Valerie Mineiko's Real Estate Blog

Christmas is a wonderful time of year! People all over the world celebrate the holiday in different ways. Here are some interesting traditions from all over the world. Christmas Traditions in Brazil During the Christmas season, many towns in northern Brazil have a tradition of displaying the nativity scene. They call this a “presepio”after the Hebrew presepium. Presepium translates to “bed of straw,” which refers to the manger in which the Christ child was laid. As Brazil is a mostly a Catholic country, many people attend a midnight mass, called Missa do Galo (mass of the rooster) on Christmas Eve. The mass typically lasts until 1 a.m. On Christmas Eve Papai Noel (Father Christmas) brings gifts to children. In their tradition he resides in Greenland and dresses in light silk garments because of the hot weather in Brazil. Christmas dinner consists of turkey, ham, rice, vegetables and fruit. Argentina Christmas Traditions In Argentina Christians decorate evergreen trees with cotton to si...

  1) Needs & Wants I will work with you to establish and define your needs and wants (your wish list), including the neighborhood you’re interested in, school district, size and age of home, amenities, and more. 2) Get Pre-Qualified Once your qualifications are determined between you and your loan officer, you need to gather your financial information and get the lender’s pre-approval letter ready to go. 3) Home Search Next, between the home search features on  SeeValerie.com , market research and networking, I will create a list of prospective homes for you to choose from. Also, any additional homes you find doing your own home search will be included as well. We will visit the properties that best fit your search criteria. 4) Make an Offer on a Home When you’ve found the property that you’d like to purchase, we will work together to submit a fair offer by using recent comparable sales in the area to assess the home’s market value. 5) The Negotiations Begin Once the terms...

A good  real estate pro  can come in handy in more ways than you may have thought. In order to get the best out of your home selling and or buying experience, you should rely on a seasoned professional to guide you through every step. Understanding Necessary Paperwork When dealing with home purchases and or  selling your home , the paperwork can seem overwhelming. A professional real estate agent will help you decipher through what all the paperwork is. They will help with all contracts and disclosures necessary in today’s heavily regulated environment. Experience Matters Most real estate professionals are well educated in – and experienced – with the entire sales process. In this industry, experience really does matter. There are so many issues that could come up in any given transaction that the average consumer is probably not familiar with. Handling these difficult situations is second nature to an experienced, professional. Contract Negotiations A real pro will be ab...

You may have heard about the the interest-only (i/o) loan. Although interest-only loans have been available for quite some time, they’re becoming more popular. Currently, almost half of all adjustable-rate  mortgages  are interest-only, according to E-Loan. But why would anyone want to get an interest-only loan? Isn’t the point of home-ownership to build equity in your investment? That may be one of the points, but an interest-only loan can be an interesting alternative if you meet several criteria. For instance, you need a credit score of at least 680 if you’re a salaried borrower, and if you’re self-employed you need a 700 or higher. To put interest only loans in historical perspective, they were very popular in the 1920s when  home buyers  wanted to free up cash to invest in the stock market. When the 1929 crash came, scores of foreclosures bankrupted the i/o homebuyers. Just something to keep in mind as we explore this option. The Good News About Interest Only Lo...

Before writing your offer on that historic home, consider these factors… Many  home buyers  want a move-in ready home, but a large amount of people prefer older homes. Character and charm just isn’t found as often in newer homes. If older, historic homes are on your wishlist, take these factors into consideration: 1. Some Historic Areas Have Restrictions Many towns throughout the United States have commissions that protect historical districts and  neighborhoods . Depending on the town, historic homes will sometimes required an entirely separate layer of approval, not to mention the bureaucracy around it. For example, if you were to buy a 100-year-old home, you may not be able to renovate it the way you want. Many historic districts have a large amount of control surrounding historical properties and, as a result, renovations can take much longer and cost more. If you want to buy a historic home with the intent to renovate it, consider consulting an architect and town off...

Defining a Co-op A Co-op is a housing complex, which is owned by a corporation made up of all the tenants. Each tenant becomes a shareholder in the corporation that owns the property. The number of shares the tenants are issued depends on the size of their unit. The larger unit owners always have more decision making power in how the building is run. The owners also pay fees to cover their own portion of the building’s property taxes, mortgage, and costs of repairs and improvements for the common areas. Co-op owners depend on each other financially, so they can encounter a lot of scrutiny of both the financial history and personal life of each tenant. The Definition of Condominiums Owning a condo is similar in many ways to owning a house. The owner has a deed and mortgage and they have to pay property taxes. However, what the actual ownership if the condo is really just its “airspace.” They don’t personally own the walls, floors, and ceilings, as that is owned in common among all resid...

Flower gardening can be a very satisfying type of gardening. It has just one purpose – to bring beauty into your world!  However, prior your trip to the nursery, spend some time becoming familiar with the reasons why and the how to’s of flower gardening. You should also have your flower garden in great shape if you plan  to  sell your home this spring ! Buyers always seem to notice a nice flower garden. Three Types of Flowers There are three types of flowers that you should be familiar with: perennials, annuals and biennials. What are they? Perennials come back every year and you don’t need to replant them; annuals must be planted every year; and biennials need to be planted in two growing seasons or more.  A combination of all three will give you a nice variety of flowers. Most annuals bloom in summer and will add wonderful colors to your garden. Perennials only bloom for  a short period of time, and you can be sure that as one variety is shutting down for...

There are many terms used today for the types of  homes that are available  – it’s hard to keep the names straight. Here is a quick course in the various types of homes available: Stick Built Homes Site built and stick built home typically refers to traditional  single-family homes  that are built at the same site that the finished home will stand. It’s built by a local contractor who builds the house according to area construction codes. Manufactured Homes Never mind the term “mobile home” – they’re now called “manufactured” homes. Those old rectangular shoebox structures you used to see (and still do) have, in some cases, been replaced by 2,500-square-foot homes with sun rooms & decks. The Manufactured Housing Institute defines a manufactured home as “a single-family house constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment, built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, better known as the HUD Code.” Most Americans still refer t...

Thinking about using your home’s equity? Here are a few ways you can tap into that money. Refinance Your Home This is a way of paying off your current mortgage and getting cash out based on how much equity (the difference between the market value of your home and what you owe on it) you have in your home. Refinancing can be a great way to lower your mortgage interest rate. Remember that on refinances, you might have to pay closing costs. discount points, appraisal fees, application fees, recording fees, and miscellaneous other charges. Always ask your lender about additional fees. Securing a Home Equity Loan A home equity loan, a.k.a. a second mortgage, is good for  homeowners  who don’t need as much cash, and whose mortgage interest rate is already competitive. The term is much less than a conventional 30-year mortgage; usually 5 to 15 years. Home Equity installment loans are paid out in one lump sum, so they’re good for paying off credit cards or  remodeling projects , ...

It’s possible that you may be able to take some of your moving expenses as a tax deduction. Even though government regulations are stricter now than in the past, you still may have an opportunity to catch a break if you meet following criteria listed below. Specifications For Tax Deductions When Moving 1.  You have a new job or job transfer that is at least 50 miles farther from  your new home  than your previous home. 2. Your new home is at least 50 miles from your old house. 3. Moving will make your commute shorter to work. 4. You’re a member of the armed forces and had a permanent change of station. 5. If you’re working full-time—even if self-employed. 6. If you incur expenses within one year from when you started a new job. Expenses are typically deducted from your adjusted gross income instead of being included in your itemized deductions. You may then take the standard deduction, if it works to your advantage. What Are The Qualified Tax Deductions? 1. Packing and tr...

  A Little Mortgage Quiz Points are: charges paid to obtain a  home mortgage gross profit for the originator of the loan up-front mortgage interest fees to reduce the interest rate each equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount loan origination fees charged by a lender to raise the yield on a loan when money is tight, interest rates are high, or there is a legal limit on the interest rate that can be charged on a mortgage come in two varieties all of the above If you answered (8) you are correct Points are all those things and more. They are often used to cover a lender’s overhead—salaries, building leases, employee benefits, and other unexpected expenses. Generally, paying one point should lower the interest rate on a loan ¼ percent, two points ½ percent and so on. A rule of thumb is: a no-point loan will have a higher interest rate than a loan with points. Paying points on your mortgage now means you’ll pay less interest later. Lowering the rate reduces your monthly princi...

Homebuyers and sellers often don’t agree on many things, but they do share one important concern: they both want a successful transaction. This camaraderie is very evident during the appraisal process. The results of the home’s appraisal can mess up the entire deal.  Appraisers take several factors into account when deciding the  worth of a home.  While some of these, such as location, can’t be helped, there are other things that a homeowner can do to ensure that the home is appraised for maximum its value. 1. Information Matters Most Appraisers don’t much time in the home. In fact, the interior inspection only takes around 20 -30 minutes. It’s pretty easy for the inspector to assess the amenities of the home, as they do it so often. They tend to look around rather quickly, so you don’t have much time to make a good first impression, so make sure to have everything as perfect as possible in advance of the appraiser’s visit. First, make sure there is a packet of informatio...

To make the most out of Halloween this year, consider using the following safety tips to ensure a great experience for you and your kids. Remember Costume Safety Try to choose costumes that are bright and reflective. The kids’ shoes should fit well and their costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping. Always carry a flashlight with fresh batteries to light the way for all the children. Safety on the Trick or Treat Trail The young children should always be accompanied by their parents or a responsible adult, while older children trick-or-treating alone should have a route and a specific time when they should return home. Encourage kids to obey the rules of the road when of walking around, such as crossing at intersections and designated crosswalks to avoid accidents. Also, be sure to only visit homes that have a porch light on – remember, not everyone celebrates Halloween. The Treat Distribution Remember to replace any burned-out bulbs outside, and remove obstacles such as garden...