Like you, I see competing headlines about the real estate market."Wait until next year because prices will drop." "Buy now because rates will rise." "Sellers have missed the peak."
And so on. Some headlines are true, but many are not. Before
making any real estate decisions this year, my advice is to arm yourself
with facts. The first step is to talk with me about your questions and
assumptions. If I can't give you all the answers, I can direct you to
resources who can, such as qualified lenders. Schedule time to talk: ~Mardin, (408) 210-2073, info@amirirealty.com
BUYERS ARE 'ARMING' THEMSELVES
With rates rising and home prices still
high, many home buyers are turning to adjustable rate mortgages (ARM)
instead of fixed rate loans. Why would you (or not) want to use an ARM to buy your next home?Read now>>
IS THIS AN UGLY HOUSE?
Have you seen those signs that say, "I buy ugly houses"? I have, and that makes me wonder, what is an UGLY house?
I know someone who thinks her house is ugly. It's a box (literally
called a Salt Box style) with a pretty garden. To me it's quaint and
comfortable looking. Not ugly at all. I asked her what's ugly about it,
and she pointed out the plainness of the architecture.
I looked up the website of the person with the "I buy ugly houses"
signs. He said an ugly house has structural problems, or is in a
high-crime area, or is in obvious disrepair. But I've seen some
beautiful homes that have those problems, so his use of "ugly" is more
for marketing purposes than a descriptor. (I think the house pictured
above has pretty bones...imagine it all fixed up!)
If you watch a house-hunters show, you will often see couples
disagreeing about what they each think is ugly or attractive in a home.
Those disagreements are staged, but as a Realtor, I've often encountered
the same: Where one person thinks a Victorian is gorgeous, the other
person thinks it's old and ugly. They want a modern chrome and glass
home, which the other person thinks is harsh and ugly.
Most of us are attracted or repelled by a home based on a whole raft of
past experiences. Our parent's home was built in the 1970s so we want a
modern home. As we get older, we want a home that looks more like it was
built in the 1970s because it feels like home. You might have noticed
your own tastes changing over the years. I wonder if there's a house that everyone would agree is ugly?
August Quiz Question
With me, you can see cities but no houses, mountains but no rocks, and coasts but no sand. What am I?
Send your answer for a chance to win a $5 COFFEE CARD. Last month's Q&A:How many bananas can you eat if your stomach is empty? One, because then it wouldn't be empty. Congratulations to last month's winner!
Nuggets of News
Shipping container homes have been a trend for everything
from in-law apartments, to extra office space, to low-income housing.
But they are a lot more difficult to build than you might think. Enjoy this eye-opening video from Vox that will have you rethinking your dreams of adding an easy mother-in-law pad or Airbnb.
Maybe you should consider buying your kid a condo
Got a recent high school graduate? If so, you might already be helping
them plan their future career path. Along with decisions about college
vs trade school, you might also think about helping them purchase their
first home. By giving them home ownership, you're giving them
something that may provide as much value as a college degree over their lifetime. Read this for insight>>
Here's why the price of gas always ends in 9/10 of a cent
No other retailers advertise their prices in fractions of a cent. The
pricing practice first appeared in the early 20th century in the US as a
sales tax on gas to help build highways. At the time, taxes were levied
in tenths of a cent and gas stations passed them on directly to
drivers. The practice continued in the US and Canada when gas companies
realized that psychologically, consumers would see the main number and
not the tenths when considering prices. That would allow gas stations to
get away with charging an extra tenth of a cent.
Are Lifestraws Really Safe to Drink from?
They're a popular gift item for hikers and campers, but do they really
provide clean drinking water? Park officials say “point-of-use” water
filters, like those often found in water bottles or lifestraws, won’t
remove norovirus; any water you grab from a stream or lake should also
be chemically disinfected. You can also boil water for at least one
minute or at least three minutes if you are above 6,500 feet. You can
also use iodine or chlorine drops, then wait 20 minutes for the bacteria
to be killed off.
Just for Fun
Impractical Stairs
Not every architectural idea is practical, but can still be interesting and fun (but not for everyone).
