The Latest Kitchen Design Trends...

The kitchen is often one of the most important rooms in the house that people consider when shopping for a home. Most likely because we spend so much time there.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), founded in 1963 as The American Institute of Kitchen Dealers, has nearly 40,000 members. Earlier this year it released its top trends for kitchens and bathrooms for 2010.

Here is a look at some of the top trends from NKBA:

Concealed Kitchens. This means the kitchen area blends with other areas of the home. Items such as commonly used appliances may be concealed, refrigerators and dishwashers may have facades to blend in with the cupboards. Ultimately, the harmonious blending of color, design, and functionality make kitchens aesthetically pleasing and useful.

Thirst-Quenching Stations. Beverage stations are becomming quite popular, complete with under-counter refrigerators that hold beverages and wine. Many of these beverage stations include a coffee station due to our great love of "joe" in this country. The design typically includes space for stemware, beverage mugs and glasses, and condiments. This setup allows people to gather to quench their thirst while being out of the way of the chefs.

Rounding Out the Edges. Countertops, islands, archways, and even light fixtures, are being designed with soft, round edges.

Varied Heights. No more monotony. Kitchen countertops, islands, and even walls are being designed for specific purposes and that means their heights are varied.

Asian influence. The impact of Japanese design is showing up in subtle ways such as "clean lines, open spaces, and neutral color palettes with bold splashes of color in select areas," according to NKBA. The association says oftentimes there will be "one strong anchor piece of Japanese origin" that designs are built around.

Whether you're shopping for a new home or thinking of remodeling your current home, remember that trends do change. However, those that tend to stick are the ones that combine pleasing looks with highly functional features. But in contrast, you can never go wrong with the classics. Most importantly, make your home comfortable for you.

Buying land, is it a sound investment?

People are living longer healthier lives so there are longer retirement years. Also people want to be able to travel, possibly have a second home, and generally have money in order to enjoy their retirement years. There are many ways of saving money and planning for the future. A great solution is land investment.


Purchasing land can be done with two missions in mind, either anticipating building a second home or newer/retirement home on it or re-selling it for a profit one day.  You may find you might even change that mission as you go along.  Having the knack of knowing what area maybe in demand someday that a developer would pay millions for is a big bonus when picking a plot of land, but we can't all be so lucky.  But make a decent some is perfectly reasonable.

Land investment is a solid way to turn a profit in a fairly short period of time, especially if the land is located in a growing area. There will never be more land created, so it is a closed market. The taxes on undeveloped land are very reasonable so the investment is cost effective. There is no maintenance involved and land prices are usually not affected by the stock market. This makes for a sure, sound investment if you are looking to expand your portfolio.

Is Your Home Redy to Show?

So you put your house on the market, you're ready to get that thing sold!  You just sit back and wait for the hoardes of buyers to come through and one will buy, just like that?  No.

A good test is to get a friend to come over, one who doesn't come over often, and give you their opinion.  Would they buy your home?  Doesn't it look appealing?  Clean?  Inviting?  And then ACT on their advice.

 One of the most common complaints is that homes have too much clutter.  Most buyers don't have the ability to see past the "stuff" and just look at the house.  So, you, the home owner must present your home in the best possible light.  You need to get rid of the "stuff".  Less is more. 

The best way to get rid of the clutter is to throw out, give away, or sell what you don't need.  If that is not possible, get a temporary storage unit and put as much as you can in there, just keeping minimal furniture and personal items in the house.  What personal items you do keep in the house (i.e. jewelry, toiletries, figurines) should be kept in cabinets, drawers, closets, etc. 

And most importantly, keep your home clean.

Credit Score Myth Busters!

There are many misconceptions about what effects a credit score. Here are a few myths about what effects your credit score:


1. Bouncing a check. A returned check for insufficient funds in your checking account will not reduce your credit score. Information from your bank accounts is not reported to any of the credit bureaus, thus it has no effect on your credit score.

2. Checking your credit report. Checking your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com once a year from each of the three credit bureaus will not only not effect your credit score, but it is a wise idea. This credit check will not be a ding on your credit and it will help you keep an eye on what is on your report and what shape your credit is in. Do not buy into any of the scams that make you sign up for a service and spend money. AnnualCreditReport.com is all you need to know.

3. You need to get rid of all of your debt. Wrong! You need to show that you have some ongoing, current credit. It is wise to have at least one credit card and use it once a month and pay it off or make on time payments each month, to show that you have active credit.

4. Pay off your mortgage. Again… wrong. It’s good to have a mortgage; it shows you have assets and equity. It provides a lot of leverage in the credit world.

There are many more myths and tips. It is wise to speak with a credit specialist such as a banker or mortgage broker if you have concerns or questions on your credit. Your best offense is to find out your credit score and consult a financial expert with questions.

Digital Devices May Cause Eye Strain

Eye pain, fatigue and headaches are common indicators that your digital devices may be causing you discomfort. These devices include computer monitors, TVs, Smart Phones, video games, anything with a lighted screen.

According to recent research with VSP Vision Care eye doctors, 33 percent reported that nearly one third or more of their patients suffer from symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome or digital device-related vision problems. The most common symptoms of patients suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome include eye strain, dry or irritated eyes, fatigue and headaches. Yet, two in three eye doctors report 20 percent or fewer of their patients even know what Computer Vision Syndrome is, showing a low level of understanding of the condition.

It is important for everyone who uses these devices often to get an annual eye exam and discuss their digital usage with their eye doctor. VSP Vision Care recommends the following tips to help lessen the symptoms of computer-related eye strain:

1. Blink often. This will help keep your eyes moist and prevent dry eye.

2. The 20/20/20 Rule: When spending long periods in front of a digital device, every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away to allow your eyes to rest.

3. Ensure Proper Lighting: Poor lighting often causes eye strain. To help ease the strain on your eyes, keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum and position your desk lamp to shine on your desk, and not at you. Position your computer screen in a way that reduces reflections and glare from windows or overhead lights.

Pay attention to how you are feeling when you are using these devices, and take these steps to ease eye discomfort. A little prevention goes a long way.

Tips for Your Final Walk-Through

As part of a real estate deal, a final walk-through is always offered. Do not pass it up! Within a week before you close take the time to visit the home you are buying again. Take the time to inspect the items that you may have negotiated to be repaired or changed. Make sure nothing has changed significantly since you were last in the home. It’s helpful to bring your purchase contract with you to check off the items that were supposed to have been taken care of.


Also make sure any items that were promised in the contract are still in the home, such as appliances, window screens, storm doors, remotes, ceiling fans, window treatments, landscaping and fixtures. Make sure that the major systems are properly working such as heating, cooling, plumbing, and hot water heater. Be on the lookout for any damage that wasn’t there before that could have been created in the move, such as holes in the wall or scratches on the floor, and outside damage as well. You are also entitled to a “broom swept” home; you don’t have to accept it’s condition if it is filthy.

You have the right to buy the home in the condition you thought it was in the last time you saw it. Exercise your right to inspect the home and make sure everything is in order, because after the sale has closed, it is not the seller’s responsibility anymore, and nothing can be done about it. Make sure you get what you paid for!

Know Your Budget Before You Buy

There are many things you need to consider before buying a house, however there is one that should take precedence… your budget.


Most people don’t take a good hard look at their budget and crunch numbers before buying a home. It really is the smartest thing you can do to prepare for acquiring a new home. First, add up all of your income, if you are a couple, add together all sources of income, AFTER taxes. Then add up all of your monthly expenses, this includes everything from utility bills, to credit cards, car loans, food, entertainment, dry cleaning, hair cuts, etc. You must take everything into account to see how much you can comfortably spend on a mortgage payment each month.

However, you must also leave enough room in your budget for the expenses of being a homeowner – repairs, appliances, decorating, etc. This will give you a nice buffer when you come across unexpected expenses and it will help you in deciding on whether you can afford the repairs on the “fixer-upper” you thought would be a great deal or go with the one in better shape.

Thoroughly planning a budget will ensure a much more enjoyable homeownership experience.

Know Thy FHA Changes...

An FHA loan is a very valuable tool with it’s low down payment requirements, lower credit score requirements and the allowance of non-occupying co-borrowers. In the recent slow economy FHA loans have been in big demand, but unfortunately, dealing with that high capacity has lead the government to make some changes. Some changes are already in the works, inevitably more will follow.


One such change that has already been made is An increase in FHA Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium. This change became effective April 1, 2010. UFMIP went up from 1.75% of the loan amount to 2.25% of the loan amount.

Impact to consumers--Higher up front and/or monthly expense if fee is financed.

Two changes that are in the works and will likely take effect:

1. An increase of FHA Monthly Mortgage Insurance. If enacted it will be an increased monthly expense to consumers.

Impact to consumers--Buyers with tight debt ratios will qualify for lower loan amounts.

2. A decrease in maximum seller contribution from 6% to 3% of contract price. If this does come to pass, it may negatively affect sales in some markets.

Impact to consumers--Those who lack cash for closing costs or downpayment assistance and rely on seller contributions for such, will no longer be in a position to purchase.

These are somethings to be aware of when considering an FHA loan. Don’t necessarily leave everything up to your mortgage professional, feel free to do some reading up yourself and ask questions. An educated consumer is always a better consumer!

The Price is Right!

Some 24 percent of listings currently on the market in the United States as of July 1, 2010, experienced at least one price reduction, according to Trulia.com.  

What does that mean to you, the buyer?  It means there are deals to be had.  It's still a buyer's market.  Your negotiating power is stronger than ever.  There is still a slight imbalance sometimes between what sellers think they should get and what the market will actually bare.  So it is to the buyer's advantage to have an astute real estate agent research other comparable sales in the area and negotiate with the seller.

What does that mean to you, the seller?  It means you need to choose a real estate professional who will price your house right.  You need to have an agent who will research recent sales in the area and find out what your home is really worth and price it accordingly.  This will lend itself to getting your home sold quickly without any price reductions that just prolong the sale.  An agent such as myself, will price it right the first time!

Despite some painting a gloomy economic picture right now, it is really a great time to move real estate!

Market Ambles Towards a Solid Recovery

Wow, what a June! Figures all of the pre incentive deadline transactions had to close sometime, eh?


In my real estate practice I noticed a significant drop in activity in May. Expected I guess but kind of scary in light of the unpredictability of the market and where its been the past 24 months! Fortunately both buyers and sellers seem to be back in play. The market quiets down in July and August. I'm always bullish so I think 2010 will break the quiet trend during these months.

Discover the featured listings at http://www.realestateonthemove.biz/. New listings added everyday.

The market is the market, sometimes dynamic and sometimes not. Sometimes worse than others and sometimes better. But statistics don't lie!

I've been watching Monroe County home sales for the past few months and see something of note in the numbers.  Weekly median sale prices show an uptick over the median year-to-date and the prior year-to-date. This seems to be the experience both in the suburbs, collectively, and in the City of Rochester. During the comparative periods the sales volume has been relatively the same.

Why is this significant? What does it mean? This means that sales price continues to rise here but a look at the magnitude of the numbers says that the upward move is cautious.  The trend is positive though and something to be pleased with in light of the news reports we hear from other communities.  Lets see what the numbers say at the end of the summer.  Hopefully the trend continues.  I am bullish on the trend! How about you?

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