Vacation property, an investment for retirement or a permanent residence, this Lake James waterfront home may be your dream property.

The beautiful water front home is located in a private community with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a double deck boat dock, an enclosed boat garage and a private ramp to launch your own watercraft. The home was built originally in 1972 and totally renovated in 2002. A four car detached garage was built in 2002.

There is a total of 264 ft. of water front. Beautiful three tier sea walls accent this elegant home. Hard wood and tile floors, modern appliances and vaulted ceilings are only a few of the amenities that capture you with this home.

Private dock permit.

List Price: $1,800,000
Flexibility: Willing to finance
Acreage: .75 acres
Type: Waterfront

Floors: 2
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sq. Footage: 3700
Garage Size: 4.0
Year Built: 1972, totally renovated in 2002
School District: Nebo

Suitable Use: Residential

Topography: Rolling
Road Frontage: Private Road
Location: Lake James, Burke County, NC

Amenities: Waterfront, Fireplace, Central AC, Alarm, Wood Floors, Gas Range, Patio, Wheelchair Accessible, Nature/Bike Paths, Boating, Controlled Access, Spa/Jacuzzi

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search for : Lake James waterfront home, Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake James, Burke County, NC

American taxpayers are asking why they are being made responsible to a bailout of reckless lenders and borrowers. One website, Angryrenter.com, was recently implemented to demand that Congress not pass any bailout programs that reward risky borrowing and lending.

StoptheHousingBailout.com is another new site devoted to the bailout backlash. “I just got really angry,” said blogger Morgan Ward Doran, an L.A.-based attorney who isn’t professional involved with the housing industry. “Everyone I hear from is against the bailouts.” Doran argues that lenders, brokers and home builders all made huge profits by overbuilding houses pushing through poorly underwritten loans, and now they want taxpayers to cushion their fall. (more…)

search for : Angryrenter.com, StoptheHousingBailout.com

With Congress appearing eager to help more than a million homeowners facing foreclosure, a proposal aimed at fixing the battered housing market could instead end up as the latest blow to a recovery.

The ambitious plan calls for up to $300 billion in loan guarantees from the Federal Housing Administration. The mortgage contracts will serve to refinance loans that homeowners can’t afford as long as the original lender reduces the principal on the loan to 85% of the home’s current market value.

Supporters of the legislation contend that borrowers would get out from under unworkable debt and original lenders would get back more than they would foreclosing. It would also prevent 1.5 million foreclosures and halt home-price declines since it would keep more houses from flooding an already battered market.

Critics say the rescue plan rewards reckless behavior and transfers risk to homeowners and lenders who were responsible during the housing boom. And, some experts think this is the wrong solution for purely financial reasons. (more…)

search for : foreclosure, Federal Housing Administration

Beautiful Wilkes County NC Timber Frame Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 51166, List Price: $898,500

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 half baths, 2 car attached garage, full basement, and a barn on 5 acres of land.

These terms are used to describe thousands of homes and yet some things just can’t be described, they have to be experienced. This is one of those homes that really has to be seen to be appreciated.

This majestic Timber Frame home of the Bob Timberlake genre is not just another house, it provides a feeling of home that is not about walls and floors and windows and doors. It creates a feeling of the flow between your outdoor and your indoor environment that is seamless. Everywhere you look there is a view. Everything you touch feels natural and beautiful in a way that cannot be described, only owned.

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

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Freddie Mac is expected to announce Thursday an agreement with three major mortgage lenders aimed at making more funds available for large home loans. The agreement is with Wells Fargo & Co., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc., Freddie officials said.

For the past nine months or so, interest rates on jumbo loans — those bigger than the normal $417,000 limit on mortgages that can be sold to government-sponsored investors Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae — have been much higher than those on smaller ones. That’s because other loan investors, spooked by surging defaults and dropping home prices, are reluctant to buy loans that aren’t backed by Fannie, Freddie or the Federal Housing Administration. (more…)

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These days, many are asking, is it better to lose a house to foreclosure, file for bankruptcy protection or undergo a shortsale?

None of the options are palatable. Generally, a foreclosure will remain on your credit report for 7 years, while a bankruptcy remains for 10 years. Depending on the lender and the current state of legalize filtering out of Washington, a short sale may or may not be to your benefit.

Before you accept that a foreclosure is imminent, consider trying to avoid the actual process. If you’re having trouble making payments, contact your lender before the proceesings goes any further. Even if you’ve received a document generally known as a “notice of default,” saying you’re several months behind, you still have time before the formal foreclosure process begins.

Another option is to consider moving. Even if you do lose your house, you don’t want a foreclosure or a bankruptcy on your record when you go looking for a smaller house or a place to rent.

One option is to ask the lender to hold off on foreclosing until you sell. If your mortgage is bigger than your house is worth, your looking at what’s called a “short sale” and you’ll owe money to the lender even after the house is sold. In some cases, lenders will let you off the hook for that amount rather than go through the expense of foreclosing.

(more…)

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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

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As houses become tighter, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems have become more complicated. Contaminants introduced into living spaces, from the materials in furniture, compounds used in construction, and the pets we own can directly attack our respiratory systems.

Luckily, we can take steps to minimize bad indoor air quality at home with just a few lifestyle changes and adjustments in our air quality management. One of the best ways to freshen air is to clean up the source of odors and ventilate, such as running bathroom exhaust fans, whenever these rooms are occupied.

Periodically run fans that exhaust to the outside, such as those in the kitchen or bath, or open windows and place window fans to the blow air out. Always add ventilation when you use household cleaning products indoors. (more…)

search for : bad indoor air quality, air quality management

Painting your home isn’t a do-it-yourself job unless you’ve got the know how, the proper tools and enough time off from your normal employment to spend doing your paint job properly. Not to say that you couldn’t spend every weekend painting until the project is finished, it’s just boring and repetitive work.

When hiring a professional, ask relatives, friends, co-workers and others to recommend a painting contractor that has finished a successful paint job on their home. For references to be qualified, only licensed and insured home painters in your area need to considered. A specialist in exterior painting has more square feet of exterior painting under his or her belt. A home painter who works inside and out, can be just as professional.

The book shown on this page, “Painting Your House Inside and Out” explores today’s range of paint and special effects products and offers instructions for choosing, mixing, and using them for a variety of home-decorating purposes. Discussed is practical advice on everything from preparing surfaces, choosing colors and equipment, and understanding paint properties to mastering techniques. Reading material includes tips on avoiding common and costly pitfalls as well as a step-by-step plan for getting the desired results. (more…)

search for : Painting your home, painting contractor