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Lynn Bulmer's Articles

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To Flip or Not to Flip - Real Estate's Risky Business In an era where real estate is either a benefit or a burden to Americans, it is still possible for people to prosper from the practice of flipping a home. It may take a lot of work, or not in some cases, but for investors who are looking to put some work into the project, the results could be lucrative. Straw Bale Construction - What's Old is New Again Straw bales are relatively easy to work with. Basic saws and other hand tools can be used to cut and/or shape walls and window openings. These bales can be sculpted to provide unique shapes within the home, such as window seats, or coved ceilings. Sourcing a Good Foreclosure Deal It is essential to be ready to move when the right deal comes along – including having a pre-approved mortgage and a strong down payment. When a property is bank-owned, the faster it can get the home off their books, the better it is for them. When You Shouldn't Work For a Client This flexibility includes clients being willing to take less for their house than they'd like due to economic conditions and being willing to stage or have their house staged professionally. Hiring an Assistant: Make it Productive, not Privative Try to hire when you have time to spend teaching your assistant the job. Real estate is a very different environment from many office jobs and many assistants will need some time to acclimate themselves to its unique demands. A slow period is a good time to interview and hire assistants, as it allows for a smoother learning curve so that when things heat up, your assistant is equal to the challenge. The Climate Bill and the Building Industry One of the biggest areas expected to be impacted by the climate bill is the building industry. Automobile emissions may be substantial, but buildings are responsible for more energy consumption in the U.S. than all combined areas of the transportation industry. Madoff 150 Year Sentence Poses Questions Many of these victims sat in court, anxiously awaiting the outcome of his much publicized trial. Everyone was shocked when the judge pronounced the maximum sentence of 150 years. The judge may have considered a lesser ruling, but no one came forward with letters of reference in support of Madoff's character or any good deeds he had done. Easy Tricks for Updating Your Deck You've cleaned and repainted your deck, maybe added a couple planters, but somehow, it still lacks pizzazz. Deck styles and accessories have changed considerably in the last few years. Think back to the last time you bought your table or umbrella; if it was more than 5 years ago, it could be, your deck needs some updating. Good Lessons for Home Buyers Typically, we scrape together as much cash as possible and apply it to the down payment and closing costs. But is this the best strategy? Many lenders would prefer a buyer have a smaller down payment, and a cash reserve for emergencies. Ideally, buyers should try and build up an account that will cover three to six months worth of mortgage payments and living expenses. Something Old or Something New: Which Home is Right for You? If you're getting ready to make a real estate purchase, you may be wondering whether it's a better deal to buy new construction or an older house. There are benefits and drawbacks to both types of property, so it's important to weigh your options carefully before making an offer. Color Me High Tech! Remodeling Help for the Artistically Challenged To take a small sample of color and mentally apply it to an entire room is very hard for people who have little in the way of visual-spatial intelligence. A person could hold a paint chip against pieces of furniture, window treatments and flooring, but he won't know if everything flows harmoniously until the entire room is painted. When the room is completed, if he doesn't like it, he's just wasted a great deal of time and money, and will need to start the color selection process all over again. Home Reassessment Fraud Over 500,000 single family homes purchased between July 2003 and June 2008 will have their assessments reviewed. Once complete, the homeowners will be notified of the results and at that time if they disagree with the assessment, can file an application for review. There is no charge for this review. Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets If your final color choice or cabinet style is not quite right, it can be hard to adjust to. The following points are designed to get you thinking about what you really want, and point out some pros and cons you may never have considered. Privatize Your Deck You've finally set aside some time to spend out on the deck, but unfortunately the rest of the neighborhood isn't cooperating. Kids are playing right next door, dogs are barking, music from three competing stations is playing loudly – so much for the peace and quiet. Take the Time to Seal Your Grout Clean the tiles with a neutral PH cleaner before sealing. Use a damp mop to prevent water from pooling in the joints. Never clean with bleach or strong acids such as vinegar, as they will break down the grout in time. For an existing floor, you may need to scrub the grout lines with a small brush to remove any stains and dirt. Rinse with clean water and dry the tiles completely. Add a Red Spark to Your Tired Rooms One of the quickest and most dramatic ways to add spark to room is by using the color red. This magical color works amazingly well with almost any pallette and never looks tired or old. One word of advice, however, the use of red can be overdone. Short of painting your walls and ceilings, here are some subtle ways to slip the color red into your existing decorating scheme without over powering it. Presidential Homeowner Bailout The effects of the bail out strategy may finally filter down to American homeowners. President Obama's recent conference in Phoenix outlined a plan for providing relief to millions of people facing a home foreclosure, stabilizing the housing market and possibly driving down interest rates.