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  • March30th

    McMansions

    Posted in: Miscellaneous

    It’s too large to be practical. It’s out of place among the things around it. It’s made for a small cost and sold for a big one. It looks a lot like every other one ever made. And it’s popping up everywhere.

    It’s not a retail chain, a mega mall, or a fast food restaurant. It’s a McMansion.

    The term “McMansion” came into use in America in the 1980’s, after these ubiquitous oversized houses began popping up in neighborhoods across the nation. What, exactly, is a McMansion? Also referred to, in the same vein of sarcasm, as a tract mansion or a starter castle, McMansions are a style of oversized house, built with mass-produced quality, usually adorned with a cookie-cutter style of “traditional” features such as gates, gables, and wrap-around porches. In spite of the variance of the individual features, all McMansions have a tendency to look alike, which helps spawn the derogatory attitude they tend to inspire. People also dislike them because of the fact that they are built hastily and haphazardly, with no real regard for the environment, the lay of the land, individual tastes, or, most importantly, the historic value of a particular neighborhood.

    McMansions- the elegant estate in a to-go box- are popping up in neighborhoods all over America. And in some areas, it’s becoming a real problem.

    With the size of American homes increasing in alarming rates over the past few years, people have to realize that all of these big houses must be going somewhere. Although in the early days there were often separate communities for this type of housing- often on the edge of a town, and featuring a gate, a playground, and a manufactured stream- nowadays there is less space and a McMansion can very well be plopped down in the middle of any neighborhood where land is available.

    Some cities are fighting back. Suburbs around Detroit, MI and Dallas, TX are fighting the tract mansion boom particularly hard. Citizens in those cities, and in other cities whose historic neighborhoods are being affected by the building of these ever-larger homes, are lobbying the government to pass regulations preventing the tearing down of smaller, older houses in order to build something so out of keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.

    In the meantime, as more of these ubiquitous mansions continue to appear, neighborhoods are changing face, lots are becoming too crowded, and old cities are losing their charm. The more McMansions that are built, the more alike they become- after all, there’s only so many ways to arrange a porch and three gables. It might have been okay when it was all within one gated community. But now, there’s a problem: they’re spreading.

  • March30th

    Landscaping Tips to Sell Your Home

    Posted in: Selling

    The outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see. Keep this in mind when it comes time to put your home on the market. Many home sellers focus largely on the inside of the property, which is extremely important- but this is not a time to overlook the first impression your home makes from the street.

    There are a few simple things you can do as a home seller to make your house more instantly appealing. If potential buyers get a good feeling on their way in, they’re much more liable to like what they see once they get inside.

    The first step is grass. If you have it, great. Cut it neatly and trim the edges. If you have grass but it leaves a lot to be desired- for example, if you more weeds than actual grass- you can still make a good impression by keeping it neatly trimmed. If you haven’t noticed, neatly cut weeds look a lot like grass. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. If your lawn is in bad shape and has bare patches, invest in some grass seed. Sod would make the ultimate impression, but most home sellers are reluctant to put down the cash this requires, and there’s no guarantee that sod will grow anyhow. Put out fast-growing grass seed, string off the area, and let potential buyers know that you’ve made the first step towards giving the house a nice green lawn.

    Shrubbery is another inexpensive and important factor for homes on the market. It’s worth the small investment to plant some bushes near the front door, or near low-lying windows where privacy might be a concern. It’s a known fact that people respond well to bushes planted at the end of a sidewalk, framing the entrance into a yard, so if your walkway is bare consider a bush on either side of it. A few blooming flowers from your local nursery will also help. Don’t worry if they look freshly planted. You don’t need to fool people into thinking they’ve been there forever; you just want to show that you’ve made some good effort, and that the yard has good landscaping potential.

    And that’s the last trick: We said “potential.” One of the worst things a home seller can do is over-landscape their lawn. Buyers will get a crowded impression if they can’t turn around in your yard without running into a brick path or a bed of flowers. Leave some open space and let buyers imagine how they would design the area if they owned the house. Your potential buyers might have children, and want the open yard space for a jungle gym or play area. So keep the design loose and generic, and don’t spend too much time or money on landscaping to sell.

    All you really need are the few small details that will make a good first impression.

  • March30th

    Is Housing Too Expensive?

    Posted in: Investment

    The face of America’s population is changing by the day. With the onset of many lower-income jobs and the flux of workers in the job force who are making the federal minimum wage, the financial situation of the country’s population has been shifting. Along with this shift comes the inevitable shift in the country’s housing situation. With incomes and housing rates in flux, America’s housing situation has been steadily worsening and may very well reach a crisis point in the near future.

    In many areas of the US, a recent study finds, the average minimum-wage worker cannot afford the rent and utilities on an average apartment. This study assumes that no more than 30% of a worker’s income goes towards rent and utilities- the government considers a percentage higher than that to be too much. In a country where owning a home is a major status symbol, it is a cause of real concern when a large segment of the population cannot even afford to rent one. Are real estate costs getting out of control?

    For an average two-bedroom rental apartment in the United States, the average worker must earn, according to the government, in the area of $15 an hour. With the minimum wage currently at about a third of that amount, the fact is that many families cannot afford to keep the roofs over their heads, much less save money to someday buy a home. The fact remains that wage increases have simply not kept up with the booming costs of real estate rentals and utility costs. While rent costs are climbing, utility costs are climbing faster still. And it’s also worth noting that in areas where housing costs are lower, wages are on average also lower, so there is not much benefit to be gained by relocating. The minimum wage has not changed in the United States since 1997, while the costs of housing continue to rise.

    The US government has also fallen behind on their spending towards Section 8 rental vouchers, which help low-income people pay their rent. More landlords than ever before, particularly in metropolitan areas, accept Section 8 vouchers; but since government spending towards these vouchers has not kept up with demand, they are becoming more and more difficult to get. As housing costs increase, those who depended on Section 8 can no longer do so.

    Not surprisingly, rent in rural areas is the most affordable, and California is at the top of the list when it comes to hourly income needed to afford a typical apartment. It’s a difficult situation for anyone who is having trouble making their rent: The option to move somewhere cheaper, but make less money, is not much of an option.

  • March30th

    Is a Townhouse for You?

    Posted in: Trends

    A townhouse, also called a rowhouse, is actually very much the same thing as a condominium, with one technical difference. Both are housing units that are physically attached to other units on either side- thus the name rowhouse, since they stand in a row. But in a condominium, the land the houses stand on is owned by someone else. A townhouse, on the other hand, means that the person living in the home owns the land it is sitting upon.

    townhouse

    Townhouses can be single or multiple stories. Each townhouse has a small patch of yard or perhaps a patio in the back or front, and the lawns are divided equally among the houses. This is a definite advantage over apartment living, where many housing units are in the same structure and thus there is no property division on the ground. Townhouses can be grouped into pairs as a duplex, or in larger groups that form a main complex. Townhouse owners are generally required to keep up their own section of lawn, and may be required to pitch into maintenance of any common areas as well.

    So who benefits most from this style of living? For many people, the idea of living in an apartment grows old quickly. Having neighbors above, below, and around you can be tiresome; the lack of a yard is also a drawback. However, many people either cannot afford or do not wish to own a single family dwelling. Townhouses give buyers the option to own a house that is still part of a housing community.

    Townhouses are ideal for the elderly, or for young families just starting out. The mutual walls give a sense of security, although of course there is also a loss of privacy. Having a small patch of yard to tend, rather than a full lot, can be a blessing for those who are unable to tend a full yard. A townhouse can be a great starter home for young couples with children.

    Of course, because a townhouse is indeed part of a housing community, there are rules which homeowners must agree to follow. Often townhouses are subject to the rules of housing associations, which limit decorations and modifications that can be made to houses or yards. Many townhouse communities prefer to present a unified front, and changes must be approved before they can be made.

    For those who are interested in a community style of living but do not wish to remain in an apartment, a townhouse can be an excellent substitute. Townhouse living is available in all kinds of neighborhoods and in many different styles all over the United States. From brownstones in New York to vinyl sided dwellings in Nebraska, town homes are available at all levels and offer the homebuyer a whole new range of options.

  • March30th

    How to Find Houses for Sale

    Posted in: Buying

    When it comes to purchasing a home, the choices available can be a little overwhelming. With the onslaught of the internet, it seems there are thousands of ways to locate that perfect home, and a new buyer might be a confused about where to start. There are a few good ways to narrow the selection.

    First of all, if you know where you want to live, then go there. Whether it’s a new city or a new neighborhood, taking a drive through your future abode can open up plenty of possibilities. Realtors and independent home sellers still rely very much on the For Sale sign in the front lawn, and there’s no substitute for real curb appeal. This technique has the huge benefit of allowing you to see the properties in person and know immediately if they are worth pursuing. However, it’s rather unusual for prices to be listed on For Sale signs outside houses, so try to stick to areas that you know are in your price range. Make sure to bring a camera and a pad of paper, so you can take pictures and write down phone numbers and addresses for future reference. You might end up making an awful lot of phone calls, but it can be worth it.

    While you’re in your new potential city or neighborhood, pick up the local paper. The classified ads are still the time-honored way to get a house onto the market and you’ll find no shortage of listings. Prepare yourself to make some more phone calls and do some more driving. We didn’t say this would be a quick process!

    Then again, it can be. For those in a time crunch, there are many ways to find houses for sale that don’t involve legwork. Many websites offer specialized house searches, which charge a small fee and do the ad-scanning for you, sending you information on properties that meet your criteria. There are also several companies in your local yellow pages which offer this same service. For those who need to move quickly or don’t have the resources to hunt, these services can be lifesavers!

    Finally, whether you’re in a hurry or just browsing, talk to local real estate agents. They’ll be able to give you information on what properties they are personally representing, as well as a feel for how prices are running in various parts of town. Keep in mind that agents make money selling houses, not explaining markets, so they won’t be able to offer you specialized help unless you’re purchasing from them. But if nothing else, their information may be able to point you in the right direction.

    House hunting is an exciting process no matter how you do it, and there’s no right or wrong way to begin. When it’s time to go, weigh your priorities and choose your weapon, whether it’s a pad of paper and a pen or the World Wide Web. The right property is out there somewhere. The secret is to have fun finding it!

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