 |
| Your REALTOR:
Gary H. Brothers, Broker/owner
| May 2008
| Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
| |
| Rates Increase
In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.03% for the week ending April 24, 2008, up from the previous week when it averaged 5.88%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.16 %.
March's index of leading indicators showed a tepid increase of 0.1 percent, after five consecutive months of decline.
"As a result, trading of federal funds futures contracts implied a
| |
|
|
reduced likelihood of a substantial rate cut at the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting," according to Frank Nothaft, Freedie Mac chief economist.
|
| |
|
Affordable Ways to Makeover Bathrooms
 A dreary, outdated bathroom can be a home sale deal breaker. Remodeling magazine says the average price of a mid-range bathroom remodel in 2007 was $14,445. But $500 worth of nips and tucks can upgrade the room, says Lytel Young, host of HGTV’s "Save My Bath." He recommends these inexpensive steps to sellers whose baths need a facelift:
 Remove the dated medicine cabinet and hang a big mirror.
Re-caulk the tub and shower.
Repaint with a neutral color, but decorate with big colorful towels.
Hang some framed art.
Keep the bathroom clean, simple, and orderly. | |
| |
Better Loans For
Green Homes?
 U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) has rolled out legislation that could result in lower-interest loans for people who purchase energy-efficient homes or retrofit existing residences with green features.
Under the bill, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would gain as much as a 25-percent credit toward their federal goal of serving low- and moderate-income buyers by repurchasing mortgages on environmentally friendly buildings.
"This would create an incentive for lenders to pursue green lending because they would know they can easily resell the loans," said Perlmutter, adding that they could also pass the savings on to borrowers. | | |
| | Lay A Brick Patio
In No Time Flat!
 Whether you are fixing up your home to sell or simply wanting to add a special touch to your yard, enhancing it with a well-planned patio is sure to bring some added value. That's why Robert Goldman invented a do-it-yourself garden product that is simplifying a once laborious project and making laying a brick patio an easy job.
The Goldmans came up with a Patio Pal Brick Laying Guide that acts as a template to assure proper alignment of brick or block rows.
The product works like this. Homeowners decide where they're going to put a patio. They create a two-by-four frame out of cedar or redwood and then they pour sand in and make it completely level. The sand is then misted using a hose to compact it.
Then the Patio Pals are laid down. Patio Pals are rectangle-shaped plastic guides. "You lay them down and you lay your bricks right on top. It fits right in and keeps the bricks perfectly aligned," says Goldman. "When all your bricks are down, you then sweep in dry mortar or commercial sand in between the bricks -- not on top of the bricks but in between. Then you mist it with the hose and voilý you have a beautiful patio," explains Goldman.
For a detailed look at the systems and how they work visit http://www.argeecorp.com . | |
|
|
Equal Housing
Opportunity
| Gary H. Brothers, Broker/owner, GRI,RECS
877.556.7653
gary@brothersrealestate.com
http://nwwaterfrontrealestate.com/
|
| Brothers Real Estate Consultants
1-877-556-7653
1310 Coburg Road, Eugene, Ore.
206 S 5th St. Hamilton, Montana
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
