Top Ten Reasons to Own Rather Than Rent

http://realestate.glozal.com/profiles/blogs/top-10-reasons-to-own-rather-than-rent?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Owning a home is still the American Dream

http://rismedia.com/2011-06-09/owning-a-home-essential-to-the-american-dream-survey-shows/

Help for Homeowners in Financial Trouble

The past few years have been tough on everyone with the economic downshift.  So many people have come to me asking for help when they get behind on their mortgage.  The banks won't take a payment unless the payment includes the total owed-I've had several people tell me their monthly payment was returned because they owed 2 or 3 months mortgage payments.  Till now, my only option was try to get the home sold before foreclosure or talk to the bank about a short sale.  Well, there is finally help to keep your home rather than give it up to short sale or foreclosure.  Take a look at the info on this website to see if you might qualify. http://www.keepmytnhome.org/

New manufacturing facility is good news for Greene County!

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam was in Greeneville on Feb. 22 officially to announce that Austin Powder Company plans to construct a new plant in western Greene County. The facility is expected to employ about 80 people when completed. The plant will produce raw materials to be shipped to other Austin Powder Company plants.
U.S. Nitrogen is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cleveland, Ohio-based Austin Powder Company, a major U.S. and international producer of explosive materials used in quarrying, mining, construction, and seismic projects.
Company officials have emphasized that, although liquid ammonium nitrate is used by Austin Powder in the production of explosives, the substance alone is neither flammable nor explosive.

WHY GREENE COUNTY?
"Why did we choose Greene County?" James C. Boldt, VP and CFO of Austin Powder Company asked rhetorically.
"First of all, it's a beautiful place, and we're delighted to be in this setting," he said.
Boldt also noted that Greeneville has been rated in the past as one of the top 50 small cities in the U.S.
He mentioned that Greene County is among the top 12 areas of its size that have attracted new corporate facilities.
"The work ethic here is great, and there is a large, trained workforce," he said.

Realty Times - Homeownership's Amazing Benefits

Realty Times - Homeownership's Amazing Benefits

Tips for Home Buyers, First Time and Beyond

Good info for first time home buyers and reminders for previous buyers...

 

By Michele Lerner

Investopedia

updated 1/28/2011

 

If one of your goals this year is to make the shift from renter to homeowner, you should begin preparations now for an exciting emotional and financial adventure.

Before you start the home-buying process, make sure you are ready to buy a home where you will live for three to five years or longer, since it can take that long to build equity in a home and recoup your investment costs. Think about your dream home and your dream neighborhood, but recognize that you may need to sift through these dreams to find a community and a home that you can comfortably afford.

Anyone who has watched the news in the past few years should be aware that home prices have fallen in most real estate markets, and that interest rates are at historically low levels — both factors that make buying your first home more affordable.

More from Investopedia.com: Top homebuyer tradeoffs

Here are some tips to get you started on the step-by-step process of buying a home:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41064368/ns/business-real_estate/

Inexpensive ways to boost resale value

Homegain.com just released the results of its 2011 home improvement survey, showing which less-costly home improvements tend to produce the biggest return on investment (ROI):

*** BEGIN QUOTE ***
...the top five home improvements (under $5,000) that real estate professionals recommend to home sellers based on average cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

·         Inexpensive Ways To Boost Resale Value

·         Cleaning and de-cluttering ($290 cost / $1,990 price increase / 586% ROI)

·         Lightening and brightening ($375 cost / $1,550 price increase / 313% ROI)

·         Home staging ($550 cost / $2,194 price increase / 299% ROI)

·         Landscaping ($540 cost / $1,932 price increase / 258% ROI)

·         Repairing electrical or plumbing ($535 cost / $1,505 price increase / 181% ROI)

Cleaning and de-cluttering continues to rank as the top suggested home improvement (since the survey was originally conducted in 2000), recommended by 99 percent of real estate professionals, costing less than $300 and returning a value of nearly $2,000 to the home's sale price, or a 586 percent return on investment.
*** END QUOTE ***

To read the entire article summarizing the survey, CLICK HERE.

[SOURCE: Homegain.com]

Who says it doesn't snow in Tennessee?

Whenever I am showing properties from buyers out of the area, one question always pops up-Does it snow in East Tennessee? My answer is yes, it does snow, but not usually enough to write home about. This has been a very different year, with colder temps and more snow than usual. It's funny after living here for so long how different the winters are. One thing you can't deny, even with all the snow, is the beauty of East Tennessee. Picture compliments of Paul Norton, from his back yard...Gorgeous!

$8,000 Tax Credit still available for some buyers...

Although the first time home buyer's tax credit ended for most people in mid 2010, there are a few folks that still qualify!
Did you serve on official extended-duty service outside of the U.S. for at least 90 days beginning Jan 1, 2009 through April 30 2010??? (This includes military service) If so, you may be eligible for either the:

First-time home buyer credit amount up to $8,000. (haven't owned a home in three years)
Repeat homebuyer credit amount up to $6,500. (owned your home for five years of the last eight)
The sales contract must be signed by April 30, 2011, and the home purchase must close by June 30, 2011.
Available on single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominiums — newly constructed or pre-existing homes.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know!