Gordon Street Realty

Four simple ways to raise your credit score

kgordon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:15:24 +0000

Raising your credit score can improve your life in many ways. You’ll have access to cheaper mortgage rates, you’ll pay less for insurance, and you may even have a better shot at your dream job. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Know what’s going on.
Annual credit report.com allows you a free report from all three credit bureaus once a year. (Avoid other “free credit report” sites, which are really attempts to sell you something.) You’re also entitled to a free report if you’re turned down for credit. Dispute any misinformation that negatively impacts your score. Creditors have 30 days to verify their report or they must remove the negative information.

2. Pay your bills on time.
It may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how much one late payment can hurt you. To help avoid this, have your monthly bills withdrawn from your checking account automatically. If you’re ever unable to pay, don’t just ignore the bill. Call the creditor and try to work something out. Sometimes creditors forgo a negative report if you make a good faith effort to pay what you can. Click here to read more.

Diversity in Design: Mix, Don’t Match, Wood Textures and Colors

kgordon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:53:20 +0000

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Still worrying about what goes with what when you’re decorating? Design style leaders nix the matching—”too boring”—in favor of mixing colors, wood grains, stains and textures throughout a room.

“Consumers think everything has to match, but the pros mix,” says Laura Dalzell, owner and president of Cabinets & Designs, Inc. in Lexington, Kenn. She’s a firm believer in combining, —for example painted wood cabinets with cabinets in both natural wood tones and a wide range of colored stains. Mixing is the magic that brings a kitchen to life, she believes. “Different finishes create the ‘furniture look’ that’s been the trend in kitchens for the last decade or so.” Click here to read more.

More reasons to love Brookhaven.New eateries and hot spots

kgordon — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:43:49 +0000

Brookhaven continues to grow as a destination for dining. Luckily I live in Brookhaven and don’t have far to go to enjoy a convenient and tasty client lunch or a nice dinner with my family. A few of the latest additions include Newk’s and Kaleidoscope in the Village Place Brookhaven. Okay, so Kaleidoscope recently celebrated its first year anniversary, but it feels new. With its global comfort food and fine craft beers, you’ll not only soak up good tastes, but a great atmosphere. Newk’s is known for fresh and convenient meals. You can have a salad, a sandwich, a pizza and have your cake, too. (Literally, Newks offers cakes to go.) So come to Brookhaven and check out our new restaurants, shopping and more. Then, if you decide you want to move to Brookhaven, contact me at kgordon@gordonstreetrealty.com I can help you find a place to live, too…right around the corner from Newk’s or Kaleidoscope.

Are you really ready to make a commitment? (And buy a house in Atlanta?)

kgordon — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:58:53 +0000

So, it’s a whole new year and interest rates still remain low. You’ve been thinking about buying a home intown. Why not? You know the general area you want to live and prices will never be this good again. Right?

But wait a minute.

There are a few things to consider before you make that commitment. How well is the home constructed? No matter how much you can visualize yourself in the beautiful crafstman you just saw, are there any structural issues you should be aware of? Do you have a home you need to sell first? How long do you think it will take to sell it? Have you seen all the inventory available in Atlanta’s intown neighborhoods? Do you really know the unique flavors of each neighborhood?

These are some things to consider before committing to a home. I’ve found that the majority of our satisfied home buyers at Gordon Street Realty take about 6 months to shop for, consider their choices and then, finally buy a home.

I think this is a smart way to go. While there is certainly plenty of inventory and great prices, it doesn’t hurt to take your time. That way, when you finally do commit to your new home in Atlanta, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing you made the right choice.

Keith Gordon Broker/Owner; Realtor; A.S. R.: A.B.R. 2011 V.P. of Finance DeKalb Association of Realtors; Board Member

Gordon Street Realty

1384 Windsor Pkwy, Atl GA 30319

O# 404.254.4502 | C# 404.518.1580 | F# 1.800.620.7301

kgordon@gordonstreetrealty.com

www.GordonStreetRealty.com

Great decor is in the details

kgordon — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:03:51 +0000

Sometimes the grandest design changes are in the small details—a re-covered lampshade, painted knobs for old cabinetry, a new valence above a window. Plus, small changes are manageable because they don’t cause household upheaval. Transform your home decor style by paying attention to little design details.

Replace dated hardware for a shiny new look.
Simply replacing wooden doorknobs, for instance, with gorgeous crystal knobs can add dramatic vintage appeal to bedrooms or closets. Switch nondescript drawer pulls with something sleekly modern or decidedly retro for a new look. You can find vintage hardware online; or buy stylish reproductions of old hardware in many home improvement and home decor stores. Click here to read more.

Good news for homebuyers. Mortgage rates remain low.

kgordon — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:59:51 +0000

According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, average fixed mortgage rates have held steady in recent weeks. For five weeks in a row, average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages haven’t increased over the 4 percent mark. At the same time last year, the average rate on 30-year FRMs averaged 4.46. While the 15-year FRMs held steady at an average of 3.3 percent from the week before, rates are down an average of 0.51 percent from the same time last year. Adjustable-rate mortgages, meanwhile, have also fallen to record lows.

Good News for Home Buyers
The loss of percentage points is good news for home buyers. Due to these low mortgage rates, home affordability has never been higher. Click here to read more.

What to Ask Before Buying at a Foreclosure Auction

kgordon — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:24:05 +0000

Although foreclosed properties can be good deals, the process of buying is rife with pitfalls. Here is what you must know:

1. Have you done your research?
A foreclosed property may have all sorts of clouds on its title, from multiple bank loans to tax and contractor’s liens. Once you buy, you’re responsible for all such balances. Be especially wary of the situation where one bank forecloses, but another still demands to be paid.

2. How far has the process gone?
If the foreclosure hasn’t happened yet, it’s often possible to contact the owners and arrange a pre-foreclosure sale, which can benefit both parties. The next step is the foreclosure auction, where the greatest risks and rewards are found. Finally, it’s possible to buy post-auction properties from the bank. These are usually spruced up, but they’re priced higher as a result. Click here to read more.

Current tax breaks for homeowners

kgordon — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:49:07 +0000

There are many benefits to owning a home, not the least of which are the financial advantages of home ownership. Homeowners can gain a number of tax benefits, and, combined with the Fed’s indication to keep interest rates attractively low throughout the new year, home buying in 2012 is promising to be a financially astute plan. Consult with your accountant about which of the following perks you might enjoy.

Mortgage Interest Deductions (MID)
This deduction allows home owning taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by the amount paid in interest on their residential home loan. Since interest payments alone can easily be double (even triple) the sale price of the property, this deduction can be quite valuable!

In 2011, the legislature considered putting this tax benefit on the chopping block. The good news is that the deadline for action passed in November, and there is presently no proposal to limit this mortgage interest deduction. Click here to read more.

Should you paint wood floors?

kgordon — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:53:16 +0000

Should you paint over an old wood floor, or should you restore the floor to its natural beauty? Although your decision will ultimately depend on your taste, there are a few things to consider before you plunge in to the job.

How long will you live there? You may love the look of painted floors, but most buyers prefer natural wood. If you are going to put time and money into the floors, you might as well improve the home’s value by refinishing. The cost comparison depends on who does the job and how much repair is involved, but you will likely recoup any additional cost to refinish down the road. Click here to read more.

Ideas to enjoy the holidays

kgordon — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:55:48 +0000

People tend to get so busy they forget that it’s the simple gifts, the simple activities and even the simple decor that usually creates the most enjoyable season. Here are some fantastic ideas to help your holiday season flow a little better.

Go for the Experience
Whether hosting a holiday dinner for family or friends or searching for a great gift for someone, focus on the experience instead of price or tangible gifts. One way is to host a “white elephant” gift exchange party and limit the gift pricing to $5 or $10 each. This enables guests to each receive a gift without everyone spending a lot of money. Think of fun ways to conduct the exchange; this is great for parties with ten people or more!

For experience-based gifts, consider buying tickets to concerts or gift cards to a dinner theater. Find out the recipient’s favorite activity (golf, hunting, fishing, skiing, skating, bowling, movies, restaurants, etc.) and purchase tickets or gift cards for one of these. For the one that’s more laid back, consider giving a free day at the spa! Click here to read more.