Susan Cattey

7 RENOVATIONS YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR MONEY ON-

Home renovation is a $400 billion business. But that doesn't mean every renovation is a successful one. So how do you know which ones bring home the ROI and which ones you shouldn't waste your time - and money - on?

We consult Remodeling magazine's Cost versus Value Report to find the highest return on investment for home projects. But how about the ones that don't pay you back?

Here are seven you should be wary of.

1. Mid-Range Bathroom Remodel
2. Master Suite Addition
3. Family Room Addition

Read the Full Story Here! - http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice1/item/34132-20150406-7-renovations-you-dont-want-to-waste-your-money-on

IT DOESN'T PAY TO WAIT TO BUY A HOME-

There will always be those who try to "time the market," but there's one factor you can't know -- when buying a home will become more expensive.

Certainly you can tell from recent trends whether or not prices and mortgage interest rates are in your favor. Monthly prices have risen year-over-year for three years. Mortgage interest rates are slowly rising, but remain at extremely attractive levels.

You could wait for prices to fall, but there are two problems with that idea. First, it would take an economic recession to lower prices, which could take months or years. With the exception of the Great Recession, you won't know if you're in or out of a recession until the talking heads online inform you.

Second, mortgage interest rates have been kept artificially low for five years. That's a very long time. With steady gains in employment, it's not likely they will go any lower. In fact, higher interest rates could wipe out any gains you could save by waiting to buy.

Read the Full Story Here! -http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/buyersadvice1/item/34045-20150402-it-doesnt-pay-to-wait-to-buy-a-home

FIXED RATE DOESN'T MEAN FIXED PAYMENTS-

This is one of the best times to get a fixed-rate mortgage. A fixed rate simply means that the mortgage lender charges you a fixed rate of interest that doesn't ever change over the life of the loan.

If you get a fixed rate of 4.00 percent, you will be paying four percent in interest until you sell the home. At such a low rate, it's unlikely you'd refinance.

You can see how much you pay in interest in an amortization schedule. The longer you pay on a fixed rate, the more interest you pay down because your interest payment is front-loaded into the beginning years of your loan schedule.

The longer you own your home and pay on your mortgage, you'll see that a greater percentage of your monthly payment goes to reduce principal, helping you to build equity or ownership in the home.

An adjustable rate mortgage is initially lower than a fixed rate, but the loan will adjust periodically according to market rates after one year, three years, five years, or whatever you and the lender have agreed to.

Read the Full Story Here! - http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/mortgageadvice1/item/34071-20150403-fixed-rate-doesnt-mean-fixed-payments

SELLERS: RAMP UP YOUR CURB APPEAL-

Curb appeal is one of the most important factors in selling a home, and one of the most difficult to quantify, but one thing is certain -- homes sell for more money when they have it.

It's common knowledge that drive-up first impressions count. Buyers want to be charmed and excited about a property as a whole. A clean, tidy front yard, front walk swept of leaves and snow, pavers laid safely and evenly, and an attractive frame of landscaping set the tone for a positive buyer experience.

On closer inspection, buyers can see that the trim has been freshly painted and that you've put out a cheery new welcome mat by the front door. So how much more work do you need to do to win buyers over?

Since 2003, replacement costs have generated more value at resale than remodeling, according to the latest Remodeling Magazine 2014 Cost vs. Value report. That's good news for sellers who want to ramp up their home's curb appeal.

Read the Full Story Here! - http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/sellersadvice1/item/33875-20150327-sellers-ramp-up-your-curb-appeal

4 REASONS TO SELL YOUR HOME NOW-

Attention potential sellers sitting on the fence: It could be time to make a move.
Mid-March to mid-April is the best time to hang the sale sign nationally, with homes selling 15% faster and for 2% more than the average sale, according to Zillow. The window tends to be a little earlier for sellers in warmer climates and a little later in colder climates.

"It's still predominately a seller's market, but less so than the last year or two," said Stan Humphries, Zillow's chief economist. "Some advantages are moving back to buyers; but largely and broadly ... it's still favoring the sellers."
Here are four reasons you might want to list your home:

1. Low housing supply: Tight inventory is a main reason the ball is still in the sellers' court.

2. Fewer cash buyers: All-cash and investment buyers helped buoy home sales in the last couple years. And while the acceleration of home prices has slowed from its recent double-digit growth, experts still expect modest gains this year, but with fewer cash buyers.

Read the Full Story Here! - http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/25/real_estate/sell-home-real-estate/index.html