While these conditions don't automatically disqualify a borrower, it does decrease the number of applicants who qualify.
Statistics show that successful FHA applicants in August of 2013 had an average FICO score of 691, according to FoxBusiness.com. Unsuccessful applicants had an average FICO score of 667.
Remember, the lender may have stricter requirements, so it's always a good idea to take a look at your credit reports, fix any errors, and pay down some of your debt before applying for a mortgage.

The Down Payment

American homebuyers love the low down payment aspect of the FHA loan. Although lending criteria has tightened since the economic downturn, down payment requirements are still low – as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the home.
An applicant with a FICO score lower than 579 may have to pay a 10 percent down payment, while those with higher scores – assuming they have adequate income and meet other loan requirements – typically qualify for the lower down payment.

Mortgage Insurance

Most homeowners know what PMI is – Private Mortgage Insurance. It's that policy they pay for but derive no benefit from. PMI protects the lender in case the borrower defaults.
FHA-insured loans also mandate mortgage insurance, but it's known as the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) instead of PMI. As with PMI, FHA at one time allowed borrowers with a 78 percent loan balance to cancel their mortgage insurance premium. As of June of this year, however, that changed.
New FHA borrowers (since June 3, 2013) with low down payments (a starting loan balance of more than 90 percent of the value of the home) must pay for MIP as long as they have the loan. Borrowers with balances lower than 90 percent can choose to stop paying for MIP after 11 years.
To top it off, in April of this year FHA announced that they would be raising MIP premiums by 10 basis points, making the FHA-insured loan far less attractive than it once was.
Before settling on an FHA-backed loan, ask your mortgage broker to run scenarios comparing it with conventional loans as well as Fannie Mae's "My Community" loan program and Freddie Mac's "Home Possible" mortgage. You may find a better deal than FHA.

Questions about buying a home?

Call us anytime, open 7 days a weeek!

248-758-0022

Paint to Sell: Painting Tips to Ensure a Quick Home Sale

No matter how much you rearrange or decorate a room, nothing affects appearance like a fresh coat of paint. When you enter a house, your eye may be drawn to little decorative touches, but all the staging in the world will fall flat if your paint is drab, dirty, or goes against the potential buyer's taste. Considering that a gallon of paint is only about $25, it's also an inexpensive way to give your home a makeover.

Choosing Colors to Appeal to Homebuyers

Using colors that make the buyer feel "at home" will help you sell your home more quickly. You want them to look at each room and be able to literally see themselves and their belongings fitting inside your walls. Inspire a feeling of peace and relaxation, and part of the sale is already done!
Neutrals and soft colors create a soothing, calm atmosphere. Homebuyers can more easily visualize the paint colors they want when other colors aren't bombarding them at every glance.
Avoid bold, vibrant or dark colors. Even pure white can prove overwhelming. Stay away from trendy colors no matter how good they look to you.
Keep in mind color psychology. Not only do certain colors calm you, but the shade can also affect the room itself. Light colors make a space appear larger. Dark colors, on the other hand, make the room feel smaller. Of course, sometimes a darker color is good if you want a certain effect. A cozy den with a darker color and a bright, cheery kitchen with a lighter color may work best to highlight each room's appeal.

Neutral Shades

Even with neutrals, you still have a variety of colors to choose from. Off-white is a popular, all-purpose color, but it's not the only one. Beige, tan, eggshell and ecru are other colors that work well with almost any style. But your choices range even further: pale shades of blue, green, yellow and gray, for instance, can blend with the house and complement the room. Aim for colors that don't overpower the room or furnishings. Keep the color variations to a minimum to lend a sense of continuity to the house. If every room is a different color, it can prove overwhelming. It's much better to pick two or three colors to use throughout the house.

Painting Tips

Take the time to paint properly. Mask off areas that will be left unpainted. Throw down floor and furniture coverings to ensure you don't create damage during the process. Most importantly, prep the wall properly.
You may wish to spread a primer first to block bold colors. If the walls don't require color or stain blocking, sanding the walls slightly or washing with a solution of trisodium phosphate are other options. Both sanding and washing with TSP will remove dirt, oils and other contaminants that prevent the color from adhering well and looking good.
While you paint, take time and care to cut in the corners and avoid drips. Aim for the best paint job of your life – it will be worth it when the buyers sign on the dotted line!
If you can't afford to repaint your entire house, concentrate on a few select areas. The first room the buyer enters is the place to start – remember, first impressions count! Consider painting cupboards, trim and doors along with key rooms. Let your instincts guide you. Look around at other homes for ideas. If your home has a "parade of homes" that local builders showcase, you can glean a lot of tips in a short amount of time.
With a minimum investment, a little time and elbow grease, it shouldn't take long for you to have your home ready for its next owner.

 Thinking about making a move?  

Give us a call seven days a week for home buying and selling advice.  

Inside Realty

248-758-0022