'Normal' Home Prices Are Stabilizing

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RISMEDIA, July 29, 2011—Prices of “normal” homes—those that aren’t foreclosures or short sales—are stabilizing and the numbers of future foreclosures are falling. That “sliver of good news for consumer spending” was included in CoreLogic’s July report on housing and market trends.

Home Staging and 7 More Ideas That Will Sell Your Home For More Source: Money Talks (http://s.tt/12Tsx)

http://bit.ly/mXB9il

One way sellers can put a happier face on things might be to put a better face on their homes. It’s called “staging:” spending time and money – sometimes significant money – to make to your house look like a model home. Does it work? While an obviously biased source, the International Association of Home Staging Professionals says over 90 percent of professionally staged homes sell within a month.

Home of the Week: Pretty, grand Mediterranean in San Marino

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Mary Gribble gazes up at the cathedral ceiling in the living room of the San Marino home she has lived in since 1965. "It looked like a church," the 82-year-old recalls of the day she first saw the house. "I wanted something pretty rather than grand."

Save Money by Repairing Windows

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Repairing worn windows, rather than replacing them, can save you thousands of dollars.

Green Roofs: A Guide to the Options

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Environmentally friendly roof choices can save you money on heating and cooling costs and benefit your entire neighborhood.

Renters Insurance: Why You Need It

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Signing up for renters insurance is easy to do and, once you get it, is no greater a drain on your monthly expenses -- and perhaps even less -- than a daily coffee habit. But most importantly, when you have renters insurance and disaster strikes (whether by burglar, flood or fire), knowing that you won't be couchless, computerless or television-free for long, might be exactly the consolation you need to get you through the mishap.

 

A Portland Home Actually 'On the Water'

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Liberal use of "on the water" has eroded the phrase's descriptive integrity over the years. But in the case of this floating home in Portland, Ore., which sits on a concrete slab over the Columbia River, "on the water" reclaims its semantic virtue.

Prefab homes can be far from ordinary

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 Prefabricated homes can be far from ordinary: There is a wide spectrum of prefab houses and companies that make them.

4 Reasons You Need an Estate Plan for Your Home

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The time to solve estate planning problems is before they happen. Otherwise, what you think is a loving act—leaving your home to your heirs—can turn into a financial and familial disaster.

How to Avoid Being a Victim of ATM Skimming

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The next time you're in a rush to grab some cash from an ATM or fill up at the gas pump, take a few extra seconds and check over the machine before swiping your card. Otherwise, you could fall victim to a skimmer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned recently.

Freddie Mac Sees Sales Increases

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Freddie Mac's economists are sticking with a prediction of positive sales growth this year despite the abysmal June jobs report.

Europe's pain is US homeowners' gain

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The threat of a debt default by Greece and other European countries has created financial turmoil for investors, banks and government officials. It’s also provided a boon to U.S. homeowners.

Beach Chic Decorating Ideas

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Not just for coastal living anymore, beach-inspired decorating gives your home the laid-back setting that's just right for summer.

Selling a home: The new realities

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This is absolutely accurate; whether it's a very high-end home on the beach in La Jolla, or a modest condo somewhere else in San Diego county, buyer's expect a lot, and sellers who are unrealistic about the market's exceptions pay the price.

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I've been hearing lately from homeowners who are preparing to list their homes for sale. They know the market isn't great, but they've been waiting for a year or two to move on with their lives (this is known in the industry as "pent-up demand") and have decided to go for it.

Home Inspections for Sellers: Prepping for the Sale

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A thorough home inspection is a critical step in the home-buying process, which is one reason that it's typically thought of as something the buyer has to do. There are, however, a few things that a seller can do to make the process smoother and ensure that a property gets flying colors during the inspection.

 

Banks see opportunity in reduced federal mortgage limits

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How big a deal is the upcoming cutback in mortgage limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration? Will buyers and sellers who depend on jumbo-size loans find themselves in a financing squeeze after Sept. 30, when the limits plunge in key markets across the country ?

What Plants Keep Bugs Out of Gardens?

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There are several plants that you can incorporate into your vegetable or flower garden to repel unwanted bugs. These pests will generally eat, destroy or kill your crops and they may be hard to identify. When you plant items that will keep bugs out of your gardens you are creating your own natural pesticides for a truly organic garden.

Avoid Rogues Masquerading As Movers

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Rogue movers want to take you and your belongings for a ride.

Oh!  The things I've seen with "Movers" roughing up and shaking down people on moving day!

One of the greatest benefits of working with Coldwell Banker is that you become "Client for Life" with a whole host of benefits, including access to our Exclusive Coldwell Banker Concierge Service:

"Coldwell Banker Concierge Online makes homeownership easy - before, during and after your move. This free service saves you valuable time and money by giving you instant access to our exclusive network of prescreened, quality service providers, carefully selected for their professional qualifications and customer service records. From moving and relocation services to maintenance and home improvement projects, Concierge Online can facilitate every aspect of homeownership to ensure that you have access to the highest level of service providers in California."

Once again Coldwell Banker is ahead of the technology curve, bringing more value to every client

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The Value of Home Warranties: Protect Your Wallet

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RISMEDIA, June 30, 2011—Even with home sales and prices continuing to fall nationwide, millions of Americans will still navigate the process of buying and selling homes this summer, and for many, the sheer volume of details and decisions can be overwhelming. With so much to consider when buying or selling a home, it can be challenging to investigate even routine aspects of the process, such as the value of home warranties.