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Vacation homes are offering plenty of good deals at the moment. In many second-home hot spots, prices are still close to five-year lows. For example, single-home prices in second-home hotspot Napa, Calif., are down 47 percent from their peak in 2006, according to Fiserv. If you have a buyer looking to cash in on vacation- or second-home values, an article at CNNMoney.com recently offered the following tips: 1. Is it rentable? Even for buyers who aren’t planning to rent it out, they may still want to consider the rental aspects of the property, particularly since a home’s rental potential can affect…

TIME TO BUY: The cover story in the April edition of Fortune magazine trumpets that “housing is back.” “After four years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing,” proclaims Fortune magazine, one of the world’s premier business publications, in its April cover. The article, headlined “The Return of Real Estate,” explains that several market forces have created a more promising outlook for the industry. An excerpt: So let’s state it simply and forcibly: Housing is back. Two basic factors are laying the foundation for dramatic recovery in…

What You Need to Know and Do Credit reports have always been important, but they’ve grown even more important in recent years. Now more than ever, you need to make sure you understand what’s on your credit report – and you need to know what steps you can take to improve your score. For example, did you know that a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) can impact your credit score quite dramatically… and sometimes unfairly… depending on how it is reported? Here’s What You Need to Know… and Do! First, you need to know that HELOC’s are commonly reported by the three…

Check out these tax tips for homeowners looking ahead to 2011 returns. Mortgage interest: Your biggest tax break is reflected in the house payment you make each month since, for most homeowners, the bulk of that check goes toward interest. And all that interest is deductible, unless your loan is more than $1 million. If you’re the proud owner of a multimillion-dollar mortgaged mansion, the Internal Revenue Service will limit your deductible interest. Interest tax breaks don’t end with your home’s first mortgage. Did you pull out extra cash through refinancing? Or did you decide instead to get a home equity loan…

It is the first day of Spring…so enjoy! Plan in the next couple of months to go through this list and address any issues that may apply to you. Keeping up with home maintenance allows you to experience the “quiet enjoyment” of your investment and helps to keep it from devaluing in the future. As current homeowners you need to keep your property in good condition so that the small maintenance issues do not become major and expensive repair items. Here are some annual maintenance items that you should…

For those of you who have made an investment in a rental property or are attempting to generate revenue from an existing residence; the good news is that more and more people are opting for vacation home rentals as an alternative to hotels and B & Bs. If you follow a few key principles, you should make money from rentals year after year. Here you will find a few advertising tips to become a successful vacation home owner. Advertise Carefully: Advertising vacation homes online is the accepted norm for most owners; it’s relatively inexpensive, easy to set up, and produces good returns….

Garden season is here, and though it may be the number one hobby in America, it isn’t for sissies. Gardening is touch on the hands, skin and back. Follow the tips outlined below for a welcoming garden that’s filled with color! Every season brings a different set of chores in the garden. Spring is an exciting time for gardeners as preparations are made for the bounty and beauty of the garden as it awakes from winter hibernation. It can also, however, be a bit overwhelming to know how to prioritize your gardening time at this time of year. Tip #1: Wear…

Home service contracts have always been a good way for sellers to entice buyers who may need a little more incentive to move forward while negotiating a sale. It’s not uncommon for a home to be advertised for sale with a Home Warranty included. Service contracts typically cover repairs to appliances, air conditioning and heating units and water heaters. As simple as that may sound, all service contracts are not the same and the cost can vary according to the age of the home and items covered. You should weigh the costs and check what the policy allows before…

RISMEDIA, March 10, 2011. A recent study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that while consumer hesitation on home buying is waning, the recent housing downturn has changed what Americans are looking for in their next home. The survey research on consumer preferences, which is presented annually at the NAHB International Builders Show, suggests that the severity of the recession has left an indelible mark on prospective home buyers, who have shifted their perspective on the housing they want and need. Builders who were surveyed expect homes to average 2,152 square feet in 2015, 10% smaller than…