Travertine marble floors. Custom draperies and light fixtures. Cast stone gas fireplace in living room, outside by the pool and cast stone fireplace in entertainment area with built-in grill. Custom carved wood bar/pass thru from kitchen to family room. All stainless kitchen aid appliances in kitchen. Black 3cm granite in kitchen and all bathrooms. Only two bedrooms in main house. Entire upstairs is master suite with two master closets 11×15. Washer and dryer closet with sink upstairs. Office off of master bedroom with cherry wood panels and built-in desk, granite top. Relaxation room and half bath also upstairs. Breakfast bar for a quick morning coffee. Separate guest house with full bath, new carpet or the guest house could be possible media room. Walk to the club and dine out or visit many fine resturants in the area.

Luxury on the Golf Course!

Riviera Bella Brokers Open House

Still, if you’re planning to be in your current home for several years (and numerous studies report that more Americans are staying put), a long-term investment in improved energy efficiency can make sound dollar sense for your family. Energy-efficient improvements can help reduce energy use, lower utility bills and cut your home’s environmental impact. You may also reap a tax benefit from making certain eco-friendly improvements. And some improvements, like installing skylights or solar water heating systems, can boost the healthfulness – and your enjoyment – of your home.

Skylight savings

Heating, cooling and electricity make up the largest chunk of nearly every American home’s annual utility bill. Installing a skylight can actually help you lower heating/cooling costs and electric bills. In fact, installing Energy Star-qualified skylights, along with qualified windows and doors, can lower energy bills 7 percent to 15 percent compared to non-qualified products, according to EnergyStar.gov.

Because skylights admit abundant natural light, they can help lower your home’s dependence on artificial light sources – meaning you’ll use less electricity to light your home. They are also an outstanding method of passively venting moisture, fumes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your home, so they can help improve indoor air quality as well. Venting skylights also admit cool breezes, to help lower cooling costs in spring and fall, when indoor temperatures may be too warm to be comfortable but not hot enough to warrant turning on the air conditioning.

You will find tax credits and product rebates in place for certain skylights and accessories, according to Joe Patrick of Velux America, manufacturers of the No Leak Skylight. He says that reliability, with long-term, durable performance is backed by both product and installation warranties. “When properly installed, Velux skylights are no more prone to leaks than any other properly installed, quality window in your home,” he adds. You can learn more at www.veluxusa.com.

Solar water heating saves

Solar power is gaining broad acceptance across the country as a cost-effective way to reduce utility costs. Solar water heaters, in particular, have attained a level of reliability that makes them competitive with traditional water heating products. But when it comes to cost savings, comparisons pale between traditional and solar water heating systems.

The federal tax credit program makes it possible to recoup up to 30 percent of the installed cost of a solar water heating system, and many states and utilities offer additional incentives. The cost of a system from a manufacturer like Velux will vary based on a home’s requirements. The installed cost for a residential solar water heating system will typically run between $6,500 to $12,000 says Jim Cika, a solar water heating expert with Velux. Installation costs will vary depending on a number of homesite variables, so a solar specialist should be contacted for detailed costs. Savings can be dramatic, he adds: an average of a 50 to 80 percent reduction in the cost of heating water for your home. “That’s a significant sum when you consider that the Department of Energy says water heating can account for 14 to 25 percent of the energy consumed in our homes,” he says.

Energy-efficient home improvements can be right on so many levels – from doing something good for the environment to making a change that can save you money in the long run. To learn more about how skylights and solar water heating systems can help trim your energy bills, visit www.veluxusa.com.

Myth #1:  Foreclosure happens fast.

With unemployment and underemployment still affecting nearly 1 in every 4 Americans, no one is immune from fears that a pink slip might quickly turn into a foreclosure notice.  According to NeighborWorks America, nearly 60 percent of families seeking foreclosure counseling cited a lost job or cut wages as the reason they were facing foreclosure.

While the Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Programs haven’t been nearly as effective as predicted in actually preventing foreclosures, they have had the effect of extending the foreclosure process for many families.   Even though the legal process of foreclosure can happen in as few as 6 months in most states, it is currently taking much longer for the average foreclosure to get to completion.  Recently, JP Morgan Chase revealed that their average borrower who loses a home to foreclosure has not made any payments in 14 months nationwide; 22 months in FLorida and 26 months in New York.

To be sure, some see this as a good, others view it as unnecessarily dragging out the overall market’s recovery. Many insiders will point out that these delays in foreclosure may be calculated to save the banks the costs of owning and maintaining foreclosed homes, not to help homeowners.  In any event, the fact that foreclosure does not happen nearly as fast, in many cases, as expected does give families who are temporarily down on their luck some extra time to try to get back on their feet and save their homes.

Myth #2:  Buyers can’t get clear title or title insurance on foreclosed homes.

When the foreclosure robo-signing scandal first hit, there was widespread concern that buyers would not be able to get clear title on foreclosed homes, because the former foreclosed owners might be able to come get their homes back when the improprieties in the bank’s foreclosure documentation processes came fully to light.  At the same time, several of the country’s largest title insurance companies publicly balked at issuing policies on bank-owned homes until the issue was resolved.  At this point, the banks claim they have revamped their processes, and all banks have stated that they have found not a single borrower whose home was repossessed without them having missed the requisite number of mortgage payments.  Nevertheless, a number of governmental investigations are still in progress.

The fact is, buyers of bank-owned properties in nearly every jurisdiction are protected from later title attacks by foreclosed homeowners by the bona fide purchaser rule, under which courts would prefer to simply award cash damages to be paid by the culpable bank to a wrongfully foreclosed-on homeowner, rather than reversing the sale or ownership to the new, innocent buyer.  Additionally, the title insurers have now changed their tune and restarted issuing insurance policies on bank-owned homes which protect buyers’ interests, after working with the banks for them to take responsibility in the event a former homeowner prevails in a wrongful foreclosure suit.

While there are still many intricacies of title to be resolved for foreclosure buyers who purchase homes at trustee sales and auctions, or for cash buyers who often went without title insurance in the past, on the average, Trulia-listed, bank-owned property purchased with an average mortgage and title insurance, the chances a buyer’s title will later be successfully challenged by the foreclosed homeowner on the basis of robo-signing?  Exceedingly slim.

Myth #3:  Buyers should wait for the shadow inventory to be released.

Many a buyer, discouraged with the homes they see on the the form in their price range, has decided to sit still and wait for the banks to release for sale what is called their “shadow inventory” – rumored to be anywhere from 4 to nearly 6 million homes that have already been foreclosed, but not listed for sale, or will be foreclosed in the near future. The fact is, to the extent that the banks have acknowledged the existence of a pool of homes they own but are not selling, they have expressed that their reasoning for holding the homes off the market is to avoid flooding the market and driving home values down any further.  For that reason, buyers should not expect to see a massive influx of these shadow homes onto the market anytime soon – if ever.

The banks’ current modus operandi is that as they sell a home, the replace it with another home in that market – if they sell 50 homes in a town that month, they’ll put another 50 on the next.  So, don’t hold your breath waiting for a fabulous new flood of homes.  Instead, set up a Trulia alert to notify you when homes that fit your search criteria come on the market, and be ready to call your agent and go visit any and every one that looks like it might be a good fit.

Myth #4:  If you’re looking for a deal, you’re looking for a foreclosure.

Despite what they may say, no buyer’s heart’s fondest desire is to buy a foreclosure.  But almost every buyer dreams of buying a great home – and getting a great deal on it.  Many people think that to get a great value on their home on today’s market, it means they must buy a foreclosure.  As a result, the value and other advantages of buying an individually-owned home on today’s market are frequently overlooked.  Individual sellers with homes on the market right now are generally quite motivated, and understand that their homes are competing with discounted short sales and foreclosed homes.  Many of these sellers are slashing prices in an effort to get them sold – the most recent Trulia Price Reduction Report revealed that 27 percent of homes on the market across the country have had at least one price reduction.  Now that’s what I call a sale!

Further, individual owners are often much more negotiable on a wide range of contract terms than a bank which owns a foreclosed home.  You can work with non-bank owners on things like repairs, closing dates, choice of escrow provider, closing costs and even included personal property much more flexibly than you can when the bank is on the other side of the bargaining table.  On top of that, many individually-owned homes are in pristine, move-in condition; that is much rarer with foreclosures.  So, don’t underestimate the value of the deal you might be able to get on a non-foreclosed home.  Just get clear on what you can afford and look at all the homes that are available in that price range, without discriminating against non-foreclosures.

Myth #5: Having a foreclosure on your credit history means it’ll take years and years before you can buy again.

One of the most Frequently Asked Questions in the Trulia Voices Community by homeowners who are facing or have just lost a home through foreclosure is how long it will take before they’ll be able to buy again.  Until recently, the standard wisdom was that 5 years, minimum, would have to have elapsed between the foreclosure and the new home purchase.  Now, though, borrowers can obtain an FHA loan with the low, 3.5 minimum down payment requirement as soon as 3 years following a foreclosure.  To do so, though, all your other ducks must be in a row.

Post-foreclosure buyers need a credit score of 620-640 to qualify for an FHA loan; higher for a non-FHA loan – given that the foreclosure itself usually dings anywhere from 100-150 points off the credit score (not necessarily counting a full year or more of pre-foreclosure missed payments), former homeowners who want to buy again need to ensure they have no other late payments or credit dings after they lose thier home.  You must have clean credit with no derogatory marks like late credit card payments following the foreclosure,  and you may also be required to document 12 to 24 months straight of on-time rent payments after the foreclosure.

Further, the bank may impose a lower debt-to-income ratio on post-foreclosure borrowers than on borrowers who have not had a foreclosure, in an effort to keep your mortgage payments low, keep you from overextending yourself and boost the chances you’ll be a successful homeowner over the long-term this time around.  The bank will also need to see 2 years of continuous employment history in the same field, and documentation that you meet other loan qualification requirements.

Original Article Source: http://www.trulia.com/blog/taranelson/2010/11/5_more_foreclosure_myths_-_busted

For most people, overnight house guests go hand-in-hand with the holidays. Rather than waiting until the last minute, when stress levels are already high, fall is the ideal time to begin preparing for company and refresh the guest bath. You can do a few simple things long before anyone arrives to ensure their stay is a comfortable one. In fact, updating a tired bathroom can be an easy goal to achieve on any budget. You don’t need tens of thousands of dollars. Instead, a little paint, the proper tools, a few decorating elements and some creativity will do the trick.

Color: light and inviting
Changing the color of a room with interior paint is the easiest, most cost-effective and most dramatic transformation that can be made. Since a guest bathroom can be one of the smaller rooms in a home, use colors that are light and airy. This will open up the space, making it appear larger than it really is. And, even if the guest bath is used by other family members during the rest of the year, remember that it should feel welcoming, so avoid stark whites or overly bright and trendy colors.

Most importantly, don’t skimp on the painting tools. Since the walls will be the largest visual area in the bathroom, you want to ensure a professional-looking finish that can only be achieved using high-quality painting tools. Purdy’s new mini-roller system will provide a flawless finish, and its compact lightweight design helps to paint tight spaces – like behind a toilet or above and around a sink -in less time with less mess.

Fine-tune fixtures
If you’re considering replacing an old scratched sink, many acrylic options can be purchased at home centers for less than $100. While you’re at it, don’t forget to update the faucet as well. Today, faucets come in a variety of finishes like brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze, allowing you to easily freshen up the appearance of your bathroom. Many fixtures are available with matching accessories like towel rings, bars and even robe hooks. Using a consistent fixture finish throughout the room will give the space a streamlined, uncluttered feeling and will help create a serene place for your guests to relax during their stay.

Hardware
Dated cabinet hardware can easily be brought back to life with a coat of primer and paint. If you’re willing to use a little elbow grease and purchase an inexpensive can of spray paint, you can transform any dingy handle or knob. You don’t have to stick to traditional paint color choices, either. There are a variety of metallic spray paints available such as chrome, copper, brass and satin nickel that mimic the look of these expensive finishes that you can coordinate with your other accessories and fixtures.

Details
With any room refresh, the difference is in the details, especially in a small space like the guest bath. Pick up some new linens before your visitors come to town – new bath and hand towels that are plush and soft, not faded or worn, can really make the room feel inviting. For an added touch, hang a new shower curtain and liner to coordinate with your new color scheme. Keep it a lighter color to allow natural or overhead light to filter through; you don’t want your guests showering in the dark. Stock up on all of the essentials. From toiletries to a comfy robe, it’s always a great idea to keep supplies on hand in case your guests need something.

By taking the necessary steps to prep your guest bath before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy it right along with your visitors.

Anyone who has bought or sold a home has heard the standard advice: Find a good agent, be aware of local home values, fix up the house you’re selling and research school districts and crime rates where you’re buying.

“It’s all good advice, but it’s not always enough,” says Rich Novak, assistant vice president of Home Solutions, with USAA, a full-service financial services provider serving military personnel and their families. “Families who need to move quickly during a tough real estate market may need to go the extra mile to close a sale.”

Keep these five themes in mind from the moment you start planning your next move:

1. Dig deeper: You probably already know to use neighboring home values as a comparison point for selling or buying. But in today’s market, some additional homework can pay off. If you need to sell quickly, for example, keep a close eye on what other houses are selling for in your neighborhood and stay ahead of the market by pricing yours lower. In the wake of the bursting real estate bubble, it’s also important to have a heightened awareness of foreclosures, both where you’re selling and buying. As unfair as it seems, any foreclosures on your street can put a dent in your home’s market value. And if foreclosures are still prevalent in the neighborhood you’re moving to, it could be a warning sign that values could continue to drop after you buy.

2. Be involved: Just because you’re working with a realtor doesn’t mean you can’t do some of your own legwork.

“The first 10 days on the market are the most critical to selling a home because new listings tend to get the most attention from buyers,” says Brenda Wall, relocation director with ERA Colonial Real Estate in San Antonio, Texas. “Anything a seller can do to get their home ready to sell before putting it on the market would be helpful, including de-cluttering, cleaning, painting if needed and making the home look spacious and bright.”

The Internet and social media have opened limitless new strategies to sell your home and find your next one. Try Craigslist, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. And don’t be shy, say real estate agents. When you’re selling, post pictures that show your home at its best and upload a narrated video tour – because that’s what you’d want to see as a buyer. At some real estate agencies, a video tour is becoming the new requirement for sellers.

3. Accept a helping hand: Take advantage of a wide range of services, beyond your local realtor’s, that could help you streamline the buying and selling process. Some cost money, such as home “staging” services that can help whip your house into selling shape. Others are free, such as relocation benefits offered by some employers, or the military’s Homeowners Assistance Program. One free service actually helps you while you are out and about looking for a place to live. For example, Home Circle from USAA provides free home search services on the Web and through an iPhone app that gives you access to the same comprehensive listing information real estate agents use, driving directions to the homes you’ve searched and organization of pictures taken to help you keep track of all the homes you’ve seen. Chances are you qualify for some type of assistance through an employer, the government, or an association you belong to – you just have to ask.

4. Get creative: Sometimes it takes out-of-the-box ideas to seal a deal. If you know that a potential buyer is wavering on whether to make an offer on your house, buck convention by making a “reverse offer,” where you try to win the sale with an attractive price. Sellers might also sweeten the pot with extra incentives. Money toward closing costs or prepaid homeowner’s dues are common buyer incentives, but why not set yourself apart by offering a free trip to a beach resort?

If you’re the one buying but can’t find the perfect house, ask your agent to look up houses that were recently taken off the market. You might be able to request a “one-time showing” and get a bargain price on a house the owners thought they couldn’t sell.

5. Remain flexible: According to the experts, buyers and sellers should keep their pride in check and be willing to make some concessions, especially in a tough market. That means not haggling over minor repairs or refusing to leave behind the chandelier your potential buyer loves. Factor in the cost of keeping up your home for several more months versus just accepting a lower selling price today.

“Always think in terms of the bigger picture. Don’t lose a deal over $500,” says Jodi Van Wagner, a Coldwell Banker agent in the Pensacola, Fla., area.

Even in the most sluggish real estate market, an early start and an open mind are two of the best strategies to make your next move go smoothly.

Welcome Home to TRINITY!

Some things get better with age, like Trinity…one of the most comprehensive master-planned communities ever in Pasco County!

Over 3500 families have discovered why Trinity is a great place to call home – great shopping, great dining, great location and so much more:

• Highly rated neighborhood schools and day care facility
• Legendary Fox Hollow Golf Club
• Active James P. Gills YMCA of the Suncoast
• Top community parks and unlimited recreation for all ages
• Diverse shopping, from everyday necessities to quaint boutiques
• Popular dining spots and one-of-a-kind family restaurants and cafes
• Exquisite salons and spas
• Renown Trinity Outpatient Center and numerous healthcare offices
• Newest hospital in more than 20 years, the Medical Center of Trinity (2011 opening date)
• Convenient location with East Lake corridor to the west and Suncoast Parkway to the east

Located in Western Pasco County, New Port Richey is approximately thirty miles northwest of Greater Tampa and within a few miles to the Gulf of Mexico.

New Port Richey is a pulsating residential community with an attractive historical downtown and Main Street. The city is alive with redevelopment and growth into a broad array of business and retail services. Since its incorporation in the year 1924, the city is most recognized for its cultural heritage and unique riverfront landscape.

Pasco County is ranked as one the fasting growing counties in Florida, according to The St. Petersburg Times.  The City of New Port Richey attracts new residents and visitors at an increasing rate each year based on several factors.  New Port Richey’s geography blends nature, beaches and great shopping with restaurants, culture and business – all with a small-town feel.  Major attractions are nearby.  New Port Richey is rich in history and a town alive with happenings.

While Dunedin, Florida has a small town image, it is actually a bustling city of 37,000 residents. One of the oldest towns on the West Coast of Florida, it has a wooded and subtropical setting with almost four miles of picturesque waterfront, a relaxed lifestyle, and activities for all likes and ages, making Dunedin a truly delightful place to live or visit.

Dunedin offers something for everyone. A quaint and active downtown, beautiful parks, recreational activities for all ages, history, culture, educational opportunities, a wide range of housing choices, and much more. The Dunedin area enjoys near perfect weather, with an average summer high of 80 degrees and a winter low of 62 degrees. Average rainfall is 50 inches per year with the usual summertime afternoon showers.

Just off the coast of Dunedin are two of the communities’ most unique assets, Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands. Honeymoon Island State Park is less than a five-minute drive from the mainland, and offers a natural getaway for boating, swimming, fishing, picnics, and nature exploration. Caladesi Island State Park, accessible to the public by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by private boat, has consistently been named one of Florida’s top ten beaches and has won the coveted #1 spot for the best beach in America according to Dr. Beach.

The City of Dunedin also has one of the finest municipal marinas on the West Coast of Florida, offering safe harbor for sail and power crafts with dockside conveniences of water and electricity.

Dunedin’s economy is firmly rooted in the service industry, tourism, retail, financial institutions and services, health care, real estate and some light manufacturing.

Delightful Dunedin, with its rich Scottish heritage, is home to the Annual Highland Games and many other community festivals, making it one of the most popular places to live, work and play.

Begin your exploration with a visit to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, located at the west end of downtown, 301 Main Street, in its beautiful, historic building, for the information you’ll need to discover Dunedin.

Inverness, Florida …The Heart of Citrus County

The City of Inverness is the largest municipality in the County and continues to grow at a managed pace.  Residents take pride in being the County Seat of Government and becoming the principal hub for special events, culture and activity. Bordered by forests and lakes, natural resources have been protected and managed to provide a wealth of outdoor opportunities for family enjoyment. This is a community with a strong vested interest to respect their history and environment, while positioning themselves for future growth. Inverness, a transformed City of pride, progress, local values and opportunity.

With the Withlacoochee Rails to Trails only blocks from the heart of downtown, it is probably not surprising the City of Inverness is a bicyclers paradise.  Forty six miles of paved recreational trail allows bicyclists and walkers to get their daily dose of activity, while experiencing the natural beauty of areas surrounding the trail.  And, for those who wish to venture off the main trail, they will find easy access to downtown and bike lanes on the main roads to accommodate safe travel.

For the past decade, the City of Inverness has taken the lead to make our town a walkable, bicycle friendly community, giving the downtown area an “extreme makeover”, as well as adding benefits for all who live or work within the city.