Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home's value and speed up the sale process.

The first step to getting buyers to make an offer on your home is to impress them with its appearance so they begin to envision themselves living there. Here are seven tips for making your home look bigger, brighter, and more desirable.

1. Start with a clean slate

Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings.

2. Stow away your clutter

It's harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they're looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don't make spaces like mantles and coffee and end tables barren. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface, suggests Barb Schwarz of www.StagedHomes.com (http://www.StagedHomes.com) in Concord, Pa. For example, place a lamp, a small plant, and a book on an end table.

3. Scale back on your furniture

When a room is packed with furniture, it looks smaller, which will make buyers think your home is less valuable than it is. Make sure buyers appreciate the size of each room by removing one or two pieces of furniture. If you have an eat-in dining area, using a small table and chair set makes the area seem bigger.

4. Rethink your furniture placement

Highlight the flow of your rooms by arranging the furniture to guide buyers from one room to another. In each room, create a focal point on the farthest wall from the doorway and arrange the other pieces of furniture in a triangle around the focal point, advises Schwarz. In the bedroom, the bed should be the focal point. In the living room, it may be the fireplace, and your couch and sofa can form the triangle in front of it.

5. Add color to brighten your rooms

Brush on a fresh coat of warm, neutral-color paint in each room. Ask your real estate agent for help choosing the right shade. Then accessorize. Adding a vibrant afghan, throw, or accent pillows for the couch will jazz up a muted living room, as will a healthy plant or a bright vase on your mantle. High-wattage bulbs in your light fixtures will also brighten up rooms and basements.

6. Set the scene

Lay logs in the fireplace, and set your dining room table with dishes and a centerpiece of fresh fruit or flowers. Create other vignettes throughout the home-such as a chess game in progress-to help buyers envision living there. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.

Make your bathrooms feel luxurious by adding a new shower curtain, towels, and fancy guest soaps (after you put all your personal toiletry items are out of sight). Judiciously add subtle potpourri, scented candles, or boil water with a bit of vanilla mixed in. If you have pets, clean bedding frequently and spray an odor remover before each showing.

7. Make the entrance grand

Mow your lawn and trim your hedges, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before showings to make your lawn sparkle. If flowers or plants don't surround your home's entrance, add a pot of bright flowers. Top it all off by buying a new doormat and adding a seasonal wreath to your front door.

More from HouseLogic

Spring cleaning guide (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/spring-cleaning-guide/)

Green cleaning products for the bathroom (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/green-cleaning-products-for-the-bathroom/)

Green cleaning products for the kitchen (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/green-cleaning-products-for-the-bathroom/)

Other web resources

How to make a small room look larger (http://www.lowes.com/cd_Ten+Ways+to+Make+a+Small+Room+Look+Larger_506205068_)

How to arrange bedrooms (http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/arranging-your-bedroom-furniture.html)

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Cities of Brevard

• Palm Bay (Pop: 100,000)

Just south of Melbourne, Palm Bay is Brevard County’s most populated city. Extending from the Indian River to west of Interstate 95, this city spans 65 square miles of land. It’s the sixth largest city in the state of Florida. It’s home to one of Brevard’s largest employers, Harris Corporation, a technology related company.

• Melbourne (Pop: 76,000)

Approximately 38 square miles in size, this city is home to Brevard County’s only international airport; Melbourne International Airport, which features six airlines including Delta and services over half a million travelers each year.

• Merritt Island (Pop: 44,000)

This historic island city’s original economy was based on cattle, fruit, and sugar cane and has developed into one of Brevard’s wealthiest local economies. It’s home to the 140,000 acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which borders Kennedy Space Center.

• Titusville (Pop: 42,000)

One of Brevard’s oldest cities, incorporated in 1867, it’s the home residence of many of NASA’s employees and contractors. This city is very rich in history and features the championship golf course Royal Oak Resort and Golf Club. It was designed by Dick Wilson, the architect of famous courses Doral and Bay Hill.

• Suntree/Viera (Pop: 23,000)

The two adjoining communities are the newest in Brevard County. It is the fastest growing area in Brevard and is predicted to double in population by 2015. It is already well known for its recreational retreats such as golf courses and nature preserves. It’s home to Space Coast Stadium which is the spring training home to the Washington Nationals and home field for the local Brevard Manatees baseball teams.

• Rockledge (Pop: 20,000)

No community in Brevard County is older than the city of Rockledge. This city is about ten square miles in size and is located just south of Cocoa. It’s primarily a residential community but does host a few light industrial businesses. Old original homes of its first settlers still stand today.

• Cocoa (Pop: 17,000)

This central community is bordered by the Indian River to the east. With an average resident age of 37, it is the youngest area in Brevard County. Places of interest in this city are the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Brevard Community College’s main campus and the Cocoa Expo, a multi-sport complex.

• West Melbourne (Pop: 15,000)

One of Brevard’s newest cities, it is where you will find the county’s largest indoor mall, the Melbourne Square Mall. It has many new homes and sub-divisions being built and planned and expects major population increases over the next decade. Home buyers have a major incentive to purchase a home and live here because the city has no property taxes. It has a local 18-hole municipal golf course, a couple of local parks, and a 52 acre wildlife preserve.

• Cocoa Beach (Pop: 13,000)

The city is located on a barrier island between the ocean and the Banana River Lagoon. The six miles of accessible beachfront are famously known in Florida. The city has ownership of and operation rights to the Cocoa Beach Country Club which features a 27-hole golf course by the river. It is also home to the famous Cocoa Beach Pier, Surfside Playhouse, and the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop.

• Port St. John (Pop: 12,000)

This unincorporated area is a part of the city of Cocoa but maintains its own identity. It’s known for Fay Lake Wilderness Park, a 192 acre site with access to a 27 acre fishing lake. It’s a growing community that has the convenience of the city and the quiet of a rural town.

• Satellite Beach (Pop: 10,000)

A relatively new city in Brevard, this city’s development has been greatly urged by its close proximity to Patrick Air Force Base and the development of the space program. Many military families live here. It has a generally upscale residency and is home to Brevard’s most prestigious community, Tortoise Island, where many half-million to multimillion dollar homes are built.

• Micco (Pop: 10,000)

This city was tailor made for the fishing enthusiast. Located near the southern most boundary of Brevard County, it hosts three marinas. It’s located on the very popular Sebastian Inlet where many fishermen go to find an abundance of sport fish like Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon.

• Mims (Pop: 9,000)

A small rural community, Mims is just five miles from Titusville. It is surrounded by 100,000 acres of citrus groves which help the local job market as many residents of this community work in the local citrus packing plants and some at the industrial steel plants. It’s a quaint community that sees little to no tourism.

• Cape Canaveral (Pop: 9,000)

This tiny city has a land area of just 1.9 miles. It’s surrounded by the ocean, Banana River and just north of Cocoa Beach. North of the Cape is Port Canaveral, the only deep water port from Ft. Lauderdale to Jacksonville. It was the busiest cruise port in the western hemisphere of the world in the year 2000 and continues to thrive with cruise liners like Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean making routine visits. This little city is the closest to Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County.

• Barefoot Bay (Pop: 8,000)

Mostly consisting of retirees and senior citizens, it’s located right next to Sebastian Inlet where some of the best saltwater fishing on the Space Coast can be found.

• Indian Harbor Beach (Pop: 8,000)

This community is located between Satellite Beach and Indialantic. Its citizens enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the county. It’s most popular attraction is a 27 acre park called W. Lansing Gleason Park.

• Scottsmoor (Pop: 4,000)

The northern-most area of the Space Coast, Scottsmoor is one of Brevard’s hidden gems. It stands as the origin of the Indian River and has little economic resources outside of the citrus industry.

• Melbourne Beach (Pop: 3,500)

This community is the oldest beach community in Brevard County and is located on the southern most point of Brevard’s beachside. With around 3,500 residents, it has nearly reached its potential capacity which is estimated at 4,000 so little population growth happens here. Don’t be fooled by its size though, it boasts one of the highest median incomes in the county.

• Indialantic (Pop: 3,000)

Its name means “between the Indian River and Atlantic” and is well known for lots of boating and fishing. It is also known for hosting a number of endangered species and was declared a bird sanctuary by a town council proclamation. Many tourists flock here during sea-turtle mating season to watch the young sea-turtles hatch and make their way into the ocean from the beach sand.

• Malabar (Pop: 2,600)

Close to city convenience but far enough away to be considered a truly rural area; Malabar is located in the southern portion of Brevard County. It is most widely known for its 345 acre nature preserve developed by Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Land Program.

• Patrick Air Force Base (Pop: 2,100)

This base is home to many active military and mostly civilians that work jobs for the armed services. It houses the Eastern Space Range and the United States Air Force 45th Space Wing. Most residents live in barracks or military issued housing. The community is self-sustained with shops, schools, and entertainment.

• Palm Shores (Pop: 900)

This is a relatively undiscovered area of Brevard County located between Rockledge and Melbourne. It is fast growing as just 15 years ago it had a population of just 200. New developments are making it more desirable for living and new roads are giving its residents easy access to major roads.

Vera L. Koon, Realtor
321.302.9588
vera_koon@yahoo.com
WEBSITE

Andy Jansky, Realtor
Phone: 321-626-7398
Email: realtorandyj@aol.com
WEBSITE

Andy Waterman,
Broker Assoc.
Phone: 321.544.5555
AndyWaterman@hotmail.com
WEBSITE

How to Get a Mortgage

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Shopping for a mortgage is the first step toward owning a home and perhaps the most daunting, especially if you are not prepared.

Once a simple task that meant comparing fixed rates from among perhaps a dozen or fewer savings and loan companies, the mortgage hunt today is like finding your way through a maze.

There are dozens of loan types and hundreds of loan programs available through thousands of mortgage brokers, bankers, lenders, finance companies, credit unions, even stock brokerage firms.

Contrary to popular belief, finding a mortgage doesn't begin with an application.

Education is a better first choice. Mortgage information sources are as vast as the number of mortgages available. Web sites, topical newspaper articles, mortgage books, consumer seminars and workshops, financial planners, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders are all available to assist you along the way.

First and foremost, you must determine how your mortgage payment will fit your current budget and, to some extent, your future obligations 15 to 30 years down the road.

If you discover too late that you can't afford your mortgage, you'll not only face the possibility of losing the roof over your head, but you could also damage your ability to purchase a home later.

Examine your finances
If you can afford to buy a home, you must then determine how much mortgage you can afford. Lenders are apt to put your loan application in the best light and qualify you for as much as they are willing to lend, which can be more than you can afford.

It's up to you to take stock of your income and expenses, both current and projected, to determine what you can comfortably manage each month. Along with your mortgage payment, don't forget related insurance, taxes, homeowner association dues and any other costs rolled into the mortgage payment.

Shopping for a loan
When you are ready to shop for a loan you have two basic types of mortgage stores to shop -- direct lenders and mortgage brokers.

Direct lenders have money to lend. They make the final decision on your application. Brokers are intermediaries who, like you, have many lenders from which to choose. Lenders have a limited number of in-house loans available. Brokers can shop many lenders for each lender's store of loans. If you have special financing needs and can't find a lender to suit them, an experienced broker may be able to ferret out the loan you need. Mortgage brokers, however, are paid with a slice of the amount you borrow, some more than others, some less. Internet brokers today perhaps receive the smallest cut, sometimes none at all, and can prove to be a real bargain.

Along with shopping the source, you'll also have to shop loan costs, including the interest rate, broker fees, points (each point is one percent of the amount you borrow), prepayment penalties, the loan term, application fees, credit report fee, appraisal and a host of others.

Apply for a loan

The application process is the easy part -- provided you've gathered documents necessary to prove claims you make on the application.

he application will ask for information about your job tenure, employment stability, income, your assets (property, cars, bank accounts and investments) and your liabilities (auto loans, installment loans, mortgages, credit-card debt, household expenses and others).

The lender will run a credit check on you to take a look at your credit status, but you'll have to supply additional documentation including paycheck stubs, bank account statements, tax returns, investment earnings reports, rental agreements, divorce decrees, proof of insurance, and other documentation. If the lender deems you creditworthy, it will likely hire a professional appraisal to make sure the value of the home you are about to buy is truly worth your loan amount.

am dedicated to my clients' needs and won't stop working until you are completely satisfied. I believe in straightforward, honest communication. I would be honored to represent you and make your transaction a pleasant and stress-free one. "Exceeding Expectations is MY Everyday Goal!"

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