La Quinta Real Estate Blog

With identity theft on the rise, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of reviewing their credit reports. However, their thoughts about credit and its long-term impact upon their financial future typically end there until it's time to apply for a home loan. A credit score is used to evaluate how likely a borrower is to repay their loan. There are several actions a person can take to impact their score. Here are a few to keep in mind.

If someone has a credit card which has a high balance, while their remaining credit cards have low or zero balances, it's best to distribute the debt across the cards in order to change the ratio of debt to available credit.

Many consumers believe that they should close an existing credit card account if the card is inactive. It's better to keep the account open and use it periodically in order to take advantage of its contribution to their long-term credit history.

With the flood of credit card offers that come in the mail, it may be tempting to open new accounts. However, these "pre-approved" offers are not approved until the companies run a credit report which will temporarily impact the applicant's credit score. In addition, experts recommend that a person maintain between two to five credit card accounts, total, so it's best to avoid accumulating too many.

There are several factors that contribute to a credit score. But by observing the tips above, as well as making payments on time and keeping balances as low as possible, a consumer is sure to achieve superior results.

Email or give us a call for more ways to improve your credit score!

My sister is a computer whiz. And she also loves taking pictures. She makes these amazing slide shows that she sends to everyone. She is currently working on one for a recent trip that she and her husband took to the Bahamas. They chartered a boat and went swimming with the pigs. That's right - swimming with the pigs. I couldn't believe it until I saw it. I'll show it to you when she sends me my copy. But, she showed me this great program to make slide shows. It was very easy. You can add music to the show, or all types of fun designs. It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish to make this one. Try it out the next time you need a slide show.

Home Improvement Trends for 2010

RISMEDIA, December 31, 2009-(MCT)-Most homeowners are unlikely to be building, remodeling or decorating with abandon in 2010, given the slow recovery from the recession. But if you do plan to update your home or garden, here are some trends to keep in mind.

Home decor. The sleek, sophisticated but comfortable style known as "soft contemporary" will be a key look for the New Year, said Kris Kolar, vice president of interior design at Robb & Stucky Interiors. Instead of the eclectic clutter that has been popular for a while, there will be a move toward using just one or two eye-catching accents. These "punctuation-mark pieces," featuring hand-worked techniques that give a custom look, may include special materials such as mother-of-pearl, flame mahogany and stainless steel.

Furniture. The environmental movement is getting stronger, said Jackie Hirschhaut, spokeswoman for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. Increasingly, furniture is being built using natural-fiber fabrics, recycled metals and sustainable woods. Red will be the trendiest accent color for furniture, she predicted. And home offices will continue to boom as growing numbers of Americans work from their residences.

Color. Classic neutrals and pops of exotic brights are the key shades at Pittsburgh Paints, which recently announced four color palettes for 2010.

The "Canvas" palette includes deep gray-browns and gray-blues, muted beige and chalky white. "Pink City" offers vibrant pinks, spicy oranges, grays and chocolate-brown. "Grace" includes elegant hues such as pale butter, bronze-gold and sea foam. And "Zest" reinvents the style of Palm Springs circa 1950, mixing high-energy yellows with gray, white and black.

Landscaping. Organic vegetable gardens, like the one installed at the White House are likely to be a huge trend in 2010, said Orlando, Fla., horticulture expert Tom MacCubbin. Community gardens are a growing trend, especially those that involve children. Of all vegetables, he predicts tomatoes will be especially popular. In the landscape, perennial plants that last longer than annuals and need less care are a strong trend, he added. Trendy plants include gold mound duranta, a shrub with acid-green foliage, and perennial bulbine, which sports spikes of yellow blooms.

New-home construction. The era of the extravagant McMansion is over, said Nathan Cross of NWC Construction in Orlando. When building new homes, people are increasingly budget-conscious. "It's back to basics. Even the pool is a no-frills deal," he said. About the only area where homeowners may be prepared to splurge a little is the master suite. Energy-efficiency will be important. So will going green: "So long as it's a green trend that doesn't cost too much." Outdoors, some homeowners will be installing fireplaces, fire pits and summer kitchens.

Remodeling. The trend toward making minor improvements to home exteriors is likely to extend into next year-for good reason. It gives homeowners the biggest bang for their bucks when it comes to selling their homes. In terms of costs recouped, eight out of the top 10 home-improvement projects this year were exterior upgrades that cost less than $14,000, according to Realtors Report's annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. A steel entry-door replacement topped the list, recouping 128.9% of costs, followed by upscale fiber-cement siding replacements (83.6%), wood deck additions (80.6%), and several types of window replacements (more than 70%). The two interior projects that landed on the top-10 list were attic-bedroom additions (83.1% recouped) and minor kitchen remodels (78.3%). The least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale, and therefore not likely to be popular in 2010, were home-office remodels and sunroom additions.

(c) 2009, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-12-30/home-improvement-trends-for-the-new-year/#ixzz0bfsxnfa9

Refuse to Lose....Attitude

Like most great athletes, Realtors can be very competitive people. They don't like to lose. Their "No Lose Attitude" can sometimes make the difference between success and failure during tough markets and difficult times.

• Ray Crock, at 51, tried for 2 years and talked to more than one hundred people trying to raise money to start McDonald's.
• Walt Disney failed miserably in his first four attempts to live his dream.
• Henry Ford went bankrupt seven times while trying to build the Ford Motor Company.

One of my favorite quotes:

"Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."    Calvin Coolidge

Go over, Go under, Go around, or Go through, But Never Give up!

As your Idaho Realtor, I'll never give up on you!

 

Always looking out for your next move...(sm) on Idaho Real Estate,

Don Wixom  RE/MAX Advantage  Nampa, Idaho  (208) 880-5039