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    Descriptive Terms in Real Estate Ads – Yet More Definitions

    November 30th, 2008

    If you are buying or selling a home, the chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real estate terms. Here are explanations and definitions for more terms.

    “Plantation Shutters”

    Refers to interior shutters with large, moveable louvers that can be used much like Venetian blinds. Often they’re used only on the bottom half of the window.

    “Palladian Window”

    A tall window that is rectangular except for an arched top and has wooden muntins separating the panes of glass. It is based on a revived classic style of architecture and the work of Andrea Palladio. Builders often use them as the window over the front door in homes with two story entrance foyers.

    “Pocket Doors”

    Doors that open by sliding into a slot in the wall much as a serving tray fits into a vertical slot built into a kitchen cabinet. It leaves wall space unaffected by opening and closing doors. I’ve seen them on bathrooms in modern houses. I’ve also seen them used in pairs that meet in the middle when closed as they were in older houses. Between a living room and dining room might be a good place. My grandmother had one between the front and back parlors in her home in Richmond, Virginia. Now that was a neat old house. It could always expand to accommodate one more family member or friend.

    “Fireplace,” “Wood Stove,” “Wood Stove Insert”

    A fireplace can burn wood, coal, or gas (natural or propane). If gas, it may or may not be vented to the outdoors. It is generally thought to be dangerous to have a non-vented gas fireplace in a bedroom and is against “code” in many areas. A wood stove burns wood, is free standing (on a non-flammable surface), and is vented to the outside. A wood stove insert is generally fitted into an existing fireplace designed to burn wood or coal. Preferences have to do with perceived beauty, convenience, heat production, and safety.

    Well, those are some of the terms frequently seen in real estate listings and advertisements and their usual meanings at this writing. I hope you find it useful.

    Raynor James is with www.fsboamerica.org – providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.


    Marriage Licenses – Las Vegas Style

    November 27th, 2008

    Marriage licenses in Nevada require no blood test or waiting period, and no appointment is necessary You must obtain your marriage license from the Courthouse at 200 South 3rd Street, First Floor, Las Vegas. Both parties must appear in person with proof of identity (photo ID). The fee will be $55.00 (cash only). Marriage license issued immediately. You may obtain a license up to one year prior to your wedding

    Marriage License Requirements: Requirements for U.S. citizens and Non U.S. citizens are the same. It is suggested that Non U.S. citizens check with your local officials for special documents that may be needed to ensure that your marriage will be recognized in your country

    Applicants must be a Male and a Female, at least 18 years of age, and not nearer of kin than second cousins or cousins of half blood, and not having a husband or wife living.

    Applicants may be required to prove their age. Those not having acceptable identification to prove age may be refused a marriage license. (Faxed copies, damaged identification, privately issued ID, check cashing cards or photocopies of identification are unacceptable.)

    Social Security Numbers are required on marriage licenses. Please know your Social Security Number. Those without knowledge of their Social Security Number may be refused a marriage license. It is recognized that Non U.S. citizens will not have a Social Security Number.

    Allowed Identification

    Driver’s License or State-issued ID card Original or Certified copy of Birth Certificate Foreign Birth Certificate must be translated into English and notarized Passport Military Identification Resident alien card

    Minimum Age

    For both male and female, age 18, proof of age may be required. A birth certificate, passport or draft card is acceptable. Persons between the ages of 16 and 18 may be married with the consent of a parent or guardian. Proof of age is necessary and proof of identity of person or persons giving consent may also be required. A legal guardian must provide proof of appointment by the court. If a parent or guardian is not present, a notarized affidavit stating name, age, place of birth and relationship of person(s) giving consent. For persons under the age of 16, a Nevada Court Order must be obtained.

    Divorce

    Divorce papers are not required for a remarriage in Nevada. You will be required to sign on your marriage license application that you are legally divorced. A divorce granted in another state must be final in the state in which it was granted. If you are divorced, it must be final. You must know the month, year, city and state in which the divorce was final.

    Witness

    There must be at least one additional witness other than the person performing the ceremony.

    Courthouse Information Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00AM to Midnight Weekends and Legal Holidays: Open 24 Hours Location: 200 South 3rd Street, Las Vegas, NV 89155

    Phones: (702) 455-4415 or (702) 455-4416 License Fee: $55.00 (cash only). License issued immediately


    Can You Really Get a Mortgage Online?

    November 25th, 2008

    Applying for a mortgage online is a fairly simple procedure. You can use the internet to research what’s available, and find the best deal in online mortgages. As the online mortgage industry grows, there are more lenders available and the competition is getting more intense. A lot of lenders now offer free online mortgage quotes, which can save you a lot of time and hassle. Many sites also include free mortgage calculators, to help you estimate the costs and repayments of a particular loan.

    Another advantage of searching for a mortgage online is that it’s easier to find all the information you need. And if a lender doesn’t make their fees and charges clear or their site is hard to understand – you move on to the next one. The whole process is quick and easy, unlike wading through pages and pages of written documentation. If you’re still not entirely comfortable with applying for a mortgage online, you can do your preliminary research online and then contact your preferred lenders directly.

    It’s quite often cheaper to apply online for a mortgage. Online mortgage brokers generally charge lower fees, because of their reduced overheads. If you have the necessary information to hand, you can complete an online application in a matter of minutes, and quite often have an answer within 24 hours. So if you’re in a hurry for a home loan, an online mortgage may save you valuable time.

    At present most people prefer the traditional method of applying for a mortgage, possibly finding the impersonal nature of the internet a little hard to trust. However this is gradually changing, particularly as online lenders and brokers improve their services and make the process as streamlined as possible.

    How Do Online Mortgages Work?

    Basically, applying for a mortgage online is simple and quick. You are given a form to fill out, which will include personal information, including a contact number. You may also need to provide some basic loan details, such as the amount you want to borrow, desired interest rate and the type of loan you’d like. These details then get sent through to a loan processor for review. Once it’s approved, you will be contacted by phone to discuss your application further.

    What If I’m Just Looking?

    Many of the well established online lenders offer free online mortgage quotes as one of their features. This can vary from website to website. Some lenders have their own website, in which case the mortgage quote will be for one of their products. Other websites are set up by mortgage brokers, and so can offer you mortgage calculators and other comparison tools so that you can shop around for the lender that suits you best. It’s important to understand what type of website you’re on, so you can tell if the recommended loan or lender is chosen impartially or not.

    As time passes, getting your mortgage online is becoming more common. More and more people are struggling to keep up with the pace of the modern world, and trying to devote hours if not days to finding the right loan really isn’t an option. So accessing the websites of online lenders and brokers can be a huge timesaver in finding the right loan for you.

    More handy hints about online mortgages can be found at Home Loan Zone Central


    50-Year Mortgage – Should You Do It?

    November 25th, 2008

    So you’re squeezed and feel the impulse to lower your monthly mortgage payments by switching to a 50-year mortgage…

    Is it possible? Yes. But should you do it? Depends.

    After a decade-long red-hot real estate market, home prices have reached new highs. USA Today has reported that in California, for example, “only 14 percent of people could afford a median-priced home in December, when the median was $548,430, according to the California Association of Realtors.”

    Due to such pressures on home prices, both home buyers and lenders are now trying to cope with a new problem – the rising interest rates aimed at cooling off the market.

    The traditional 30-year mortgages are now competing in the market with their 50-year siblings that offer a lower monthly payment in return for 20 more years of payments. There are also a number of banks offering something in between – 40-year mortgages, representing about 5% of the total mortgage market.

    Such an arrangement would obviously give you more purchasing power than otherwise available. Regions Bank mortgage loan officer Brian Arnold, quoted in an Arizona Republic story, said “the difference in the payment is not that much, but it may allow that borrower to go from $100,000 to $120,000 loan.”

    The downside is, homeowners would have to wait much longer to build up any equity in their property, as reported recently by CNNMoney.

    A second problem is the adjustable rate that typically kicks in after the first 5 years. That means the borrower can be vulnerable to sudden hikes in interest rates for a period of up to 45 years. That’s why some experts think if you are going to stay in your house for over 5 years, then 50-year mortgages may not be the most logical choice for you.

    And what real savings are involved here?

    According to calculations made by Noelle Knox and Mindy Fetterman of USA Today, “a 30-year loan of $300,000 at 6.5 percent, principal and interest cost $1,896.20 per month. A 50-year loan for the same amount and at the same rate costs $1,691.15 per month in principal and interest.”

    So the consumer would save $205 a month while paying $332,058 more over those extra 20 years. For some people that’s a steep and unacceptable tradeoff between lower monthly rates and hundreds of thousands of dollars lost in equity.

    And what if, on top of everything else, your property requires major repairs after the first 30 years? That would be another factor eating into your equity that comes with holding a 50-year mortgage.

    So there you have it… for those hard pressed for immediate cash, a 50-year mortgage might be the answer. But others, who look at the issue from a long-term perspective, see a downside or two. You have to make the decision depending on various factors such as your intended length of stay in the property and your long term equity needs.

    But at least the alternative to 30-year mortgages is here and will likely stick around for some time while the market tries to take a break from these sweltering prices and rising interest rates.

    ————————————————

    (520 words, Copyright May 2006 Ugur Akinci)

    by Ugur Akinci, Ph.D.
    Creative Copywriter and Technical Communicator
    writer111@gmail.com
    www.writer111.com

    Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, and experienced Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases and hi-tech documentation.

    He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

    You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for all your copywriting assignments.

    Please visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for customer testimonials and more information on his multidisciplinary background and career.


    Website Design plays a key role in increasing popularity of a website

    November 24th, 2008

    I hired a website design artist & graphics creator to frame my web pages for me, that were to aid me in launching my new site on fiber arts & classes. They gave me some very good ideas on what would attract traffic to my site, & great suggestions about branding & other things that I had not considered.

    When the final web pages were ready for launch, I could not believe how professional & gorgeous looking they were. I would say that my web designer was worth every penny & more- I highly recommend that you employ the services of a professional in this area.

    If you want net page graphics that speak of classiness, as well as beauty, then you should hire a recommended website design artist that has credentials & customers to back their work & you should show them samples of what you like.

    They should have an impressive portfolio of past work that has showcased their designs, so that you may see if the art & design that they offer is what you are looking for, to make your statement on the web with your particular products & services.

    There are as many styles as there are web pages, so be certain that your artist has the style that you like.


    Prepayment of Your Mortgage

    November 23rd, 2008

    There is one sure fire way to save money on your mortgage over the years and build equity much faster than usual and this is to prepay. When you make use of your prepayment option you will be able to pay off your loan years ahead of schedule.

    If you were to prepay as little as 20 dollars each month you could find yourself saving tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. That is a huge amount of money, and the more you can pay off each month the more you will save and the sooner you will have your entire loan paid off.

    This sounds perfect right? But does it sound a little too good to be true to you? Well, this is a good choice for many people, but it is not perfect. Some mortgages have penalties for people who choose to prepay. This means that you could actually be fined for doing it. So before you make any extra payments check with your contract and your servicer to see if you could be hit with charges. And depending upon your tax bracket you could end up losing money if you do not pay enough extra each month. This can happen because interest payments are tax deductible and if you are paying off more you will have less to deduct over the term of the loan. In this type of case it might be a better idea to still save this money but invest in a high yield investment instead of prepaying with it.

    If you can prepay without any negative consequences then you should start by budgeting for this yourself. The amount that you prepay is up to you and what you can afford. Some people simply pay one or two extra payment each year while some who can afford to make many more.

    There is also a bi weekly plan that you can look into. Talk to your lender about this plan. If you take part in a program like this you will end up making 13 payments per year rather than the standard 12.

    There is one drawback to bi weekly plans and that is that many of them have a set up fee. This fee is sometimes as high as a few hundred dollars. Another drawback is that these plans are not the most flexible of plans but the convenience of them is often worth it. It all depends on your own personal preferences. Talk to your lender about all of your prepayment options in order to choose the plan that is right for you.

    Martin Lukac - EzineArticles Expert Author

    Martin Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies! Visit http://www.RateEmpire.com today


    Choosing The Best Home Equity Loan Company To Work With

    November 22nd, 2008

    Home equity loans are an attractive aspect of homeownership. Obtaining a loan from a financial institution is difficult. Applicants must have sufficient collateral or their loan request is denied. Individuals who take out a home equity loan can tap into their home’s equity to borrow money. The funds received can serve many purposes – home improvements, education, or paying off high interest credit cards.

    Why Choose a Home Equity Loan?

    When homeowners need quick cash, a home equity loan is the best option. Some choose to refinance their home and wrap the borrowed money into a new mortgage. This is a great option for individuals hoping to avoid making two monthly payments, and for homeowners who had high interest mortgage rates. On the flip side, refinancing a home is similar to applying for new mortgage. The process is lengthy and homeowners are required to pay fees such as closing costs, prepayment penalty fees, and title search fees.

    Home equity loans do not involve high fees and funds are received within five to seven days.

    How to Choose a Home Equity Loan Company?

    Second mortgages or home equity loans carry a higher interest rate than first mortgages. To obtain the best rate, homeowners should obtain quotes from several different loan companies. To begin, homeowners may contact their current mortgage company and determine whether they qualify for a second mortgage. Because a relationship and payment history is established, homeowners might be able to negotiate a low rate.

    Homeowners may also contact home equity loan companies located in their local area. These include banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions. Homeowners should request information on how to qualify for a loan. It is recommended that at least three financial institutions are contacted. Next, homeowners should obtain a quote or estimate from each lender. Compare rates and services, and choose the company with the best offer.

    Obtaining a home equity loans through a mortgage broker is another option. Brokers work directly with various lenders who specialize in home equity loans for all types of credits. Online brokers are very convenient. Homeowners submit a single application, and within 24 hours they will receive multiple offers from several lenders competing for their business.

    To view our list of recommended home equity loan companies, visit this page:
    Recommended
    Home Equity Lenders Online.

    Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan
    Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.


    Engagement Announcements – Made Difficult!

    November 22nd, 2008

    It’s one thing popping the question to the love of your life, but it’s quite another announcing the happy news to the immediate family. I would presume that most couples would want the world and his brother to know once they’ve made a commitment to one another, but engagement announcements are not always happy news to happy ears.

    My Mother tolerated my girlfriend but I know she was polite and courteous for my sake. My father on the other hand couldn’t stand the girl and he made no secret about that. In fact, whenever she walked into a room that he was in, he’d get up and walk out. If she said hello, as she always did, he’d grunt something under his breath and burry his head in a newspaper as he blindly negotiated his way around any furniture towards to nearest exit. Never in my life had I seen my parents so anti anyone but for some reason, they decided they didn’t like Alice from the outset, and as far as they were concerned that was that. Their minds were firmly made up.

    Well, I loved Alice with every bone in my body, and to hell with their views and old fashioned ideas of what a ‘good girl’ was supposed to be. Having said that, you can imagine how awkward it was for me the day we decided to get engaged. Engagement announcements should be happy occasions, but I would sooner have eaten a glass sandwich than break my happy news to them back home. We even read a book entitled ‘Awkward Engagement Announcements Made Easy’. Ha! None of it helped with my folks.

    I felt so sorry for Alice as none of us could recall her doing anything that could have deliberately antagonized either of my patents. Back when we first started courting, I remember my father muttering something about how woman should allow men to be men and concentrate on being woman as god intended them to be. He never said another word after that, so we can only try to guess what his objections were. Maybe he didn’t like the fact that she smoked cigars, or perhaps it was the big evil eagle tattooed across her upper back that he objected to. Then again, it could have been that she used to drink cans of beer straight out of the tin and belch after every mouthful? The bottom line is that no one knew what they were thinking. I also tried to explain to my Mum that it’s normal nowadays for girls to curse and swear during informal conversation, but once again, no response. We couldn’t resolve the issues because we never knew what they were

    Anyhow, knowing that most people’s Engagement Announcements are joyous events that spontaneously burst into a mini parties made up of nearby well wishers did very little to comfort us in our dilemma. Engagement Announcements should not be feared or dreaded, but in our case that was exactly how it was. It was something to overcome knowing full well the receivers of such happy news were not about to be bowled over with delight with this particular announcement.

    There was only one way to break the news and that was with hard faces, and a determination to get the folks to listen no matter what. We set the day when we knew they would be sitting in front of the TV for the evening and marched into the lounge in a semi militant style.

    The first job was to block the exit so my father couldn’t do his usual stampede for the door the moment we walked in. So, in we went holding hands like naughty teenagers. We closed the door behind us and pressed our backs firmly against it. Without further ado, I cleared my throat and announced our engagement. “Mum, Dad, we have some happy news and we’d like you to both to be the first to know. Alice and I are engaged to be married”. That’s it, we’d done it. Mum’s jaw dropped and stayed that was as if she’d just frozen in time. Dad stood up, his eyes vacant, his head trembling. He snatched his newspaper off of the coffee table and barged his way past us, almost ripping the door off it’s hinges as he did so. He then raised his fist in the air and yelled at the top of his lungs, “OVER MY DEAD BODY”. Sadly, he collapsed right there and then and died of a massive heart attack. Mum hasn’t spoken to me since that day.

    12 months on and Alice and I are getting divorced. She became a truck driver and pratically lives on the roads around Europe. During our short marriage, she became a fowl mouthed arrogant, chain smoking alcoholic husband-basher and life with her developed into a living hell. It’s not possible to undo what’s already been done but sometimes I think there are certain engagement announcements that should never get announced.

    Ola Larson is a freelance writer who covers relationships, engagements, marriages, divorces and all the pros, cons, and organization that goes into such events. He has recently written pieces for Onlystones.com on Engagement Ring Designs and White Gold Engagement Rings


    Locating Perfect Summer Wedding Flowers

    November 21st, 2008

    While other times of year, like fall, spring and even the winter season, have been gaining increasing popularity as the perfect time for hosting a wedding, the summer season always has been, and probably always will be, the most preferred time to host the perfect wedding.

    From the beauty of June weddings to the elegance of the late summer season, summer is a great time to hold a wedding, and choosing the perfect summer wedding flowers can be one of the most exciting parts of planning any wedding.

    Summer Wedding Flowers Are Bright, Vibrant And Beautiful

    The abundance of bright, vibrant and above all beautiful summer wedding flowers is one of the most important advantages of holding a wedding in the summer, and whether you are seeking the bright vibrant colors of tulips, roses or other flowers or the more subdued pastels of carnations and other types of flowers, there are certainly plenty of choices out there.

    Order Your Summer Flowers Early

    Of course in order to get the perfect flowers for the summer wedding season it is important to start shopping around as early as possible, and to remember that your wedding will not be the only one taking place during the summer.

    The florists who cater to weddings will probably be very busy come summer and it is important to get your own summer wedding flower order in as quickly as possible so you will not end up disappointed.

    The Benefits Of Using A Florist With Experience

    It is also important, of course, to shop around for a florist who has experience supplying flowers to weddings. Not every florist will be equally good at supplying flowers for weddings, so it is a good idea to look for a florist who has supplied flowers to weddings in the past.

    Most wedding florists will have a portfolio of photographs from past weddings, and they should be happy to share this portfolio of past work with potential customers.

    Not only will looking at a portfolio of past work give you an idea of the skill of the florist, but it may give you some great ideas as well. The right flowers can make or break any wedding, so it pays to shop around and to shop carefully when seeking the perfect summer wedding flowers.

    Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at
    http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/summer_wedding_theme.html


    Buying Electrical Equipment Online – John Lewis

    November 21st, 2008

    The John Lewis site (http://www.johnlewis.com) is a wonderful place to browse for marvellous offers on an assortment of great value electrical equipment. You will happen upon a huge array of leading brand electricals, e.g. washers, tumble dryers, dishwashers, fridges and microwaves, to list but a small selection of the available range. Any items available online on the site are from leading brands such as Bosch and Miele. Bosch washing machines are renown for their build quality and value – take a look at the range at the John Lewis site.

    If you are looking around for a shiny new washing machine you will not likely come across a more thorough site for assessing different products for your next substantial piece of equipment than the John Lewis shoppers guide. This immensely valuable page gives you a cornucopia of exceptionally useful, relevant, impartial and pragmatic advice on selecting the best products to most accurately suit your households requirements. Factors that you will probably wish to actively ponder when you are acquiring your brand spanking new tumble dryer are as follows: which brand you want, e.g. Bosch, Miele, Hotpoint, Zanussi etc. Can be slotted into the allotted space you have set aside; what kind of functions do you and your family really need; how water and electricity efficient would you and your family like it to be and how simple is the machine to install and set up.

    After you have done consulting the sound advice in the buyers guide, you can then have a look at an extensive selection of top brand items available online at the John Lewis web site. The website could not be any easier to navigate – the navigation bar at the top of the page gives you with speedy access to each of the top level product categories, e.g. technology, electrical appliances, fashion etc. Below each of these sections you will see a link straight to specific product categories e.g. washing machines; once you get to the desired category you may then navigate by attributes like the price, brand and type, e.g. Bosch. it’s just that easy.

    As a long established and universally trusted retailer you can purchase your goods on the net from John Lewis with confidence. The John Lewis company offers absolutely free nationwide delivery on all orders; so the price you see is the price you’ll actually pay. No surprises when you are directed to the delivery service options web page. Obviously if you have experienced a major breakdown and urgently need that shiney new Miele tumble dryers very fast you should opt to lay out a small extra fee for faster delivery. And for further piece of mind, John Lewis offer totally free returns should you be unhappy with your product. If that wasn’t enough, as standard you shall furthermore get a free 2 or 3 year warrenty on you and your families brand new tumble dryer.