Patty McMillen

First Time Buyers

Median age: 31

Median Income in 2011: $62,000

Cost of Home Purchased:  $155,000

Market Share of all Buyers: 37 percent

Home Sellers

Median Age: 53

Median Income: $101,000

Moved in to a large home:46 percent

Moved in to a smaller home: 23 percent

Median time in the home: 9 years

• Just 3.5% down payment
• Gift Funds for Down are OK
• Easier Qualifying Guidelines
• First Time Home Buyers are OK
• Credit Scores as Low as 600
• Lower Interest Rates
• Lower Closing Cost
• No Reserves Required
• Loans are Assumable

If your thinking of remodeling be sure to think about what will offer the best return on your investment. Instead of just storing Christmas decorations in your attic you may consider converting part of the attic into an extra bedroom, average cost is about $50,000 which you can recoup 72 percent of the cost when your sell.

On the other hand, the addition of a master suite average cost could be up to $200,000 will only recoup just over half of your investment.  If you have been thinking about sprucing up your outdoor space now may be the time to add a new deck.  The average cost is just over $l0,000 this investment will recoup up to 70 percent, wood will recoup up to ten percent more on your investment.  Some other investments include replacing windows with insulated vinyl or wood models, you can recoup up to 70 percent of this cost.  Remodeling a bathroom you could recoup up to 62 percent.  Just remember you never know when you will move so make the right choices in return on your investment!

Looking for a cost-effective way to increase security in your home and save energy at the same time?  You could put some of the lamps in your house on a timer-or you could consider wireless lighting.  Wireless lighting enables you to replace switches in your home with receivers that respond to radio frequency signals from remote controls.  It might sound complicated, but it’s fairly simple:  Disconnect the manual switches and replace them with dimmers.  Freestanding lamps that must be plugged into an outlet can be plugged into wireless receptors connected to the outlet.  You can even program one remote to operate multiple lights throughout your house, no matter the size.

Image via Wikipedia

Aside from the ability to turn off a light downstairs when you’re already upstairs or turn on a light from anywhere in our home if you hear noise, the main benefit of installing a wireless lighting system is reducing electricity and energy consumption.  Wireless systems can range in price from as little as $30 to hundreds of dollars to equip your entire home.

Remodeled home with detached granny unit, beautiful setting on one acre with views from pool, private gate with rock wall, fountain, living room and family room with fireplace, remodeled kitchen with upgraded appliances, granite counters, large windows from all areas, main house has walkway to granny unit, large deck for entertaining.

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Many times we have been forced to use a notary signing agent or a closing agent…they are not the same.  A Notary Signing Agent is a ministerial officer that acts as a impartial, third party witness to document signings and may not advise the borrower about the loan terms or answer questions about the loan.  The Notary Signing Agent is responsible for positively identifying the signer, making a commonsense judgment that the borrower is aware of what is being signed and signing willingly and following all necessary requirements for notarizing the borrower’s signature.  The Notary Signing Agent may not answer questions about the loan terms or advise the signer regarding the loan.

Mobile devices are becoming a favorite target of scammers.  Malicious software that pretends to be games or other mobile apps could end up stealing your data or rack up bogus pay-er-text charges.  Android apps are a particular risk

Image via CrunchBase

, since they undergo a less stringent approval process, but even Apple apps aren’t immune.

Advice: Pay $10 to $30 a year for a mobile security program like Lookout Mobile or Kaspersky Mobile Security and don’t download apps with carefully researching them first.  ”Go to the vendor’s website and follow the download link from there.  Read reviews for the app that are published outside the apps’ page in the market.  It may take a bit more time but it’s worth it!