Home Fire Safety in Ludlow VT

With this week’s news coverage of the devastating fires in California, home fire safety is a most timely topic. Although we may not be at great risk for wildfires here in Vermont, we do tend to enjoy cozying up by the fireplace on a winter’s night – an activity that can be a big fire hazard. An important part of responsible homeownership is being prepared to both prevent a fire in your home and to rescue yourself and your family should there be a fire in your home.

This printable Fire Safety Checklist, provided by FireSafety.gov, is a great resource for determining what fire hazards may lurk in your home, how to reduce those hazards, and what to do if there is a fire. The Today Show also provided some useful tips to ensure homeowners would be prepared to evacuate their homes with little or no notice in the event of an emergency such as fire. These tips include:

Make copies of your documents. Either put them in a waterproof and fire-proof safe, or give the copies to a trusted friend or relative. Make electronic copies, as well. Remember that valuables left in a safe deposit box at a bank could also be destroyed in the case of a widespread natural disaster.
Get your insurance information in order. If disaster strikes, make your claim right away, and be sure to take pictures of the damage.
Prepare an emergency kit. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Gather essential items such as a battery operated radio, bottled water, food, medication, blanket, first-aid kit, etc.
Come up with a family plan. Again, do it now! Make sure everyone knows where the important documents are, and agree on a meeting place in case you become separated.

Many of these items are tips we hear over and over again, but they never really seem useful until a disaster strikes close to home. By the time that happens, of course, it is generally too late to put the tips to use. Preparedness now can save time and, possibly, lives later.

If you are thinking of becoming a homeowner in Ludlow VT, please call me today at 802-353-1983 or visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. You may also begin searching Ludlow VT real estate here!

Improvement In Mortgage Market Bodes Well For 2008 Housing

Conditions in the mortgage market are improving for consumers, which should help to release some pent-up demand in early 2008, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, notes that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales. “Conforming loans are abundantly available at historically favorable mortgage rates. Pricing has steadily improved on jumbo mortgages since the August credit crunch, and FHA loans are replacing subprime mortgages,” he said.

Read the full article here, and remember that the Ludlow VT real estate market is always changing from month to month and neighborhood to neighborhood. For the most up-to-date information about Ludlow VT real estate, please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. Also click here to request relocation information!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch in Ludlow,VT!

The temperature is dropping, the leaves are beginning to change, and autumn is officially in full swing in Vermont. That means Halloween is just around the corner!

A great way to spruce up your home’s curbside appeal during this season is to decorate with a few locally-grown pumpkins – maybe even add some hay and a scarecrow to really get festive! Visiting a local pumpkin patch is also a fantastic way to enjoy the fall weather with your family and get some of those always-cute snapshots of the kids picking out their pumpkins. Why not start a new tradition this year and visit one of these local pumpkin patches?

To learn more about living here and Ludlow VT real estate, please visit my website or call me at 802-353-1983. You can also request complimentary copies of my e-Books here!

Buyers Beware When Investing in Foreclosures in Ludlow VT

We’ve been covering the hot topic of foreclosures a lot lately, because the number of homeowners defaulting on their home loans has been rising at an unprecedented rate across America. Today I want to look at the topic from a different angle.

While there are many homeowners today who are struggling to meet their mortgage payments, there are just as many would-be investors who are eager to capitalize on the situation by investing in foreclosures and – they hope – selling them for a hefty profit.

This may seem easy on the surface, given the rising number of foreclosed properties; however, potential investors should take the time to understand what they are getting into before heading to an auction or purchasing any bank-owned property.

This article from RealEstateJournal.com covers some of the caveats to investing in foreclosures. If you are investing in a property with the hopes of “flipping” it for a quick re-sale, you should consult an experienced Realtor first to get a clear picture of the current real estate market in your area. Homes may not be selling quickly in your area, which means you could end up with a property that continues to sit on the market while you keep making payments on it. Also, most homes purchased at auction cannot be inspected first, so your new property may come with major structural damage, hidden liens, or utility bills that need to be paid. It is up to the potential buyer to weigh out how much you are willing to invest in improvements over and above the actual price of the property.

If you are thinking of investing in Ludlow VT real estate, please email or call me at 802-353-1983. You can also visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com or begin searching the MLS here. I would be happy to help you invest in your future in Ludlow VT.