2009 October

Archive for October 2009

Buying One of the Butte Homes for Sale? Don’t Forget Your…

Friday, October 30th, 2009

2009 might not have brought on the hottest market for sellers, but it’s an excellent market for buyers. If you’re taking advantage and buying one of the Butte homes for sale, it means you’ll be moving soon. It also means that you’ll probably forget something you really need in the new house – after it’s too late.

Don’t Forget Your…

There are at least five items commonly forgotten when moving:

1. Personal Phonebook – Make sure you pack up any personal numbers, phonebooks or notepads you might have written needed numbers on. If you have time, transfer them to your computer. Even if you call the numbers a lot, there is still a chance you’ll forget them.

2. Neat and Tidy – Too often, people will be giving their old home a final once-over and find a spot that needs to be cleaned. Realizing they have packed the cleaning equipment, they rush out to buy new cleaners. Instead, have your cleaning supplies set aside as one of the last things to go – just in case.

3. Records – No, not the vinyl ones. If the Butte home for sale is in another neighborhood, you’ll have to get your medical records, vet records for your pet and your child’s permanent school record. Copies usually aren’t allowed, so make sure you have the real deal!

4. Your Address – As silly as it may seem, it’s easy to forget your new address. Write it down and put it in your wallet or purse for easy reference.

5. Hidden Valuables – Did you remember that roll of bills you hid in the attic, or the necklace in the bathroom? Before leaving, collect all your valuables and put them in a safe deposit box.

If you’re looking to buy one of the Butte homes for sale, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me at judy@montana.com for more information.

Links:

Items commonly forgotten when moving

http://www.articlesbase.com/moving-and-relocating-articles/10-things-people-forget-when-moving-979883.html

Medical records

http://www.genetichealth.com/Resources_Collecting_Medical_Records.shtml#Anchor3

Tags: Butte Homes, Butte Homes for Sale, Buying a Home in Butte MT, Buying a House in Butte, Homes for Sale in Butte MT
Posted in Homes for Sale | No Comments »

The Laws are Changing for Butte Real Estate

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Not just Butte real estate, either. Since the end of 2007, as the real estate market started to decline, new rules, regulations, mandates and more have come down the pipeline.

State Specific Laws

Take Michigan, for instance. Ranking sixth in the nation on the number of foreclosures, Michigan legislature enacted the “Lifeline Law.” This law gives an extra 90 days for homeowners to work with banks to come up with solutions other than foreclosure. California did the same, with the California Foreclosure Prevention Act. In New York, judicial hearings are mandatory for both borrowers and lenders before foreclosure can go through.

Nationwide Laws

Other laws have been enacted throughout the United States, such as Congress lowering homeowners’ tax deductions.

Before 2009, if you used your Butte real estate as a primary residence for at least two years out of the last five, you could keep up to $500,000 (married couples – $250,000 if single) in real estate gains on your tax return. That exemption is now pro-rated to the time you spent in the house, which could be quite substantially less than what your tax exemption would have been last year.

As well, new appraisal rules went into effect May 1,and, although they aren’t government rules, they do affect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. With the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) put into place, every lender that goes through Freddie or Fannie has to follow the HVCC to the letter. The HVCC stops mortgage brokers from having home appraisals done themselves. Instead, the home appraisals must be done by a third party appraisal management company in the same area as the home.

Laws that Affect You

Other laws have been put into place that may (or may not) effect the Butte real estate you own or are looking to buy. However, with so many coming down the line, make sure that you ask your real estate agent what laws have been put into place that may affect your purchase, sales or ownership.

If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate and need a professional who keeps up to date on the real estate laws, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me for more information.

Links:

Lifeline Law

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111013&catid=48

California Foreclosure Prevention Act

http://www.corp.ca.gov/FSD/CFP/default.asp

HVCC

https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/relatedsellinginfo/appcode/pdf/hvccfaqs.pdf

Tags: Butte Homes, Butte Housing Market, Butte Real Estate, Homes in Butte MT, Real Estate in Butte MT
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Helping Families Save Their Butte Homes

Monday, October 26th, 2009

By now, everyone knows that, just like the Dot Com bubble, the real estate market grew its own bubble to a degree that it finally popped. Foreclosure numbers went up, sales went down and everyone, from the government to lenders to John Q public, started looking around for someone they could point a finger at and blame.

The hard truth is that placing blame doesn’t do anyone any good, especially those trying to save their Butte homes. The truth is that it’s time to do what Americans have been doing since the country was founded – picking ourselves up off the ground, dusting off and working with what we still have. Thanks to new acts such as the “Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009,” it’s even more possible to do that.

If you’ve been dealing with the possibility of foreclosure, you may have missed the news, so here are a few uplifting highlights that can make all the difference:

If you rent your Butte home and the home is foreclosed upon, you have to receive a 90-day eviction notice. You can’t just be preemptively kicked off the property. As well, if you have a lease you have to be allowed to live on the property until the lease is up unless:

a) the new owner wants to move in and make it his or her residence or

b) state law says the lease can be terminated on notice.

Although three months doesn’t seem like a lot of time, that’s three months you wouldn’t have had in most states before the Act was passed.

Lenders and homeowners are now receiving incentives for successful loan modifications and refinancing under the Making Homes Affordable Program. According to the White House government website, “Servicers covering more than 75 percent of loans in the country have now begun modifications and refinancing under the Administration’s MHA Program.”

One of the biggest challenges to homeowners is finding out who owns the mortgages on their homes. This can make it incredibly difficult to discuss refinancing or modification with the mortgage owner. Thanks to the Act, you have to be informed whenever your loan is sold or transferred to another party. Now, you always know who has control of your mortgage and who you need to talk to.

Dealing in the current real estate market can be hard. If you’re already struggling financially, it can be even harder. Try to keep abreast of the current laws that can help homeowners and families keep their homes!

If you can’t qualify for loan modification or refinancing, and are considering a short sale, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me at judy@montana.com for more information.

Links:

Foreclosure numbers went up

http://www.realtytrac.com/foreclosure/foreclosure-rates.html

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009

http://www.zillow.com/blog/mortgage/2009/05/21/president-obama-signs-helping-families-save-their-homes-act/

White House government website

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/reforms-for-american-homeowners-and-consumers-president-obama-signs-the-helping-families-save-their-homes-act-and-the-fraud-enforcement-and-recovery-act/

Tags: Butte Homes, Butte Housing Market, Buying a Home in Butte MT, Homes in Butte MT
Posted in Homes | No Comments »

Helping Families Save Their Butte Homes

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

If you’ve been dealing with the possibility of foreclosure, you may have missed the news, so here are a few uplifting highlights that can make all the difference:

If you rent your Butte home and the home is foreclosed upon, you have to receive a 90-day eviction notice. You can’t just be preemptively kicked off the property. As well, if you have a lease you have to be allowed to live on the property until the lease is up unless:

the new owner wants to move in and make it his or her residence or

state law says the lease can be terminated on notice.

Although three months doesn’t seem like a lot of time, that’s three months you wouldn’t have had in most states before the Act was passed.

Lenders and homeowners are now receiving incentives for successful loan modifications and refinancing under the Making Homes Affordable Program. According to the White House government website, “Servicers covering more than 75 percent of loans in the country have now begun modifications and refinancing under the Administration’s MHA Program.”

One of the biggest challenges to homeowners is finding out who owns the mortgages on their homes. This can make it incredibly difficult to discuss refinancing or modification with the mortgage owner. Thanks to the Act, you have to be informed whenever your loan is sold or transferred to another party. Now, you always know who has control of your mortgage and who you need to talk to.

If you can’t qualify for loan modification or refinancing, and are considering a short sale, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me at judy@montana.com for more information.

Keyword/Tag Butte homes

Links:

Foreclosure numbers went up

http://www.realtytrac.com/foreclosure/foreclosure-rates.html

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009

http://www.zillow.com/blog/mortgage/2009/05/21/president-obama-signs-helping-families-save-their-homes-act/

White House government website

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/reforms-for-american-homeowners-and-consumers-president-obama-signs-the-helping-families-save-their-homes-act-and-the-fraud-enforcement-and-recovery-act/

Tags: Avoiding Foreclosure in Butte MT, Butte Foreclosures, Butte Homes, Housing Market
Posted in Foreclosures | 1 Comment »

Face Those Buying Fears on Homes for Sale in Butte

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Halloween is just around the corner, but if you’re looking at the homes for sale in Butte, it’s probably the first-time buyer fears that have your knees shaking. Hey, buying a house seems like such a final thing, so that’s understandable. It could be the biggest change in your life – EVER!

Now that I’ve thrown some scary thoughts your way, let’s take a turn at facing those first-time buyer fears.

Am I crazy? No, you’re a first-time buyer. You may alternate between periods of paranoia, confidence, nervousness and calm, but you aren’t crazy to want to buy one of the homes for sale in Butte.

Is this really the right time to buy a house? The best way to answer this question is with a few questions. Do you have good credit? Do you have a decent job? If the answers to these questions are “yes,” then there’s never a bad time to buy the right house. Especially now, with tons of inventory, record low interest rates and the $8000 tax credit.

What if I don’t pick the right neighborhood? What if I buy, move in, hate it, and then can’t turn around and sell the house? An understandable fear; one of the most common horror stories is moving into the perfect house, right next to the neighbor from the Black Lagoon. This is why it’s imperative to do your research (or, at the very least, tell your real estate agent exactly what kind of neighborhood you want). With the Internet, you can find out everything from the crime rate of an area to the quality of the schools.

What if I lose my job? I won’t say that’s not a possibility. However, keep in mind that you have the same question when you’re renting. The difference is that if you can’t pay the rent, you can be evicted within days, depending on where you currently live. While some lenders may do the same, most lenders don’t want to foreclose and are willing to work with you to keep you in the home and making your payments. In addition, many are willing to wait for at least two months of nonpayment before starting the foreclosure process.

If you’ve been a renter all your life and are looking at the homes for sale in Butte, take a deep breath. Yes, it’s scary and yes, the worries can give you worse nightmares than the freakiest Halloween you’ve ever experienced. However, remember what made you decide to start looking in the first place. If those reasons still exist, go for it!

If you’re looking for that perfect, affordable home, I can make the whole process less scary and fear free. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me at judy@montana.com for more information.

Links:

Record low interest rates

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32350362

Crime rate of an area

http://www.bestplaces.net/Default.aspx

Lenders don’t want to foreclose

http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-36-why-lenders-dont-want-to-foreclose

Tags: Butte Home Buying, Butte MT Homes for Sale, Buying a Home in Butte MT, Buying a House in Butte MT
Posted in Buying a House | No Comments »

4 Ways to Set Up the Perfect Home Office in Your Butte Home for Sale

Monday, October 19th, 2009

If you have a Butte home for sale, every room needs to be just right. Most people think about the kitchens and bedrooms, but these days a great looking home office can make a huge impact too. Check out a few ways you can make a big impact:

Designate the right space

Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a computer nook, you need to specify a separate place to do business. Make sure the area has enough room so that you can set up a desk, chair, computer and a printer without making it look messy.

Clean your area

To really have a good home office, the space needs to be neat. To make your home office look its best to potential buyers, get rid of clutter and only retain the essentials.

Don’t waste money

Just because you have a home office doesn’t mean you need to go broke trying to furnish it when preparing your Butte home for sale. Think about wants versus needs first. Then once you get the necessities, use any left over money to buy office supplies such as ink cartridges, computer paper and more.

Add a decorative touch

Now that you have what you need, it’s okay to add some decorative style. Hang artwork. Add a few plants. But, remember to keep it simple and neutral so that potential buyers can easily imagine it as their own home office.

Many people don’t think of the importance of a home office when preparing their Butte home for sale. But with so many people working from home, a dedicated space for a home office is a great selling point.

If you’re ready to sell your home, with or without a home office, I can help. Call me now at 406-491-1234or email me.

LINKS

Computer nook

http://www.ehow.com/how_2156879_transform-closet-computer-nook.html

Good home office

http://interiordec.about.com/od/planninganoffice/a/budgethomeoffic.htm

Artwork

http://familyfinances.suite101.com/article.cfm/find_cheap_art_online

Tags: Butte Homes for Sale, Home Improvement in Butte MT, Selling a Home in Butte, Selling a House in Butte, Selling Your Home in Butte MT
Posted in Sell Your Home | No Comments »

How to Pick Perfect Pumpkins for Butte Homes

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

It’s getting close to Halloween, and families across the nation are slowly but surely decorating their Butte homes. The spirit of the season is in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and pumpkins are going up for sale. It’s time to carve!

Picking Tips

Make sure your pumpkin has a stem; it won’t last very long if it doesn’t.
The pumpkin needs to have a flat bottom so it won’t roll.
No holes or soft spots, because they’ll rot.
Choose a light-colored pumpkin for easier carving, or a dark colored pumpkin for a longer lasting decoration.

Pattern Tips

On the steps of Butte homes everywhere, pumpkin faces sprout fangs and witches ride their brooms. Maybe you want your carvings to stand out, though. Here are a few things to look at when choosing a pattern:

Keep in mind who’ll be doing the carving. Smaller children generally have a harder time with detailed carvings.
Carving patterns should be as large as the pumpkin you’re working with.
If your design is elaborate, draw it out on paper first. You can’t erase a cut.
Remember that you have to leave space between the cuts. The pumpkin has to stay together.

Carving Tips

Before carving, wash the pumpkin and let it dry.
Use good carving tools – or a sharp knife and a small serrated knife – for the more elaborate designs (unless you want to carve a difficult design with a spoon tip)
Start at the center of your design and work outwards.
Use petroleum jelly on the cuts after you’re done so the pumpkin will last longer.

Left-overs

Once you’re done carving, you’ll have a lot of left over pumpkin. Instead of throwing it in the trash, try roasting the pumpkin seeds for a great snack, or using the flesh for a delicious pumpkin pie.

Soon, children will be visiting Butte homes in mass, and with these tips on pumpkins, patterns and carving (and candy, of course), you can have them oohing and aahing with delight.

LINKS:

Carving patterns – http://www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm

Carving tools – http://www.pumpkincarvingtools.com/

Roasting pumpkin seeds – http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Roasting-Pumpkin-Seeds/Detail.aspx

Tags: Butte Homes, Decorating Your Home, Home Decoration, Homes in Butte UT
Posted in Homes | No Comments »

Halloween Decorating Ideas for Your Butte Home

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

It’s October, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Are you still struggling to come up with great decorating ideas for your Butte home? Have no fear; your real estate agent is here to help. Here are a few ideas that will take away those holiday Halloween jitters:

Nothing says “Halloween” like twitching fingers, growling werewolves and hovering demon skeletons. Thanks to today’s technology, you can turn your decorations into a hellish wonderland with animated Halloween props. Build a graveyard and have a rocking tombstone or a creeping skeleton to snatch up visitors.
Everybody has the standard jack-o-lantern on the front porch. As Halloween nears, they crop up everywhere. This year, try something a little different. There are plenty of pumpkin-carving patterns available for purchase or for free on the Internet. Grab some bloodcurdling patterns and get to work.
Are you throwing a party this year? Add a little fog to your Halloween decorations! Fog machines aren’t near as expensive as they used to be. You can grab one big enough for fantastic, spine-tingling effects for less than $50. Sometimes the extra touches make all the difference, and fog is a great addition
Spruce up your doorbell with sinister sound effects and chilling Halloween music. Record-A-Chime^TM by Dimango® Carlon® is perfect for just such a thing. Although it’s somewhat expensive at $59.98, you can record whatever sound effect or music you want for any holiday.

Each Halloween, people struggle to come up with something different for their Butte home. I hope these ideas help you find your “something different” and get your creative juices flowing. Have fun, stay safe and happy holidays!

Links:

Animated Halloween props

http://www.frightcatalog.com/Halloween-Props/Animated-Props/

pumpkin-carving patterns

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm

Record-A-Chime^TM

http://www.dimango.com/dc-record-a-chime.htm

Tags: Butte Homes, Butte MT Home Decoration, Decorating Your Home, Homes in Butte MT
Posted in Homes | No Comments »

20 Space Saving Ideas for Your Butte Condo

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Living in a Butte condo can be a lot of fun, but it can also be an exercise in frustration when it comes to having enough room for all your items and making your home look its best. Here are a few tips to keep you from losing your mind:

1. Use an ottoman for your coffee table. It can double as storage.

2. Put shelves above the doorways rather than somewhere else on the wall.

3. Low bookcases along the back of your couch can double as a couch table.

4. Use glass shelves in deep-set windows as additional storage space for knickknacks.

5. Buy larger, but fewer, pieces of furniture.

6. Use a magazine rack.

7. Leave the views of windows and doors uncluttered.

8. Stay away from bright, vibrant prints for furniture fabric.

9. Use corner bookcases where possible.

10. Remember that, with a [city] condo, less is more.

11. Maximize space in the kitchen with apartment-size appliances.

12. Consider under the counter appliances or a pullout pantry unit.

13. Use magnetic strips to wall-mount large knives.

14. Consider a futon or Murphy bed rather than a huge mattress.

15. If you have a big bed, use the space underneath as storage.

16. Purchase pull out drawers or storage bins as under-the-bed storage areas.

17. Add shelving and wall cabinets to your bedroom to minimize clutter.

18. Use knobs and hooks in your bathroom for hanging towels or robes.

19. If you have the room, use a tall thin corner tower in your bathroom for towels and cleaning products.

20. Use a clothes hamper rather than a basket.

Just because you live in a Butte condo doesn’t mean you have to feel crowded or settle for a less than gorgeous décor.

If you’re considering buying or selling a condo, I can help. Call me at 406-491-5777 or email me for more information.

Links:

Use an ottoman

http://www.indobase.com/home/furniture/funiture-ottoman.html

Use a corner bookcase

http://thecornerbookcase.com/

Under-the-bed storage areas

http://home-organization.suite101.com/article.cfm/under_the_bed_storage

Tags: Butte Condos, Condo Living, Condos in Butte MT, Space Saving in a Condo
Posted in Condos | 1 Comment »

3 Ways to Improve the Indoor Air Quality of Your Butte Real Estate

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

When people think of environmental concerns, very seldom do they think of their home environment. Mold spores, carcinogens, allergens and more can fill up your Butte real estate and create a bad environment. Here are a few ways to make sure your indoor air quality is as good as it can be:

Check for mold. Mold has a distinctive odor; somehow, it manages to smell both wet and dry, as well as musty. It can grow around windows, in the bathroom and in your air ducts. For windows, bathrooms and small areas within your home, you can clean the mold yourself wearing protective gear and using the right mold cleanup methods.

Check the ductwork. Mold, dust, insect parts and other small to microscopic pollutants settle in ductwork and then, when the air is turned on, flow out into the various units. I recommend leaving this job to professionals with the proper equipment. Research green janitorial services in your area that specialize in environmentally safe cleaning practices and provide good indoor air quality through the practices.

Check your carpet. Carpets can be a big cause of bad indoor air quality. Some carpets contain a high level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are emitted into the air as gases. Exposure to VOCs can cause nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and skin rashes. If you’re having any of these issues, your may want to replace your carpet with an eco-friendly carpet.

If you’re looking for eco-friendly Butte real estate, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me for more information

Links:

Using the right methods

http://www.epa.gov/mold/cleanupguidelines.html

VOCs

http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=131

Eco-friendly carpet

http://www.greenyour.com/home/furnishings/carpet-and-rugs/tips

Tags: Butte Homes, Butte Houses, Butte Real Estate, Checking House Air Quality
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

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Judy Kivela
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Archive for October 2009

Buying One of the Butte Homes for Sale? Don’t Forget Your…

The Laws are Changing for Butte Real Estate

Helping Families Save Their Butte Homes

Helping Families Save Their Butte Homes

Face Those Buying Fears on Homes for Sale in Butte

4 Ways to Set Up the Perfect Home Office in Your Butte Home for Sale

How to Pick Perfect Pumpkins for Butte Homes

Halloween Decorating Ideas for Your Butte Home

20 Space Saving Ideas for Your Butte Condo

3 Ways to Improve the Indoor Air Quality of Your Butte Real Estate

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Judy KivelaBroker/Owner

Company Info

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Archive for October 2009

Market Recap

Find Local Homes

Recently Asked Questions

Ask Me a Question

market alert newsletter

Archives

Judy Kivela
Broker/Owner