The Practical Homeowner 
There are currently 19 blog entries related to this category.
A Sense Of Place - Build A Magical Space That Reconnects With The Earth
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 8:27pm. 99 Views, 0 Comments.
We are pleased to deliver this month's issue of the MaxAvenue Homeowners Club LOCALE™ Magazine.
This issue begins with From the Earth, Architect Henry Panton creates magical spaces with the environment in mind.
Our second feature, The Best of You, Interior designer Carol Willard is always seeking the very best version of herself in her own home
This month's LOCALE™ closes with Rustic Ramblings, a vacation adventure piece that offers a unique combination of camping in the beauty of Mother Nature with the unapologetic pampering of a luxury resort!
I hope you enjoy this month's issue of LOCALE!
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Heavy Rain and Flash-Flood Safety
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 at 10:21am. 210 Views, 0 Comments.
Heavy Rain and Flash-flood Safety
Preparation before a flood will keep you as right as rain.
By Torquil Dewar
After a prolonged dry period, flash-flooding is a serious threat to many rural and urban areas. A common misconception is that flooding usually only occurs in river or stream floodplains. This is not the case: flash-flooding can occur anywhere.
Urban areas are particularly dangerous during flash-floods. Built-up areas cannot absorb water as fast as a rural or natural area, which results in overwhelmed drainage systems and dangerously fast flowing water.
If the area you live in is prone to flooding, or if you receive a flood warning from the radio or television, make sure you have an escape route planned in advance. Keep a wind-up…
Alexandria Home Improvements That Can Expand Your Pocketbook
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 at 3:00pm. 130 Views, 0 Comments.
When you are planning on selling your Alexandria house, increasing your property value begins with home improvements. With the vast amount of properties for sale, buyers look for homes that are move-in ready, not homes that will cost them more pennies in the end.
From an article on the AOL Real Estate site, here are ways in which you can improve the value of your home to increase the lining of your pockets at the time of sale.
- Kitchen – A major selling point for any home begins in the kitchen. It can make or break a buyer’s decision. The appearance or structure can be crucial for the sale. Upgrading your kitchen does not have to cost you a fortune, however; simply replacing appliances, countertops, and flooring can improve the…
The Upside and Downside of Alexandria Mortgage Life Insurance
Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at 9:15pm. 148 Views, 1 Comments.
Thanks to mortgage life insurance, losing a loved one, while heartbreaking, does not have include the additional financial disaster many mourners face.
With the scares of our earthquake and hurricane, many of us here in Alexandria and the Greater DC Area have had the specter of death, however fleeting, pass through our minds. This can be positive, if such thoughts lead to planning for our families.
It is a wonderful thing that the quake did such little injury. If there had been a serious death toll, how many dependents of homeowners would not only have lost a parent, but several months later lose their house too?
Most Alexandria home buyers want to make sure their loved ones get to keep their home. One option is mortgage life insurance. But is it…
Where You Buy Can Trump What You Buy
Saturday, August 20th, 2011 at 3:02pm. 143 Views, 0 Comments.
When buying a home in Alexandria or other areas, we naturally focus on the actual dwelling place, how much we like it and whether or not we can afford it. However, just as important as what we buy is where we buy it. Having a house we love in a neighborhood we hate is not the American Dream.
From an article on the MSN Real Estate site, here are five ways to make sure the location of your next home will make you as happy as the home itself.
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Take a Long-Term Approach – Don’t just think about your life right now; think about where you’re headed. Are you planning a family? You’ll feel more connected in a neighborhood with other young families. If you’ve recently lost a spouse, you might fare better in a place where you can…
To Buy or Not to Buy…WHEN is the Question
Friday, August 12th, 2011 at 8:23pm. 126 Views, 0 Comments.
“Is it the right time to buy?” prospective home buyers in Alexandria may ask. For many the answer is “Yes!” In spite of (and even sometimes because of) these times of grim headlines and statistics, there are awesome prices for excellent homes here in Alexandria and the Greater DC Area.
No matter how great a deal is, however, wise buyers consider how financially ready they are for the commitment of a mortgage. Is now your time to buy? Ask yourself: How reliable is your income? What is your debt to income ratio? If these have good answers but you still are nervous, you can have more confidence home buying if you have:
- A specific emergency fund set up to survive multiple months without income should there be a job loss or other…
Other Reasons to Refinance Your Alexandria Home
Friday, August 5th, 2011 at 2:46pm. 135 Views, 0 Comments.
Everyone wants to save money, and where your Alexandria mortgage is concerned the more savings the better. This is the primary reason most people refinance.
But, according to Houselogic.com, there are at least five other good reasons to refinance, each with its own special benefit. Some pay off more quickly than others, but all can be helpful in the right circumstances.
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Shorten Your Payment Years – By refinancing from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage, you decrease your total interest amount because you’re paying the loan off sooner, although your monthly payments do increase. Shorter-term loans often have lower interest rates as well.
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Change Your Loan Type – An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) looks great when you first get it…
Benefits of a Big Down Payment on Your Alexandria Home
Thursday, July 28th, 2011 at 10:41pm. 287 Views, 0 Comments.
For many, the dream of home ownership requires financing. Generally this means a mortgage and a required down payment of 20% of the home’s purchase price. In the end, your mortgage payment will be determined by how much you have saved for the down payment. While determining that amount can be tricky, patience in saving for a big down payment will prove to be beneficial.
Here are several reasons why you should save 20% or more for the down payment on your Alexandria home.
- Reasonable mortgage payments.
By saving more money for your down payment you will be able to have mortgage payments that are manageable. As an added bonus, later down the road you will notice how you saved thousands in interest. - A better interest rate.
That big down payment…
Physical and Emotional Downsizing in Alexandria
Thursday, July 21st, 2011 at 11:10am. 336 Views, 0 Comments.
Selling your Alexandria home in today’s market can be challenging. There’s generally a lot of cleaning and de-cluttering needed to make it appealing to buyers. If you’re retiring or moving after living in your home for several decades, there are also emotional aspects to selling a place with so many memories of friends and family. From Boston.com, here are some tips to update your older home and make downsizing a little less traumatic.
After 20 or 30 years in a home, it’s likely that the kitchen is out of date, closets are cluttered, and walls need repainting. Check into everything that might keep you from making the sale and fix or update as needed. This could be as easy as new neutral paint on the walls or something more extensive…
When and How to Apply for Your Alexandria Home Loan
Friday, July 8th, 2011 at 1:42pm. 185 Views, 0 Comments.
When buying a home in Alexandria, many buyers wonder which comes first - house hunting or loan shopping. Applying for a mortgage, no matter how it is presented, is a lengthy, detailed process. Some buyers prefer to postpone it until they find their house, but this isn’t always the best decision.
Here in the D.C. and Alexandria housing market, some buyers have found more bargaining power if they’ve been preapproved for a loan. Sellers in a hurry to close a deal may be less inclined to deal with someone who is at the beginning of the loan process. Their logic: “Why should I take your offer if you don't even know if you will be approved?” A seller's nightmare is taking the house off the market and losing other prospects only to find the buyer that…