Winter Energy-Saving Tips for Montgomery County   With the winter season comes more than colder weather -- there are the parties, the baking, the fixing of family dinners, and, in some cases, the stringing of holiday lights. It's also a time of year when home energy use can spike, leading to a very large January electricity bill.     This year, do what you can to conserve energy through the holidays and the New Year. Try following these simple tips.     Go LED - If you string lights outside of your home, try LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lighting. LED lights use 86% less electricity than comparable incandescent lights and have numerous safety advantages. For example, LED lights are shatterproof, present no fire hazard, and, because they emit almost no heat, are safe to the touch.      Redu... 12/16/2012

A short sale is when a property is sold for less than its remaining mortgage principal balance, and executed as a way for both the existing homeowner and mortgage lender to reduce their respective losses. Typically, although not always, short sales are reserved for situations of extreme financial hardship; just prior a bank beginning foreclosure proceedings. Short sales are not automatic, however. Homeowners must often prove the merits a short sale to their lender, which often involves documenting that selling the home for less than its worth is the best and most viable option for all parties involved.  The short sale process starts with a letter of hardship. To prove your short sale worthiness to the bank, you'll be asked to submit a cover letter which explains your hardship, and to pr... 12/12/2012

How To Maintain Adequate Homeowners Insurance Coverage In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, stories have emerged of homeowners whose hazard insurance coverage was too low to cover the damage to their respective properties.  Unfortunately, this scenario is common among U.S. homeowners, and is not just limited to damage from natural disasters. Homeowners in Montgomery County and nationwide are often woefully under-insured against catastrophe in its many forms. Whether you're buying a home, or own one already, revisit your hazard insurance policy choices and be sure that your bases are covered. Here are four common components of a homeowners insurance policy : Dwelling/Building Coverage  Look for the amount listed under this section and divide it by the square footage of your home. Talk to... 12/09/2012

A Look At This Week's Mortgage Rates in Montgomery County Low mortgage rates are pumping up home affordability. Average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates made a new all-time low in November, continuing this year Refinance Boom and giving fuel to the budding housing market recovery. At month-end, Freddie Mac's survey of 125 banks nationwide put the benchmark product's rate at 3.32% for borrowers willing to pay 0.8 discount points. This is just 0.01 percentage point above the record-low rate establishing prior to Thanksgiving. The 15-year fixed mortgage is similarly low, posting 2.64 percent nationwide, on average. This, too, is only slightly higher the all-time low set the week prior. Falling mortgage rates have helped to offset rising home prices in many U.S. cities.  Steady job creatio... 12/05/2012

Case-Shiller Index Verifies Home Value Gains Through Q3 2012 The housing market continues to expand.   According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Index, which was released earlier this week, U.S. home prices  rose in September for the sixth straight month, climbing 0.3% as compared to the month prior. On an annual basis, values are higher by 3.0%. The Case-Shiller Index findings are a composite reading of 20 U.S cities, 17 of which showed home price gains in September. Detroit and Washington D.C. showed slight declines, and New York City showed no change. Leading the recovery, though, appears to be Phoenix, Arizona. The previously hard-hit city has seen home values gain 20.4% over the last 12 months. Also noteworthy is that Atlanta, Georgia reversed 26 consecutive months of home value declines i... 12/03/2012

Which Is Better : 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Or 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage? As a home buyer or refinancing household in Montgomery County, you have choices with respect to your mortgage. You can choose a loan with accompanying discount points in exchange for lower mortgage rates; you can choose adjustable-rate loans over fixed rate ones; and, you can choose loans with principal + interest repayment schedules or repayments which are interest only, as examples. For borrowers using fixed rate loans, there's also the choice between the 30-year and 15-year fixed rate mortgage. Each has its positives and negatives and neither is "better" than the other. Choosing your most appropriate fixed-rate term is a matter of preference and, sometimes, of budget. The 15-Year Mortgage With a 15-year fix... 12/02/2012

Simple, Inexpensive Ways To Prep Your Home For Sale When Montgomery County homeowners get ready to list, advice will often come from all corners of their personal and social network -- what within the home to upgrade; what to repair; what to replace. And, although some advice remains valuable, much of it can be ignored. The costs of an expensive upgrade are rarely recouped at the time of sale and studies show that smaller, simpler actions can yield a bigger return on your investment of time and money. Here are four inexpensive, yet highly effective, ways to prepare your home for sale. Improve the curb appeal It's not just the inside of your home which should be inviting to buyers -- the outside of your home should be, too. Trim hedges, maintain the lawn, power wash the walls and try to ... 11/29/2012

Mortgage Approvals : Documents You'll Need For Your Lender According to the Federal Reserve's quarterly Senior Loan Officer Survey, it's getting easier to get approved for a home loan. Between July - September 2012, fewer than 6% of banks tightened mortgage guidelines -- the fourth straight quarter that's happened-- and roughly 10% of banks actually loosened them. For today's buyers and refinancing homeowners in Montgomery County, softening guidelines hint at a quicker, simpler mortgage approval process; one which gives more U.S. homeowners better access to today's ultra-low mortgage rates.  However, although banks are easing guidelines, it doesn't mean that we're returned to the days of no-verification home loans. Today's mortgage applicants should still expect to provide lenders with ... 11/28/2012

When It Pays To Refinance Your Mortgage -- Literally To refinance a mortgage means to pay off your existing loan and replace it with a new one. There are many reasons why Montgomery County homeowners may opt to refinance, from obtaining a lower interest rate, to shortening the term of the loan, to switching mortgage loan types, to tapping into home equity. Each has its considerations. Lower Your Mortgage Rate Among the best reasons to refinance is to get access to lower mortgage rates. There is no "rule of thumb" that says how far rates should drop for a refinance to be sensible. Compare your closing costs to your monthly savings, and determine whether the math makes sense for your situation. Shorten Your Loan Term Refinancing your 30-year fixed rate mortgage to a 20-year fixed rate or... 11/27/2012

How Choosing Kitchen Colors Can Affect Your Eating Habits   Have you ever walked into your kitchen and instantly felt hungry?   Rarely do people think about the colors that they choose to paint their kitchens. They are often too busy worrying about whether the kitchen will match the rest of the home, or whether the colors will be satisfactory to the rest of the household. However, when painting and decorating your kitchen, you may want to think about the process in a way many people do not -- how the colors you choose will affect the way in which you eat. As behavioral psychologists have documented, the presence of specific colors your the kitchen can change your eating habits and your cravings for food. Here are some examples : The color red increases your appetite. This is why so many... 11/27/2012

Questions First-Time Home Buyers in Montgomery County Should Ask Nationwide, mortgage rates are low in Pennsylvania and home prices remain relatively low, too. This combination, plus rising rents, is pushing renters in some cities -- including King of Prussia -- toward first-time homeownership. Buying your first home can be exciting, but you should also do your research to make sure that you ask the proper questions of the process, and make the best choices for yourself and your household. For example, recommended questions for first-time buyers to ask home sellers include : What major repairs have been made to your home? Although standard disclosure forms are supposed to provide information regarding past damage and renovation to the property, there are occasionally repairs that are om... 11/27/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for the 2nd Quarter and June 2012. 2nd Quarter 2012 (April, May, June)The maximum sold price for a house was $1,800,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $20,000.The average amount of days on the market was 67.79 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in the 2nd Quarter 2012.Totals for June 2012The maximum sold price for a house was $1,800,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $126,000.The average amount of days on the market was 63. 43 residential houses sold in Upper Merion Township in June 2012.(Information from Trend MLS)   Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County PA Real Estate - Houses Sold In June & 2nd Quarter 2012 07/17/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania May 2012.The maximum sold price for a house was $1,010,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $20,000.The average amount of days on the market was 61. 19 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in May 2012. (Information from Trend MLS)(Gloria went to UM HS) **Upper Merion is home to the King of Prussia Mall, the largest shopping center on the east coast.  Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania(Don't see a report you are interested in seeing?  Please let us know)First Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PASecond Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PA January 2012 Upper Merion PA April 2012 Upper Merion Township PA  Upper Merion Township... 06/13/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania April 2012.The maximum sold price for a house was $675,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $134,900.The average amount of days on the market was 84. 17 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in April 2012.(Information from Trend MLS)(Gloria went to UM HS)  Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania(Don't see a report you are interested in seeing?  Please let us know)First Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PASecond Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PA January 2012 Upper Merion PA  Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In April 2012 05/10/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for the First Quarter and March 2012. First Quarter 2012 (January, February, March)The maximum sold price for a house was $1,400,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $61,500.The average amount of days on the market was 105.61 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in the First Quarter 2012.Totals for March 2012The maximum sold price for a house was $845,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $61,000.The average amount of days on the market was 114. 28 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in March 2012.(Information from Trend MLS)   (Gloria is alumni of UM HS) Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaSecond... 04/15/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania February 2012.The maximum sold price for a house was $359,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $90,000.The average sold price was $235,750.The average amount of days on the market was 71. 14 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in February 2012.(Information from Trend MLS)(Gloria went to UM HS)  Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania(Don't see a report you are interested in seeing?  Please let us know)First Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PASecond Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PA January 2012 Upper Merion PA  Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In February 2012 03/14/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania January 2012.The maximum sold price for a house was $1,400,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $67,000.The average sold price was $295,921.The average amount of days on the market was 120. 17 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in January 2012.(Information from Trend MLS) Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania(Don't see a report you are interested in seeing?  Please let us know)First Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PASecond Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PA Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In January 2012 02/08/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for the Fourth Quarter and December 2011. Fourth Quarter 2011 (October, November, December)The maximum sold price for a house was $485,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $70,500.The average sold price was $274,408.The average amount of days on the market was 82.68 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in the Fourth Quarter 2011.Totals for December 2011The maximum sold price for a house was $430,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $90,000.The average sold price was $259,000.The average amount of days on the market was 109. 21 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in December 2011.(Information from Trend MLS)   (Gloria is alumn... 01/13/2012

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania November 2011. The maximum sold price for a house was $480,000. The minimum sold price for a house was $190,000.The average sold price was $312,854.The average amount of days on the market was 82 . 22 residential houses sold in Upper Merion, Montgomery County in November 2011.(Information from Trend MLS)   Previous Reports for Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania(Don't see a report you are interested in seeing?  Please let us know)Second Quarter Upper Merion, Montgomery County PA 2010Third Quarter 2010 Upper Merion, Montgomery County PAFourth Quarter 2010 Upper Merion, PAFirst Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PASecond Quarter 2011 Upper Merion Township PA Upper Merion Towns... 12/12/2011

Real Estate SEO isn’t magic, but thankfully it’s not rocket science either, its a simple business plan with a simple purpose. Step 1: How To Develop a Solid SEO Strategy     Thankfully, human sacrifice is not yet a requirement to improve your search engine ranking. Although, if Google ever changes its criteria it is best to think about who is on the bottom of the totem pole. Refreshingly, SEO strategy starts with a very easy and basic concept, keywords.       You begin with a little brainstorming. If you work alone, you may want to enlist the aid of a friend or friends. They don’t have to be Realtors, just people who have had experience buying a home and are internet savvy. Your “Brainstorming Meeting” has one purpose: Gather ideas to create content and research keywords.     To get sta... 12/08/2011