Lori Blank & Associates

21

Mar

Uncategorized

It’s Almost Spring Cleaning Time! Kick Clutter To The Curb With These Home Cleaning Tips

Spring is around the corner, and it's time to get your home in order! Spring cleaning can be fun and easy if you follow some general guidelines, which are sure to get your home ready for the nice weather and looking as beautiful as the weather is about to. Kick the winter clutter to the curb with these spring cleaning tips. Start With The Closets Spring is here, and winter wear is no longer needed! It's time to box up all of the winter boots, jackets, gloves, and scarfs until next season. Starting your spring clean with your closets is…

20

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

NAHB Housing Market Index Ticks Upward

Spring is almost here, and the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index (NAHB HMI) thawed slightly in March. The current reading of 47 is one point higher than for February, but still indicates pessimism among a majority of builders surveyed. Analysts expected a March reading of 50. The gauge of builder confidence stayed near its lowest level since May. March's NAHB HMI reading remained below the benchmark reading of 50, which indicates that an equal number of builders are positive about housing market conditions as those who are negative. A reading over 50 indicates that more builders are…

19

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

BUSTED 4 Myths About Buying Your Home That Just Aren’t True

It can be pretty intimidating to dip your toes into the realm of home ownership, especially if you're a first-time homebuyer. To make things worse, there are a number of myths floating around out there surrounding the home buying process. Such misconceptions have many kept many would-be homeowners from realizing the personal and financial rewards of owning a property. To clear things up, here are 4 myths about buying your first home that simply aren't true. Myth #1 - "It's Cheaper To Rent Instead Of Own" If you buy a property that is within your budget and your mortgage terms allow…

18

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Living The Dream: Five Amazing Movie Houses That We Wish We Lived In

Our dream homes are often inspired by our own imaginations, from the homes we see in our own neighborhoods or the perfectly designed interiors we see in magazines. However, sometimes our dream homes can be seen on a much larger scale, operating as the home to some our favorite movie stars. Check out these five amazing movie houses that film buffs commonly lust after! The Alaskan Mansion in The Proposal: A Colonial Stone Paradise In the hilarious romantic comedy The Proposal featuring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, a gorgeous waterfront house acts as Ryan's family house in Sitka, Alaska, nestled…

17

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 17, 2014

Last week's economic reports provided rays of light as compared to the recent slump in positive economic news. Unusually severe winter weather conditions affected housing-related indicators as home builders and home buyers stayed on the sidelines. With spring on the horizon, last week's economic news showed welcome signs of growth. Job Openings Up, New Jobless Claims Fall Employment is a major factor in the decision to buy a home; would-be home buyers received a vote of confidence last week as January's job openings increased by one million to 40 million as compared to December's reading of 39 million job openings.…

14

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Make Your Home Green This St. Patrick’s Day

You're ready to make some changes to your home, but you want to be smart with your money and see a positive return on your investment. While most homeowners don't see that return until they sell their home, you can start seeing the benefits now through conserving energy by making your home green. So in honor of the upcoming green holiday, stop searching for that pot of gold. Get inspired by St. Patrick's Day to go green to cut your energy costs with the environmentally friendly renovations below. You'll soon see the savings building up at the end of the…

13

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Kitchen Space Saving Designs To Maximize What You’ve Got

So you've found the perfect home, but there's just one problem: the kitchen isn't as big as you'd like it to be. At first glance, a smaller kitchen might seem like a deal-breaker, especially if you love to cook. With a few space-saving design tricks, though, you'll have all the space you need and then some. It's all about making the most of what you've got. Here's how you can turn even the smallest kitchen into an efficient cooking and dining space. Fill Up The Walls: There's Ample Storage All Around You Walls are a surprisingly underused surface area in…

12

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Where To Find Inspiration For Your Home Decor

Are you working on decorating your home? Perhaps you want to spruce up your decor, but you aren't sure where to start. Where can you find inspiration for your home decor, besides the obvious home decor magazines and websites? Here are some fun and creative ideas that will inspire you when designing your decor: Luxury Hotels The next time you go on a vacation, you can find decor inspiration at your hotel. Most hotel rooms in mid-range to luxury hotels have beautiful, comforting and understated designs, so take photos if you find something that you like. Perhaps you can invest…

11

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Furry Friend Blues, The Best Ways To Settle Your Pet Into Your New Home

Moving can be a stressful and exciting process, and when moving with pets, your furry friend most certainly feels the stress and excitement as well. Pets don't always respond well to a new environment, so it's important to do whatever you can to ease your pet into your new house. Settling yourself and your pet into your new home may take time, but you can make it a smoother process by doing some research and planning. Here's how you can create a stress-free transition for your beloved pooch or kitty. Where To Put The Pet During The Move During the…

10

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 10, 2014

Last week's economic news included construction spending and the CoreLogic Home Price Index for January. Reports for February included ADP Employment, Non-Farm Payrolls and national unemployment data. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new unemployment claims rounded out the week's economic news. Highlights for last week include: Consumer spending gained 0.40 percent for January. The expected reading was 0.20 percent and the reading for December was flat. The Commerce Department reported that increased spending was less an indicator of consumer discretionary spending than an indicator of high utility costs caused by severe winter…