Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tips for making your home ready for sale

If you have to put your home up for sale, prepare your home as you would like to find a home when you are house hunting. For potential buyers, it just takes seconds to decide whether the house feels up to their standards or not. No one is going to give second thoughts to your home if they feel that they will have to make additional expenses towards renovation, unless, of course, you are giving away your property at throw-away prices.

5 Tips to Make Your Home Sale Ready

Tips to Make Home Ready for Sale
Here are some tips that will immediately enhance the look of your property, and help buyers make up their mind about making it their home.
  • Spruce up the Door:

A door is the first thing that people will look at. A brightly painted door immediately attracts attention and sets the tone of the house. So, get your front door painted nicely. If you are lousy at DIY, don’t do it at all – nobody likes to be welcomed with a door that has dried dripping paint on the edges.
  • Lighting is Important:

Good lighting can completely transform a dull area into a warm, comforting space. If the entry to your house is via a garden, make the pathway to the front door inviting by installing lights concealed in trees or shrubs.
  • Clean the Windows:

Dirty windows are easily spotted from a distance and they can mar the look of a house from the outside like nothing else. If you have casement windows, clean the edges of the sashes well. Rotten window frames are a big turn off; it is advisable that you replace them with good quality ones. You can check out products from Fenesta which is one of the best door and window manufacturers in India.
  • Add Some Green:

Even if you have limited space, adding some greenery can bring life to your house. Creepers trailing up houses or main entrances are a beautiful sight to behold, and all you need is a little piece of ground to grow them. Alternatively, get some window boxes and plant ivy or a flowering creeper that will drape your house.
  • Brighten up the Façade:

Re-paint your dull walls and repair damaged brickwork. Peeling plaster will scare buyers away even before they enter the house. Choose a subtle paint color for the exteriors, reserve the bright ones only for the door.

There’s something called the “curb appeal”. It’s a term that refers to the overall impression your house makes when one looks at it from outside.  Apart from the building, the impression will also be made by the surroundings around your home that also includes your neighbor’s home. So, instead of whining about their garbage cans lying helter skelter around the premise, clean them up as you would do to your own. Make sure that your lawns or gardens are not littered with leaves or covered with over-grown grass. Because when they say the first impression is the last impression, they are probably right.

Buying or Selling?  Please go to my website; http://www.joebunch.com; for powerful search tools and more real estate information.

Friday, December 19, 2014

The Three Most Important Responsibilities Buyers Have

The American dream of owning a home is something everyone should have if they want it. You should be able to live where you want and enjoy the features of your environment that help you relax, entertain, play, and do more of the things you enjoy without the restrictions imposed by a landlord.
You can own a pet, build a treehouse, paint the walls your favorite color, and play music and videos as loud as you like without disturbing your neighbors. That's the essence of the dream -- independence.


For most first-time buyers, it's better to accept that for dreams to come true, you have to do the groundwork. Yes, you will be far more independent than you would as a renter, but you will still have some very real responsibilities to make homeownership work. Here are the top three responsibilities you'll have as a homeowner.

Financial responsibilities

You owe your lender timely payments. Paying on time helps you build your credit. With great credit, you can take on more projects such as remodeling, or you'll be able to buy furniture, cars or other things you want with lower interest on your payments.

Your debts should never be more than 40 percent of your income. If you get overextended, you'll have problems meeting the minimum payments. Instead, limit the amount of credit you actively use and pay off balances every month. Don't add new charges until you've paid off your balances.

You should also be in a position to save money, which you can do several ways. You can put money in your 401K, you can pay extra on your principal every month, or you can buy bonds or invest in the stock market, according to your tolerance for risk. You can put money in a safety deposit box or under the mattress as long as you are saving rather than overspending.

Common wisdom is to build six months of cash so you can continue to make your house payments if you lose your job or become ill. You need savings for emergencies, large expenses such as student debt, and retirement.

Neighborhood responsibilities

When you buy a home, your household becomes part of the neighborhood. You can influence whether or not the neighborhood prospers or declines simply by the way you treat your neighbors and your home. It's up to you to uphold or to set a higher standard for the neighborhood by keeping your lawn and trees trimmed, your home freshly painted, and toys and trash picked up from the entry.
This is the way you can protect your investment and those of your neighbors. It's one of the reasons many neighborhoods have homeowners associations -- to protect values by standardizing safety and maintenance for the community.

To get the benefits the HOA provides such as higher and consistent home values, you have to pay your dues and obey the covenants. You can volunteer to help or you'll have to abide by the decisions others make. Before you buy a home in a HOA-managed community, read the covenants so you'll know what you're getting into. If not being able to use certain exterior paint colors bothers you, then don't buy the home. Find something else.

Household responsibilities
You owe yourself and the other members of your household the best life you can possibly provide. Buying a new home is a great time to step up your lifestyle and enjoy what your new home and the community has to offer.

Your home should help you be who you want to be. That's the purpose of shaping your environment. You have control over whether you entertain like Martha Stewart, paint in your studio like the next Picasso, or grow a lawn as sleek as the Augusta fairways.

Choose a home that meets as many needs as you can within your means. Separate bedrooms for the kids may be doable, but you may have to compromise on a Jack and Jill shared bath. This is an excellent opportunity to teach your older children about prioritizing, delayed gratification, give and take and winning and losing gracefully.

Make sure the area you select offers amenities that your building doesn't have. If you don't have a yard for the kids and the dog, make sure there's a park and playground nearby.
Think about how far and how long it will take you to get to shopping, work, and other friends and family. Think about how a long commute will affect your family. Would you rather be sitting in traffic or attending your son's ball game?

You and your spouse may want the prestige of living in a certain area, but if your house-payment is too high, you'll introduce problems into the relationship you don't need. It's about making choices that make sense. Better to buy a smaller home in a great neighborhood and keep the arguing down.
Buy the best home you can that's within your means and it will see you through years of comfort.

Interested in Buying or Selling a Home??  Go to my website, http://www.joebunch.com, for more information about Real Estate.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Selling Your Home? 5 Things You Should Never Do

When you prepare to put your home on the market, you hope that everything will go the way you imagine and that is your home will sell for over listing price the very first day it goes on the market.
The reality isn't so rosy. The market may slow down. Your home may get few showings or no offers.

You may have to lower your list price. Or, your home may not sell at all because you made a big mistake.

So if you're thinking of doing any of the following five no-no's, stop yourself right now.


Don't hire the first REALTOR® you meet. Selling your home is one of the largest transactions you'll ever have, so why wouldn't you interview several applicants to help you? You can ask friends and family for referrals, but there are several questions you should ask. Make sure the agents you interview are experienced selling homes in your neighborhood and the type of home you want to sell. To get the listing, potential agents may employ a number of strategies, including suggesting or agreeing with you to list a high price for your home. Don't fall for it. Choose the agent who is straight with you, about the market and about your home.

Don't ignore the market. Every market is different and those differences can impact the sales price of your home, the number of days your home spends on the market, and whether your home sells or not. You have to face the reality of market conditions to influence the success of your home's sale. If home prices are going up, you'll do well, but it will be more expensive to purchase your next home, unless you move to a less expensive market or home.

And if prices are going down, you may not net what you were hoping for, but your next purchase may be a bargain, if you stay in the same area.


Don't hide problems the home may have. If you've had a major water leak or had your foundation fixed, you need to disclose that in a formal seller's disclosure form for all potential buyers to see. While it may be tempting to check the I-don't-know box, remember that any lie can come undone. You don't want to face legal problems because you tried to hide the truth. And if your buyer wants to know more, you can show the receipts for what you did to fix the problem.

Don't overprice the home. When your home is overpriced, it's underdressed for the party. Everyone notices that it doesn't quite fit in. Buyers who can afford your home quickly notice that your home doesn't quite measure up to others in the same price range. Buyers who could afford your home if it were priced correctly are unlikely to make offers because they'll be searching in a different price range.

Don't ignore your agent's advice. A real estate agent is a professional. When she or he tells you that you'll get a better offer more quickly if you'll declutter, stage your home, make certain updates or repairs, it's a proven truth. Buyers are more negative when they see homes that need work, and tend to make offers or withhold offers based on their feelings.
If your agent showed you a comparable market analysis, he or she may have suggested a listing range to price your home. If you go over that, you're risking a negative response from the marketplace, long days on the market, and probable price reductions.

Do things right from the beginning and you'll have a smoother, easier, and more profitable transaction.

Interested in Buying or Selling a Home??  Go to my website, http://www.joebunch.com, for more information about Real Estate.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Landlords should think like Sellers, Not Landlords

Those who make a living buying and selling real estate know some upgrades are more expensive than they are worth, but others deliver a significant return on investment. If you know, for example, that your $5,000 refurbishment budget won't boost the sale price, you would be foolish to spend it. On the other hand, if you know that same capital can be invested in a way that will bring an additional $20,000 to the property, you would be foolish not to carry through. Here are just a few improvements to consider for your property:

Perceived Value


Landlords and real estate agents have a huge factor in common: their success comes from the perceived value of the property up for sale or rent. This means it doesn't matter what you think the home is worth as much as it matters what the potential buyer or renter thinks it's worth.
The good news is owners and agents can take action to increase the perceived value. The trick is to keep the ROI as high as possible. So, don't over-invest in things that won't deliver a suitable return.

Justified Pricing

Anyone who rents property should develop friendships with local real estate brokers because techniques that work well in one area, may not pan out well in another. Just as a fisherman needs to talk with others to discover the best fishing holes, landlords should talk with those who are actively engaged in the real estate market.

There are no one-size-fits-all silver bullets for justifying higher rental prices. However, some of the most-recommended ideas can be helpful. Consider these, for instance:
  • Landscape improvements are almost always a good idea. Your property doesn't have to look like a mansion, but it definitely should look like someone cares. According to the HomeGain 2012 National Home Improvement Survey, landscaping investments return an average 215 percent ROI. Think about curb appeal. Little things like fresh mulch, a lack of weeds and a healthy lawn can go a long way towards justifying the rental price.

  • Make sure all lighting features work and deliver ample light. Let in natural light by being selective with window treatments and making sure window glass is clean. Attractive shades and drapery also look great from the outside and can provide a cozier and warmer feeling inside.
  • Green upgrades in heating and cooling can be expensive, but may also be high ROI ventures. Not only is it easy to show prospective renters that they will have lower utility bills but there also are green incentive programs that offer rebates or tax credits for property improvements. This Old House cites a Seattle broker who told them buyers are very concerned about utility bills.
Highest ROI Investments
If you are looking for some of the quickest, easiest and most beneficial property improvements, here are the top three improvements according to HomeGain, listed by ROI percentage:
  • Cleanliness and reduced clutter: 403 percent
  • Lightened and brightened property: 299 percent
  • Electrical and plumbing upgrades: 293 percent
Improvements are often justifiable because they boost both the perceived and actual value of the property. However, it is important to study your local market, assess your own situation and invest wisely.

Interested in Buying or Selling a Home??  Go to my website, http://www.joebunch.com, for more information about Real Estate.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Charming Fullerton Home in a Great Area!! Offered at $659,000

CHARMER IN BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED UP THE HILL FROM THE COURTHOUSE AREA. CUSTOM BUILT IN 1955. YOU CAN UPDATE OR BRING IT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL CHARM. BUILT IN HUTCH IN DINING AREA. FIREPLACE IN LIVING ROOM. ALSO HAS A FAMILY ROOM. LARGE REAR PATIO. 3 CAR GARAGE IN REAR WITH ALLEY ENTRY. INDOOR LAUNDRY. NEWER A/C. BRAND NEW ROOF JUST FINISHED IN JULY. REALLY MUST SEE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO APPRECIATE. WOOD FLOORING.

How Important is Square Footage??

MLSs use it. Insurers use it. Appraisers use it. Tax Assessors use it. When it comes to real estate, there's no avoiding square footage as a measure of any home's value.
But how much is square footage worth to you as a homebuyer? Knowing the square footage can be helpful, but it shouldn't be the main tool to determine your offer price.


Square footage measurements aren't exact, nor are they taken the same way by every person. For example, your local tax assessor or appraiser may determine square footage by measuring the outside of the house. A real estate professional, on the other hand, typically counts only indoor living space to determine square footage.

Real estate listings for single-family homes do not include square footage for covered "outdoor" spaces, including porches, verandas, balconies and porte-cocheres. Yet, in high-rise buildings, square footage quotes often include balconies.

Further, some elements such as stairways and closet spaces are also open to interpretation. If you're buying a home with a two-story foyer, is that foyer space also counted on the second floor?
Another measure that's subjective is the price per square foot, which is determined by the number of square feet divided into the price of the home.

High-end homes with expensive materials such as granite countertops and finishes such as hardwood floors tend to have a much higher price per square foot than more affordable homes. But what if those high-end features are 20 years old, and you're comparing them to other similar homes in the area that are brand new?
Hallways, landings and stairs can add hundreds of square feet to any home, but is that space really livable? An open floor plan may have smaller square footage, but be much more pleasant to live than a larger home with too much space allocated to getting from one room to another.

All this means that valuations based on square footage are and should be somewhat subjective.
If you're confused about what you are paying per square foot for your next home, ask your real estate professional how the home was measured for the listing and compare it to local tax roll data you can find. If there is a bank appraisal, you can ask the appraiser how the square footage was determined.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

I own my home. How long should I keep my records??

The question is always raised: how long must I keep my records? As taxpayers, we are legally required to keep accurate books and records in the event the Internal Revenue Service ever knocks on our door seeking justification or documentation of our tax returns.


No one wants or likes to keep unnecessary papers. Taxpayers should go through their files at least once a year, keeping what you think is important, but discarding a lot of unnecessary documentation. Often, the document we knew was so important last year is now considered totally useless. Clearly, those documents which are not used for tax purposes can be thrown out on a yearly basis -- such as department store statements.

Unfortunately, neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Internal Revenue Code gives us any clear guidelines as to what records must be kept and what can be destroyed. The IRS merely states that records should be kept "for as long as they are important (or material) for any Federal tax law."
In general terms, this means that while the taxpayer's return is subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service, the taxpayer is required to keep his or her books and records.

There is a three year statute of limitations for the IRS to assess a tax and impose a penalty on the taxpayer. Once this three year period has elapsed and the IRS is no longer permitted to examine your returns for a particular year, you can toss out your records. You should note that the three years begins when the tax return is due; if you filed early, the due date is still the target date. Keep in mind, however, that if you obtained an extension of the April 15 deadline, the statute of limitations begins to run from the date you filed your return.

If you filed your return but did not pay your tax until a later date, the statute does not run until two years from the date the tax was actually paid.

However, as in many areas of the law, there are exceptions to the rule. The IRS has the right to go beyond three years if, for example, income has been substantially under-reported by the taxpayer. Under these circumstances, the IRS can go back six years. Furthermore, there is no statute of limitations where a taxpayer files a false or a fraudulent return -- or does not file any return at all. The tax for those years can be audited -- and assessed -- at any time.

Most records, however, must be kept by the taxpayer for only three years after the tax return is filed.
That is the general law on recordkeeping. There are documents, especially in the real estate area, which you should keep your records forever.
When you buy real estate, whether it be your principal residence or an investment property, clearly you have to keep your records for at least four years from the date you sell that property. Profit and loss can only be determined once you sell your property, and in order to determine whether you have made any gain, you have to subtract the purchase price from the selling price.

Additionally, there are certain adjustments that can be made -- both on the buying and the selling side -- such as closing costs, real estate commissions, and recordation and transfer taxes. All of these items will be found on your settlement sheets, and clearly these sheets must be maintained in safekeeping.

More importantly, under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, taxpayers can exempt the first $250,000 of profit ($500,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return). The only way that you can determine the amount of your profit is to determine the basis (adjusted purchase price) when your principal residence is ultimately sold. This means that you may have to go back to the day when your very first property was purchased, to determine all of the legitimate items that can be added to basis.

Also, it is important that you keep careful and accurate records of all of your improvements. For every dollar you can demonstrate was spent for home improvements, you will ultimately save 20 cents that does not have to go to Uncle Sam. And that is only at the Federal level; you also have to consider any local or State tax.

Example: You purchased investment property for $100,000, and made a major addition in the amount of $50,000. Your basis in the property is $150,000. When you sell the property at a later date for $200,000, and do not take advantage of any of the tax saving devices, your profit is only $50,000 ($200,000 minus $150,000). For purposes of this example, I am ignoring depreciation.

However, the taxpayer has the burden to prove that he/she actually made the improvement and paid $50,000. It is not sufficient merely to tell the IRS auditor that you think you put $50,000 worth of improvements in the house sometime in the late 1990's. You will be required to provide proof of the cost of these improvements. If you do not have this proof, and cannot substantiate the improvements, there is a possibility that the IRS agent will reject your claim of improvements, or reduce the amount you are claiming. You will then have to take the matter to the Tax Court, in an effort to overturn the IRS decision.

If you plan to take advantage of the $250,000/500,000 exemptions for your principal residence, it is important to document what costs you incurred above and beyond the purchase price of your home.
Many long-time homeowners -- despite the mortgage meltdown where property values often significantly decreased, have found their profit is above these limitations. Thus, every dollar that you add to basis creates a significant savings for you, and puts additional money in your pocket for retirement purposes, rather than have to pay it by way of capital gains tax.

Items such as recording and transfer taxes, settlement and escrow costs, title insurance and legal fees, and real estate commissions are all legitimate items to be included in your computation of net gain. The best evidence of these expenses can be found in the settlement sheet -- called a HUD-1 -- when you bought your house.

I strongly recommend that anyone who buys a house keep a permanent record of all settlement sheets. When the last house is sold, and the applicable statute of limitations has expired, then -- and only then -- should you destroy those vital documents
.
The question is always raised as to whether tax returns should be kept beyond the statute of limitations. Once again, I recommend they be kept forever. They do not take up a lot of room in storage, and periodically you may want to refer to them for reasons that go beyond an IRS audit. Often, a mortgage lender or other potential creditor may want to review your tax returns for the past few years.

If you do not have a copy of your tax return, you can obtain it by sending for IRS Form 4506, entitled "Request for Copy of Tax Form." You can also get additional detailed information from IRS Publication 552, entitled "Recordkeeping for Individuals." To obtain both documents, you can pick these up at your local IRS office, or download them from www.irs.gov.

Thus, even in our information super highway, paper documents must be preserved so long as the IRS has the legal right to audit your tax returns

Charming Ontario Town House. Offered at $299,000

WOW!!! GREAT OPEN FLOOR PLAN. 3 GOOD SIZE BEDROOMS, 3 BATHS WITH ONE DOWN. KITCHEN OPENS TO FAMILY ROOM WITH A FIREPLACE, AND LAMINATE FLOOR. THIS HOME SITS ON ONE OF THE LARGEST LOTS IN THE COMPLEX. IT WRAPS AROUND TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. CHINO VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 2 CAR GARAGE WITH LAUNDRY. BRAND NEW WATER HEATER, NEWER APPLIANCES, NEWER ROOF. CLOSE TO 60 FREEWAY, AND SHOPPING. ASSOCIATION PAYS FOR WATER AND TRASH

Another Edenglen Beauty!! Offered at $443,000

Large corner lot home in the highly desired Edenglen Community. As you walk into this 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home you will be amazed to see how open the space is! Beautiful dark wood laminate flooring downstairs, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances walk in pantry and large island in kitchen. There is an office nook off of the kitchen and direct access to the over sized 2 car garage! Garage has enough space for two vehicles and a "man cave"! 1 bonus room downstairs that can be a 4th bedroom. There is a 1/2 bath downstairs that is pre-plumbed ready to be converted into a full bath. 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths upstairs. Large master bedroom with attached bath and large walk in closet! Upgraded bathroom counter tops upstairs and beautiful Hunter fans in two bedrooms and living room. Third bedroom is pre-wired for fan or light. Custom white blinds throughout the home, recessed lighting and lots of natural sun light! Low maintenance backyard with artificial turf, pavers and custom designed patio cover. This energy efficient home has solar panels, tank less water heater and low flow toilets. Great space for entertaining inside and outside of the home. This home shows true pride in ownership and is ready to sell!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Rancho Cucamonga Beacon Hill Home. Offered at $374,999

Welcome to this adorable home in Beacon Pointe community in Rancho Cucamonga/Alta Loma. As you walk up to the home you will see a well maintained front yard, with artificial turf and a matured planter. As you walk into the home you will see an upgraded kitchen and powder room with matching granite countertops. The first floor has tile flooring throughout making it easy to clean and maintain. The living room has vaulted ceilings with cherry wood blinds and a gas fireplace to cozy up to in the winter months. Direct access from the two car garage. The home features a low maintenance backyard with a covered patio. NEW wood laminate flooring up the stairs that continues into the upstairs hallway. The master bedroom has vaulted ceilings with an exceptional view of the mountains. All three bedrooms upstairs have new carpet. The home is attached on one garage wall to the neighbor’s garage wall from one side. The outside of the home was newly painted within this past year. This community offers a NEW gated pool and Spa. This home is close to the 210 freeway and across the street from Stater Bros grocery store. Your new home is located in the highly desired Alta Loma School District and minutes away from the Pacific Electric Trail.

9 Reasons to Purchase a Home Right Now

Buying a house is like having a baby: there's no absolute perfect time to do either.
The down payment-interest rate-economic factors-qualification quadrangle can be so confusing. Rising rates, loosening requirements, down payment options, buyer's markets, seller's markets - what does it all mean to you if you want to buy a home? The truth is that while the banks might have a magical formula to determine your mortgage-worthiness, determining if the time is right really comes down to three main questions:


Do you want to buy a home?

Are you financially prepared?
 
Is your credit where it needs to be?

If yes, then go for it. Here are nine reasons to do it now.

1. Prices are good. According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller report, home prices are still gaining, but have slowed. "The 10-City Composite gained 5.5% year-over-year and the 20-City 5.6%, both down from the 6.7% reported for July," they said. "The National Index gained 5.1% annually in August compared to 5.6% in July." This is good news if you were afraid that big price gains would put homeownership out of reach and also bodes well for your long-term equity once you purchase.

2. Rates are low. "Imagine paying over 18% interest on a 30-year fixed mortgage. It's almost unthinkable. But that was the reality for home buyers in October 1981 -- a year when the average rate was almost 17%," said Yahoo Finance. "The average rate has been 5.18% since the start of this country's history," making today's rates, which hover around historic lows at 4%, sound even better.

3. Loan requirements are softening. They're not approaching the look-the-other-way-and-stamp-it-approved levels that led to the market crash, but the overly tough restrictions that followed have loosened. "Major lenders are making adjustments," said The Street. "Wells Fargo has lowered the minimum FICO score for borrowers applying for loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration to 600 from 640." They also count JPMorgan Chase's lowered loan-to-value "standards in certain markets for both jumbos and conforming mortgages." For buyers that can mean an easier road to loan approval, even without a ton of money upfront and perfect credit.

4. FHA loans make it even easier for first-time buyers. If your credit is less than stellar and you don't have a large down payment, an FHA loan can get you in the door. Credit scores can be as low as 620 to qualify and only 3.5% down is required. Whether you've never bought before or have been out of the market for a few years, an FHA loan can be your answer.

5. Fewer buyers around the holidays means less competition for you and more negotiating power. "Sellers who are actively looking to sell their homes during the holiday months -- namely, October through December -- are serious about shedding the weight of their residences," said US News. "This often works in favor of savvy buyers looking to get a deal on discounted homes. Having less competition on the buyer's side can mean lower prices on homes, in addition to fewer counter-offers to compete against."

6. Rates are predicted to rise. "The Mortgage Bankers Association expects the average rate on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage to rise slowly to 5.1 percent by the end of 2015," said the Washington Post. If you want to take advantage of low rates, now is the time.

7. Pent-up demand could zap affordability. "The housing market is about to get even more competitive," said Yahoo. "The pent-up demand of younger professionals, who moved back in with their parents during the recession, is about to explode. This eager subset of buyers will create some steep competition for homes, especially if they have been saving up to make larger down payments or high ticket offers. If the current homes on the market have more potential buyers, bidding wars develop, and the purchase prices are driven up.

8. "Buying is cheaper than renting in most markets," said Housingwire. With a little knowledge of loan options and low down payment programs, you can easily flip the switch from renter to homeowner.

9. Because you want to buy a home. There really is no more compelling reason than that. You want it. So make it happen.

Highly Upgraded Ontario Home. Offered at $433,888

Green and energy efficient home in the beautiful Edenglen community. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths +bonus room on the first floor. Solar panels allows for extremely low cost electrical bill. This home has laminate wood flooring throughout the main level. White custom shutters on all windows throughout the home. Upgraded white cabinets throughout the home. . Gourmet Kitchen with large Center Island, lots of storage in the kitchen with custom pullout drawers. Included stainless steel Stove, Microwave & dishwasher.Custom Laundry room with built in cabinets and desk, custom large tile flooring. Powder room features a dark wood cabinet with granite counter top, custom large tile flooring.3 large bedrooms upstairs with upgraded carpet. Bathrooms have upgraded counter tops with square sinks and large custom tile flooring. Master bedroom has his/her closets. “Green” backyard with low maintenance artificial turf and pavers throughout. Tank less water heater. All fans are new throughout the home. Finished garage. Community clubhouse is great for all your special events. Community offers Basketball courts, a game room, common space, outdoor barbecues, swimming pool with children’s splash pool, playgrounds, dog parks & more. Very commuter friendly.

Beautiful Home in Orange County. Offered at $888,900

Beautiful move in ready home located in the Summit Community of Anaheim Hills. This home has a nice flowing floor plan with a park like back yard, very private. The home offers 4 bedrooms, 1 downstairs with bathroom and the master bedroom has a small bonus room which could be an office or nursery. Laundry room is off the game room by garage entry. There are a lot of upgrades including the island kitchen granite counters, built in refrigerator with matching wood panels, dishwasher, lots of cabinet storage, custom wine cabinet/cooler, custom blinds, drapes and plantation shutters, gorgeous built-in entertainment center with sit-up barbecue and much more. Walk to Reagan park, hiking trails and Running Springs Elementary in walking distance. Also Anaheim Hills Golf and Country Club and Saddle Club near by. Easy access to the toll roads and 55/91 freeways.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Selling Your Home? Here are some Suggested Repairs

Are you thinking about listing your home for sale? Before you do, take a good, hard look around and see what you need to change. Most homes need a little bit of TLC before they are ready to go to the market. Spending some time sprucing up yours will improve its appeal and even drive up the selling price. Here are some areas where it makes sense to spend a little time and effort as you prepare your home for the market.

Add a Coat of Paint


You'd be surprised how dingy your paint is looking. When you start to paint over it, you will realize how badly you needed to tackle this job. A new coat of paint makes the home look fresh and new, and adding a neutral color helps give your home a more universal appeal. Also, painting gives you the chance to address cracks in the paint or drywall that can make buyers wonder if the house is in good repair.

As you paint, keep these tips in mind:

  • Paint the ceiling: The ceiling needs to be painted along with the rest of the home. You are probably used to looking at your cleaning and no longer notice the grease spots and dust, but they are there. Buyers will notice, so give it a fresh coat of paint.
  • Remove or paint over wallpaper: Even if your wallpaper is tasteful and modern, your buyers don't want it. They want their own look for the home. Remove the wallpaper, if you have the time to do so, and paint the wall. Sometimes you can get by with painting over wallpaper, if it is not peeling, to freshen up the look of your space.
  • Paint wood paneling: No matter how much you like it, wood paneling is simply not in fashion. Coat it with primer, then paint it a neutral color to improve your home's salability. Remember that you can paint over fake wood paneling, too, with the right primer.
 Upgrade Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. Buyers can overlook many things, but if the kitchen is outdated and the bathroom is ugly, they immediately see dollar signs as they consider the cost of these upgrades, and your home will lose potential value.
According to Zillow, mid-range bathroom remodels will bring back over 100 percent of the investment cost when you sell the house, while kitchen remodels will bring 80 to 90 percent, depending on the extent of the remodel. Yes, these improvements will be more costly than throwing on some new paint, but they will pay for themselves when you go to sell the property.
So what should you tackle? Consider these tasks:
  • Updating cabinets: Cabinets that are outdated don't have to be scrapped completely. If the shape and design is fine, consider resurfacing or repainting. Then upgrade the hardware for a more modern look.
  • Countertops: Affordable laminates can update outdated countertops, or you can opt to resurface and event paint these to make them look like marble without the high cost of replacement.
  • Lighting: Swapping out an outdated lighting fixture for something more modern will brighten up the space and improve the overall ambiance.
  • Sinks and faucets: Again, a modern sink and faucet will do wonders for these spaces, and these do not have to cost much.
  • Flooring: If the flooring is broken, stained or outdated, a simple laminate, which you may be able to lay yourself, can make a world of difference.
Spend Some Time Outside
Finally, take your home repairs outside. Curb appeal means the difference between drive-by buyers and buyers who stop and take a closer look. What needs to be upgraded in your home's exterior? Consider these things:
  • Replace or repair the roof
  • Improve the look of driveways and sidewalks
  • Add flowers or potted plants
  • Paint the exterior
  • Clean windows
  • Upgrade doors
  • Replace hardware
As you are looking, don't forget to trim up your bushes and cut the grass. A fresh layer of mulch in your gardens will do wonders as well to the overall look of your home.

Remember, as you consider the home repairs to make before selling, you have to think like a buyer. What will the buyer notice, and what will cause them to choose a different home? Make these changes, and enjoy a home that sells quickly and for a better value.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Five Ways Bargain Hunting For Homes Can Backfire

It's natural to want to save money when you're making a purchase as large as a home. You want to buy the best home in the best neighborhood at the best price, and to do that, you may think you have to shop in the bargain bin.

FSBOs (for sale by owner,) foreclosures, and short sales aren't as plentiful as equity listed homes -- homes listed with a real estate agent by the seller. You may even scour the MLS (multiple listing service) for signs of desperate sellers, such as homes priced AS-IS, or homes that have been on the market for months.


While some people are successful buying a bargain basement home, you may not be so fortunate, if you put price first. Here are five ways a low price can backfire on you:

The home doesn't suit your needs. A home is a good buy only if it suits your family's needs for space, features, comfort, and function. If you buy a home without enough bedrooms or baths, it's not as comfortable or functional.

A bad fit costs you later. To get out of a home that's too small, too old, or too far from where you need to be, you'll likely to pay more in transaction costs to sell the home and buy another than if you'd chosen more wisely in the first place.

Bargains are rare. If a home is priced lower than others in the area, there's a reason. Sometimes bank-owned home will appear to be a bargain compared to other similar nearby homes, but you may notice a real difference in the way it's been maintained. It's not much of a bargain if you find out that all the appliances have been stolen or all the copper wiring has been pulled out of the walls.

The home needs updating. A home priced below market value usually requires expensive repairs or updates. Are you willing to perform the work or pay someone else to do the work? Any remodeling you do will be at today's prices. Before you buy, get a home inspection and then talk to professionals who can help you bring the home up to today's standards.

You lose ground trying to lowball the seller. Just as you want the home you buy to appreciate in value, sellers purchased their homes as investments, too. They want to net as much as possible, because they've already taken on the risks of buying and maintaining a home. That makes sellers less willing to negotiate on homes that are well priced and well maintained.

If a home has been on the market for a long time without a price reduction, there's usually a good reason. You have an unmotivated, unrealistic, or upside-down seller, any of which could waste your time unmercifully.

An unmotivated or unrealistic seller simply won't negotiate to your level. For example, for-sale-by-owner homes are typically priced the same as listed homes, even though the sellers aren't paying real estate agent commissions, including for your agent, if you have one. Why would you pay the seller not to represent your interests?

Furthermore, a bank foreclosure or bank-approved short sale could take months to close. What if interest rates go up before you close? You may get the home at a bargain price, but the savings could evaporate in higher interest payments.

Right now, home prices are still below previous market highs. Mortgage interest rates are hovering near historic lows. And inventory levels are improving in most areas.

Under these circumstances, you're buying a home at a bargain already. The best strategy for today is not to try to beat the seller down, but to offer a fair price for the home you think is best for your household

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Sleepy Hollow Charmer!!

This Home is truly one of a Kind in the peace and quite of Sleepy Hollow. This Home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on muilt levels. Home has been remolded and shows pride of ownership.There is gorgeous stain glass thru out the home and outside over the koi pond.The sale includes 2 lots #46 and #47 also no information regarding year build and square footage show up on property profile.

Great Glendora Townhouse!!

Beautiful Glendora Springs one of the largest in the complex new roof new appliance six month old. beautiful hardwood floors only one year old. Ceiling fans through out home. large kitchen w/duel pantry opens to family room with fireplace nice large backyard. Bathroom upstairs remodeled.

Baldwin Park FIxer Upper!!

This is a nice home that needs some TLC. It is conveniently located near schools, Walmart, shopping centers and the 10 freeway. It has a larger backyard with many different types of fruit trees, and a covered patio that accommodates well for entertaining your friends and family.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Purchasing a Condo or Townhouse? Read this!!

Condos were once thought of as homes that attracted singles or couples, often without children. But today, condos are growing in popularity and attracting families of all sizes.
Condos can be an excellent choice for the right buyers. Here are a few things that should considered before purchasing a condo. Most buyers start with the condo itself. That may be a good place to begin but, before they buy, buyers should also consider other factors outside of the condo.


Some developers are building condos that have a look and feel like single-family homes. These modern condos have great rooms and open, flowing floor plans that look and feel like a single-family home rather than an apartment or condo.

One of the major attractions of condos is the low maintenance. The community area is maintained by an association funded by the dues that homeowners pay into it.

That's why buyers' first consideration should be to explore the development and make sure they like the look and feel of the complex and surrounding community. There are codes and restrictions, often referred to as CC&Rs (covenants, codes, and restrictions) that buyers will have to abide by once they purchase a condo. Buyers should ask to review them before making an offer to purchase a condo. These regulations help ensure that the community maintains its general appearance and any necessary repairs of the external areas.

Review the association's budget. It may be necessary to get the seller to provide this information because it may not be released to a non-owner who is only a potential buyer. However, in considering buying into a development, it's almost like going into business with the neighbors in the complex. It's important to make sure that the association is running properly and has enough of a reserve for necessary expenses and maintenance. The budget and CC&Rs will give an idea about how stable the association is and if increases in the homeowners' association dues are likely each year.

Find out how many owners in the development are delinquent on their dues. A condo complex that has a high level of delinquencies can cause problems for buyers when it comes time to get a loan or sell the condo. Some loans are not approved if delinquency rates are higher than 15 percent.
Review the minutes from the association's board meetings. They will reveal the day-to-day issues that occur each month and give an indication of how the development is run. For instance, lots of complaints and filings about noisy residents, loud parties, or dog droppings on the lawn reveal potential problems with neighbors. The minutes will also reveal if the development is engaged in any lawsuits.

Understand what your responsibilities are for the upkeep of the condo. Find out what the association takes care of and what the homeowners have to maintain. Look at the association's property management team and see how many times the association has changed management companies. Find out why. This will may reveal how responsive the association will be should residents need its assistance.

Ultimately, buyers need to ensure that when they purchase a condo they're not buying into any legal battles the association is in the middle of and that they will be able to live in their condo the way they want. Study the CC&Rs and do due diligence before buying.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Large, Newer, Single Story in San Bernardino!!

This single story 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom Mountain View home is located near Cal State San Bernardino. This home offers a bright open floor plan. The main house includes a master bedroom with a large master bathroom and walk in closet, a junior master bedroom with private bathroom and walk in closet and 2 additional bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom. The Castias also has a private bathroom. There are 3 AC unites (2 for the main house, 1 for the Casitas). The spacious kitchen includes granite counters, upgraded appliances, tile floor and lots of cabinet and counter space. The indoor laundry room has a utility sink and lots of cabinets. The casitas is perfect for a home office, a college student, a guest room or even a craft room.

Does Landscaping Increase Your Homes Value?

After spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on landscaping, how do you know if you'll recoup your investment? Homeowners may wonder if their efforts are worthwhile compared to interior projects. In actuality, landscaping comes back in resale value more than you may think.
According to a publication from Virginia Tech, a home landscape has been valued at around 15 percent of a home's total value. Furthermore, certain landscape aspects add more to the home than others, including:


Design: 42%
Plant size: 36%
Diversity of plants: 22%
The study cited that a $150,000 home could go from $8,300 in worth to almost $19,000 more with the addition of a landscape.
That's a lot for just adding a front yard to your home.
Here is more information about these elements and how to increase the value of your home.

Landscape Design

Photo courtesy of Jardin Passion Landscape Con

How you design the landscape is the first step in creating a beautiful and valuable front yard. If you plant shrubs, flowers and trees without a design in mind, you could run into maintenance issues down the road. This is why you might call in a landscape designer to help. Landscape designers have the knowledge when it comes to creating landscapes to match homes and climate conditions. They know which trees, shrubs and flowers mix versus which ones might be troublesome. The end result will be a manageable, uncluttered and beautiful landscape that you can enjoy for little to no hassle.

Plant Size

Photo courtesy of Applegate Landscape Co.

On a visual level, adding different plant sizes will make your front yard look more appealing. Adding different shapes and colors complements your home and the lawn. On a maintenance level, mixing small and big plants will cut down on clutter in your yard. If you have too many bushy plants, their roots and branches could get mixed together and cause maintenance issues. So plant different trees, shrubs and flowers to make your landscape colorful and varied to add onto your home's appeal and save on trouble.

Diverse Plants

Photo courtesy of M&M Garden Designs

Intertwined with the plant sizes you choose are how diverse they should be. You don't want to plant only shrubs and trees with leaves. Vary it up with fruit trees or shrubs that have flowers to add color to the front yard. You also might choose annual and perennial flowers to sprinkle across your yard. You will need to replace annuals every year, but that gives you the chance to try out different flowers. Perennials, on the other hand, will last for many years and can endure harsh winter conditions.

Conclusion

Whether you hire a landscape designer or decide to tackle the front yard landscape yourself, be sure to include these three elements. Adding them to your front yard will pay back dividends in your home resale value, and it will make your home more attractive to buyers

Friday, October 10, 2014

Don't Miss that Mortgage Payment!!

Consumers who are late on their mortgage payments have no idea how badly their credit scores can be affected, nor how long it takes to repair the damage.
FICO scores, the credit-scoring system used by the Fair Isaac Corporation to help banks and other lenders determine a borrower's creditworthiness, can fluctuate for many reasons. Your debt-to-income ratio, whether or not you make only minimum payments, how many inquiries you have, new credit cards, and other factors each play a part in determining your overall score.


But nothing impacts credit scores like a missed payment. Your payment history accounts for 35 percent of your FICO score. According to the Ask Experian Team, a missed payment will also have the longest lasting impact. The more recent the missed payment occurred, the greater the impact and the more missed payments you have, the longer it will take to restore your scores.

The most recent research on how badly late payments affect credit scores was performed by FICO's analytics executives back in 2011. However, the numbers still work. The researchers simulated various types of mortgage delinquencies and then ran the numbers using three credit bureau profiles. The consumer profiles scored 680, 720, and 780 respectively before they missed the first mortgage payment. If a borrower were 30 days late on a mortgage payment, their revised credit scores dropped between 600-620, 630-650, and 670 to 690.

For the best-scoring consumers, the drop in credit scores is the most punishing. The first consumer's credit takes 9 months to return to the 680 level, but the second consumer's score doesn't repair itself for 2 ½ years. And for the best-scoring consumer? It takes 3 years to restore scores to the 780 range.
In general, the higher the starting score, the longer it takes for the score to fully recover, says the researchers.

Not only does the information stay on your credit report for years, but if the delinquent homebuyer wants to buy another home, their scores may keep them from qualifying for good rates. Borrowers with poor credit may pay higher interest rates, or they could be refused a loan because they may not qualify for mortgage insurance. In addition, the borrowers will pay punishing interest rates for all credit, including car loans and credit cards.

Experian advises delinquent borrowers to make the account current as quickly as possible. Then they should continue to demonstrate a current history of on-time payments. Borrowers should use at least one credit card, paying in full each month to avoid finance charges. These on-time payments will add positive activity to offset negatives from the past.

Over time your credit scores will rebound. The length of time it takes to recover will depend on how serious any other negative issues were.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Great Whittier Starter Home

Charming 2 Bedroom 1 3/4 Baths. Home in a great neighborhood. Close to schools and shopping.The den could be turned into 3rd bedroom. Large yard with lots of parking and covered driveway.Dogs at property please be careful. The property has new windows except in the bathrooms and window in living room. The property has a spa but needs to be connected to the electricity.

What if you haven't owned your home for 2 years and you want to Sell it?

If you owned and lived in your home for at least two years before it is sold, the law -- today at least -- is clear: you can exclude from profit up to $250,000 if you are single or $500,000 if you are married and file a joint return.

But what if you have made a profit on your house, but sell it before the magic two years spelled out in the tax law?


In l997, when Congress enacted this favorable legislation, it had absolutely no inkling that the real estate market in the early 2000's would be so hot, and that so many homeowners would make such large profits on their home sales -- even if they did not own their property for the full two years. However, Congress did provide reduced exclusions if prior to holding the property for the full two years, the homeowner had to sell due to a change in employment, health reasons or "unforseen circumstances".
The IRS has established certain "safe harbors". If the taxpayer falls within one of these safety zones, they will automatically be entitled to the appropriate exclusion of gain.

Here are some of the "safe harbors":

Employment: If your new place of employment is at least 50 miles father from the residence sold than was the former place of employment, the homeowner who sells his/her home in order to be closer to the job can take a proportionate exclusion of gain. For example, if the homeowner owned the home for only one year, that homeowner would be entitled to exclude half of either the $250,000 or the $500,000 exclusion, depending on the marital and tax filing status of the taxpayer. According to the regulations, employment is defined as "the commencement of employment with a new employer, the continuation of employment with the same employer, or the commencement or continuation of self-employment."

Health: if a doctor recommends a change of residence for reasons of health, this will be a safe harbor. What determines "health"? According to the IRS, "if the taxpayer's primary reason for the sale is (l) to obtain, provide, or facilitate the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, or treatment of disease, illness, or injury... or (2) to obtain or provide medical or personal care for a qualified individual suffering from a disease, illness or injury." It should be noted that "qualified individuals" includes family members who are in need of medical assistance away from the principal residence.
The IRS made it clear, however, that a sale of the family home merely because it is beneficial to the general health or well-being of the taxpayer will not fall within the safe harbor.

Unforseen Circumstances: Congress passed the buck to the IRS to come up with definitions -- safe harbors -- under this amorphous category. The IRS rose to the challenge, by providing that the following events would be considered "safe harbors", on the condition that these events involve the taxpayer, his/her spouse, co-owner or a member of the taxpayer's household:
  1. death;
  2. being terminated from employment and thus eligible for unemployment compensation;
  3. a change in job status that results in the taxpayer being unable to pay the mortgage and reasonable basic living expenses for the taxpayer's household;
  4. divorce or legal separation;
  5. multiple births resulting from the same pregnancy;
  6. Involuntary conversion of the property -- such as a condemnation by a governmental authority, and
  7. destruction of the property because of a man-made disaster, an act or war or terrorism.
Additionally, the IRS kept the safe harbor door open by allowing the IRS Commissioner the right to expand these seven items should the need arise - either generally or in response to a particular situation involving a specific taxpayer.

Taxpayers who believe that they are entitled to claim an exemption because they fall into one of these safe harbors should immediately consult their tax advisors -- and preferably before you sell.

Determining the safe harbor is the easy part; calculating the applicable exclusion may require a graduate degree in mathematics. According to the IRS, "to figure the portion of the gain allocated to the period of non-qualified use, multiply the gain by the following fraction:

Total nonqualified use during the period of ownership (after 2008 for 2013 tax returns) / Total period of ownership

For more information, check out IRS Publication 523, "Selling Your Home", available free from irs.gov/publications.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Creating a Modern Master Bedroom

It's your haven. Your lair. Your hideaway. The one place you can kick back, relax, feel serene and sexy and, ultimately, shut out the world and slumber.
Only it's not much of a haven, it's certainly not a lair, and not only does the room exude the exact opposite of sexiness, it's also far more tired than you are. It's your bedroom, and if it isn't doing it for you, it's time for a contemporary re-do.

"When you picture a contemporary bedroom, you most likely think of pale woods, plenty of white sheets and lots of monochrome," said 1kindesign. "However, being contemporary doesn't mean you have to sacrifice charisma or personality."
Here are four ways to express yourself in a modern master.

Textured eclectic, with a bit of the exotic
It's a look that lets you expresses a worldly style and mix and match textures, patterns, and pops of color against a neutral palette.

Glam and personal
Touches of luxury make it feel high-end, while art and accessories make it feel yours. By staying with mostly neutral hues, you can get more creative with shapes without veering too far into contemporaryville.

Hotel-like
You know how you always feel a little "more" when you're in a hotel? More sophisticated, more amorous, more luxurious? Turn your bed into a hotel-like space and you just might feel like that all the time.

Mismatched but complementary
It's the bedroom version of keep it simple, stupid. You don't have to do matchy-matchy as long as you retain elements in common. Here, again, it's the neutral color palette, along with the clean lines and low profile of the furniture.
You can see more examples of bedrooms in a myriad of styles on HGTV.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Tips on Staging Your Home

Anyone who is in the process of selling their home wants to know the “tricks” on how to stage a home prior to selling. Home staging is crucial to the sale. Odors, appearance of pets and clutter can ruin a sale faster than you can say “gone”. Some people choose the route of having a professional home stager come in, but not everyone has the $150 an hour to invest in this type of consulting, and for most homes, it is unnecessary.

In general, when planning home staging, think: clean, impersonal, uncluttered, and open. Buyers do not want distractions that remind them that this is someone else’s house. They want to envision their furniture and their things in the home.

Here are some tips on staging your home before you sell:
  • Mulch, weed, cut your lawn, blow leaves out of the yard, and perform other “curb appeal” activities that will give the potential buyers the best possible first impression of your home.
  • Remove all items of personal nature. No pictures, no drawings, no embroidery—nothing that reminds people that a particular family lives there.
  • Move your pets out if possible, or if not possible put them in one area of the home and keep that area immaculate. Pet odor is one of the leading causes of people leaving a house walk through early.
  • Remove clutter, junk, and distractions. Keep in mind the “blank slate” rule. People want to see open spaces because it gives the brain an open invitation to imagine their own items in that room. Empty houses sell better than houses with people in them for this reason. Take 80-90% of the items out of every room, and put them in the garage or storage facility.
  • Paint rooms neutral colors. Painting shouldn't be that expensive, and is one of the single most used “tricks” by home stagers to sell a house quickly. The smell of fresh paint and the clean appearance is attractive to home buyers.
  • Clean your home from top to bottom and if you have the extra money have the home professionally cleaned, from carpet to cabinets. 
  • Whenever possible, have cookies baking or other nice food-based smells. People go back and forth on what “floral” scents they like, but most humans respond to the smells of baked goods.
There is no secret trick to how to stage your home when you are selling your house,just common sense approaches to creating an inviting experience for the potential home buyer. Remember: Clean, uncluttered, impersonal, and open.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Staging Your Garage helps sell your Home

If you were going on an important job interview, you'd dress to impress. That's exactly what you want to do with your home, too–dress or, rather, stage to impress and sell!

Selling your home requires a keen eye to make it appeal to a wide audience. That means you need to take time to make sure that your home is dressed up and ready to be shown off.

I've written a lot about curb appeal and fixing up your home so that it's ready to be listed for sale, but sometimes the garage is overlooked.


It's sort of an after-thought but it really shouldn't be. These days the garage can be a pivotal point for buyers. Garages are doubling as gyms, added storage space, home offices, and hobby areas as well as a place to park cars.

I've seen some home listings where sellers simply use the garage to store all their stuff that they plan to take with them or get rid of. While that might be convenient for the current homeowners, it's not very enticing for potential new buyers. They want to see what the garage really looks like and how it might suit their needs. Hard to do when it's jammed with boxes!

If buyers can barely walk into the garage, they'll likely skip it entirely and may feel a bit cheated. Or they may try to maneuver around all your stuff and could knock a few things over or, worse, get injured. No one needs that to happen.

Consider packing your boxes and either storing them in a storage space or at a friend's. Getting as much stuff out of the house as possible is very important. Don't underestimate the power of a clean, tidy, spacious garage.

Square footage counts and many people have plans to use that extra garage space for things you might not have thought of. A good-looking garage will attract buyers.

Do what you can to improve your garage but start with the basics. If your garage door is in shoddy shape, replace the hardware. Nothing worse than a buyer taking a look at your garage just as a spring breaks on the automatic garage door!
Then take a look around and see what things you can get off the floor and into shelves or cabinets in your garage. The less you have on the floor, the more spacious the garage will feel. If the new buyers have big cars, ample space for cars as well as storage space for household items will be very important.

If you find that your garage door system isn't working and you're planning to replace it, think about installing the latest technology. Smart homes are very appealing because they help simplify ordinary tasks. Today, with the proper technology installed, garage doors can be controlled with compatible apps that link to Android and iOS mobile devices and allow homeowners to check their garage door, and even open or close it once they've left their home. Another good feature is a battery backup system that will keep your garage functioning even during a power shortage.

A garage may not be the star attraction like the kitchen or master bedroom and bathroom, but it definitely has its own appeal especially when it's staged to sell.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Lovely Single Story Pool Home in North Chino Hills

Charming Upgraded Single Story Home close to Shopping and Schools.This Home features three large Bedrooms and two Baths.Home is located on a cu de sac with rv parking on both sides of property.This home has an open floor plan with vaulted ceiling.Wood flooring thru out the home.Fireplace in Family Room with gas starter. The backyard shows pride of ownership and features a pool and spa. This home has so many extra features to list.

Remodeled Whittier Home!

ARCHED ENTRY INTO GIGANTIC COMPLETELY REMODELED KITCHEN INCLUDES CUSTOM CABINETS WITH SOFT CLOSING PULL OUT DRAWERS, UNDER CABINET LIGHTING.   3 INCH BULLNOSE GRANITE COUNTER TOPS. BREAKFAST BAR.   ALL APPLIANCES ARE THERMADOR PROFESSIONAL.   5K COMMERCIAL GRADE FRIDGE. 7K COMMERCIAL GRADE OVEN.   MICROWAVE AND DISHWASHER.   CUSTOM HARD SCAPE PORCH.CUSTOM FRONT DOOR WITH SIDELIGHTS.   TANKLESS WATER HEATER.   HUGE FAMILY ROOM. CANNED LIGHTING IN KITCHEN, FAMILY ROOM AND MASTER BATH.   MASTER HAS A WALK- TILE SHOWER WITH DUAL SHOWER HEADS AND SEPARATE JACUZZI TUB. DUAL SINKS.   TOILET WITH BIDET.   WALK-IN CLOSET AND PULLDOWN STAIR TO ATTIC. DOUBLE DOOR ENTRY TO MASTER.   ORIGINAL OAKWOOD FLOORS IN LIVING ROOM AND FRONT BEDROOMS.   CUSTOM TILE FLOORING IN MASTER, KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM.   6 INCH BASEBOARDS THROUGHOUT.   ELECTROLUX WINE FRIDGE.   REFLECTIVE ROOF IS 6 YEARS NEW. PLANTATION SHUTTERS IN LIVING ROOM AND FRONT BEDROOM.   CEILING FANS IN ALL BEDROOMS PLUS LIVING ROOM,   FAMILY ROOM AND DINING AREA.   FRESH PAINT AND CROWN MOULDING IN FRONT BEDROOMS AND HALL.   BACKYARD INCLUDES 2 WOOD COMP DECKS,  FIREPIT,  ABOVE GROUND SPA AND BUILT-IN BBQ. POOL TABLE AND ALL APPLIANCES ARE INCLUDED.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Beautiful Norco Hills Executive Home

Large Executive home that is built for entertaining. Huge lot on two levels. The first level has a custom designed Pebble Tec Pool with waterfall and large slide. There is custom hardscape throughout. The first level also includes a Gas BBQ with refrigerator and island. All the furniture around the BBQ will stay with the home. The upper level is totally flat and can be used for many activities. The large swing set and basketball hoop stay. The current seller spent over 100K in this backyard alone!! The interior has 7 bedrooms, a large family room with fireplace, a huge kitchen with double oven, 5 burner stove, built in microwave. All on granite counter tops. There is a semi formal dining room next to a large living room. Downstairs you will find an office along with 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Upstairs you enter into a large master bedroom with 2 large mirrored walk in closets and a large master bathroom. The bathtub is also jetted. There are 4 additional bedrooms upstairs along with 2 full baths. The large laundry room is also upstairs. Lastly, this home has a large gated RV Parking area with its own driveway! Very rare. The front area includes lush landscaping along with a 3 car garage. Click on the video link!! Come see it!!

Friday, September 12, 2014

New Listing in Chino!!

WOW!!!THIS HOME HAS IT ALL!!!! 3 BEDROOMS, 3 BATHS, CULDESAC, PIE SHAPED YARD, ENOUGH ROOM TO ADD ON. CEILING FANS, INSIDE LAUNDRY ROOM, WALK TO THE FINEST SCHOOLS IN CHINO. BEAUTIFUL FRONT DOOR. SHUTTERS, WOOD BLINDS, REMODELED STAIRS, AND UPSTAIRS BATH AND DOWNSTAIRS BATH. UPGRADED WINDOWS AND SLIDER. MIRRORED CLOSET DOORS IN ALL THE BEDROOMS. WALK OUT TO A PLUSH BACKYARD WITH POOL AND SPA. FINISHED 3 CAR GARAGE WITH CABINETS AND FLOOR. LAMINATED FLOORS, AND TILE THROUGH OUT. THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!!!

Turn Key Duarte Home

This tastefully remodeled "GREEN" (turn key ready) split level 4 bedroom, 2 and a half bath home has been upgraded inside and out with high end finishes. Outside solar panels, handsome rock facing, drought tolerant landscaping, water features, wrought iron fencing, automatic low voltage lights and irrigation, save time, energy, money and work while creating even more ambiance to this quiet peaceful area in the foothills of North Duarte. Dual paned windows, strand bamboo floors, granite on custom cabinets, all in a neutral palette to create a comfortable planet friendly atmosphere indoors. The versatile oversized backyard, perfect for entertaining with built in BBQ and seating on a tinted, embossed patio with fountain, is surrounded by Phenomenal panoramic views of hills and valleys. Phenomenal views of hills and valleys Plus the solidly-built 10' x 12' studio/workshop with loft provides a private space nestled between mature fruit trees and a sculptured oak. Plus "Award Winning Schools." This must see property is one of a kind. "Desirable Hearthstone area of North Duarte, near Bradbury." "Direct access to the soon-to-be completed Goldline lightrail system to Pasadena, Los Angeles and beyond."

Beautiful Home in Placentia!!

Located in PLACENTIA your All American City! TURNKEY! This ABSOLUTELY STUNNING HOME on a SPACIOUS LOT located in a well-established neighborhood, this beautiful home boasts Great curb appeal with beautiful views of the neighborhood. As you walk in to this amazing 3 bed 2 bath + family room home you are greeted by an open spacious living room, brightly lit with lots of windows. REMODELED KITCHEN with wood cabinets, BRAND NEW granite counters, NEW tile flooring, BRAND NEW appliances. All brand new flooring throughout. Spacious secondary bedrooms. Master bedroom with private master bath with a walk in travertine tiled shower. Enjoy the open feeling of the Greatroom. Stay cool with Central A/C and heat. Step out to a spacious backyard. What a great home for BBQ's and parties with family & friends to gather and enjoy. Close To Cal State Fullerton, Shopping And Freeways.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Large Single Story in Chino Hills with a 20K+ lot!!

*Wow*Look At This Desirable One Story Upgraded Chino Hills Home**This is a 3 Bd/2 Full Bath home of 2,037sf w/a HUGE LOT Perfect for RV & all your Toys**Step into a Lg Formal Living Rm w/Scraped Peaked High Ceiling & Lg Picture Window**Attached is the Formal Dinning Rm w/New Neutral Carpet that continues thru-out the home*Now,move into the Family Rm w/an Xtra Lg Brick Fireplace & Travertine Tile Floors which opens to the remodeled Kitchen w/Granite Counters,New Cabinets,Pullout & turn-style Shelving,New Stunning Black Stove,Stainless Steel Sink & Hardware,Bkfst Bar for quick meals & includes a Refrigerator (w/o warranty)**Oh My! Here is a Large Bonus Room too w/2 New Ceiling Fans & Large Enough for a Pool Table, Personal Bar, TV - Game, Play or Party Rm.**Both Bathrooms have been remodeled also w/Granite Counters & New Sinks, Cabinets, Hardware, Upgraded Tile Enclosures & Shower Doors**Plenty of space in the Backyard for Entertaining, a Pool & Kids to Play***SPECIAL FEATURES: New Tile Roof;Duel Pane Windows;2 New Sliders;Tankless H2O Heater;New Light Fixtures; Low-Care Patio;Fenced Dog Kennel;Multiple Fruit Trees;Remote Controlled Driveway Gate;2 Car Detached Garage;Fully Fenced;20,000sf Lot & more! CLOSE TO FWYS, SCHOOLS & ALL YOUR NEEDS!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Gorgeous Home!! Great area in Chino Hills!!

Beautiful and well maintained home in the finest area of Chino Hills. Tastefully decorated with oak accents and neutral colors. Very private with backyard open to rolling hills. Terrific curb appeal, spacious living room w/vaulted ceilings & formal dining room. Spiral oak staircase, beautiful hardwood flooring, tile and carpet. Gourmet kitchen & breakfast nook. Separate laundry room. All the bedrooms are generously sized. Huge master suite w/high ceilings & walk-in closet. Backyard offers covered patio area, numerous fruit trees (peach, grapefruit, pomelo & tangerine). Also magnolia tree and more. Terrific view of rolling hills. Property is super clean! No need to preview! This one also has a built-on Chinese kitchen and Sun room. Home faces north (back faces south). Hurry, this one is priced to sell!