Carolyn Capalbo's Articles - ABC Article Directory | Submit Articles | Article Search Engine

Carolyn Capalbo's Articles

Display Category\|Title\|Newest\|Oldest
Lower Your Property Tax Without Hiring a Lawyer Learn how your assessor’s office determines the values of residential real estate. Do they look at recent sales? Is it a percentage of the estimated value of your home? Do they figure out how much it might take to rebuild your home from scratch? Find out so you can understand why the assessor priced your home the way they did. If You Can’t Spell “Commission”, You Don’t Deserve One Spelling indicates that you are educated. People respect education. The person who speaks well and writes well will always look better than the person who does not. Education indicates experience and competency. People are less likely to assume that they can intimidate or fool you. They will also be more likely to assume that you know what you're talking about. Single Female Home Buyers: Marketing to a Growing Demographic Single women drive 20% of home sales today. Whether they have never been partnered, are divorced, separated, or have lost a partner through death, single women are casting their eyes towards a home of their own. Focusing on single female home buyers is a smart move if you want to capture the attention of a group of people who are upwardly mobile and ready to strike out on their own. But You Didn't Do Any Work As a real estate agent, you are probably going to come across someone, somewhere who says, "Well you barely did any work at all! Why should I pay you this much?" You may feel that you are charging too much in light of this, especially if you are new to the game. However, there is a very good reason why you get paid what you do and why you should continue charging that amount. Death and Taxes: The Language behind Mortgages and Amortize The Black Death had peaked in Europe in the mid 1300s, when the first references to “mort” as something to do with real estate emerged on paper. The culture of a conquering and a conquered people also makes this usage appropriate; often winning and losing was as simple as living and dying. How to tell if Your Prospective Neighbor is a Psycho Not every weird neighbor is out to get you. However, if local gossip points to one person, there is a lot of crime in the area and/or there seems to be a lot of questionable people and activities, you may want to pass on the “real estate deal of a lifetime” and seek out something that is maybe less economical but less potentially stressful. Induction Units: A New Era in Kitchens It used to be true that for that "professional" cooking experience gas was the way to go but even the professionals are trading in their gas ranges for induction now. Gas used to be the one and only real option for professionals because of its quick reaction time when you adjust temperature. However, induction units react just as fast as a gas range does. Bidets: the Mystery Bathroom Fixture With the current trends to luxurious spa type master bathrooms, a bidet can fit right in with that high-end European hotel atmosphere. Consider one also if you're looking to make a house more accessible to residents or buyers who might be elderly or disabled. A bidet, particularly one that's built into a toilet, works well with the philosophy of universal design by helping anyone with less than optimal mobility to use the washroom on their own. Lake Manassas – A Golfer's Delight The area also offers the ultimate outdoor playground for all ages. Amenities in Lake Manassas include three stocked ponds, hiking trails, nature trails, basketball court, children's playground and The Lake Manassas Swim and Tennis Center. The facility features an Olympic-size pool, wading pool, and tennis courts. Virginia Doesn't Want $125 Million in Federal Stimulus Money If you were offered $125 million would you turn it down? That's what happened this month when the Virginia Republicans voted to reject $125 million in federal stimulus money to help fight unemployment. This wasn't a slim victory – in fact the House voted 53-46 to reject Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's proposal which would extend unemployment benefits. HOA Hell or Heaven? Determine your home ownership style before buying! If you don't like dealing with a board of people when you want to change an aspect of your home or property, you may not wish to live in an HOA property. Many HOAs control changes to a person's property to the point where they can't have a certain color of railing. In order to avoid fines, liens and lawsuits, one must go to the board to get permission for any proposed change. Yes Pets? Renting to Pet Owners Without Ruining Your Investment No matter what kinds of animals you decide to accept, recognize that there is no such thing as a completely clean pet. Even fish need to be cared for regularly or their aquarium and area becomes a breeding ground for smell, mold and mildew. It's not so much the mess that the pet produces; it's the commitment of the owner to keep their pet and its surroundings clean and livable.