Updated: Saturday, October 21, 2017

13 Decorations to Pair With Beautiful Dark Walls
Written By: Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Dark walls, from inky blue to charcoal and black, are refined and dramatic - but decorating around them without making your space feel too dark can be tricky. If youve been thinking of painting one or more walls a deep, dark hue, these ideas for color and decor pairings should help.Natural wood. Natural wood, whether in a mirror frame, rustic ta...

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The FAFSA And Real Estate: When To Buy And Refi To Get The Most Aid For College
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Getting ready to fill out the dreaded Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA? Its the form that strikes fear in parents of college students and college students-to-be who have been cautioned about the tedious process involved, and the disappointing results. And while there is a ton of advice out there about how to properly prepare, what ...

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How Much Do Home Alarm Systems Affect Resale?
Written By: Katy Caballeros

Home alarm systems can be particularly hard to calculate into resale value or return on investment ROI because their job is to prevent loss rather than achieve gains. You purchase a home alarm system with the hope that you never need to use it.The reality is that a burglary is reported to police every 14.5 seconds. But robbery isnt the only thin...

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Protecting Community Associations Against Money Loss
Written By: Benny L. Kass

Qustion: I am the President of a 135 unit condominium association and have just read that a local Property Management company has been the victim of an embezzlement. I understand a lot of condominium money that was held by the Management Company may have been lost. What can our association do to protect ourselves against such events?Answer: In m...

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Earmarking Reserves In Your HOA
Written By: Richard Thompson

Most homeowner associations are entrusted with substantial common elements which must be maintained, replaced or renewed. All of this costs a lot of money. Borrowing said money is a very bad idea because it comes at a very high price in the way of interest and fees which must be repaid along with the principal. The cheapest and fairest way to pa...

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Condo Renovations: Making The Most Of Your Space
Written By: Connie Adair

In real estate, nothing ever stays the same. In Toronto, the types of condo buyers are constantly changing, says real estate agent Cynthia Goodchild of Royal LePage Real Estate Services, Johnston and Daniel Division.Many buyers are now families or young couples with a baby on the way. They dont want to rent but cant afford to buy a house. Or som...

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Real Estate Cyberfraud Continues. Is It Time To Return To Paper?
Written By: Bob Hunt

Cybercrime continues to thrive in the real estate brokerage environment. By this, I dont mean the kind of electronic skullduggery that results in stolen identity information or hacking into someones bank account. Rather, I refer to the business of fraudulently inducing a principal -- sometimes even an escrow officer -- into wiring funds to a ban...

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Benjamin Moores 2018 Color Of The Year: A Modern Guide To Using Red In Your Home
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Neutrals, be gone If Benjamin Moore has its way, interiors will be going from soft and soothing to red hot next year. The paint companys Color of the Year for 2018 is Caliente, and the name is appropriate. The fiery red is "hot, passionate, and sexy," said Benjamin Moore. With a hint of orange,nbsp;calientenbsp;has lots of personality and is the...

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Halloween Decor Trends For An Elegant Interior
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Halloween stores are popping up all over the place as the countdown to candy collecting begins. Halloween dcor is big business today, too, and while some OK, a lot of it can look cheap and childish, there are many options for pumpkin dcor that allow you to be festive without veering away from your sense of >Pretty pastelsWho says your pumpkins h...

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Tips For Decorating Rooms That Are Long And Narrow
Written By: Kate Burt, Houzz UK deputy editor

Distract attention away from an awkward room shape and create a pleasing design using these pro tips.When youre clicking through images of gorgeous rooms to gather inspiration for your home, does it sometimes seem as though the ideas will work only in large or pleasingly proportioned rooms? The truth is, when a room is well designed, we dont not...

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Home Foundations And Why Material Matters
Written By: Realty Times Staff

The typical single-family home can weigh anywhere from 80,000 to 160,000 pounds. Foundations provide a solid base for a homes weight, help to ensure the house stays level and provides anbsp;base for construction to take place. Foundations matter, and so does the material that theyre made of. Heres a closer look at both, starting with materials a...

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Is Your Millennial Real Estate Game Lacking?
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Maybe its time to adjust your strategy."They have to give up their coffee three times a week.""They need to keep their car until its paid off and then continue to drive it for years.""If they really want to buy a house, they need to change their life>These are just a few of the comments overheard on a recent day as two presumably hungry mortgage...

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Taking A Tax Loss On Your Principal Residence
Written By: Benny L. Kass

Question. When my wife died several years ago, I sold the large house we were living in and bought a smaller house.. That purchase was at the top of the local real estate market. I have just purchased a retirement home and would like to sell my current property. However, after real estate commissions and sales expenses, I am facing a sizable los...

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Ask the HOA Expert: Proper Funding Levels
Written By: Richard Thompson

Question: Our HOA recently had a reserve study update which the board is evaluating to ensure that we are adequately funded. What is a proper funding level? I have heard numbers from "30 Funded" to "80 Funded".Answer: 100 Funded is the most fair to all members and should be the goal. For example, if you have a 30 year roof that costs 90,000 to r...

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Why Buyers Wont Buy Your Home
Written By: PJ Wade

Theres no list of reasons mdash; no top ten or even top three reasons mdash; why buyers wont buy a specific listed property like your home.Theres just one reason.When buyers wont buy listed real estate, or even put in an offer close to asking price, theres just one reason why mdash; its the list priceList price must communicate value and opportu...

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BRE: Whats In A Name? Apparently, A Lot
Written By: Bob Hunt

In 2013, what was then the California Department of Real Estate DRE became the California Bureau of Real Estate BRE. Many people who have been in the business for a while have still not become used to the change, and find themselves referring to the Department. Their inability to adapt may have been prescient.Depending on what the Governor does,...

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4 Cheap And Chic Window Treatment Ideas That Arent Drapes
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

The wrong window treatment can call attention to a poor view, mask a good one, and make a room look overall drab. Add in the right window treatments, though, and you could end up with just the right finishing touches to make your home look stylish and feel inviting.The problem is that window treatments can be expensive, and if youre just buying ...

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Nine House Cleaning Tasks That Give You A Great Workout
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

House cleaning is a drag. That comes as a surprise to no one. But, there is a great side benefit to having a tidy home. Well, there are many, but were not talking about the psychological advantages of living in a clean home or even the fact that a clean house just plain looks good. Were talking about working up a sweat. Go ahead and skip the gym...

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