The Hungry Peanut

How to ASK SMART QUESTIONS WHEN BUYING YOUR HOME

Don't waste your time when you are looking at houses.  Make sure you know what questions to ask when you are in the home.  You can always get a professional home inspector for the more elaborate issues.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:  anything over 30 years old can't support modern electronics, and rewiring can be expensive, so ask how old the wiring is.
• PLUMBING:  turn on the water to test the pressure, and ask whether pipes have ever been replaced.  (The inspector will inform you about serious plumbing issues.)
• DRAINAGE:  visible waterline marks can tell you whether a home's flood-prone.  Sniff for hidden mold, a common result of leaks (it smells like soil).
• FOUNDATION:  it's natural for minor cracks to develop in the concrete.  But large horizontal fissures can indicate more serious problems.

article taken from the november issue of the Glamour magazine

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Thinking of buying a home?  Make sure you do your research.  The best and easiest way to fill you in on important real estate facts and information is to go online.  Here are some excellent websites:

Housing.com Very helpful including information on different kinds of mortgages, calculates salary according to cost of living for each city, and more.

Realestatejournal.com features mortgage calculators to assist you with how much you can borrow and the amount of your payments.

Trulia.com Easy to view and compare housing across the country.

Sioux Falls Real Estate Stats

2006 Sioux Falls Realtor Assn. Housing Statistics

• 907 homes currently for sale in Sioux Falls
• 469 homes for sale in small towns around Sioux Falls
• 169 rural/acreage/lake homes for sale around Sioux Falls
• 171 condo/twinhome/townhomes for sale in Sioux Falls

Realtor Assn. Sold Statistics For Year 2006

• 1543 Sioux Falls Homes Sold in 2006, (Existing & New Construction)
• 1800 Sioux Falls Homes Sold in 2005 (to todays date, same # of days in '05)
• 757 Acreage/Small Town Homes Sold
• 168 Condo/Twinhome/Townhome Sold

(Based on info from the REALTOR® Assn of the Sioux Empire for the period of 01/01/06 to current date)

How to...FIX UP YOUR PLACE

A smart renovation doesn't just make you happier with your home, it increases its resale value.  To get the most for your redo money, home-buying guru Barbara K weighs in on where to save...and where to spend.

SAVE ON...

Tiling "go for the basic ceramic tile; it's cheaper and easier to install.  Just order the standard 10 percent more to cover mistakes."

Showerheads and faucets "There are plenty of budget-friendly fixtures out there--check out American Standard.  I love the rainfall showerheads.  They'll make you feel pampered and they aren't a huge investment."

Appliances "The classic affordable brands work just as well as the upscale ones--and many now make luxe-looking models."

SPEND ON...

Flooring "Real wood floors increase your home's value.  If you can't afford expenxive woods, go for oak and try liquidators--check out lumberliquidators.com--where prices are cheaper."

Central AC "It's a costly upgrade--around $10,000--but not having air-conditioning decreases the resale value of your house.  Also AC reduces mold and mildew."

Windows "A double-hung window costs about $375.  Besides good looks, it'll save you 10 to 15 percent in energy bills!"

Article from Glamour Nov 06 issue.