By Andrew Hill @ www.newhomesource.com

So you’ve heard the saying, “Location, location, location.” Often times this is tied into the monetary aspect of your home- what it will cost you and how much you can plan to sell it for. But location is also very much related to your happiness, because if you like where you live it will go a long way.

First thing’s first: given enough time, effort, and capital, nearly everything else about your home can be changed. The paint, the fixtures, the tile, everything. The one thing that you cannot change is the neighborhood you live in. Be sure you enjoy your surroundings. If you’re married with children, don’t move into a neighborhood with 20-somethings if you can’t see yourself being friends with them. If you need peace and quiet, please don’t look at homes in the city.

Location also applies to proximity. Are you the type who needs a grocery store within walking distance? Or do you prefer to only go into town a few times a month? Be sure to also consider your proximity to work. Traffic makes us miserable. As the Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert says, “Driving in traffic is a different kind of hell every day.” If you hate commuting an hour and a half, then you need to buy a home that’s closer to work. Cut that commute down from a three hour round trip to only one hour a day, and in just one week you’ll save ten hours- in a year you’ll gain more than 20 days!

Another key location factor are your streets and sidewalks. “Sidewalks?” you ask. Absolutely! Are you an active jogger? Do you want to live in a neighborhood where kids play in the street? Do you want to be able to take a walk with you family or pet? Sidewalks are a good indicator of location quality. They’ll tell you plenty about what goes on and how safe your neighborhood is.

Which brings mean to my final point: crime rate. Not to be overlooked is the influence of location and crime rate. If you are the type of person who fears rough city dwellers, get a home in the suburbs. If a small amount of crime doesn’t bother you so long as you have a downtown loft, go for the loft. You need to be conscious of what you want to surround yourself and your family with, as well as what you can afford. Everyone wants to feel safe, but some are more comfortable in certain communities than others. Make sure you are in tune with your comfort zone.

As you can see, the importance of location goes well beyond your house value. Where ever you choose to rest your head, eat your meals, and spend time with your family should make you happy. Now go forth and be location conscious when finding your perfect home!

I’ve been living in my downtown rental for two years. It’s a 10 year old condo that has updated appliances, hardwood floors, and a spectacular view of the city.

When I moved there in 2009, I requested Mark, the owner, put a warranty on the condo. Against my suggestion, he politely declined, explaining that he had just put in new appliances about 3 years ago and it would be a “waste of money”.

Now let’s fast forward to last March when I noticed the floor to my walk in closet was damp. Actually, it was soaked. When I opened the HVAC closet, I saw the unit had frozen and was thawing out, dripping water onto the floor, causing it to seep into the closet. Franticly, I called Mark, and he called an HVAC company to come take a look at the unit.

The company recommended replacement and quoted Mark $6,600. Mark, of course, not having $6,600 just lying around, wanted to shop for a better price. As a result, I was displaced for about 28 days while he was comparing prices and replacing the unit, which meant he could not charge me for the month that I was not there. Now Mark was out over $8,000.

The cause of failure was that the compressor, being about 10 years old, had locked up. This caused the unit to freeze and ultimately fail.

This was coverable by a home warranty. It would’ve only cost him $75 to replace the unit if he had just put the warranty in place when I had asked.

Now I’m not the type of girl to say, “I told you so”, but I did have to inform Mark of his costly mistake.

I am happy to report that I now have a warranty. I have had the dishwasher and garbage disposal repaired, the ice maker replaced, and even a new bath tub stopper installed. The warranty covered all of these repairs and Mark only paid a small deductable.

So who needs a warranty? Everyone!

A home, in any given year, has a 68% chance of a system or appliance failure. That includes anything from a microwave to a hot water heater. Depending on the appliance or system, repairs can cost anywhere from $50 to thousands. I don’t think I know anyone that has thousands tucked away for a special occasion like an HVAC replacement!

So, what’s the moral of this story? Don’t be like Mark. If you’re buying a home, ask they include a warranty. If you’re selling or renting a home take advantage of seller’s coverage. Talk to your realtor about how a home warranty can benefit you. Always protect yourself and your pocket. You’ll be happy you did!!

Jaime Rose

HSA Home Warranty Representative for Charlotte and Western NC

Have you ever considered a project around your home and wondered whether or not a permit was required? Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or hire it all out, many repairs around the home do require permitting from the county.

Here are a few examples of when you might need a permit:

• New deck
• Anything structural – removing a wall, replacing damaged framing in a crawl space, adding a closet, etc.
• HVAC change-outs
• Plumbing appliance changeout – water heater, dishwasher, etc.
• Adding or changing electrical wiring

Permits and the inspection process do add some time and cost to a project…but the system is designed to protect you, the homeowner from shoddy and sometimes unsafe work.

The current cost in Mecklenburg County for permits is $62.85 minimum per trade. Per trade means that if you build a covered porch and wire it up will need a building permit and an electrical permit, or two trades. This covers the fee for projects up to $3,000. From $3,000 to 50K add $12.83 per thousand of total contract cost over $3,000. Of course, if you hire a professional contractor, the cost of the permitting should be included in the total project cost.

If you are unsure whether you need a permit, or have any questions for the building inspection department, Mecklenburg County has set up a hotline for homeowners and contractors alike. It’s called RTAC, the Residential Technical Answer Center. Just call 704-432-7822 during regular business hours and all will be revealed.

Russ Halberstadt

Broker’s Choice

Rhalberstadt@carolina.rr.com

Many people think that the original recorded deed is necessary for their sale. This document, however, has already been recorded in the Register of Deeds’ Office for the county that your property is in and is not nearly as helpful as their Owners’ Title Insurance Policy.

In searching the title to your home, the buyers’ closing attorney will customarily perform a 30-year search or, in certain circumstances, will “tack on” to an existing Owners’ Title Insurance policy, thus shortening the length of the search from the date of the sellers’ Owners’ policy. This serves two purposes, one benefiting the buyer and one benefiting the seller: (1) the buyers get a reduced, or “re-issue,” rate on the title insurance they must purchase for their lender and for themselves; and (2) the sellers need only to resolve any title issues that have arisen since the date of their Owners’ policy, which is typically the date that they purchased the property, rather than having to resolve any title issues of the last thirty years. This can save you countless time and effort if all it takes is providing a copy of your Owners’ Title Insurance Policy.

Other important documents that might (but may not necessarily) be needed are any existing surveys, cancelled Notes/Deeds of Trust that had been paid off or refinanced while you’ve owned the property, certificates of occupancy for additions/alterations, variances, and any documentation pertaining to approvals sought and granted by the homeowners association for improvements to the property.

A little bit of foresight and preparation while these documents are readily available to you could save you from having to locate documentation or reconstruct a paper trail and, instead put you on the path to a smooth closing.

Cynthia J. Robinson
C.J. Robinson, P.A.
10336 Troutman Road
Midland, NC 28107
(ph) 704-721-0076
(fax) 704-721-0661
(email) cjrobinson@ctc.net

Ask yourself-what attracted me to my current home in the first place?

Whether or not you need schools at the time, schools will continue to play a vital roll in protecting your value and increased desirability.  Award winning schools are the most important consideration.  Great shopping centers create a lifestyle of convenience and social gathering spots.  We are all creatures of convenience and these spots are exactly that.  Whether you want to live in South Charlotte, with such shopping centers as Blakeney or Stone Crest, or up North in Huntersville where you have Birkdale Village these award winning centers are a hub for shopping and enjoyment.  Today’s buyers are focused on a community and neighborhood that offer so many choices.  Country club life style of golf, tennis, and an on site restaurant, having a club house with work out facilities and a lazy river for the family or just a well groomed community play a major roll in the ease of selling your home.

Real Estate is local in nature and not all communities are impacted by “market conditions”.  Even though we face tougher economic times not all communities are declining in value.  Some communities continue to outpace the market because of the factors I’ve listed above.

Want to know more?   Do you have questions as to which communities are the best and which schools have the best ratings?  Think before you purchase and consult your Realtor.

Survey Data Reveals…