Landscaping, Design and That Glow

 Landscaping, Design and That Glow

There are so many aspects of properly designed and installed landscaping for a home, any home, let’s see if I can hit on the most important ones and why this is so important for you and your home.

First there is your personal enjoyment.  If it doesn’t please you as the ruler of  your domain, what’s the point.  There is  that immediate pleasure, when you set your eyes on something of beauty, in nature, that is irreplaceable and if it is of your creation and nurturing, the satisfaction runs all that much deeper.  When you harvest  those first cuttings to share with others --  sublime satisfaction—the Glow.

Then the creativity to envision a living work of art that is of your mental design and see it come to life.  To experience the birth of blooms and eruption of leaves, the assortment of colors, the timing of each plants’ development and growth, the fragrances that are so unique and the creatures they attract.  To experience the hum of life around you, whether it be from butterflies and bees to sprouts and shoots of plants poking out of the ground and the wind through the leaves.  It is all magical, wondrous,  transforming  and worth the effort –The Glow.

It’s good stewardship of the land and the systems it will support.  To know that you are producing  an enrichment to the air and soil, food for the birds and bees and the systems they are creating.  Keeping care of a cycle that has been around since the dawn of time and will continue since you have done your part – The Glow hits again.

Lastly, it creates visual beauty (curb appeal) for your living environment that expresses a richness that money and words can’t.  The balance that well designed and cared for landscaping can exude is what I call The Glow.  Whether it be a flower or veggie garden or a well designed combination of  the two, it will only compliment the environment it encompasses.  Don’t pass up the opportunity to create your spot of beauty and satisfaction and to have your Glow turned on.

I’d love to help you on your way to Love the Life you Live with a property ready to be transformed or one that has been established and you can add your personal tastes!  Call anytime.

Marlene Henderson, Broker/Owner --- licensed in Calif. and Nevada

831-429-9091 office

831-419-9091 cell

MoeBEST-Henderson Properties and Property Management

“When only the BEST will do . . . .   MoeBEST-Henderson Properties and Property Management”

Kitchens -- The Heart of the Home

Kitchens      

How important are they when choosing a home?  Kitchens are the lead determinant  in housing, whether it be for a purchase or lease.   If you are building a house or doing a remodeling project, the kitchen is a key segment of the entire project.  People really get swept away in a beautifully designed kitchen.
The materials should coincide with the personality of the entire home too.
Do your homework!
Visit showrooms for kitchens, look through kitchen magazines, go to open houses – Be realistic!
Consider the kitchens usability.  Touching the materials is important; don’t just rely on your computer screens.  Working with a designer could be a way to go also, if you feel overwhelmed by the choices of components demanded of a quality kitchen.  Design tips can end up creating a working environment that actually saves you money since designers have not only great connections in the construction field but have learned efficient designs that add so much and can cost very little.
Work with a contractor whom is flexible and easy to simply talk with.  Develop a rapport prior to beginning the project with the right partners.
The return on dollars spent in a well  designed kitchen is one to one at a minimum.  Dynamic kitchens can sell a home.
I work with a few good ones, I’d love to help you out.  Call any time.

Marlene Henderson, Broker/Owner

“When only the BEST will do . . . . . .
          MoeBEST-Henderson Properties and Property Management”

Invest in YOUR Future Don't Let others decide

I keep reading so much of the what’s, whys and who dunits of this Real Estate bubble burst, economy melt down, global financial crackup. All a lot of lip service, pontificating and finger pointing. Amazing! And by the ones that created it, run governments (ours mostly) and dictate policy and legislation that still perpetuate the problems.



The latest that I have been reading about since Aug. 2011 is the proposition to now take all the REO-Bankowned-Forclosed homes and turn them into RENTALS!! This to either be done through another Gov. run Program/Agency, more bureaucrats or incentivizing INVESTORS (hand picked???) to purchase these properties for use as RENTALS. This again would be more tax dollars spent, to disallow the free market to work, all at tax payer expense.


So the cycle will never end.


The debt grows higher, we have families that will always be renters, never invest in a home of their own and all continue to be taxed to the point of just treading water. All the while these politicians, unelected bureaucrats and so called experts collect whopping salaries, benefits and retirement packages that are catapulting our economy and country into the abyss of financial ruin.

With this abundance of properties available and the interest rates at all time lows,  don't wait, till it's too late! 

Make your move now!  It is cheaper to buy than to rent!


Call me  Marlene 831-429-9091   
I'd love to help you find your home. 

Look for so many possibilities on my website.
                http://1459highst.epropertysites.com/

The Latest News on Real Estate Lending

The Latest News on Real Estate Lending

Just finished attending the  Latest Real Estate Lending panel by our local, Monterey Bay Area, Real Estate Lenders that have been in the Mortgage business collectively for decades.  These Real Estate Lenders take their business seriously and have weathered the storm of the Real Estate collapse because  of their hard work, honesty, diligence in providing the best information and service in this constantly changing business.

With so much at steak with individuals/families, these professionals know how every increment of cost effects budgets and the quality of life.  Professional Real Estate Lenders, keeping up on the latest news on real estate lending is a way of life.
For example do you know who the best lender source is?
Do you know what the bond markets are doing?  Do you know how the bond markets effect the interest rate?  Are you keeping track of what Washington is doing and when the next hidden tax will hit you?

The basic thrust of their comments is that the market is improving locally, multiple offers on well priced properties, the interest rates and fees charged for either a purchase or “re-fi” are the best right now since there is legislation on the books and in the works to cause a ‘Change’ coming as the year progress and into 2014.

For a list of the Best Real Estate Lenders, just call me, I would be very pleased to refer any of them.  For any of your Real Estate needs and for the latest news on Real Estate I am just a phone call away.

Marlene Henderson, Broker/Owner

MoeBEST-Henderson Properties and Property Management

When only the  BEST will do . . . . . .


MoeBEST-Henderson  Properties and Property Management

Rental Program by the Govm't?

Just remember anytime the government gets involved with private enterprise it skews the natural balance/energy of the markets. Look what happened when the Glas/Speigle Act was repealed in 1999! This opened the flood gates to derivitives and Voila the banking debacle that has resounded for 10 years --- so far. Let the natural market of investors and buyers absorb this wrecked housing market. Limit the monies that have been given to the banks to only be used to actual real estate purchasers NOT for their investment portfolios. Sadly there was no oversite nor accountability designed when the BILLIONS where handed out - Amazing! You don't cure a cold by inducing pneumonia. I whole heartedly agree with NAR.

Is this really tax relief or just perpetuating the problem???

Two Things You May Have Missed

by Dean Hartman on February 16, 2012

Before the end of the year, Congress and the President agreed to extend the payroll tax cut. In that bill, there were two items of interest for those involved in real estate.

1.) The hike in the Guarantee Fees charged by the GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The 10 basis point increase in the fees has translated to a .375% to .5% increase in mortgage rates for conventional loans. Many customers who started their loans a couple of months ago are being “surprised” with higher than expected rates. Heck, everything you read in the papers says rates are at historic lows and will likely stay there through 2014. Many consumers feel as if their lender is being unscrupulous. However, your lender has fallen victim to the increase in Guarantee Fees and how the secondary market is passing on the cost. What looks like possible lender greed is just a passing on of the increased expense imposed by the government. Sadly, the increased revenue isn’t even being used to help aid an ailing Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It is being turned over to the US Treasury to cover the temporary extension of the payroll tax cut.

2.) Permission for HUD to increase the insurance premiums they charge on FHA loans.

If you remember, HUD charges two insurance premiums – a monthly one and an up-front one that is usually added into the loan. Most recently, they reduced the up-front mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) and dramatically raised the monthly fee (MMIP). It is widely anticipated that, maybe as soon as April, we will see a hike in the UFMIP with no adjustment to the MMIP. While this will help shore up the reserves in the insurance fund, it will simultaneously make buying a home more expensive. No one knows the effective date or amount of the increase. Buyers should look to buy before the increase in fees.

We always hear how our government officials tuck away things in their bills. In this case, while the headlines during the holidays praised Washington for preserving the payroll tax cut, they may have hurt us more in the long run.

Energy Efficient Mortgage 101

                                                                              

A little Mortgage Knowledge can go a Long way! 

Not really that well utilized is the EEM and EIM --- Energy Efficient Mortgage and Energy Improvement Mortgage respectively --- 203 K's

The first is for new homes that are designed and rated Energy Star and the later for existing homes. It has many benefits and is incorporated into the First mortgage at the time of purchase. It comes with load of benefits that can easily be actualized monetarily.

The purchaser of an existing home would have it energy rated by an approved contractor. This would be to determine what needs to be done, at what cost, to make the home more ’efficient’. According to what the energy savings would be once the improvements are completed, this is how much more is allowed in mortgage payment of the borrower. The limit in Calif. for additional mortgage balance is $31,000. on an existing home.

The benefits range from creating a more sound home for the family, to being able to, once you are done with the home, offer it for a premium due to the upgrade of with efficiency features .

From insulation to efficient appliances to weather stripping and double pane windows, the quality of your living environment and the reduction of you utility bills will be directly proportionate to your enjoyment of living.

This can be done additionally when you chose to refi your home.

The offset is in the savings on your utility bills so there is no requirement of additional income. Sweet!

Always keeping myself up-to-date for the benefit of my clients!

Marlene Henderson, Broker/Owner

MoeBEST-Henderson Properties and

Property Management

www.BestSantaCruzProperties.com

Call anytime 831-429-9091