Maui Real Estate News
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March 1, 2010
"LIKE SLUGGISH WATERS THROUGH A MARSH..." The poet Sir Walter Scott wasn't talking about the economic recovery, but his words paint a pretty vivid picture...and after last week's economic reports, perhaps a pretty accurate one on the state of the recovery.
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January 25, 2010
Here are common, important phone numbers and web links for your convenience.
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December 14, 2009
Very true words indeed - and last week brought some market action when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke discussed the recession, commenting that our economic recovery still faces "formidable headwinds." As you can see in the chart below, the current recession we have been in has been the longest in nearly half a century.
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November 19, 2009
Barbra Streisand obviously wasn't singing about Bond prices or interest rates in her 1980's song. But those lyrics were fitting last week when the Federal Reserve stepped in with more buying of Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), helping Bond prices recover from news of a weak Treasury Auction. Overall, home loan rates bounced around last week and ended the week very slightly improved.
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November 18, 2009
Propelled by the first-time homebuyers tax credit, nearly half of home sales are now being made by first-time purchasers, according to an industry report released Friday. In fact, 47 percent of all Americans who purchased homes this year had not owned one during the previous three years, according to a press release Friday from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That was up from 41 percent of sales in 2008 and 36 percent in 2006.
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November 18, 2009
PricewaterhouseCoopers expects hotel occupancy rates will increase in 2010.
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November 18, 2009
First-time home buyers can now use the $8,000 federal tax credit to help cover a down payment and other upfront costs if they are taking out a loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration.
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November 12, 2009
As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:
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November 7, 2009
The Federal Reserve Board's Open Market Committee wrapped up a two day interest rate meeting Wednesday afternoon vowing to keep rates "exceptionally low" for "an extended period."
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November 7, 2009
We all know that as things age, they often need replacing but sometimes homeowners neglect to take care of their home's electrical wiring and that can set them up for potential danger. Electrical consumption since the middle of the last century has increased in most homes on average about 400 percent.
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November 7, 2009
Foreclosures and bank REOs are pulling a new wave of novice investors into the market, some of whom "are just plain clueless, to put it bluntly," says Robert Cain, a long-time rental market and real estate management specialist based near Tucson, Arizona.
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November 4, 2009
After two weeks of delay, the Senate last night cleared the way to pass a seven month extension and expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers.
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October 27, 2009
And when it comes to really understanding the various reports and events unfolding in the economy, it's important to take a look at the details - not just the headlines. Here's what you need to know.
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October 27, 2009
Follow these steps and monitor your symptoms to help stop the spread of H1N1...and remain happy and healthy!
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October 5, 2009
The words to Sammy Kershaw's country song sound pretty good right now to a number of Americans...much better, in fact, than the recent employment numbers do.
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October 1, 2009
The first major change to the $8,000 home buyer's tax credit began moving through Congress the last week of September, giving hope to real estate and building groups pushing for extension of the entire program before it expires November 30, 2009.
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October 1, 2009
Perhaps the greatest influencer in getting your home sold is entering the market with a home that's priced correctly. Over-priced homes won't get favorable attention; they lose out to the ones that are reasonably priced.
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October 1, 2009
You're likely approaching moving day with equal parts excitement and dread.
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September 28, 2009
And that's exactly what the Fed did last week at their regularly scheduled Federal Open Market Committee meeting. But just what did they decide...and what do their decisions mean for home loan rates?
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September 21, 2009
Housing Starts have fallen significantly since June 2008, but in last week's report, they broke free to come in at their highest level since last November. Building Permits were a bit lower than expectations, but the overall report suggests that while we're not entirely out of the woods yet, the worst in the housing market may have passed and that the industry may be on its way to stabilizing.
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September 8, 2009
It could be a good time to invest in real estate, given the abundance of foreclosures and other distressed properties with reduced prices.
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September 8, 2009
Homeowners who have either decided to stay in their homes or are considering selling may be helping to build momentum in the remodeling market.
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September 8, 2009
The House and Senate may have left Capitol Hill for their Summer break, but housing lobbyists are busy at work gearing up a major campaign to extend the $8,000 home buyer tax credit.
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September 8, 2009
There's a movement away from the McMansions toward smaller homes for convenience and cost-savings. It seems an attitude of "less is more," is prevailing in the housing industry; whether it will remain short-lived may depend on the economy
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September 5, 2009
Why are Buyers holding off on buying?
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August 21, 2009
You have a remarkable opportunity to own a peice of Maui paradise. Interest rates remain at historic lows......
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August 12, 2009
The economy is showing clear signs of a recovery, but what will that recovery look like and what dangers lie ahead?
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August 10, 2009
. Last month's report came in better than expectations at 0.6%, but that number was slightly skewed by the high gasoline station sales. This month's reading is expected to come in at 0.4%. With this report, we will see, among other things, how much impact the government's Cash for Clunkers program has had on the retail picture.
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July 28, 2009
"Lucky we live Maui" is a phrase that is often heard on the island of Maui. That phrase is especially relevant when looking at our property taxes.
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July 24, 2009
You might not admit it yourself. But it's probably true... But the terrible market in housing is almost over. It really is almost time to buy residential real estate. Let me show you why...
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July 20, 2009
INFLATION, ALL WE NEVER WANTED...! Or so the Go-Go's song "Vacation - All I Ever Wanted" could have been re-written this week, as whispers and glimmers of future inflation as well as some positive economic news roiled the Bond market. Overall, home loan rates worsened by about .25% across the board.
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June 28, 2009
They say no news is good news. But perhaps the more important question this week is will the Fed's news from their latest Federal Open Market Committee Meeting be good news for rates and the economy? Here's what you need to know.
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June 11, 2009
In this difficult market, many taxpayers are selling property in short sales or other transactions with no profit. Unfortunately, what many taxpayers do not understand is that property may be sold with no profit, but still be subject to significant taxable capital gain.
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May 22, 2009
Yesterday White House economic advisor Lawrence Summers expressed cautious optimism that the sense that the American economy is in free-fall would abate within the next few months. Now a survey of 53 economists by The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) shows that this group shares his opinion. Those surveyed generally expect the recession to end in September and begin the long slog back to recovery.
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May 20, 2009
Nationwide housing affordability jumped 10 percentage points during the first quarter of 2009 to its highest level since the series began 18 years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).
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May 12, 2009
The bottom of the housing decline is near, predicted analysts and home builders attending the National Association of Home Builders' semiannual Construction Forecast Conference last week.
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May 8, 2009
We've all heard the old adage "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." This is especially true when it comes to your home.
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May 1, 2009
Thanks to record low mortgage rates and declining home prices, 55 million families - or half of all U.S. households -- can afford today's $200,000 median-priced new home, according to figures released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
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May 1, 2009
Falling housing prices, historically low interest rates, and tax credits are creating an enticing environment for renters to convert to homeowners.
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May 1, 2009
For many people, buying their own home is still the American dream.
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May 1, 2009
It seems like every day someone is asking about why it is so hard to get a real estate loan.
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May 1, 2009
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 30, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.80 percent.
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April 20, 2009
The week began with the sweet sounds of investment banking giant Goldman Sachs reporting earnings that were much better than expected.
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April 1, 2009
These days, tax credits and high housing inventory make it a buyers' market.
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April 1, 2009
Don't let a sluggish economy get you down. There are reasons to shop for personal items-including a new home.
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April 1, 2009
We received an important indicator of where housing is headed last month, when new mortgage applications for home purchases and refinances suddenly surged as they hadn't in months.
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April 1, 2009
Small-scale real estate investors got a pleasant surprise last week when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said they'd refinance potentially thousands of mortgages on rental and second homes as part of the Obama administration's massive housing relief effort.
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April 1, 2009
Some of the 3 to 4 million homeowners eligible for loan modifications could see interest rates as low as 2 percent under the Obama administration's new "Making Home Affordable" (MHA) initiative.
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April 1, 2009
After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn't have to do a thing to sell, they now need to understand how they can stand out from their competition.
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March 16, 2009
Overall, Bonds and home loan rates didn't worsen last week - even with the huge Stock rally - and ended the week relatively close to where they began.
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March 16, 2009
Washington continues to wrestle with one of the thorniest issues of both the housing boom and the housing downturn: What's a piece of real estate really worth, and who says so?
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March 16, 2009
Plenty of people are concerned about the cost of bailing out Main Street - the people who stand to lose their homes in the midst of the current financial crisis.
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March 16, 2009
Small-scale real estate investors got a pleasant surprise last week when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said they'd refinance potentially thousands of mortgages on rental and second homes as part of the Obama administration's massive housing relief effort.
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March 16, 2009
What is happening in America today as it relates to real estate and real estate investing.....
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March 16, 2009
Today's mortgages are a far cry from boom time home loans, but they do exist and some lenders have money to burn.
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March 11, 2009
Obama administration unveils terms of modification plan
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February 26, 2009
Curb appeal remains the standard. If a house doesn't have it, the property is likely to languish on the market.
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February 25, 2009
Obama Unveils Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. President Obama unveiled his plan to help stabilize the housing market and keep millions of borrowers in their homes.
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February 22, 2009
"I WILL ACT NOW. I WILL ACT NOW. I WILL ACT NOW." Og Mandino. And acting now - more than once - is exactly what Congress and the President did last week!
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February 1, 2009
Last week was definitely action packed, though only time will tell how intelligent each action was - here are the highlights.
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January 18, 2009
Results of Bankrate.com's Jan. 14, 2009, weekly national survey of large lenders
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January 13, 2009
If you're putting your home on the market, better be sure you're ready to tell all -- good and bad.
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January 13, 2009
Why is it important to consider a pre-listing inspection?
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January 11, 2009
Bonds Boldly Go Where They Haven't Gone Before
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January 11, 2009
Upgrading kitchens is one of the best ways to increase value in your home.
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January 11, 2009
You are about ready to close your real estate transaction on a home; did you consider a home warranty?
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January 10, 2009
Here's a key question about the current market: Do you look at home prices to figure out where we are in the real estate recovery cycle, or do you focus on sales?
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January 2, 2009
One holiday Blue Light Special appears to be working. Interest rates are as low as they been since Freddie Mac started tracking them!
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January 2, 2009
Despite home price drops in many cities, remodeling projects are holding their own as a way for owners to add value.
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January 2, 2009
Mark Nash, author of four real estate books, has completed his annual survey of 839 real estate agents in all fifty states in the US and the eight provinces of Canada.
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January 2, 2009
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is spearheading Fix Housing First, one of the largest coalitions of housing advocates ever assembled in the United States, to push for a housing recovery plan that will revive the economy.
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January 2, 2009
Selling a home in a declining market starts with a proper attitude and finding the right Realtor® who is optimistic and knows the right sales techniques in this tough market.
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January 2, 2009
While building 'green' may still cost more upfront, many building industry professionals realize that the health benefits, employee productivity, and the overall positive impact to the environment far outweigh the initial fees.
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December 7, 2008
Bonds and home loan rates tested their best levels of 2008 throughout last week......
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November 17, 2008
Economic Forecast- "Nobody likes the bringer of bad news"! Sophocles
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November 16, 2008
Been down to your friendly neighborhood credit union lately? You could find that elusive home loan you been unable to get anywhere else.
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November 15, 2008
Don't wait for home owner bailout provisions to trickle down from the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008," (H.R. 1424) recently rushed through Congress.
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September 22, 2008
PostNotes: Piilar To Post News and Information
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September 5, 2008
Volcanoes National Park Hotels offers great rates on over 50 hotels near Volcanoes National Park.
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September 4, 2008
Good news has made its way into the real estate arena this summer -- in the form of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. What does this Act mean for you?
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September 4, 2008
Paramount in new federal regulations approved to foster more responsible mortgage lending, are the implications for consumers shopping for a home loan
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September 4, 2008
You may have to move to get away from the high cost of gasoline. Well, you really can't get away from the high cost but a move could help you use less gas. That is, if you move to a transit oriented development (TOD).
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September 4, 2008
With city, state and federal initiatives shouting 'solar!' from the rooftops, finding competent solar equipment installers is paramount.
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September 4, 2008
It's not always enough to be up to snuff on negotiating that reduced price. Sometimes you need to know where to look to find a bargain that's already available.
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September 4, 2008
Some rental home investors may have a temporary window in time to take advantage of a rare tax law "twofer" -- profiting from not just one, but two of the latest changes to the Internal Revenue Code.
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September 4, 2008
Windows add beauty and elegance to a home. But windows are also the black hole of thermal energy in a home.
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September 2, 2008
This just might be the turn in the numbers we've been waiting for: Resales of existing houses jumped by 3.1 percent in last month to the highest level in nearly half a year.
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September 1, 2008
1 bedroom, 1 bath. With 20% down, could break even for an investor!
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August 20, 2008
When do you know you are at the bottom of the market? When prices start going up again!
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July 30, 2008
Every seller is looking for the perfect sale and every buyer is looking for the perfect opportunity to seize a new home or investment property. Getting your home ready to close the deal for the most money, starts with knowing where to begin and, often, that means, quite literally, you need to paint the perfect sale.
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July 25, 2008
A modest gain in the level of home sales is possible over the next couple months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.
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July 21, 2008
When most sellers list their home for sale the first thing they think about is how much will I get and that is usually followed by how soon will I get the money.
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July 21, 2008
Here's some great news for the thousands of real estate investors and brokers who use "Section 1031" (ten thirty-one) tax-deferred real exchanges every year: Congress has backed off its latest plan to narrow the definition of "like kind" for real estate swaps.
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July 21, 2008
More home buyers have a better chance now than at any other time in nearly a half decade to negotiate a home-buying deal that costs less and comes with some concessions thrown in.
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May 1, 2008
If you are a first time home buyer, you have a lot to learn. Working from a blank slate you must build an understanding of the housing market, determine what you can afford, land a loan and hone in on a home that's a good fit for your lifestyle.
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May 1, 2008
Just like buying a home to live in, taking the real estate investment plunge requires taking stock of your financial goals, planning and lifestyle before taking the plunge.
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May 1, 2008
The combined total of vacation- and investment-home sales declined with the overall market in 2007, but still accounted for 33 percent of all existing- and new-home sales, which is close to historic norms, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
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May 1, 2008
What should a smart home buyer do with that fat federal tax rebate check?
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May 1, 2008
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) applauded House and Senate legislation to address the housing crisis and economic slowdown.
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April 22, 2008
Safe Harbor for Exchanges of Vacation Homes and Conversions to or from Personal Residences
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April 22, 2008
It is common to assume that paying bills on time automatically means having a high credit score. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. There are many misperceptions about how scores are calculated -- and yours could be lower than you might expect.
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April 22, 2008
You can easily clean up bad indoor air quality at home with just a few lifestyle changes and adjustments in your air quality management.
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April 22, 2008
Amid the scary financial headlines last week, there were some less-publicized developments in Washington that bode well for the home real estate market in the months ahead.
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April 21, 2008
Since passed by overwhelming Capitol Hill majorities in January, there has been much talk regarding the economic stimulus package. Yes, it will cost $168 billion, but what does it actually do for individuals?
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March 17, 2008
A well-measured program of preventive steps can protect your identity from theft. ID theft-related fraud fell by 12 percent in 2007 and 300,000 fewer adults were victims, according to the latest from Javelin Strategy & Research, the longest-running ID theft study in the nation.
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March 17, 2008
You don't have to abstain from spending against the unencumbered value of your home, but you do have to guard against home equity excess.
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March 17, 2008
We're a nation of super-sized everything -- from food to homes -- but developers are scaling down in some areas of the country in an effort to make houses more affordable.
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March 17, 2008
Consumers wanting a beautiful-looking home while also doing their part to protect the environment have myriad options for decorating their kitchen.
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March 6, 2008
More than seven in 10 condo and townhome residents say they are satisfied with their purchase, according to a recent survey conducted by Zogby International for the Foundation for Community Association Research.
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March 6, 2008
If the housing market looks darkest just before dawn, then maybe we're close to dawn. There's no other word for it -- a lot of the numbers this week are just plain ugly.
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June 27, 2007
Here are some tips to help determine which house is best for you.
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June 27, 2007
If you approach the home buying process intelligently and with confidence, you are much more likely to buy a house you'll be proud to call home.
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June 27, 2007
A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about the home buying process.
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June 27, 2007
Suppose you bought a house and later discovered, to your dismay, that the stucco exterior concealed a nasty case of dry rot. Or suppose that when you fired up the furnace in the winter, you discovered a cracked heat exchanger leaking gas into your home. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises like these is to arrange for a home inspection before you buy.
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June 27, 2007
A written proposal is the foundation of a real estate transaction. Oral promises are not legally enforceable when it comes to the sale of real estate. Therefore, you need to enter into a written contract, which starts with your written proposal. This proposal not only specifies price, but also all the terms and conditions of the purchase.
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June 27, 2007
Your REALTOR’s marketing efforts and considerations will include advertising, showing the property, how long the house has been on the market and whether you're buying another home.
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June 27, 2007
A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.
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June 27, 2007
Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating various market conditions and financial factors.
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June 27, 2007
A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about the home selling process.
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June 5, 2007
Narrow your home search by identifying neighborhoods that are right for you. This helps keep your search focused and efficient. Your local REALTOR® can offer neighborhood information to guide you in your search.
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Maui Sold Sisters Century 21 All Islands Shops at Wailea 3750 Wailea Alanui #A-37 Wailea, Hawaii 96753 |
Maui Sold Sisters Contact Information Wendi Anderson Mobile: (808)268-2788 Deborah Guimond Mobile: (808)298-7850 Email: sisters@mauisoldsisters.com |