Small Homes Are Giants in the Housing Market - HOUSE

Believe it or not, with all the bad news about new housing starts and housing in general, there's one segment of that market that is doing quite nicely. According to Time Magazine, many people are rethinking their idea of the ideal home and are looking for smaller digs. The small home market is thriving.

Of course this trend may simply be caused by the financial realities of the times. Credit is nearly impossible to get which means the mega loans with 5% down are a thing of the past. Unemployment is still rampant in the country and always in the back of the mind of the employed. Small homes mean smaller mortgages and are now much more attractive to many.

This is particularly true of new couples starting out and older couples who no longer need or want all the extra space now that the children have left. The ones caught in the middle are those couples with kids. Kids don't stack very well they actually need space.

But there are some real advantages to downsizing. The monthly payment is lower but so will be the cost of heating and cooling. Because it's a smaller space it will be more adaptable to alternative sources of energy and power. Going green is easier on a small scale than a larger one.

Small homes may mean you have more land to play with to use for self sustaining projects like a vegetable garden or space for alternative energy sources like a windmill. These tough times are really turning back the clock in a sense to your grandparent's days during the depression. Extravagance just wasn't an option in those days. You used only what you needed and nothing went to waste. Perhaps that mindset is once again visiting the country.

When the average homeowner spends 34% of their income just to make the mortgage payment, and it's much higher in some states, small homes become very attractive. One builder of small homes estimates that mortgages for his products will run 10% to 12% of income. That is just a huge difference. Couple that with savings on insurance and utilities and you are talking serious money.

So when it comes to housing maybe size does matter and smaller is better. Certainly something has to give in this housing market. If you can do an honest assessment of your needs (do two people need 2 ½ bathrooms) you may find that the doll house solution might be the right one for you.

Grants For Housing - HOUSE

Your tax dollars are being put to use with government grants for housing, and you have every right to request some of this money too. Millions of American families benefit from receiving free grant money simply because they knew how to find these programs and qualified to receive them. And if you think grants for housing are just for low-income families, think again.

There are government and private foundation grants for housing available to people with all income levels, backgrounds, and credentials. You can qualify to receive this money even if you have bad credit, no credit, and no collateral. It doesn't matter. Grants are not loans and there is no need to do a background check because the money never has to be paid back.

Here are just some of the grants for housing programs that can be obtained in the U.S.

$27,000 to fix your home
$150,000 real estate grant to purchase condo buildings
$12,000 to put an office in your home

The list is too long to include here, but the links at the bottom of this article will help you quickly find and apply for these real estate grants. Of course not everyone can receive this money. While there is billions of dollars available, there is only so much money to spread around. That's why when you apply to request your grants for housing, it is critical that you closely review the eligibility requirements and tailor your application to meet exactly what they are looking for. Once approved, you'll receive the cash you need and never have to pay it back.

What Makes a House a Luxury Home? - HOUSE

In today's economic environment, many new home buyers are encountering a vast array of houses that are available on the market. One area of real estate that may be as confusing as it is intriguing is that of luxury homes. Luxury homes are widely available, yet there are many prospective home owners that may not be aware of what exactly differs between a luxury home and more standard fare.

Luxury homes are almost always in a highly desirable location. Sometimes this means that the home is located within a gated community with access to tennis courts, a fitness club, or a private golf course. Other times, this may mean that the home is more secluded, surrounded by land, nestled within mountains, or with a waterfront view. The luxury home could be on a private island or could be in the midst of a large, bustling city. Whatever type of location the prospective home owner prefers, luxury real estate can likely be found quite easily.

Another aspect of a desirable location is the presence of excellent schools, museums, or parks. Low crime rates, the absence of noise pollution, and low traffic also contribute to the peace and charm of luxury living. More standard houses can quite possibly offer some of these items, but may not do so in as lavish a fashion as a luxury home. Such houses are generally very well appointed, with a great deal of square footage, multiple bathrooms and bedrooms, and space to move about freely. Though it is possible that some luxury homes can be on the smaller side, they always provide the home owner with an experience that is unique to those who purchase these more exuberant houses.

Local landmarks can also add to the desirability of an exclusive location. Luxury houses can be located near a waterfall, national park, ocean, or architectural structure. Ease of access to items such as these only enhances the enjoyment of luxury living. Many homes in this category even offer spectacular views of these items, giving the occupants an even grander sense of extravagance. Homes such as those with a view of New York City's Central Park; within the secluded, mountainous region of Taos, New Mexico, or a beach front villa in the Turks and Caicos Islands are just some o the examples of luxury living at its finest.

Perspective: Why The Housing Market Will Crash Again - HOUSE

With the dawn of a new year at our doorstep, there is a dark and gloomy shadow over the housing market. In a recent article, CNN reported that the number of homes on the market in October of 2010 was 50% higher than the same month in 2009. Further, sales of homes are down 25% over the same months.
Now we all know with the housing bubble bursting in 2006-2007, there were just too many people that were over extended on mortgages when sales and pricing declined. And the country was absolutely ecstatic when new leadership was elected, and took office in 2008. Now here we are at the end of 2010 and moving into 2011, and we are on the verge of another huge slump in the housing market.
So the obvious question is...what happened?
I mean, there has to be an answer, right? Well, there always is. An apart from the hard data, I believe it is easy to see with the massive extension of government, exorbitant spending, new laws and restrictions in the market place, combined with increasing taxes has placed a choke hold on the real estate market.
What the general public has to realize is this...There is NO FREE MONEY!

If the government gives money to the people (it's generally done through a "stimulus" which ultimately just gets wasted, instead of sending money directly to the people), they have to pay it back somehow. And in order to fulfill the service on that debt, they have to raise taxes. There's just no two ways about it, increased government spending means increased taxes on the people. And increased taxes on the people means that you and I have less money to spend, therefore we will buy less, which ultimately means that the economy declines.
And that is exactly the situation we have now, and why I agree with the numbers and outlook presented by CNN. We're headed for another substantial decrease in the housing market, and more misery for the typical American citizen. It's take to wake up, elect officials that will put the people's best interest first, which means officials that reduce the size of the government, cut spending, cut taxes, and allow business to proceed as it will. If we can get free enterprise back, the housing market will skyrocket!

Share House .The Modern Day Concept of Staying Together - HOUSE

If one needs a house desperately and is on a budget, having a share house may be the best alternative. Sharing a house is better in many ways. First, it removes loneliness of living alone. Secondly, it reduces the burden of paying rent on your own. If you're new in a city, it's a tough job to find the right kind of accommodation. In such a case, renting a house is the best alternative available.

The share house phenomenon can be seen in many parts of the world. In recent times of recession, this phenomenon was on a rise. The reason for that was, due to recession, the income of people was affected. As a result, they were having a tough time paying the rent for their respective homes. The only option left for such people was to share the room and accommodation. However, sharing of a room cannot be done with a complete stranger. Wherever possible, preference should be given to a friend or a person, whom you know, when it comes to sharing an accommodation. Apart from that preference should be given to share accommodation with people who speak your language or those who are from the same city or country.

But in extreme conditions, if you're not able to find any friend available for room sharing, a complete background check should be done against your roommate. In an unknown city, anything can happen if you choose a wrong person to live with. There are many people around who are associated with underworld and are drug addicts and alcoholics. You surely don't want such a person as your roommate.

So, before selecting a person as your room partner or roommate, always do a complete profile check of the individual. This will not only ensure that the person is not a criminal, but will also give you a sense of security. The personality check can be carried out by visiting a local police station and checking out the records of the person online using various criminal records websites.

House to Let - An Ideal Place to Live For Families With Children - HOUSE

Families with children are always searching for good ways to keep the kids entertained. If you are searching for a UK town to settle down in for a short stay or for many years, a Wakefield house to let is a terrific choice. There are many houses to let or rent in suburban, urban, and rural areas. Many of the properties are only a short distance by transportation links or by foot to some very exciting entertainment for your children.

Some Great Entertainment For Your Children
The Wacky Warehouse-The Walnut Tree is a large indoor playing facility for the children. Here, they can run and play for hours while the parents relax. The National Coal Mining Museum will educate your children with facts about the history of coal mining in West Yorkshire as well as provide lots of fun for them. An adventure playground and a miniature railway is built on the outside of the mine. The children can also walk to the stable and take a look at the pit ponies; or they can visit the gift ship where they may find souvenirs. Another astonishing place to visit is Yorkshire Sculpture Park. It is educational, inspirational, and charming. It is an international art centre situated on 500 acres of parkland. It is a great place to visit if your children are engaged in the YSP community program.
Fun With Water

The Lighthouse Leisure Centre has lots of enjoyment for the entire family. There is a relaxing leisure pool and your children will love the waves, water slides, and geysers to cool themselves down. Metrodome Leisure Complex also offers hours of fun at the Metrodome Water Park. They are equipped with two slides for the young people and Space Base and Lunar for little children. There is also the lagoon pool as well as three great White Knuckle rides called Terrorship 300, Space Bullet, and Allen Mountain.
Wakefield is a wonderful place to find a house to let. It is not only a pleasant place to live, but a nice place to enjoy the amusing and entertaining side of life. A property agent can find the perfect Wakefield house to let for your family with easy access to any of life's pleasures that may spark you or your child's interest.

Harold Layman has been involved with the letting industry for almost 25 years. He is currently a senior adviser with The Letting Company, one of the fastest growing letting agents in South and West Yorkshire. Our company has significant experience and knowledge of the Lettings industry and we truly believe our combination of low rates and impeccable service is unbeatable.

Future House Prices - HOUSE

In terms of new builds the Home Builders Federation reported that there had been no real uplift in home sales at the start of the all important autumn period. For the 4 weeks to mid October 2010 reservations were down on prior year comparatives reflecting fewer sales outlets and tight mortgage availability. For the market as whole October's indices were as follows:
Land Registry: -0.2%
Nationwide: -0.7% (3 month figures -1.5%)
Halifax: +1.8% (3 month figures -1.2%)
Hometrack: -0.9%
Data is confusing with indices measuring different geographic regions and different cash/mortgage transactions. Even the chairman of Persimmon has asked for more accurate data and that mortgage lenders should collaborate to produce just one 3 month index which would smooth volatility and be a better measure of underlying trends.
The house price average now lies somewhere between £156K-£167K depending on which index you use. In terms of the South East this is higher at £212K (Oct down 0.3%: Land Registry) and in London £340K (Oct down 0.6%: Land Registry).

Going forward, the hoped for housing recovery has certainly petered out. Confidence is low impacted by poor job security, tax rises, cuts in benefits and mortgage approvals of still less than half their pre-crisis level. As a result new buyer enquiries are falling. The number of homes coming to market is increasing, however, driven largely by the 3Ds (debt, death and divorce) as most other sellers are holding off. Consequently, prices will continue to drift (as opposed to plunge) downwards. This will add to fears that those with large mortgages taken out pre-recession will find themselves in a negative equity situation.

Needless to say different areas will feel the impact to a lesser or greater degree. Central London remains the most shielded in terms of house prices which are still higher than in October 2009. This is due to active cash buyers, less dependence on mainstream mortgages and greater equity. Foreign demand also continues to be high (making up over half the Central London market) although there is now more reliance on buyers from Asia, Russia and the Middle East as opposed to the traditional Europeans who are also feeling the pinch. Despite not benefitting quite as well from the financial bonus situation the outlook remains more upbeat than the rest of the country but further slippages are likely short term. After the usual time lag, London prospects will, as always, spill out to the rest of the South East.
Those in the North will to be more susceptible to changes in interest rates, the availability of mortgage debt and employment prospects. The government's spending cuts are likely to hit hardest in the North with statistically more people employed in public sector roles in this area of the country.
Overall, it remains a buyers' market for all those but first time buyers who are still struggling to raise sufficient deposits. If your home is on the market currently you need to be very realistic if you are to achieve a sale with many agents feeling that asking prices are still 5-10% too high, although good properties in desirable locations will, as always, be snapped up.
Conditions are unlikely to change in the run-up to Christmas and whilst it is possible the Bank of England could step in short-term to support the market by reducing mortgage rates, improving the wholesale funding costs for banks and raising inflation expectations, it would be unwise to hold your breath. Into the New Year interest rates should start to slowly rise again and many lenders are already factoring this into their lending decisions.
In conclusion, the credit crunch will continue to impact on the housing market for a few years to come. No real growth is expected until 2012-13 and this will start in London and the South East with the North being the last to see any consistent positive improvement.
Recently in the news...
· Galliford Try/Linden Homes was crowned Housebuilder of the Year by Housebuilder magazine.
· The Head of the Council for Mortgage Lenders spoke out against FSA proposed regulation saying many mortgages could be restricted in order to prevent only a few defaults.
· Housing Minister Grant Shapps has promised to cut red tape and make it easier to build homes.
· Over £900M has been earmarked to encourage local authorities to build - for every new home the authority will get a bonus equal to at least the annual council tax.
· Housebuilders Bellway, Bovis, Redrow and Galliford Try have all recently reported improved results although the words "encouraged", "cautious" and "frustrated" would perhaps more aptly sum up their status.

Delphine Paterson is an independent business and financial consultant at Forward Financials helping businesses generate more profit, increase cash flow, secure the financial support needed to grow their business and take the risk out of their strategic decisions. She has also made lending decisions within banks, allocated bank credit grades which drive pricing and worked as an industry analyst particularly in the real estate and construction sector. This means she sees business from a lending, financial and industry angle.

Clients include start-ups, owner-managed businesses and larger companies which she helps with bespoke financial modelling, tailored management account systems, business plans and strategic reviews.

Turning Your Current House Into Your Dream Home - HOUSE

So you're planning a house move but you just can't seem to get enough financial support to back you up? You're not alone. As times get harder, people are finding it harder to settle in the location of their dreams. However, this doesn't mean that you have to silently fume over the one you have while waiting for your bank account and the market to reconcile. More and more people are finding satisfaction in transforming their current residence into something resembling their dream homes.

There are those who try adding a room by putting up a dividing wall on the ones they already have. There are also those who use beautifully colored wallpapers to make a room more pleasing to the eye. However, there are many who are reluctant to spend on a home that they are probably going to vacate later. The question here is: how much later? If it's a year or so, then you might be right in deciding not to spend on the property. However, if your stay would amount to five years or more, then a few home improvements would not be amiss. In fact, these small home improvements might even boost the real estate's price when the time comes to sell it. Don't be afraid to decorate and polish some of the house's sections like the kitchen.

Still, if you are planning to move at the fastest time possible but would still like to decorate your temporary house, then try spending on things that are portable. A painting, a coffee table or perhaps a sofa. This would allow you the best of both worlds: pleasing to the eye yet temporary. By the time you have to move into that dream home, you could bring your stuff with you and arrange them more attractively in your permanent residence.

The Beauty of a House Exchange - HOUSE

So many homeowners have been looking for qualified buyers so that they can move on with their lives. In many cases, a new job is waiting somewhere, if only the owner can find a buyer for their home. In other cases, a seller just wants to be closer to their family. Yet neither of these cases will come to fruition unless a real offer is made that comes close to the terms that are needed. Enter the house exchange.

It may be that the frustration of waiting for the housing market to settle itself has motivated people to take matters into their own hands. That would certainly be understandable. A home is usually the largest investment and asset, that most people have, and consequently the process of closing an equitable deal on their very valuable possession is one of the most important transactions they will enter into.

Homeowners have discovered that it's not as hard to find qualified buyers and sellers as they might have thought. In fact, it's as easy as booting up the computer and hitting the right link. This is because there are now some websites that are in the business of connecting buyers and sellers who are more than ready to engage in a house exchange. They bring two parties together who are matched according to the terms desired by both parties, and the real value of the respective properties.

It's taking off like a rocket. Those who were waiting for listings to produce the qualified parties, or their for sale signs to entice the right buyer, have found the deals they were looking for on a house exchange website. The groundswell of interest in this concept has produced greater and greater numbers of people who are turning to these kinds of sites to bring them the satisfaction they have been looking for.
What a simple concept it is, too. A house needs to be appraised regardless, and thus a real value is placed on the home. This value

Get The House Of Your Dreams - HOUSE

Real estate business is again booming and people are ready to get their next home in any of the location as per their choice. It is natural that all the people are actually not expert in dealing with many business and they might require considerable help in order to move on with the work in the most efficient manner without facing any issues. In fact these people cannot get hold of anyone in the street for helping them with the real estate choices as per their terms and conditions.

There are many agencies functioning in the city with the sole aim of helping all the required clients in finding the dream house of their choice. In fact there is property South Australia available for sale and at least one of the properties might be of your interest after checking with all the terms and conditions effectively. You should make a point to approach the well established real estate agencies in the country as they are having many contacts with many other people in the country who are actually involved in the business sector.

You should be ready to speak out all the specifications and ideas that are prevailing in your mind regarding the house you wish to buy in future. Also you should have already calculated a rough estimate on the amount of money that could be given out by you for getting the house of your dreams. Based on all the provided information the real estate agents will be able to pull out the list of houses that almost match your criteria. You will be taken to see the house in person so that you can really come to know about the facilities that are provided in the house without any issues. You might be actually specific on certain conditions and these specifications might be usually related to your busy life style. Considering this fact most of the houses that are constructed in the present day are made only after taking all the relevant specifications in to account. As a result this will definitely help you a lot while searching for the apt house. Also you can approach the same real estate agency if you are planning to sell your house without facing any issues.

Home Improvement Helps to Sell Your House - HOUSE

Selling houses is all about sales. The same processes that you apply to that of selling products are similar to that of selling houses. For example, you wouldn't go out to a store cupboard and take a product that has dust all over it and place it directly on the shelves ready to be sold, because the likelihood of it being sold is probably extremely low, the same could be said for houses; expecting to sell a house that has not been cleaned in 1000 years is a little silly.

Millions of pounds are spent every year on home improvement; renovations, extensions, kitchens, bathrooms, new carpet, you name it! Some of the time, these improvements are made simply to the benefit of the individual, simply for reasons of vanity, but a lot of the time, these improvements are made to add value, so that when the property is being sold, a higher price can be applied.

There are many forms of home improvement and generally, if you are seeking one person to do this, then it would be near impossible, as each area in the house, or each room, requires the skill of the specialist tradesmen to undertake the job. For example; kitchen design takes a great deal of skill and knowledge. There are also a number of differing areas of trade that need to be looked at, when improving in the kitchen. There is the fitted kitchen, which normally includes the cupboards and drawers, those items that make up the bulk of the kitchen. The next major part of the kitchen are the worktops. Kitchen worktops can be obtained in a variety of differing materials, for example; Granite, would, MDF, Marble, Slate and Quartz. Quartz is a relatively new stone, a man-made product which to some is more durable than granite. The main quality this stone offers, is that it can be fashioned in many differing colours and patterns, with some that no other stone can offer. A quality kitchen worktop if done well can offer that focal point required to sell your home.

Kitchen tiles are a whole new ball game. Many buyers opt for ceramic tiles as they can be obtained fairly cheaply and supplied in many differing patterns, colours and shades. A more expensive option, would be to use natural stone such as travertine, marble and slate, but naturally, this choice costs a lot more.

Another major area of consideration should be your bathroom. A well designed bathroom could be your selling point, whereas a bathroom in shabby condition could be your downfall. Of course your bathroom could also benefit from natural stone tiles as flooring, as this also could be a major selling point, but with this said, lino or carpet could also look nice.

Many houses are turning towards the trend of stoves, as they offer a good source of heating for your home, but more so, can offer a marvellous focal point for your front room or living room - in fact; many modern stoves offer enough heat to heat your entire house and some consumers simply use their gas central heating as a backup medium.

It is clear to see that improving your home ready for a sale is a very good plan indeed, but leaving it to the chances could leave you loitering in the dark!

Modern Style Houses - HOUSE

The idea of modern architecture in general was first originated around the 1920's - 1930's. Another name for the Modern style of house would be Contemporary Style. These buildings being build would be very unique and "futuristic" because no one else had caught on to this new type of house style. There are two types of modern styles and contemporary styles which follow certain rules.

The first rules to look for in a building when deciding if it is a modern home is the use of simple shapes and materials. Most modern homes now tend to use simple shapes such as parallel lines, zig-zag patterns, and other modern shapes. The use of material is also simple for these houses. Some materials that are used in modern homes is stucco, wood, concrete, and metal. The roofs on this style of building are usually either flat of pitched to one side of the roof. The use of cantilevered roofs and floors is also a very new concept and used a lot in modern homes.

The interior of these houses are usually very open. This can be referred to as an open style house plan. The house also would have very high vaulted ceilings and the use of large windows on the roof and exterior walls. The size and shape of windows have come a lot way so this gives the house an even more modern look. These windows will let in a lot of light during the day, to light up the house. Some materials that would be used in the interior would be glass block and different types of metals.

The best thing to keep in mind is that modern and contemporary house plans are very simple, but in no way boring. I hope after this article you will be able to spot any modern house plan you see.

The Importance of House Plans - HOUSE

Whenever the construction of a house is concerned, the planning is extremely important. If a house is constructed without proper planning, the chances of it being successful and staying up for a longer period of time are very slim. However, if a house is made with a properly thought of concept and an idea in a person's head, then it is surely going to be a good place to live in for the residents as well as meet all their needs.

Now, most people who opt for house building think of designing it themselves. They do not ask for any expert advice, and if they have an empty plot, they just hire builders and construction agents and give them an outlay of their plans as to how they want their house to look like.

For those who have no idea about construction and how houses should be planned, this is an extremely poor idea. Your house is something that cannot be torn down and rebuilt based on the fact that it was 'poorly planned' and hence the planning of your house needs to be accurate and very good.

There are several ways by which you can get house planning ideas. One of the most prominent ways to have houses planned is by doing so online. There are various different methods that can be used in this regard. The simplest way is to open up a website of a firm that offers planning in the country where you live in, and then you can easily establish contact with that company and order your plans from them.

However, it is very important that the company you choose should be reliable and established so that you are not fooled, because you would be paying money while acquiring the services of the company.

Secondly, you must make sure that the company already has a very prominent name in the field of house planning, and you should check out the pictures in the builder directory of that website to get a clear picture as to how the houses are designed by those firms. This would give a clear picture in the user's head so that he or she would get an idea about the type of plan that might be returned. Secondly, you also get customer support options, so if you feel the house plan is not up to the mark and requires changes, that can be done as well.

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your First House - HOUSE

Buying a new house is very exciting. And very stressful. And there are lots of little details that you can easily miss. So the best advice for any first time home buyer is to get help from a realtor. Lots of people like to do things on their own. But this is one situation where getting help from a professional is very worthwhile. And in most cases the help is free, since the home seller pays the realtors from the proceeds of the house.

So here are
3 mistakes to avoid when buying your first house:

1)    Hire a realtor who specializes in helping home buyers, not home sellers. Realtors usually make more money helping a home seller, so if that is their specialty then you might not get the attention you need. So getting the right realtor will help you understand the entire home buying process. If you don't have one, go to a few open houses and talk with the realtor hosting the open house. Look online and in the newspaper to see if you notice any realtors who advertise that the specialize in helping home buyers. Or ask a friend who recently bought a house. Then, make sure to ask questions so you get a good idea if the realtor is a good fit. Sometimes it may take months to buy a house, and in that case you'll be spending lots of time with your realtor. Better to get to know them a little before you get started to make sure there is a good match.

2)    Get the house inspected. Some people think that a home inspection is expensive. But don't think of it as a cost, think of it as insurance to help protect your very big investment! Most inspectors charge a few hundred dollars, and it is well worth the cost. While you may see the big problems by just walking around the house, an inspector will inspect the entire house and give you a complete report. Even if you know a little about construction, you may not be able to pay the right amount of attention to detail while you look over the house. The inspector can focus on doing it right, while not worrying about all the other details involved with buying a house. When you get the report, you can decide whether or not to walk away from the house if there are major issues, or negotiate a lower price if there are issues that need to be fixed but you still want the house, or to just keep the report for future reference so you know what repairs to expect in the
future.

3)    Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Without pre-approval, your offer won't be as strong to the seller. They want to make sure that if they accept your offer, it will go through. A pre-approval is much more detailed than pre-qualification. And will make you look like a much more serious buyer. You don't want to miss out on a house you can afford just because of the paperwork. Also, just because you are pre-approved for a mortgage doesn't mean you have to use all the money to buy a house. Figure out your real budget, and only use a much as you can really afford. Or, if you want to make immediate repairs or upgrades you can discuss with your banker or mortgage broker about using any extra money to do this work.

There are other tips you should follow when buying a house, but these are the most important - and potentially the most costly ones. So make sure to be fully prepared before you start looking for a house. There is nothing worse than getting into a house you can't afford, end up with costly surprises, or live in an area you didn't research and you end up being disappointed.