With today’s buyer’s market, you can talk down the price of everything from flat-screen televisions to summer rentals. When it comes to home improvement, though, haggling is as risky as ever. Even if contractors are more willing to lower their prices nowadays, they’re still liable to get angry and to cut corners on the job.

To find out how consumers can safely play this give-and-take, we asked dozens of home-improvement pros around the country what approaches would work on them. Most didn’t want to talk about it, but we persisted, and a few revealed plum tips.

Stir up competition, get at least three bids so you know the market price range for the job. Tell each contractor that you’re getting other bids, so he’s motivated to give you a competitive number. (more…)

WEST JEFFERSON NC MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

87.5 +/- Acres Available For Residential Subdivision Mountain Development, 7 miles from West Jefferson, NC

Paved Road and Bridge Built To State Specifications.

Average of $23,000 per acre.

This Property Should Retail For Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per acre.

ALL PROPERTY HAS LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Contact Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247

or

email Greg at grstike@charter.net

click here for more information

Although prices have dropped precipitously, there is still one big obstacle for many first-time house hunters looking to take advantage of the market and that’s cash for down payments. The typical first-time buyer has only saved enough to cover 4% of the purchase price, according to the National Association of Realtors.

As part of the stimulus package, Congress created a refundable first-time homebuyers tax credit in hopes of helping on-the-fence buyers to take the home-purchase plunge. But buyers couldn’t collect the $8,000 credit until tax time, rather than at closing time – when it’s needed.

Now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is planning to change that. The agency is working on a plan that will allow Federal Housing Authority-approved lenders to provide buyers with the tax credit cash up front. (more…)

Vacation property, an investment for retirement or a permanent residence, this Lake James waterfront home may be your dream property.

The beautiful water front home is located in a private community with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a double deck boat dock, an enclosed boat garage and a private ramp to launch your own watercraft. The home was built originally in 1972 and totally renovated in 2002. A four car detached garage was built in 2002.

There is a total of 264 ft. of water front. Beautiful three tier sea walls accent this elegant home. Hard wood and tile floors, modern appliances and vaulted ceilings are only a few of the amenities that capture you with this home.

Private dock permit.

List Price: $1,800,000
Flexibility: Willing to finance
Acreage: .75 acres
Type: Waterfront

Floors: 2
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sq. Footage: 3700
Garage Size: 4.0
Year Built: 1972, totally renovated in 2002
School District: Nebo

Suitable Use: Residential

Topography: Rolling
Road Frontage: Private Road
Location: Lake James, Burke County, NC

Amenities: Waterfront, Fireplace, Central AC, Alarm, Wood Floors, Gas Range, Patio, Wheelchair Accessible, Nature/Bike Paths, Boating, Controlled Access, Spa/Jacuzzi

click here for more information

search for : Lake James waterfront home, Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake James, Burke County, NC

Most economical green home remodels rely on the fact that you have a decent shell of a home standing already. Some very old homes, homes with mold, or homes with major design flaws can be tough to remodel green and it will cost you more than if your house was in better shape to start with.

While having a place to live as you remodel is useful, it can also be annoying to live among the shambles of a remodel. Plus, in some cases there are remodel tasks that cannot be completed with you living in the house so you’ll have to find temporary housing.

There can be hidden costs such as architectural design fees, structural engineering fees, demolition costs, permit fees, plus of course there is always the strong possibility of unforeseen or emergency conditions. (more…)

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

Starting later this month, you’ll be able to do precisely that by buying into New York Stock Exchange-traded funds tied to the movement of house prices – up or down – in major metropolitan real estate markets. Called “Macro shares,” and their values will move based on home prices as measured by the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index. If you think house prices in 10 key markets are likely to decline over the next several years, you can buy “down” Macro shares from your stock broker.

The ten metropolitan areas the index will track for the Macro funds are: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Boston and Washington DC. The money you pay to buy shares is invested in short-term Treasury securities or income-earning deposits. Interest income pays for administration of the funds and may even yield dividends for Macro holders. (more…)

More than 20% of American homeowners owe more on their mortgage debt than they can sell their homes for, according to a recent industry report. The real estate Web site Zillow.com reported that 21.8% of all U.S. homes, representing more than 21 million residences, were in a “negative equity” position after prices dropped more than 14% nationally in the year ended March 31.

Whether you’re a homeowner or an investor, there are ways to get out of this mess before it bankrupts you. The first step is to arm yourself with full knowledge of all the alternatives available to you. You may be able to renegotiate loan terms with your bank, or short sell your home, or even rent the property out—just don’t wait until it’s too late.

How to Sell a House When It’s Worth Less Than the Mortgage explains all of your options, helps you pick the best one for your situation, and shows you how to get it done step by step. (more…)

The Obama administration said Tuesday it is expanding its plan to stem the housing crisis by offering mortgage lenders incentives to lower borrowers’ bills on second mortgages.

During the housing boom, lenders readily gave out “piggyback” second loans that allowed consumers to make small down payments or avoid them entirely. While home prices soared, such mortgages were even extended to borrowers with poor credit scores and people who didn’t provide proof of their incomes or assets. (more…)