September 19, 2011

Tips on Buying a Foreclosed Home

Market Watch

Ever thought about buying a foreclosed home? With so many on the market, it’s a great way to affordably achieve the American Dream. But foreclosed homes come with hidden costs that can add up to a bundle and give you a headache, too. If you know what to look for, though, you can spare yourself any surprises and make a wise decision. To find out what you need to know, click on this link to a piece I wrote for BobVila.com, which includes tips from some expert real estate brokers and house inspectors in different parts of the country.

June 11, 2011

5 Ways to Help Sell a House

Market Watch

Any good estate agent knows that getting your home in order and staging it well before selling is not only an option, it’s a must. If you’re planning to sell your home, here are five tips from Trulia’s spokesperson and real estate expert Tara-Nicholle Nelson on elements that can get it sold: 1. Good neighbors. Well-kept neighboring homes can make or break the sale of your own home. “Many a buyer has pulled up to an amazing house, viewed it, and left shaking their head with woe because they just can’t cotton to buying the place on account of the shoulder-high weeds, car … Read Post

August 11, 2010

Win a Free Residence in Manhattan

Market Watch

Along with all the other new building that’s going on in my neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, I’ve been watching the construction of the new W Hotel and Residences. Designed by the New York architecture firm Gwathmey Siegel, the building is due to be completed soon, and one of the residences in the swank new high-rise is being given away with the launch of the HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway, the latest of HGTV’s popular annual Dream Home and Green Home giveaway events. Last week, I was given a personal tour of the 900-square-foot apartment by designer and host of HGTV’s Design … Read Post

August 4, 2010

Estimating the Return on Your Home Improvement Investment

Market Watch

Eager to triple check what kind of return on investment my husband and I could expect on the home improvements we hope to make, I talked to two other real estate professionals recently to get their views on how best to prioritize my Wish List from a resale value perspective (see my June 15 post for what a host of A&E’s Flip This House had to say). Both agreed that all of the renovations plans we planned would be worth our while, should we ever decide to sell our home in the future—but not without some caveats. Gary Seiden, a … Read Post

June 24, 2010

Revitalizing Lackluster Wood Floors

Market Watch

Last week, Danny Lipford, the host of Today’s Homeowner, a nationally-syndicated weekly half-hour television show on maintaining and improving homes, was in New York, and I had the opportunity to chat with him about some of the home improvement projects I plan to undertake in my own home. Since Danny is a 30-year veteran in the remodeling business, I hoped to get his input from a cost vs. value standpoint on the changes I want to make. He agreed that if my floor needed improving, then upgrading it should be at the top on my list from a resale perspective. … Read Post