Ten Inexpensive Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Value by Spring

With temperatures still dropping and snow still pilling up, it’s all too easy to forget that spring is just around the corner.  And after a three year, painful housing slump, many real estate experts are predicting that attractive mortgage rates, tax perks from Uncle Sam and lower home prices will create the best spring home selling season we’ve seen for some time.

This may be a much more pleasant experience for home sellers than it has been for the past four years.  However, even with the market perking up, buyers may still retain the upper hand throughout all of 2010.  Therefore, I’d like to help homeowners enhance their home’s value without getting them deeper into debt and get it done by spring.

Inexpensive Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Value:

Touch-Up the Exterior

The outside of your home is just as appealing as the inside.  You want to give potential buyers a cozy and inviting feel.  The exterior of the home is often the most overlooked area, yet the most important area for improvement.  You can improve this area for the smallest amount of cash.  Just touching up the paint on the front-entry of your home is an inexpensive yet effective way to make the entire property more cozy and inviting.  Many people will know if a house is for them just by the upkeep of the outside.

Tidy up the Greenery

Trim up the lawn, flowers and hedges.  This lets others know that they are well maintained and helps ensure them that your home is also well maintained.  You can hire professional landscapers or get out the lawn mower and do it yourself.  If your landscaping is concealing your home because it has gotten out of control, cut it back drastically or have it removed all together.  You want just enough, not too much.

Paint the Interior

Slap on a fresh coat of paint inside your home.  It’s cost-effective and it makes your home more appealing to buyers.  When choosing colors, be conservative.  Your favorite color may not be the favorite of someone else. Therefore, it is safer to stick with light creams or whites.

Floors are Important, Too

Don’t forget that your floors are important, too.  Improving your home’s floor condition is also a smart move for any seller.  If you have hardwoods, give them a good buffing.  If you have carpet, give it a good cleaning.  If those ideas don’t work, then you may have to consider replacing those areas.

Major Repairs

Since tighter lending standards are requiring higher down payments, many home buyers don’t have much cash left over for home improvements.  Therefore, if your home needs any major repairs, go ahead and take care of them before putting your home on the market.  And always use a professional when needed.

Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

Energy-efficient homes are much more attractive to buyers these days.  Improvements such as new windows are a huge plus and they come with federal tax benefits.  These homes will also stand out from other listings.

New Light Fixtures

New light fixtures can be a low-cost way to add value as long as you don’t get carried away with what fixtures you want.  A nice new light fixture in the front foyer is very attractive to many potential buyers.

New Kitchen Appliances

Jazz up your kitchen with new appliances. There’s no need to remodel the entire kitchen when you can simply update the appliances, cabinet fixtures and lighting.  You can even do all this for under $1,000 if you shop around.

Freshen Up Those Bathrooms

Get rid of any mildew or mold stains in the bathroom. This will help boost your home’s appeal.  Do you have cracked or chipped sinks?  Replace the whole thing.  It’s another inexpensive way to boost your home’s appeal.

Good luck with your home sales this spring.

Things That Are Looking Up for 2010

This is the time of year when everyone is interested in what is going to happen in the new year.  So far, it looks like things are looking up for the 2010 real estate market and many people are upbeat about it.  However, some things are going up that may not have some people so upbeat after all.

Things to look for include:

* Rise in interest rates – The more competition there is for money from federal, state and municipal agencies, of course, the more it will cost to borrow it.  In turn, there will be less new jobs created.  It’s kind of crazy that over 30 states are now borrowing money to pay unemployment benefits.

* Food prices will continue to rise – As interest rates rise, the money needed to fund long production cycles will cost more.  Therefore, this cost will come from the consumer.  If energy prices rise, transportation, production and distribution will also increase.

* Energy prices will rise – Energy includes more than gasoline.  However, our past experience at the pump has made it obvious that no matter how the daily prices rise and fall, they continue to go up, up, up.  The price never quite returns to its low point.

There’s so many more things that will be going up that I could add to this list such as taxes, litigation, compensation for CEO’s and more.  Some other downfalls could include a rise in commercial defaults and bankruptcies.  Most of all these events will definitely supercharge social media until many people begin to hit the “unfriend” button. 

Along with all these ups that are not so positive, there will be plenty of things to look forward to that will be positive.  The housing market has been doing great for the past several months and forecasts show that trend to continue through 2010.

Need to Know Tax Credits and Deductions

With the new and expanded credits and tax deductions, there come more forms to file and more you need to know.  When it comes time to sit down and file your 2009 tax returns, you will find many new changes.  Some are a result of adjustments in inflation and others are from changes by Congress due to the national recession.

Depending on your individual situation, there may be good news or bad news in these changes for you.  Some things will, however, affect all taxpayers.  For example: the personal exemption has increased to $3,650 for each taxpayer and dependents.  That’s up $150 from the 2008 tax season.  Tax brackets have also been adjusted an additional 5%, which means that you may not be moved up to a higher tax bracket if you earned more money than you did in 2008.

Changes to affect higher income levels include the alternative minimum tax being increased to $70,950 for joint returns and $46,700 for individuals.  For those with incomes higher than these amounts may be subject to the AMT tax. Changes like these happen every year in order to keep up with inflation.  But there are a slew of revisions for 2009 that will make filing your tax return slightly more complicated than usual. 

This year, you can also take more of a standard deduction if you paid local real estate or state taxes, bought a new car and paid sales or excise taxes and also met the income limits or if you were a victim of a disaster that was federally declared. 

Have you gotten married, had a baby, bought or sold stock, inherited money or property or other goods this year?  If so, it would be a good idea to sit down with a tax professional and review these life changes and see how they will affect your tax situation.  They’re all deductible, but without the help of a professional, many common mistakes can be made only to delay your refund.

And, don’t forget the credits you deserve if you were a first-time buyer.

Lake Havasu City Celebrates 10th Annual Spring Frenzy

During the first week of February, some of the world’s top water instructors will be in Lake Havasu City to help celebrate the city’s 10^th annual Spring Frenzy.  This is promising to be the city’s largest Spring Frenzy ever, with instructors coming from as far as Japan and Korea.

Instructors from Japan’s Aqua Dynamic Institute and the Korean Aquatics Exercise Association will be in Lake Havasu City providing instruction to all guests who attend the event.  Presenters will be offering instruction on master swimming, water exercise, Japanese folk swing performance and Japanese choreography swim. 

Other instruction that will be offered at the Lake Havasu City Spring Frenzy include Aquatic Tae Kwando, Lian Gong Shi Eafa (a Chinese poster exercise) and instruction on black and white painting, which harmonizes mind and body through painting. 

The Spring Frenzy is also proud to have other instructors, such as those from Canada who will instruct a variety of dance classes, including Old Square Dance and Chicago Swing. 

All instructors will be traveling to Lake Havasu City at their own expense, which is even better for the community.  This way, no monies are coming out of the city budget for guest instructors to participate in the event.

The purpose of the Lake Havasu City Spring Frenzy is to help improve the lives of those in the community.  It began in 2001 with 92 attendees and has been a huge hit ever since.  This year, there are over 1,200 attendees expected.

For those who want to attend, the Spring Frenzy will be held at 100 Park Avenue in Lake Havasu City.  You can also acquire more information by contacting Masko Kaffenberger at (928) 453-8686.

Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a New Home

As interest rates on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped to a 38 year low, many consumers began to consider purchasing a new home or refinancing their current home.  In this blog, I have some Q & A’s that will help you decide if now is the right time to purchase a new home or refinance your current one.

With interest rates being the lowest since 1971, the tax credit and the tax extension, many people around the nation are interested in purchasing a home and ready to sign on the dotted line.

What questions you should ask when you’re ready to purchase or refinance a home:

Q: How long are the interest rates expected to stay this low?

A: No one can really tell, but many are expecting the lending landscape to change during 2010, increasing interest rates. 

Q: Why are rates so low?

A: The Federal Reserve has been purchasing mortgage-backed securities which are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae in a great effort to stabilize the housing market.  In turn, this has made homes more affordable for consumers.

Q: Why do different surveys come up with different average mortgage interest rates?

A: This depends on the lender, the survey, the rates quoted at the time, the application rate, etc.  Some surveys will also consider the points paid to secure the rate.

Q: Is now the best time to buy a home?

A: This will depend on your personal situation.  Several factors are working in the favor of the homebuyer right now such as low interest rates, reduced home prices, the extended tax credit and a tax expansion.  There are also minor improvements showing in the real estate market and these improvements are expected to get better through 2010. 

A New Year’s Eve First for Lake Havasu City

Okay party goers, get your party hats on, your noisemakers out and maybe even the aspirin bottle ready because Lake Havasu City is having its first ever public New Year’s Eve party.  On Main Street, there will be at least 1,000 kisses exchanged during the city’s first “Uptown Countdown.” 

The buzz all around town is huge.  There have been over 1,000 tickets sold to the event already. Instead of the traditional ball being dropped, like most cities, Lake Havasu City will be lowering an olive into a 15-foot lighted martini glass.  The glass itself will be suspended over 15 feet in the air and the rim of the glass will be 10-feet wide.  The olive drop will be held in the empty lot on McCulloch Boulevard and Querio Drive, across from the nightclubs BJ’s Tavern and Desert Martini.  Free party favors will also be given out to the event.

Here’s how you can get in on the fun, too.  The tickets will be on sale at a discounted price until 3:00pm December 31^st for $15.  They then go up to $20 at the gate.  Tickets include one drink ticket, which you can use to purchase one alcoholic beverage. 

Tickets can be purchased at:

A Stinkin’ Rose: 2026 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check, credit/debit card).

Edgardo Jewelers: 2121 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check, credit/debit card).
Gold Star Engraving: 39 Querio Dr. (cash, check, credit/debit card).

Grace Arts box office: 2146 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check, credit/debit card).

Mohave State Bank: 1771 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check, ATM available).

Neat Pool and Supply: 52 Scott Dr. (cash, check only).

Sam’s Shooters Emporium: 2183 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check only).

Schlotzskys Deli: 2144 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check only).

Springberg McAndrew Financial Services: 1795 Civic Center Blvd. (cash, check only).

The Yarn Shoppe: 2069 N. McCulloch Blvd. (cash, check, credit/debit card).

The gates to the Uptown Countdown will open at 8:00pm.  McCulloch Boulevard will be fenced off between Smoketree and Mulberry Avenues.  Attendees will be allowed to carry open alcohol containers in the streets between 8:00pm and 1:00am.  However, no outside alcohol, ice chests, chairs or backpacks are allowed into the event.

Domestic beer will be $3 while imported beer and wine will be $4.  Soda is $2 and water will be $1.  Beer will be served in 16 ounce glasses.  Liquor can only be purchased from the bars. And, there will be a disc jockey and live bands playing to keep everyone entertained. 

No matter where you go to celebrate your New Year, be safe while you’re having fun.  Lake Havasu City police are stepping up patrol, so beware.  Happy New Year!

Your Lake Havasu City Real Estate Professional ~ Realtor® Cheryl Westwood

A Lake Havasu City Christmas

As Christmas nears, you can feel it all around you in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.  Everyone is getting into the spirit of the holiday season all around town.  Even the children of Lake Havasu City are sharing their holiday spirit.

The kindergarteners from Guiding Light Christian and Education Center sang with other fellow students to the residents of Prestige Care LLC senior living community on Smoketree Avenue on Monday. 

They will have another performance at 7:00pm today, Christmas Eve, at Lake Havasu City High School.  So, bring your family and friends and come enjoy the holiday fun.

As you’re out and about looking at Christmas decorations and lights, don’t forget to go by the Lake Havasu City sign at Wheeler Park.  It is set aglow with Christmas lights and decorations galore, adding to the Christmas spirit for the whole city.

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas ~ Realtor® Cheryl Westwood

Lake Havasu City Teachers Get Certified

Recently, three Lake Havasu City teachers received national education certifications.  It’s the most that the district has received since 2002.  The district now has nine National Board Certified teachers who have completely finished the program, which has been described as the most difficult achievement of their lives.

This is no easy certification to prepare for.  Over 200 hours goes into compiling the teacher’s portfolio and then another 100 hours is spent preparing for the test itself.

The test is completely voluntary and will never be required.  So, those teachers who have set the goal to get this certification should be recognized in a special way.  The Lake Havasu City teachers who have chosen to take the certification have done so because they want to better themselves as teachers.  Many would even agree that the certification process was more rigorous than getting their master’s degree.

The certification process gets really in-depth with questions that have the teachers reflecting on how they make every decision in the classroom, how they differentiate their instruction, how they group children and what materials they use.

I give a hats off to these teachers who have gone through the effort and that extra mile to complete the certification process.  It shows how committed they are to being life-long teachers and role models to our Lake Havasu City students.

Realtor® Cheryl Westwood ~ Lake Havasu City Real Estate

Lake Havasu’s Tree Lighting Ceremony Back On

When the tree lighting ceremony in Lake Havasu City was canceled to help balance the budget, many Lake Havasu residents were very disappointed.  There just isn’t the holiday spirit around town without the annual tree lighting ceremony.

After an article was published last month announcing the cancellation, citizens began to swamp city officials with phone calls in protest.  City officials had no other choice but to find a way to fit the ceremony back into its budget and back into Lake Havasu’s place in history.

Now, with volunteers tending to all the last minute details, Lake Havasu City’s 29^th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held as usual in Wheeler Park.  The ceremony will begin December 10th at 6:30 p.m. with a whole new lineup of entertainment this year.

The City of Lake Havasu has also guaranteed to continue the tradition.  The event will be organized by both public and private groups to help share the costs of the event in the future.

This year’s tree lighting ceremony will include a short speech by Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen and introductions of Ed Frederico, the original donator of the Christmas tree in Wheeler Park.  Frederico is expected to share his memories of how the tree came to be the community tree.  School students will even get to hang their handcrafted decorations on the big tree and there will be a presentation of Trees of Honor by the Blue Star Mothers.

One very lucky student will get the honors of lighting the big tree.  Each student will place their name in a drawing.  The fist name drawn will be the one to illuminate the tree.

Following the tree lighting, there will be three local groups singing Christmas carols.  Each group will be dressed in old-fashioned clothing and will sing three songs each.  Santa will also be available after the tree lighting ceremony for last minute gift requests from the children.

 With the danger of a cancellation, many Lake Havasu City residents are looking forward to this year’s tree lighting ceremony more than any other.  It already sounds like it will be one for the record books.

Have a happy holiday ~ Realtor® Cheryl Westwood

Lake Havasu City Real Estate

Expecting Guests for Christmas? Tips to Help You Prepare

When you plan to have guests visiting your home for Christmas, you should start to plan with sprucing up your guest room.  You want your guests to feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.  Therefore, imagine that your guest room is a luxury hotel room and consider what you have in it. 

These tips should help you prepare your guest room so your Christmas visitors will feel right at home:

The Bed

The bed is where they will rest their weary heads each evening and you want them to get the rest they deserve.  So, make sure they have a comfortable bed with fresh, clean linens.  If a spare bed is out of the question, there are many affordable air mattresses on the market that are just as comfortable.

Pillows

For a little added comfort, throw some extra pillows on the bed.  It’s better to have too many than not enough.  Consider a combination of big, medium and small pillows.

Extra Linens

You never know what can happen when you have guests.  Therefore, it is a good idea to have an extra set of clean linens in the guest room for your guests.  Be sure to let them know where the extra set is though.

Small Gifts

You can let your guests know how excited you are that they are staying with you by leaving a small gift basket to help welcome them.

Lighting

Every guestroom needs good lighting.  Make sure your bulbs are bright and, if you have lamps, make sure they are accessible next to the bed where your guests will be sleeping.  Candles for emergencies are also a good idea.

Extras

Go the extra mile by letting your guests know when you have your meals scheduled out or have events planned for their stay.  Place extra seating in their room for suitcase space while they unpack or make space in the closet for their things.  A clock, phone, magazines, television, calendar, etc. will also help them feel more comfortable. 

Making your Christmas guests feel comfortable and welcome will help them remember you as the best host ever.

Keller Williams Arizona Living Realty ~ Realtor® Cheryl Westwood

Lake Havasu City Real Estate