Archive for September, 2011

Save Money, Save Energy, Save the Earth at Your Brooklyn Home

Monday, September 19th, 2011

 

Save Money,Save Energy,Save The Earth

 

Saving money and saving the planet go hand-in-hand. It’s all about being thoughtful, creative, and into DIY – doing it yourself. Here are some ways you can save money, Save Money, Save Energy, Save the Earth at Your Brooklyn Home

  • Be seasonal. Dress, cook and eat according to the weather. If it’s hot outside, dress accordingly, and keep the thermostat in the high 70s. Don’t use the oven in summertime; eat and drink cold fare. When it’s cold, wear a sweater, and keep the temperature in your Brooklyn home in the high 60s. Winter is the time to bake and to eat warm, hearty food.
  • Use a clothesline. The clothes dryer is an energy hog. Let the sun and wind do it instead. Go ahead and fluff the wet laundry briefly in the dryer on the air fluff cycle before hanging it. You’ll be surprised how fast your sheets will dry, and how smooth your clothes come out, compared to the rumpled look they get from the dryer. And the truly fresh scent beats the cloying smell of fabric sheets any day.
  • Keep air filters clean. Professionals recommend that you check the filters on the air conditioner and furnace in your Brooklyn home once a month, and clean or replace when needed. This will keep your heating and cooling systems working efficiently and extend their life.
  • Grow your own. Farmer’s markets are great, but there’s nothing like going right outside the door of your own  home to get the freshest ingredients for your meals. Even if you’re an apartment dweller, you can grow fresh herbs (and more) in pots.
  • Use cloth diapers. If you don’t want your child to live next to the disposable diaper landfill in 20 years, don’t create it today.
  • Get rid of the gas-hog. Still driving an SUV or truck? Don’t be fuelish. Trade it in for a used car that gets over 30 mpg.

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Think Like a Real Estate Agent in Brooklyn New York

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Charles D'Alessandro your Brooklyn New York real estate agent

Before you put your home on the market, you want to make certain that it’s in tip-top condition to ensure a quick sale. The key to listing your home at a competitive price and guaranteeing you have what buyers are looking for is to think like a Brooklyn  real estate agent. To get your Brooklyn home ready to sell, here are five easy and inexpensive home improvements this Brooklyn real estate agent recommends: Layout – Take an objective look at your home and stage accordingly. Remove clutter and rearrange furniture so that potential buyers can envision each room’s purpose. Also, store any obtrusive furniture that disrupts walking flow or makes rooms look smaller.

  1. Hardware – Update all hardware. Changing out door handles, drawer pulls and light fixtures is an easy way to modernize your home while costing little money.
  2. Charm – Play up the unique features of your home. Refinish hardwood floors if scuffed, remove excess objects from built-in bookshelves and clean unique light fixtures. It’s these irreplaceable elements that make your home stand out from other homes and hook buyers.
  3. Scent – Eliminate all bad odors like pet smells, stale cooking odors and cigarette smoke.  Just lighting candles or spraying air freshener won’t work.  Clean, deodorize and get rid of rugs or other cloth objects that still smell bad.
  4. Curb AppealSpend some time sprucing up the yard. It’s the first impression buyers will have, and although the house might be in mint condition, a lots-of-work lawn could instill a negative notion before they even step a foot inside your home.

Buyers’ needs vary in every market. However, buyers will always consider these five features before they buy. So, stay one step ahead of the game and ensure your house is up to par with buyers’ expectations. If you’re getting ready to sell your home and are looking for a Brooklyn real estate agent who can help you sell your home fast and for top-dollar, I’d be honored to be interviewed for the job.  Give me a call today  Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],

Divorce and Your Real Estate in Brooklyn New York

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Divorce and Your Brooklyn Real Estate

Divorce is hard enough without having to deal with the frustration of dividing assets. However, when it comes to valuable items such as property, you need to make sure you’re taking the logistical steps necessary to appraise and distribute your Brooklyn real estate.

Determining Value of your Brooklyn Home

  • Hire a real estate appraiser – If you and your soon-to-be ex can’t come to an agreement on the value of your home, then you might want to consider employing an appraiser to come to a decision for you.
  • Get help from a real estate agent – A more cost-effective, but maybe not the most precise, way to determine the value of your property is to ask a Brooklyn New York real estate agents to estimate the cost. They’ll usually charge you little to nothing, and you can use this as a way to interview real estate agents to sell your home.

Evaluating Equity of your Brooklyn home

  • Calculate the true value – Computing the equity of your home is essential to figuring out how much it’s worth. Take the home’s value and subtract how much you still owe in mortgages, equity loans and secured lines of credit.
  • Figure out non-marital vs. marital equity – In equitable property states, non-marital equity (such as assets acquired before marriage, prenuptial exclusions, gifts, personal injury settlements and inheritance) remains yours and is set aside from the communal marital assets.

Dividing Assets

  • Know the difference between the title and mortgage – Many people try to have their name removed from the title thinking it will exempt them from the debt of the mortgage — this is incorrect. The title lists the legal owner and the mortgage lists parties responsible for payment. If one party is awarded the home, then you must refinance for it to be reflected on the mortgage.
  • Sell and divide the proceeds – Put your home on the market for an immediate sale, and after all the costs have been deducted, divide what’s left.

When dividing assets during a divorce, an immediate sale isn’t the only option. You can award the house to one party and compensate the other with money or other valuable assets.

If you’re going through a divorce and need help deciding how to proceed with your [city] real estate, I’m happy to help.  Call  Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],

4 Questions to Ask Before Lending Money to Your Child to Buy Brooklyn Real Estate

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Questions and Answers from Charles The Realtor®

You’ve reviewed your finances and have decided you can afford to and want to help your child buy Brooklyn real estate.  Is lending the money to your offspring your best option?  Here are some questions to consider when making this decision.

  1. 1. Will you need the money later?

If there’s a chance that you might need the money to live on at some point, lending the money to your child is a better option than giving it to them.  You can always forgive part of the loan later on, if you find you don’t need the money to live on.

  1. 2. How much should you lend?

Depending on your financial situation, you can lend part or all of the down payment or part or all of the purchase price of the Brooklyn real estate.

If you have enough money to lend the entire mortgage amount, consult with your financial planner to determine if this is the best option for you. Lending the entire amount often offers you more interest than you’d get from a bank and gives your child an even lower interest rate than he or she would get with a traditional mortgage.  It also allows your child to deduct the mortgage interest because the loan is secured by the property.

  1. 3. Who will receive the mortgage payments?

Decide if you want to receive the monthly mortgage payments or if you’d prefer to have a third party service the mortgage.  If you want to know more about employing a third party to draw up the mortgage contract and accept the monthly payments, look into companies that handle intra-family loans.

  1. 4. How much interest should you charge?

As part of the loan agreement, you’ll want to charge an interest rate equal to the IRS-approved Applicable Federal Rates (AFRs). The AFR is the lowest interest rate you can charge without causing any unwanted tax complications.  Work with your financial and legal experts to ensure the loan agreement is in the best interests of both you and your child.

Let me help you find the Brooklyn real estate that meets the needs of you and your child – and get it at a great price!  Call call Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],