Remodelers need to understand that the kitchen is the most complex room in their home. Every aspect of kitchen design must be studied as thoroughly as possible before the remodeling project is begun. Kitchen designers recommend that selection of appliances comes first as all other components gets built around them. The size and shape of the refrigerator, stove, cook top, dishwasher and sink(s) will dictate how these items fit within the overall design. And, how the overall design fits within the existing structure. The choice of a countertop surface dictates the cabinet height. The backsplash determines the placement of the electrical boxes. The list of choices is seemingly endless, but prevail, you will be rewarded with the perfect kitchen. (more…)

search for : kitchen design, Kitchen designers

Last Christmas season, getting a good deal on a flat-panel television set was a no-brainer. This year, it’s not so easy. An oversupply of plasma and liquid-crystal-display panels last year knocked down average sale prices roughly 30% or more in the fourth quarter from a year earlier for models in the 30- to 50-inch range. Home Depot no longer sells TV sets in its stores. There is also less of a glut in flat panels used to build big-screen, high-definition sets. And TV makers, such as Sony Corp. and Sharp Corp., are focused on building larger, more expensive high-definition sets that will be less subject to discounting.

This year, the best bargains in LCD sets, which use liquid crystals that pass or block light, are in model sizes of 40, 46 and 52 inches. Bargain hunters won’t find deals in sets north of 50 inches. Because LCD isn’t a strong presence in sets larger than 52 inches, there’s little competition between the two technologies to help bring plasma prices down.

search for : flat-panel television, liquid-crystal-display, big-screen, high-definition set

Subprime borrowers and mortgage strapped homeowners could get some relief from a plan negotiated by the Bush administration to freeze interest rates on their subprime mortgages that are scheduled to rise in the coming months. The plan is being promoted as a voluntary, private-sector arrangement that involves no government money. The plan will affect 1.2 million people who could possibly be eligible for help. But only a fraction will be subject to the rate freeze. Others would get assistance in refinancing with their lenders and moving into loans secured by the Federal Housing Administration.

Thousands of borrowers who are falling behind on their payments have been sent letters about the options they have in keeping their mortgage current. People can now call a new hot line: 1-888-995-HOPE to discuss mortgage assistance.

click here for article

search for : Subprime borrowers, subprime mortgages

Beautiful Wilkes County NC Log Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 50863, List Price: $359,900

Bedrooms: 3, Full Baths: 2, Half Baths: 0, Est Total SqFt: 2600, Type/Style: Log Home, Area: Area 6, Middle School: Cntrl Wlks, High School: Wlks Cntrl, Construction: Log

Foundation: Combination, Roof: Metal Roof, Floors: Carpet/Hardwood/Tile, Garage/Carport: None-Garage, None-Carport, Interior Features: Master Bedroom, Main Level, Large Master Bedroom, Walk-In Closet(s), Hardwood Floors, Fireplace(s), Great Room, Exterior Features: Double Pane Windows, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Hot Tub, Subdivision: N/A, Lot Size: 2.47, Apx SqFt: 2600 - 2800 SF, Basement: None

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

Remodeling activity rose during the third quarter of 2007, according to the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The current market conditions indicator increased slightly to 46.2 from 44.8 in the second quarter. The RMI “special questions” section this quarter focused on outdoor remodeling jobs, which is the first time questions have been asked on this topic. Fifty-two percent of respondents reported the most common type of outdoor remodeling job completed by the company was adding a deck, followed by porch (35 percent), patio (25 percent), front porch (25 percent), decking/patio covers/enclosures (22 percent), outdoor lighting (13 percent), and outdoor kitchen (13 percent). (more…)

search for : Remodeling activity, National Association of Home Builder’s, outdoor remodeling

The outside appearance of your home will convince a prospective buyer to, at least, venture inside to view your home for sale. That was the finding in a recent Remodeling magazine survey. Though most home improvements don’t pay for themselves at resale, the survey found that the projects with the greatest return on the dollar are those that improve a home’s curb appeal, such as new siding, decks, windows, paint and landscaping. Sellers usually recover about 70 cents for every dollar they’ve spent for home improvements. That’s down from more than 80 cents in 2005. The survey’s authors say this is the result of higher costs for home remodeling and declining sale prices. Where home prices have not dropped as much as in other regions, sellers can recoup a higher percentage of their home improvement expenses. (more…)

search for : home improvements, curb appeal

Eric Rosengren, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently made the statement that many borrowers with subprime mortgages, having reasonably good credit, may be able to refinance into a less costly mortgage by taking advantage of government programs. He noted that 55% of subprime adjustable-rate mortgages, where the owner occupied the home, hadn’t missed a mortgage payment in the past year, translating to about 1.2 million borrowers. Those homeowners meet the credit standards required for FHA [Federal Housing Administration] guarantees. FHA is a division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that insures loans originated by banks and other companies. FHA was designed to provide insurance for first-time homebuyers and low- and middle-income borrowers. (more…)

search for : Federal Reserve Bank, subprime mortgage

With the price of sofas begin what the are, many consider rejuvenating their sofa as an alternative to a new purchase. Adding new legs can really update the couch’s silhouette. If your sofa has thin traditional legs that look a little outdated, replace them with chunkier block legs, which are more contemporary. There are online sources for sofa legs, like Bing’s (bingltd.com) and rockler.com. Also, just nearby, Home Depot and Lowe’s also have a good selection. A lot of times, when a couch is looking a little worn, the main issue is saggy cushions. Refilling them can rejuvenate the look and make the couch a lot more comfortable. This is best done by a professional upholsterer. Depending on whether you choose a polyester-blend fill or down, it can set you back from about $200 to nearly $500, but that is still less than it would cost to reupholster the sofa or to buy a new one. (more…)

search for : Home Depot, Lowe’s

It may not be the best time to sell a house in much of the country; but increasingly, it’s a good time to build or renovate one. The housing slump has pushed down prices on everything from lumber and drywall to labor and architectural fees. Legions of carpenters, tile layers and landscapers are idle. Architects are taking on small renovation projects they once would have sniffed at and contractors are offering their services at a discount. Some people in the building trades are even posting fliers at construction sites to drum up business. Now, some homeowners are moving forward on renovation or building projects they’ve put off for years. Others are exacting substantial price cuts from contractors desperate for work. (more…)

search for : housing slump, renovation project