Georgia

Is wallcovering making a comeback?

02-09-10

Cseer Davis: Builder-Contractor in Lithonia, GA

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Mobile: (678) 559-7656

Are wallcovering making a comeback? Manufactuers, the media and even Oprah seems to think so! For the most part me and other contractors feel the same. I feel that technology is helping to bring back this industry in a major way. New digital prints are giving way to customizable designs for consumers. Now consumers have a new way to expand their design ideas, the possibilities are endless. There is a down side to this growing trend, the cost of digital printing may be a little high. For the most part this is not the same crusted flower pot designs your Aunt Lucie has in her bathroom. These are more up to date modern designs that you can design your self. All you have to do is sit down and have a talk with your local paint company or interior designer. Submit the photos or design you would like to have on your wall to the contractor. Then sit back and watch your design come alive. You would be suprised that you even have Green options! Wallcovering are great alternatives and should be considered when redecorating your home or office. For more information go to the www.ngpp.org or check us out at www.allpaintpros.com Atlanta's favorite paint company.

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How do you look at failure?

02-09-10

Chris & Sandy Benton

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Mobile: (704) 236-0082

How do you look at failure?

When I say the word failure, what do you think? You probably think of someone who never done anything with their life? Maybe you thought of yourself, thinking from the past? Maybe you think defeat? In reality, none of them are actually true. The only way to be 100% a failure is if you give up totally on your dreams.

When I think of failure, I think of a stepping stone to success. You may be asking how is that? No matter what you attempt in life, you will always fail before you succeed. Think back from your past, When you first tried to ride a bicycle, did you just jump up on the bike and ride away? Probably not, more than likely, you got on and fell to the ground. Then got back on and fell to the ground again. Then again, and again until you eventually got the hang of it.

When you think of Babe Ruth, you probably think of someone who had the most home runs for many years, did you realize that he also had the most strikeouts? Probably not. There are many successful people out there who failed many times before they were a success. In fact I would be willing to bet that 95% or higher of the successful people failed many times before they made it. I read a survey that showed a lot of multi-millionaires went bankrupt several times before they became a millionaire.

When I look at my past, I definitely failed more times than I have succeeded. My wife and I are building several businesses now that are growing but before this we ran a local newspaper that failed. I also did a lot of things in my past where I failed but never gave up.

Failure is the foundation of Success. If you can say that I have never failed, then I can also say you haven't accomplished much. The bigger the success of a person, the more they have failed. All I am trying to do here is help you realize that failure is a part of life and if you learn from your failures then in reality it isn't a failure at all.

Here is a poem that I found about failure. I have no idea who wrote it but it is a great one!

FAILURE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A FAILURE

Failure doesn't mean you're a failure,
it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you haven't accomplished something,
it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you've been a fool,
it does mean you have a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced,
it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it,
it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you're inferior,
it does mean you're not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your time,
it does mean you have a reason to start fresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up,
it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it,
it does mean it will take a little longer.

Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you,
it does mean he has a better way.

Chris Benton
http://www.LivingOurStory.com

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Are Buying Foreclosures Worth the Hassle?

02-09-10

Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO

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Office: (770) 238-0122

Mobile: (770) 238-0122
Secondary: (888) 992-5546

Everyone wants a foreclosure, whether they can ultimately rent it or rehab it for profit -- or not.

Because I get a lot of calls from the curious, I can explain some of the procedures.

You'll have to either download from the internet a set of stipulations and/or requirements from a bank and each bank with have similar requirements to follow. Some may have thirty pages of information that you must comply with, much of it repetitive.

The bank will announce that their foreclosures are competitively priced at fair market value or below, based on subject property's condition. In the event there are multiple offers on one property, you will be notified and will than have specific multiple offer instructions. You might think they want you to give it your best shot at price, but it can also be that they will then not pay closing costs for example. In other words, now that there's several people interested in the property because price is excellent, you may have to give up the closing costs you've asked for (if this bank has even allowed you to ask for closing costs).

When you submit your offer, you will have no choice whatsoever but to call a designated loan officer and have the offer be accompanied by a pre-qualification letter from said loan officer indicating the type of financing and terms (you want to close in 2 weeks with the bank paying closing costs). You will be given a name, phone number, and a website to make application. Can you use your own bank ultimately? Sometimes and by that I mean if there are two offers that are the same but Offeror A will use the bank's person and you want to use your banker, Offeror A is getting the property. Don't bother making offers if you need to sell your home first; foreclosures are non-contingent sales. You won't be able to go to closing in the morning on your house and then close on the foreclosure across town in the afternoon. I've put my entire house in storage and lived in temporary housing to get a good deal. While it's a drag with three kids, goldfish, a cat and a dog, if you save $100,000, isn't it worth it?

You'll also have to add certain language to the contract to the effect that "Purchaser understands further addenda may follow verbal acceptance." This means that you've signed twenty pages of addenda, now twenty more pages may or may not follow. You will also be signing a paper stating that you understand you are using the bank's affiliates to close - loan officer, attorney, title company. If there is anything in the house such as a washer or dryer and it was intended to be left for the purchaser, it is not warranted to be in working condition, nor will it be replaced with an appliance that is working. Any disclosures required by the government, such as mold disclosures or lead paint disclosures will be signed and submitted. Foreclosures are sold in "AS IS" conditions, no disclosures, no warranties, no repairs, nothing. Can you ask the bank for a repair once you have your inspection? Everyone wants to ask for repairs despite the fact they were already told not to ask, you will not receive funds or repairs and you may receive your earnest money back. The exception may be safety or structural defects making the house unsound. I've had people claim they understand the meaning of "as is," they promise me they would never ask for repairs and as soon as they have an inspection with a laundry list of several repairs, they get overwhelmed and want their money back and want the bank to reimburse them for the inspection. If this is your personality - don't ever buy a foreclosure. You're getting the house based upon condition and your offer reflects that.

Earnest money will be in Certified Funds and once the bank signs the contract, the money is deposited. Most banks will set guidelines of acceptable earnest money up front. It's generally from $1,000 to $5,000 (more if million dollar property and above) and all cash offers are 10% of listing price, not agreed upon price. The bank pays commissions based on their net. A copy of the check is sent along with the contract, bank's loan officer letter, and addenda.

Give yourself plenty of time to close. If you want to close in thirty days, be prepared that the loan officer MUST have all lenders packages to the closing attorney at least three days before closing. If there is a delay, the buyer pays a daily charge and it will be unpleasant, it won't be a mere $100.00.

Once you have received verbal acceptance, you'll have to sign at least one clean purchase agreement, any addenda or counteroffers for blue ink signatures within two or three days of acceptance. You can then have an inspection if you wish and you will have to pay up to $400 to have the house water lines de-winterized and then re-winterized before and after inspection. If the utilities are not connected, you will have to call the utility companies to have service put on in your name and also to meet the gas man at the property to light the pilot light. Utilities will need to be on during the inspection period, and have it arranged with the inspector that once you verify everything is working, then he can come and inspect. Otherwise, you'll be paying for a trip to the house by the inspector, then a return visit. If closing is delayed, you will have to pay to have utilities put in your name on what was your original closing date.

No bank will allow their agent to forward your contract if even one page is missing initials.

Lastly, you will have to pay to have to doors to your foreclosure home re-keyed. The bank will put on a new set of locks once the former seller has vacated and they will not supply you with any keys at closing and in writing, you will agree to that term as well.

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RE/MAX Executives Office in Decatur Georgia

02-09-10

Sally English|Atlanta Georgia Real Estate

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Office: (404) 327-9900

Mobile: (770) 939-3174
Secondary: (404) 325-5900

RE/MAX Executives Office in Decatur Georgia

Sally English RE/MAX Executives Decatur Georgia

RE/MAX Executives 314-B Church Street Decatur, Georgia 30033

Sally English and The English Team at RE/MAX Executives specialize in homes and neighborhoods convenient to Emory University and The Centers For Disease Control. Call us at 404-327-9900 or EMAIL sallyenglish@englishteam.com

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Rental property can have very stable, respectful and reliable tenants. Atlanta, GA

02-09-10

Alf Gizzo

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Office: (303) 679-0634

Mobile: (303) 350-9488

Rental property can have very stable, respectful and reliable tenants. Atlanta, GA

Yes, that’s right! It all depends on product, location and first rate tenant screening. If you don’t have all three, your vacancy rate will be elevated. Let’s discuss product first. We recommend to our students that they furnish their properties with clean functional items, new linens and art work on the walls. What you are creating is an environment that is very agreeable to the tenant, one that not only the renter will look forward to coming home to, but also one, through pictures on flyers, web sites and word of mouth, will attract new inquires. We are all for building and keeping a pipeline.

Lots of furnished rooms for rent are not clean and contain old, thread bear chairs, sofas, and soiled mattresses. Would you want to stay any longer than you had to in a place that does not support a good sense of self-esteem? Nicely furnished rooms engender good paying tenants, who stay for long periods.

Our favored tenant populations generally do not have their own transportation so proximity to public transportation is necessity.

Key to this equation within our program is good tenant screening, which oddly enough doesn’t include credit or traditional background checks. Our tenants are referred to us, so we learn about them and their history though direct questioning of people who are familiar with each potential tenant individually. We discover personal background information and work experience. This type of screening done methodically will produce good paying tenants who stay for extended periods creating a stable house.

To learn more about setting up transitional housing, please download our free Ebook from the side bar on our main blog site.

Don't hesitate to contact us with questions. Learn about us. Learn our system. Learn what others have to say about us and our system.

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