5 Tips to Make Your Yard the Greenest on the Block and Keep It That Way

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig

Transform a so-so lawn into the kind of lush, green expanse any neighbor would envy. Five simple tips can help you get there:

1.Give it some air: Each spring, when the soil temperature is above 65 F, aerate your lawn. You do this with an aerator, a machine that punches small holes into your soil to let air, water and nutrients reach the grass roots. Many hardware and home improvement stores offer aerators for rent.

2.Mow often, stay sharp and follow the "one-third rule": Mowing stimulates growth. So the more you mow, the faster and thicker the grass will grow, choking out weeds. Be sure to check your lawnmower's blades, and have them sharpened at your local hardware store when they begin to dull. Dull blades that don't cut cleanly can leave grass damaged and more vulnerable to disease. For a healthier, greener lawn with deep roots, mow no more than the top third of your lawn's height; so if it's three inches high, cut off no more than an inch.

3.Water only as needed: Watering too often can lead to shallow, unhealthy roots, which form thatches of unsightly tangles above the soil. If you can see your compressed footprints on your lawn after walking on it, it could use an inch of even sprinkling (use an empty tuna can to measure when it's had enough). Otherwise, let it be.

4.Apply elbow grease—not chemicals—to weeds: If you use a weeding tool to pull up weeds by the roots, you shouldn't need to use any chemical herbicides, which can damage your lawn.

5.Embrace science: By getting your soil tested in a laboratory every few years, you can find out if it has appropriate levels of organic matter, phosphorous, nitrogen and other materials for your local climate. A garden or landscaping shop can help you find a lab (soil tests usually run about $20), and can review the results with you to see if a particular kind of fertilizer or treatment might help keep your lawn in tip-top shape.

Money Saving Tips for Heating Your Home During the Winter

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig

Money-Saving Tips for Heating Your Home

Space heating accounts for more than 40 percent of annual energy use in a typical home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. By taking action before and during the heating season, you can reduce your heating costs and make your home more comfortable during those cold winter months.

Get your home ready for winter

•Have a qualified technician inspect and clean your heating system before the start of cold weather to ensure your system is running efficiently.

•Inspect the ductwork in exposed areas such as the basement or attic, and repair any leaks or disconnections.

•Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent heat loss.

•Make sure your home is insulated to levels recommended for your climate zone.

•Seal gaps and air leaks in your chimney, plumbing access and other often-overlooked areas of the home. For more information, see Hidden Sources of Home Heat Loss.

•If your heating system is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient unit. If you install a new system, make sure it is ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR, which is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, tests and certifies products for energy efficient performance.

Saving energy during the heating season

•Change the air filter on your furnace once per month during the heating season. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes the system to run less efficiently.

•Save energy by setting your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature. Optimize savings by lowering your thermostat setting when you are sleeping or away from home. Afraid you might forget? A programmable thermostat can make the adjustments for you.

•Reverse the airflow direction of ceiling fans, forcing warm air to bounce off the ceiling down into the living space where you need it.

•Open window treatments on south- and east-facing walls during the day to let in warming sunshine. At night, close them to keep cold air out and maintain the heat inside your home.

For Market Information in your Neck Of The Woods, visit: http://www.mynolahomes.com/mimarket

If you or anybody you know needs assistance with real estate, please call me at (504)382-3724. Thanks, Alicia

First Time Homebuyers $8000 Tax Credit

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig

We’ve been hearing a lot of questions about the new tax credit. Who qualifies? How does it work? How long will it last? We’re going to take an in-depth look at the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.

According to the new legislation, a first time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a principle residence in the past three years. Those three years are counted up to the date you take possession of the house you buy in 2009. This means that even if you’ve owned a home in the past, you can still take advantage of the tax credit as long as you haven’t purchased a primary residence since (August) 2006.

The same goes for married tax payers – they must both be first time home buyers. For non-married joint buyers, only one of them needs to be a first time home buyer, or someone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the past three years.

Qualifying homes include:

* New homes
* Homes that are being re-sold
* Condos
* Townhomes

The main restriction is that the credit is only for those who buy a home as their primary residence. So investors looking to buy a rental property would not qualify for the credit. However owning a vacation home or a rental property already does not necessarily disqualify you from taking advantage of the credit (as long as you haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years).

A Look at the Numbers

The tax credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000. The amount of the credit you can qualify for is related to how much money you earn. Here’s how the credit is scaled:

* Single home buyers earning 95K or less qualify. If you make 75K or less, you qualify for 100% of the $8000. If you make halfway, 85K, you qualify for 50% or $4000. The credit phases out gradually between 75K and 95K of income. For example, if you make halfway between the income limits, 85K, you qualify for up to half of the credit.
* The same rate applies for married couples and joint buyers whose incomes limits are doubled to $150,000 to $170,000. Married couples or joint buyers whose incomes are less would receive the full $8000 credit. At an income level of $160,000, halfway between 150 and 170, the buyers would receive half the credit – or $4,000. And the credit phases out altogether at $170,000.

This credit represent a significant amount of money. One of the biggest points of difference for the new credit from the one congress passed in July of 2008, is that the new credit does not have to be paid back.

In addition, it’s refundable, which means that if you’ve paid all your taxes as you go with an automatic payroll deduction, you would receive an $8,000 check from the IRS.

If you’re committed to buying a house in 2009 and want to use the $8000 tax credit for a down payment, consult with your REALTOR and/or Certified Public Accountant.

In Closing

Qualifying home buyers will need to make their home purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. And the home has to remain their principal residence for the following three years.

The new tax credit coupled with historically low mortgage rates and rising affordability, offers buyers a great opportunity if they act fast.

08/13/2009. Agent is licensed in the State of Louisiana, USA.

The FEDS Update on the Real Estate Industry

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig

The Fed Meeting was in line with market expectations with no real surprises yesterday.

Highlights:

-Key interest rates will remain at current levels with no indication of immediate increases

-The Fed deemphasized the deflation fears

-The Fed states that the pace of economic contraction is slowing.

-The Fed continues its commitment to purchase Mortgage Back Securities from Fannie and Freddie, ensuring liquidity and rate pressure reductions.


What does this translate to us for the Real Estate and Mortgage Industry?


The below 5% mortgage rates on 30 year fixed mortgages are probably gone for good....no use waiting around for that to happen.

The market will remain a buyer's market with affordability at all time highs and a flood of foreclosure properties available

Expect rates to increase toward year end as the Fed is forced to deal with inflation risks as economy continues to improve

The home buyer's season should be robust; affordability, rates, tax credits, should make the season a good one


While no one can predict the absolute bottom of the market, we are at or near a bottom.

If you are waiting for additional discounts on sales price, you may lose out even if they get lower prices due to rising rates and the end of tax incentives.

Knowledge is power.

~Alicia

5 Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig
To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

5 MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE

Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig

5 MISTAKES HOME SELLERS MAKE


1. ASKING TOO MUCH

The single biggest mistake folks make is setting their asking price too high. In today's down market homeowners need to price conservatively or they risk turning off potential buyers, says Michael Corbett, author of "Ready, Set, Sold." Figuring out how to set the price is tricky. Gone are the days when you can expect to sell your home for as much as your neighbor did just six months ago. Existing home prices have fallen 7.7% over the past year, according to the National Association of Realtors. So rather than looking at how much homes in your area sold for six to 12 months ago, compare prices for similar properties currently on the market. If you see a listing for a house that's sitting unsold for a few months, chances are the owners are asking too much and you'll want to set your price lower, says Corbett.

2. QUESTIONING THE FIRST OFFER

Too many sellers reject their first offer, even if it's close to or at full asking price. Holding out for more money is a strategy that rarely works, especially at a time when credit is tight, lending requirements for mortgages are in flux and potential buyers have less purchasing power.
The reality is that in any market a home's first offer is often its best, says Elaine Clayman, a real estate broker with Brown Harris Stevens. Typically, educated buyers will seize on a property they like -- with a competitive bid -- as soon as it comes onto the market, she says. Of course, given the glut of houses on the market, sellers should expect to receive some low-ball offers. Just don't assume that you'll get better bids the longer you hold out. As Clayman warns, the more time a home sits unsold, the greater chance a seller will have to reduce his price.

3. NOT RESPONDING TO ALL OFFERS

What if you get an offer that's simply too low? Don't reject it outright. See if you can negotiate. First of all, you can't blame someone for testing the market -- after all, in today's market, many buyers are confident that they have the upper hand. Secondly, by entering into negotiations with one party, you'll gain leverage with other potential buyers, says Corbett. Most importantly, it allows you to tell brokers that your property is in play and sends a message that if someone is interested, then he better present a competitive bid quickly.
Just don't get cocky. During this process, it's crucial for sellers to set a realistic bottom-line price they're willing to take, even if it's several thousand dollars below asking, says Corbett

4. USING A STAGER

In a depressed market, it's more important than ever that your property stands out from the competition. But unless you're trying to sell a multimillion-dollar mansion, you don't need to pay a professional to stage your home. There are a number of free or inexpensive things you can do on your own to get your house into show condition. Most importantly, paint the walls. Nothing does more to brighten up a place, says Peter Comitini, a real estate broker with Corcoran Group. Next, he recommends getting rid of all the clutter, excess furniture and family knickknacks. Finally, make all the necessary repairs before your first open house. If a buyer sees a small problem, say, a leaky faucet, he's likely to wonder about larger issues like the furnace or roof.

5. PICKING THE WRONG BUYER

Now more than ever, sellers need to select their buyers carefully. As we mentioned earlier, thanks to all the defaults in the subprime market, lenders are tightening their lending practices, making it more difficult for consumers to qualify for mortgages. So it's critical to find a buyer with a recent prequalification letter (issued no later than four to six weeks ago) for a loan.
Next, watch out for buyers who need to add contingencies to the contract, including a clause stating that the deal won't close until they sell their own home. A better bet is to look for cash-flush first-time home buyers or someone who has already unloaded his existing house. In a slowing market it's difficult to estimate how long it could take your buyer to find someone to purchase his dwelling, warns Brown Harris Stevens' Clayman. And if that property doesn't go for as much as he expected, that person may no longer be able to afford your agreed-upon price