AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Brighten Your Dim Apartment With Translucent Concretehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/09/02/brighten-your-dim-apartment-with-translucent-concrete/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/09/02/brighten-your-dim-apartment-with-translucent-concrete/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/09/02/brighten-your-dim-apartment-with-translucent-concrete/#commentsFiled under: ,

Homeowners of the future may hlitracon, light-transmitting concreteave a lot more options when it comes to illuminating their pads. Thanks to the Hungary-based design firm, LiTraCon, architects and designers can construct entire walls that glow. Incorporating optical glass fibers in the construction design, the fiber-concrete blend creates almost microscopically small see-through patches, making each block of LiTraCon concrete significantly less opaque than traditional building materials.

Since fiber optics only comprise approximately 4 percent of the wall's design, the concrete can bear the same weight as traditional building materials, the only difference is, you can see glimpses of what's on the other side. Because the fiber optics are built into the concrete itself, thickness doesn't matter. LiTraCon walls can be up to 65 feet thick without losing their translucent glow. Luckily DIYers looking to get that effect in their own homes needn't pony up the $1,069 a three foot-by-three foot LitraCon block will cost you. Here's how to create light-emitting concrete yourself:
It starts with craft clay, fiber optic wires, a bit of concrete (naturally) and an idea of what exactly you'd like to make (it helps to start with a small project like
Search Apartments and Homes for Rent
See photos of apartments and homes for rent in your area on RentedSpaces
a candle holder until you get the hang of it). Next, create a mold of the shapes you'd like to make. For the sake of practice, this can be almost anything waterproof ranging from a Tupperware container to a plastic bowl. Pour the clay into the mold and stick a few fiber optic wires in (the pros over at Instructables cut some off of an old toy). Mix cement in a separate container until it's relatively thin and pour over, making sure there are no air bubbles trapped within. Pull off the modeling clay and mold and voila! Light-emitting concrete that's 800 times cheaper than the professional stuff. It should look something like this. (A very detailed explanation of the process along with photos is available at Instructables.com).

While the result on the DIY end isn't nearly as homogenous or polished as the LiTraCon material, the at-home alternative is vastly cheaper, fairly easy to make and seems to produce comparable results.



Still trying to decide which is right for you? Here are some AOL Real Estate guides to help you no matter whether you choose to buy or rent:
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.


 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>building materialshigh-tech building materialslighting-effectslitracontranslucent concreteChristina Couch2010-09-02T15:40:00 00:00Could a Tree House Solve Your Housing Dilemma?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/31/could-a-tree-house-solve-your-housing-dilemma/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/31/could-a-tree-house-solve-your-housing-dilemma/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/31/could-a-tree-house-solve-your-housing-dilemma/#commentsThese days you read more about homes being underwater than up in the air. But with more artists and architects building tree houses, some of today's coolest and most avant-garde homes are nestled in tree branches.

Equipped with amenities including electricity, plumbing, heating -- even Wi-Fi -- big-kid tree houses provide a creative alternative to life on the ground and provide an airy escape from packed streets. Many are made from recycled materials and use eco-friendly systems like solar power and rainwater recycling. And, of course, you can't beat the views.

In celebration of these digs in the sky, here's a look at some of the most amazing tree houses in the world:
The Peartree House, Germany

baumraum, peartree house, andreas wenningDesigned as a gift from a wife to her husband, the Peartree House (yes, it's in a pear tree) was built as a romantic getaway. Located in Heilbronn, Germany, and created by the Baumraum treehouse firm, the dwelling has a terrace that drops a few feet to allow the owners to hit golf balls off the landing to the lawn below. To make the design stand out, Baumraum architect Andreas Wenning, author of Treehouses--Construction and Design Manual, created the ceiling and walls using no right angles.

While the tree house was originally created as a backyard escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, well built modern tree homes can add significant value to a property. According to BusinessWeek Magazine, high-end tree houses can sell for anywhere from $7,000 all the way up to $1 million and usually wind up turning off many buyers but adding tremendous value for a select minority. While no statistics exist on the exact value the homes themselves add, Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers says that mature trees alone add up anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 to the value of a property.


The Steampunk Tree House, Delaware

Artissean orlando, steampunk tree houset Sean Orlando says that one of the primary benefits of his ultrahip tree house is "you can see your enemies coming from a mile away."

sean orlando, steampunk tree house Designed in 2007 as an art installation for the Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nev., the home and 40-foot metal tree it sits in were created almost entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials by 60 volunteers in Oakland, Calif.

Created "to explore the relationship between our rapidly changing natural world and the persistent human drive to connect with it and one another," the 15-by-12-foot home cost approximately $60,000 to construct and contains a wood-burning stove to keep it warm, a telescope for bird-watching, and a steam calliope for creating music. The surrounding metal "tree" is equipped with LED lights in the branches (giving it a post-apocalyptic firefly effect) as well as a steam generator for spooky effects at night.

While the treehouse doesn't have a kitchen or bathroom, it does have an amazingly Jules Verne-ian interior complete with stained glass windows and Tim Burton-esque furniture. Both the house and tree have taken up permanent residence at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Del.

Tree houses that act as second homes have more real estate value than those that operate without plumbing; however, they can make for novelty overnight housing. To turn his tree house into a money-maker, Wofford Heights, Calif. resident Mike Lane transformed his plumbing and electricity-free place into an apartment.


Sybarite Tree House, United Kingdom

Part "Jetsons," part alien spaceshipSybarite tree house, sybarite, the concept tree-dwelling designed by Sybarite Architecture and Design of Chelsea, London, consists of modular pieces that can be hauled up above the treeline to create a whole new breed of canopy-dwellers. Comprised of (mostly) recycled materials, the home uses solar and wind power for electricity, collects rainwater for home reuse and can be built as a studio, or all the way up to a five-bedroom home -- complete with rooftop play area, elevator, cloakroom and optional rooftop Jacuzzi.

While the design was created for treetop life, Sybarite says that the model could be used to construct similar homes on steep mountain slopes or low-lying forest valleys, turning formerly unusable land into valued property. While the design hasn't been built (yet), the concept does raise a number of possibilities for the future.



Free Spirit Spheres, Canada

tom chudleigh, free spirit spheresNext time you find yourself wandering through the woods of Vancouver, look up. Hanging from ropes far above the earth's surface, spherical homes house adventure-seeking adults looking for a great escape. Designed more as private treetop hotels rather than permanent homes, the spheres come equipped with beds, microwaves, refrigerators and heaters. Guests have to venture into the wilds of Vancouver to scavenge for food at local restaurants.

"The spheres are all about unity and oneness," says Free Spirit Spheres founder Tom Chudleigh. "Architecture is a way of shaping and creating habitat to reflect a feeling and to harmonize with the environment. The sphere is a form of architecture that reflects that thought and feeling of oneness."



Finca Bellavista, Costa Rica

erica hogan, finca bellavistaIt started with a surfing trip to Costa Rica and ended with an entire treetop community built by two kids from Colorado. After riding the Costa Rican waves with her husband, Matt, in 2006, Erica Hogan loved the country so much that she wanted a house there. "We wanted a fixer-upper surf shack or a bungalow in the rainforest," she says. "The idea was to create something simple."

After literally machete-ing their way down to the banks of the Rio Bellavista, the couple found the perfect spot -- a 62-acre riverfront property located in the middle of natural nothingness. Since they couldn't afford the property on their own, Erica pitched the concept to friends. "I threw the idea of building a tree house on the table, but we knew that the parcel [of land] was far bigger than what we needed or wanted," she says. "I thought maybe friends would be interested in going in, then I thought that maybe they would like to build tree houses, too, and we could connect them with zip lines and bridges and make an Ewok village like the one in "Return of the Jedi."

Today the property is beyond what Erica originally imaged. The tree-house community has grown to 300 acres, with 45 parcels sold to private owners. There's a community center, community kitchen, Wi-Fi zone, lounge and bathhouse. Homes currently cost anywhere from $35,000 to $150,000 to construct and can span from one to 10 trees.

Unsurprisingly, they're eco-conscious as well. Unit owners have the option of recycling rainwater, and the tree house community connects into a vast "Skytrail" network of bridges to allow neighbors to visit each other.

"Life at the Finca is probably more rustic and simpler than most communities in the conventional world. But I can honestly say I lack for nothing in terms of necessities or amenities," says Hogan. "It's certainly different, but that's why we love it so much."


Still trying to decide which is right for you? Here are some AOL Real Estate guides to help you no matter whether you choose to buy or rent:
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>architectureeco-friendly homessecond homestree housetree housestreehuggerChristina Couch2010-08-31T17:30:00 00:00How to Get an Accurate Moving Quotehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/20/how-to-get-an-accurate-moving-quote/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/20/how-to-get-an-accurate-moving-quote/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/20/how-to-get-an-accurate-moving-quote/#commentsmoving quoteAndrew Woodworth didn't realize how expensive his move would be until it was all over. Moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn in April of last year, Woodworth originally received a moving quote of $700. In the end, he paid $825.

Why was the moving quote so different from the actual price? "When the movers showed up in the morning, they didn't bring enough people to carry my stuff and I wound up paying for more people to come out to my building," explains Woodworth, an attorney currently based in New York City. "I had told them exactly what I needed to have moved, but when they arrived at my apartment, they basically told me, 'Either you pay for more people to come out and do this, or you can pay for more hours, because it will take longer.'"

You don't have to suffer the same fate. Here's how to get an accurate moving quote and have the moving firm stick to it.

1. Research, research, research

Do some homework before making a single phone call to get moving quotes, advises Kay Lynn Clay, marketing manager for ABF U-Pack Moving in Fort Smith, Ark.

"Make sure the companies you're interviewing are licensed and insured," she says. "Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints and do some research online through sites like Movingscam.com and Epinions.com."

Even if a company is all clear on the internet, ask a few former clients about their experiences. Before asking for moving quotes from a particular moving firm, ask the company if they can put you in touch with a few clients who have used their service in the past.


2. Know thyself

The easiest way to get an accurate moving quote is to give your future moving company a realistic idea of how big the job is.

"The more accurate you are and the more details you give, the better service you'll get," explains Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving Corporation in California. "Also, turn and run if the moving company does not ask you any questions because chances are, they are not matching their service to your needs."
Improve Your Home's Value
See Local Home Painters pre-screened by ServiceMagic
See Remodeling Contractors pre-screened by ServiceMagic
Check out other pre-screened contractors

Before asking a moving company for their final quote, relocaters need to take a thorough assessment of not only how much stuff they need moved but also should know if:
  • they'll need packing materials
  • anything needs customized packaging.
  • they'll need a driver or they plan to haul themselves.
  • the moving schedule is likely to change.
  • they plan to sell any large-scale items like furniture prior to the move.

3. Ask the right questions

Now it's time to get moving quotes. Noah Duarte, New York regional manager for Gentle Giant Movers, advises those moving to compare apples to apples.

"If you receive several quotes and some are less expensive than others, ask yourself why that might be," he says. "It could be because one business is paying their workers fairer wages and investing in their training department, all of which translates into a higher quality move."

Before saying yes to one particular moving quote, relocaters need to be absolutely clear about what exactly the fee covers, what it doesn't cover and how much insurance or liability for damages the company has in case of an accident. Relocaters need to be wary of hidden fees as well. In addition to the up-front cost of moving, companies can also tack on fees for heavy or unusually-shaped items, cleaning, additional packing materials, tolls and driver fees.

"Also ask about how the price can change," adds Clay. "If you change your moving date, will the cost go up? Will it cost more if I choose to move at the end of the month when everyone else wants to move? What happens if I cancel? People moving need to know these things."


4. Shop around

It pays to get more than one moving quote and to interview a few companies to make sure you're getting the best deal.

"In my case, I went with this particular moving company because they were supposed to offer a discount for people moving into my new building," explains Woodworth. "They didn't and I ended up paying more than I was supposed to. The experience could have been better."


More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>moversmovingmoving quotesmovingscam.comChristina Couch2010-08-20T13:25:00 00:00How to Negotiate a Home Offerhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/10/how-to-negotiate-a-home-offer/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/10/how-to-negotiate-a-home-offer/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/10/how-to-negotiate-a-home-offer/#commentsFiled under:

selling home, making an offer, home negotiationPatricia Golden is not the kind of woman you low ball with a home offer. After purchasing a home in Richmond, Va. for under $100,000, Golden decided to flip it for a tidy profit.

"I was working in Washington, D.C. at the time and hoping to transfer to Richmond, so I was only living in the house on weekends," the retired federal worker recounts. "It took me three years to fix up and when it was done, I was determined to make some money."

After putting the house on the market, Golden got a home offer quickly, but it didn't meet Golden's financial benchmarks.

"They originally wanted to give me somewhere around $106,000 for the house, but we negotiated it up to $115,000," Golden says. "I'm lucky I had an agent who was willing to help me get the price up to where I wanted it to be."

Golden got lucky in the negotiation process, but many sellers don't. For those who aren't well-versed in the fine art of negotiation, selling your house, especially settling on an appropriate home price with a buyer, can be scary. Here are a few tips from the experts.


1. Do your homework

"Sellers should go and actually see their competition," says Katie Wethman, a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in McLean, Va. "See what other people are getting for their houses and what their homes include. That will give you a realistic idea of your asking price."

Wethman adds that with so many homes both on the market and going into foreclosure, doing price research as you prepare to sell your house is crucial for those hoping to move their homes quickly. Price it too high and you may not attract any buyers. Price it too low and you'll be flooded with home offers but won't get the true value out of your home.

"People always think that they're going to name a price and then go back and forth 10 or 15 times with a buyer to find a compromise," adds Wethman. "It's usually only two or three times, so it's important to set a reasonable price from the start."

First-time sellers can start the research process by asking their agent to use a multiple listing service to determine prices of comparable homes in the area and by taking the time to tour neighborhood homes on the market.


2. Understand your market

Once you have an idea of what other homes in the area are selling for, it's time to research the larger real estate market.

"Real estate varies a lot depending on your geographic location," explains Mia Melle, president of West Coast Property Specialists, Inc., a real estate brokerage in Ontario, Calif. "In California, it's a sellers' market. People are fighting over the cheapest homes and every sale gets multiple offers. It's not like that everywhere."

Understanding whether you live in a buyers' or sellers' market comes down to knowing how fast homes in your area sell and whether the sellers were inundated with home offers or simply settled on the one they got. Before you sell your house, ask your agent for information on home sales in your area and talk to your former neighbors about their home sale experience if possible. Prospective sellers can also head to AOL Real Estate to investigate homes that have recently changed hands.


3. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate

The key to successfully selling your house, adds Melle, is to look beyond the price itself.

"Everything is negotiable," she says. "If the buyers won't rise to the price that you're asking, you can negotiate other things like who pays the closing costs, upgrades or repairs that the place needs, and who pays for things like the appraisal or the home inspection. You can also offer to sell the house as is, without doing any repairs."

By thinking of the home sale as a transaction with several different pieces, many of which can be tweaked to help the buyer and seller come to an agreement that both can live with, the seller gains significantly more negotiating power. On top of compromising on repairs and upgrades, Melle says that the seller can also throw in or remove home warranties and negotiate their move-out date.

"It's all in thinking outside the box and working with your buyer's needs," she adds. "That makes the process so much easier."


More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>home buyhome offerhome saleHomeBuyHomeOfferHomeSalenegotiate home saleprice negotiationsell your houseSellYourHouseChristina Couch2010-08-10T13:01:00 00:00House Made of Meat Serves Up Delicious Surpriseshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/03/house-made-of-meat-serves-up-delicious-surprises/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/03/house-made-of-meat-serves-up-delicious-surprises/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/03/house-made-of-meat-serves-up-delicious-surprises/#commentsFiled under: ,

mitchell joachim, meat house, terreform ONE, meat habitatDr. Mitchell Joachim is putting a whole new spin on the term "grow your own." An architecture and sustainable design professor at New York University, Joachim is also the co-founder of Terreform ONE, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that connects scientists, architects, artists and students in an effort to come up with a few creative solutions for urban sustainability. True to their mission, Terreform ONE has created one of the world's most bizarrely ambitious green habitat projects: a home created entirely from meat.

Designed to be a truly organic "victimless shelter," the scaled-down prototype unit's building materials are grown from pig cells in a lab, meaning that no trees or animals were hurt in the process, then shaped using the same medical techniques used to treat cancer patients.

Bacon anyone?
"The idea is based on a couple of concepts in regenerative medicine," explains Dr. Joachim. "One of the treatments for certain kinds of cancer is that you can replace the patient's bladder with cells grown in a test tube. When you do that, you have to shape the cells a certain way. Basically we used that technique to shape our cells too."

After creating and shaping the cells, Joachim and his project partner, Harvard Medical School grad Dr. Oliver Medvedik, applied a sodium benzoate preservative, then added fatty cells as insulation and sphincter muscles for potential doors and windows. Two years after creating the first prototype, the In Vitro Meat Habitat is still standing. Joachim says that it's impervious to almost anything except too much direct sunlight -- and bugs.

"Basically it's just a beef jerky house," he adds. "It's not living. There's no vascular system. It's just flesh that never was alive."

Despite its environmental benefits and a glowing endorsement at the TED Talks, the flesh house, even if a full-scale version is created, will undoubtedly be a tough sell to consumers. Besides the obvious visceral and design challenges ahead, the homes would also fall in that category of super eco-homes that struggle for financing. If you thought convincing a lender to fund a pricey suburban was a challenge, just try finding a mortgage for a lab-grown meat house.

terreform ONE, fab tree hab, mitchell joachimJoachim may be onto an idea that's much larger than a house made of test-tube meat. While the meat house seems like an unlikely sell, the notion of converging architecture and biology to create habitats that are a part of nature, rather than a subtraction from the environment, is certainly worthy of further investigation. A more palatable alternative is actually one of Joachim's earlier projects. In 2006, Terreform ONE introduced the Fab Tree Hab -- a shelter created by growing native trees over removable scaffolding. Once the trees are fully grown, the scaffolding is removed and quite literally the Earth acts as the home's structure. Think of it as a sophisticated tree house in which the trees come to you.

Despite insect and parasite concerns, not to mention the fact that it takes 7 to 10 years to grow a Fab Tree Hab village, both projects are a remarkable departure from traditional sustainable architecture and could represent the next step in earth-conscious design. Who knows? Perhaps homeowners of the future will strive to have a meat abode just as fancy as their neighbors. And imagine the cookouts.


More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>living homemeat habitatmeat homemeat housemitchell joachimterreformterreform ONEChristina Couch2010-08-03T17:15:00 00:00Apartment Security for Rentershttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/02/apartment-security-for-renters/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/02/apartment-security-for-renters/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/08/02/apartment-security-for-renters/#commentsFiled under:

no burglars sign for story about apartment securitySarah Wynn thought she was safe. The 27-year-old lived in a rental apartment in a bustling, low-crime section of Chicago. She was careful to keep her doors locked at night and her eyes open for suspicious activity in the neighborhood. It wasn't enough. After leaving for work one morning, a thief walked right into Wynn's apartment and snagged her laptop, jewelry, perfume and her roommate's camera. "I didn't think to lock the door behind me because my roommate was still there asleep," she says. "It's absolutely crazy to me that I got robbed while someone was in the apartment."

Apartments are prime targets for burglaries, whether someone is at home or not. They are 85 percent more likely to get burgled than single-family homes, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. But to avoid being a victim, there are some steps you can take to make your rental apartment more secure.

Know your neighborhood

When it comes to crime, the best offense is a good defense, says Tracey Hawkins, owner of Safety and Security Source, a home security store and consultation center in Kansas City, Mo.

"You should always know the crime rate in your neighborhood," she says. "You need to be aware of patterns of home invasion, theft, and grand larceny so that you can prepare accordingly."

While websites like NeighborhoodScout and EveryBlock provide updated information on local crime, Hawkins says that people who live in rental apartments should also stay in close touch with their neighbors and landlord, who can tip them off to suspicious activity.


Be proactive

Maintaining a watchful eye isn't always enough. In addition to staying informed, renters also should take proactive steps to ensure that their apartment is burglar-proof.
Search Homes for Sale
Browse through photos of millions of home listings or search for rentals

"That means asking for a fresh lock every time you move into a new apartment and placing dowels in sliding glass doors or windows to prevent them from being opened," says Melina Martinez, director of sales and marketing for Simplisafe apartment security systems. "If possible, invest in a security system."

While rental apartment dwellers typically aren't allowed to install a permanent security system in their place, they can invest in a portable alarms like those offered through Simplisafe or LaserShield Systems, as well as magnetic contact alarms that attach to doors and windows.

"If the alarm calls the police, too, that's great, but it's not necessary," adds Hawkins. "The beneficial part is the alarm. Criminals only need about five minutes, so they're probably going to be out by the time the police arrive. An alarm alerts witnesses who might be in the immediate area. That's what robbers are scared of."


Think like a criminal

"If you're a burglar and you're scoping out an apartment building and see that nobody has been in one place for a week, that's where you're going to go," says Martinez. "When they're out of town, people leave really obvious signs that basically invite burglars in."

Tenants heading out of town should enlist a friend to grab their mail and consider leaving an energy-efficient light on while they're away. Single people living alone should also consider adding at least one other name to the mailbox, particularly single women.

"It's so you don't advertise the fact that you're alone and you're more vulnerable," says Martinez. "If you want to beef up your security, you have to think like the criminals do."

Wynn is striving to do exactly that now. Since the incident, she's extra cautious about keeping her door locked. She also made sure that the landlord replaced the lock on the outside door leading into the building.

"There's never a time now when our doors or windows are unlocked, and we're always paid up on renter's insurance," Wynn says. "It's sad that we had to get robbed to be aware that this could happen to us, but now we're so much more careful."

Want to know how to deal with other rental issues? Here are some AOL Real Estate guides that can help:

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>alarmapartment securityApartmentSecurityhome securityHomeSecurityportable alarmPortableAlarmsecurityChristina Couch2010-08-02T09:15:00 00:00Eco-Home Owners Lose Financing for Going Greenhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/eco-home-owners-lose-financing-for-going-green/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/eco-home-owners-lose-financing-for-going-green/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/eco-home-owners-lose-financing-for-going-green/#commentsFiled under: ,

While homeowners searthship, biotecture, ecohomecramble to make their pads more environmentally friendly, Joe and Laura Hagar worry that their place might be too earth-conscious. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Colorado-based couple is having major difficulties finding a lender who will refinance their home, a 2,700-foot rancher made out of 17,000 old tires, as well as cans, bottles and plastic plates.

To make the home solid, the whole thing is covered a layer of concrete, clay and stucco. "We lovingly call it the trash house," Ms. Hagar said.
The Hagars aren't alone. From straw bale to shipping container houses, radical eco-architects are increasingly exploring new environmentally-friendly materials for home construction. The only problem is that banks have yet to catch up.

"If you wanted to, say, use hay bale as insulation, you can do that without any problems as long as you're meeting building code," explains Jeffrey Fritz, an eco-broker with Green City-Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles. "What becomes challenging is when a home doesn't meet building standards and there's nothing similar close by. That presents big problems for a lender, insurer and an appraiser since there's nothing to price compare it to."

Fritz says that for those seeking to build a home made from alternative materials, the first step is to make sure that the structure is up to code. To do that, homeowners need to work hand-in-hand with their local government, which may present a challenge in and of itself."

Different places vary on how much they'll work with you," Fritz says. "If you want to make a home out of environmentally conscious wood and the rest out of tires or clay, that's going to be a lot easier to get permits for than a house made entirely out of alternative materials."

With permits in place, swaying a lender to back your endeavor will be much easier. Provided that the home is proven to be structurally sound, Fritz says that lenders can't reject clients on the basis of the material they built with alone. They can, however, reject the client if an appraiser can't assess the value of the home.

"That's going to be your other major hurdle," says Fritz. "If there's nothing like the home you're making out there, it's extremely difficult to set a price. It's a lot easier if you have an established home and you're putting on an addition made out of alternative materials."

That hasn't stopped builders in the past. Earthship Biotecture, a green building firm based in Taos, N. M., specializes in creating carbon-neutral structures that require no fossil fuels, use no water and no municipal utilities.Made predominantly from trash-everything from aluminum cans and glass bottles to old electrical appliances-the buildings virtually eliminate utility bills and actively reduce trash that would normally get thrown into landfills.

"It's challenging to get financing because sometimes there aren't enough comparable buildings in the area," says Earthship spokesperson Kirsten Jacobsen. "Thankfully, there are some lenders who are doing green financing."

While several larger lenders including Wells Fargo have green lending departments, most cater to clients with structures made from earth-friendly versions of traditional materials. For everyone else, the choice is to either build in a part of the country like New Mexico that has a significant number of alternative homes or settle for something a little less radical.

"It's something that's growing every day," says Jacobsen, "but for right now, the financing part is a challenge."

earthship, biotecture
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.
************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.


 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>earthshipearthship biotecturehagartire houseTireHouseChristina Couch2010-07-26T17:37:00 00:00Keep Cool for Less With Solar A/Chttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/keep-cool-for-less-with-solar-a-c/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/keep-cool-for-less-with-solar-a-c/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/26/keep-cool-for-less-with-solar-a-c/#commentsFiled under:

Learn more about solar air conditioningEarth-conscious homeowners looking to keep cool this summer without breaking the carbon bank, listen up. As of late last month, LG introduced the world's first mass-marketed solar-assisted air conditioning unit and promoted it using sexy, mini-skirted models.

Attaching a small solar panel to a traditional A/C unit, the hybrid unit is estimated to prevent 466 pounds of carbon dioxide over 10 years from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of growing 780 pine trees, according to the Korea Times.

Considering how energy-inefficient traditional air-conditioning units are, LG's hybrid could be an environmental breakthrough. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an environmental think tank based in Washington, D.C, reports that home air-conditioning currently accounts for 5 percent of all energy produced in the U.S., approximately 140 million tons of carbon dioxide.
While solar-assisted A/C could put a significant dent in U.S. pollution output, Jason Holstine, an eco-builder and owner of Amicus Green Building Center in Kensington, Md., says that there are a few simple steps that homeowners can take without shelling out funds for an entirely new AC unit. (We also touched on a few more eco-conscious steps last month).

"First off, if you have a central A/C unit, go to the thermostat and turn it to the 'Fan' setting," says Holstine. "The fan is a lot more efficient than an A/C unit and since you're just circulating air rather than cooling it down, you can keep the windows and doors open with the fan on."

Switching a central fan helps to combat stratification -- the natural process in which hot air rises to the upper levels of your home while cooler air stays on the lower ones. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reports that home owners who choose central or ceiling fans over traditional A/C units will be rewarded with 3 to 5 percent sliced off their electric bill for every degree they raise the thermostat.

Homeowners can also improve their energy efficiency by installing timers to shut the A/C off when they're not home and choosing to purchase units with at least a season energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of at least 14. Perhaps the most important step is simply maintaining the unit you already have. The ACEEE recommends that homeowners have a technician come to inspect and tune up their A/C unit every two to three years, a move that can improve air flow anywhere from 5 to 10 percent.

"The older your system is, the more often it needs to be checked," adds Holstine. "Also, if there are bushes or shrubs around your unit, cut them down so that there's at least 12 inches of space around. If things are impeding the airflow, it's going to make your unit work harder."

For more tips on how to stay cool without damaging the earth, check out the ACEEE's guide to air-conditioning.


More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.
************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ACEEEamerican council for an energy efficient economyaoloriginaljason holstinesolar-assisted air conditioningChristina Couch2010-07-26T14:04:00 00:00Butler Robot Gets You Drunk Fasterhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/15/butler-robot-gets-you-drunk-faster/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/15/butler-robot-gets-you-drunk-faster/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/15/butler-robot-gets-you-drunk-faster/#commentsThirsty apartment-dwellers of the future may never have to get their own frosty beverages again. Last week Willow Garage, a robotics start-up based in Menlo Park, Calif., unveiled the Beer Me robot, an automaton capable of going to the fridge, selecting its owner's beer (or cider) of choice and returning with the refreshment in its cold, metallic hand.

While Beer Me isn't performing miracles just yet, Radu Bogdan Rusu, a Willow Garage research scientist, says that the technology has a wide array of practical applications.

Who knows, perhaps robot servants are right around the corner.

"As of now, there's no industry out there for domestic robots, but if you look at where we were five years ago, having robots do anything at all was basically a dream," he explains. "Once we understand what people want in terms of robots in their home, we can start taking a shot at creating this market."

Currently Willow Garage is trying to mobilize the robotics research community, both domestically and internationally. Earlier this year the company distributed 11 PR2 bots (like the one currently running the Beer Me application) to research institutions across the world in hopes of a breakthrough in practical application. While no institution has come close to creating a friendly household robocompanion like Rosie from "The Jetsons," Rusu and fellow Willow Garage researcher Caroline Pantofaru see housebots hitting retirement communities first, then working their way into more mainstream homes.

"Since our robot can fit anywhere that a wheelchair can go, a place like a retirement home, that's structured, is ideal," explains Pantofaru. "It's not so great for someone's home where there might be stuff everywhere."

News of the birth of Beer Me Bot comes along with a tidal wave of domestic robot headlines. Earlier this year Korean scientists unveiled a robot capable of cooking and doing laundry while The New York Times recently sent one of their reporters to interview an insanely realistic-looking bot known as Bina48. Currently, there are bots who can play music, comfort the elderly and create and produce their own original cartoon newscasts.

"We're definitely getting closer to having robots in the mass market, but we're pretty far from where we want to be," says Rusu. "I think we'll see this technology reach the market in one form or another in our lifetime."


More on AOL Real Estate:
See apartments for rent in your area.
Looking for a new home? See "Should You Rent or Buy?"


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>beer me robotdomestic robotsnovelty toysrobot servantswillow garageChristina Couch2010-07-15T16:19:00 00:00Green Moving Guidehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/14/green-moving-guide/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/14/green-moving-guide/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/14/green-moving-guide/#commentsWhen Greg Putnam and his wife were moving from their home of 10 years to a ranch house in Carpinteria, Calif., their main concern was cost -- not only to their bank accounts but to the environment as well. After researching local moving companies that specialize in earth-friendly moving practices, the Putnams settled on MoveGreen, a Santa Barbara-based eco-moving firm.

"We try to be as green as possible," explains Putnam. "We recycle just about everything and try to minimize our waste. We thought it was pretty cool that [MoveGreen] was concerned about the environment, too." And the Putnams were shocked to learn that the green moving company would cost 30 percent less than what other moving companies were quoting.

MoveGreen is one of a burgeoning number of environmentally conscious moving companies across the country. Known for reducing waste and carbon emissions, eco-movers are, in some cases, pricier than traditional moving companies, but friendlier to the Earth. Here's what you need to know if you're thinking about moving green.


What Is green moving?

Green moving is getting your things from one place to another while creating the least amount of waste and causing the smallest amount of environmental damage possible. That means taking specific actions to reduce trash and vehicle emissions created by moving. For those using moving companies, eco-moving firms like MoveGreen will haul your things while maintaining certain environmental standards.


Elements of a green move

Reducing your environmental impact during a move breaks down to three things, says Erik Assadourian, senior fellow at the WorldWatch Institute, an environmental think tank based in Washington D.C.: reducing the amount of stuff you're moving; the level of waste generated by the move; and the vehicle emissions released into the atmosphere to get your things from point A to B.

"The best way to reduce the impact of a move is simply to purge your stuff," explains Assadourian. "Get rid of those books that are just sitting on the shelf. The less you move, the less of an impact it makes."

Assadourian adds that relocaters can lessen their impact by being mindful of where they move. Those who move to larger homes that require more heating and air conditioning, and move farther away from their job and living amenities, will wind up causing more environmental damage over the course of their lives than those who stick to urban dwellings.


Reducing the waste generated by moving

Of course every move is going to generate a certain level of waste. Heather Perrilliat, co-founder of Heather Brookes Interior Organization, an eco-design, consultation and relocation firm based in Los Angeles, says that those moving can limit the waste their move produces by substituting durable storage containers for cardboard boxes, reusing items like newspapers and towels as packing materials and using bungee cords in place of tape to hold larger bins in place.

"Instead of having a moving company wrap larger pieces of furniture in plastic, try to use towels or sheets instead," recommends Perrilliat.

Assadourian adds that homeowners in the furniture market can limit their consumption by purchasing used goods ahead of time and having them delivered to the new pad. "That way when you arrive and see an empty room, you won't be compelled to run to Ikea to fill it," he says. "You'll already be prepared."


Eliminating vehicle emissions

Ideally, if you're moving green you would strap your things to a high-powered bike system and roll them, emission free, to their new destination. In lieu of that, those moving can limit air pollution by using hybrid vehicles to move smaller things (if that's an option) or by hiring moving companies that use biodiesel fuel and fuel-efficient transport. Here's where purging your things before the move will pay off, says Assadourian. Since vehicles lose their fuel efficiency as more weight piles on, relocaters who have a light move will use less fuel getting to their new destination than will packrats.


Getting help with green moving

If organizing a green move seems overwhelming, don't worry. Help is on the way. While some environmentally-conscious moving companies focus on providing plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes, companies like MoveGreen use biodiesel trucks, offer free recycling services, use reusable packing material and plant trees for every move.

"Not all movers are the same," explains Perrilliat. "Certain moving companies take it to a whole new level. We recommend that our clients use Rent A Green Box because absolutely everything is made out of recycled materials. It's really above and beyond."

By mining local landfills for frozen-food packaging, plastic bottles and dirty diapers, among other things, Rent A Green Box makes its own recycled packaging, creating zero waste in the process. To find a standout green moving company like MoveGreen or Rent A Green Box in your area, check out Green Movers USA for a list of local companies. If none are available, Assadourian says to ask area moving firms if they would be willing to adjust their practices for your move.

"You can talk to your moving company about things like using towels instead of plastic wrap, but they might ask you to waive your right to recourse if they damage something," he says. "The goal is to do what you can to minimize your impact, no matter how small."

Interested in more moving tips? AOL Real Estate has other great guides that might help:
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>eco friendly moverseco friendly movingEcoFriendlyMoversEcoFriendlyMovinggreen moversgreen movers usaGreenMoversGreenMoversUsamoversmovingmoving companiesmoving greenmoving housemoving outMovingCompaniesMovingGreenMovingHouseMovingOutChristina Couch2010-07-14T17:32:00 00:00Portable Apartment Heralds End of Moving!http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/12/portable-apartment-heralds-end-of-moving/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/12/portable-apartment-heralds-end-of-moving/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/12/portable-apartment-heralds-end-of-moving/#comments portable living unit, portable apartment, andrew klineAndrew Kline has a solution for renters stressing about moving from one pad to another -- just move the entire apartment.

A recent graduate from the Cranbrook Academy of Art just outside of Detroit, the 25-year-old Brooklyn-based designer created a portable apartment for his master's project. "I call it an 'interior living unit,' " Kline told RentedSpaces. "It's composed of nine pieces that are sized to fit through a doorway. Once you get them in, the whole thing screws together to create a cube that contains a bathroom, a bedroom, a wardrobe and a kitchen."
Providing a 12-foot-by-9-foot living space, the mobile units connect into a building's electrical and plumbing utilities to give the pod owner access to the same amenities as traditional renters. While the most obvious benefit to portable apartment life is the price: Kline's mobile test unit is currently on sale for $15,000 to $25,000, depending on labor costs. Kline says that the project has environmental benefits, due to the unit's constricted space, as well as social benefits.

andrew kline, mobile living unit, portable apartment"Detroit is a really hollow and vacant city," Kline explains. "Most of the inhabitants have moved out to the suburbs and there are a lot of buildings that are underutilized. Instead of tearing these buildings down, it would be a great place to start communities with these modules."

Kline isn't the only one exploring portable living.

AllWill Mobile Housing in Hong Kong is currently producing prefab stackable apartments while the Dutch company, Spacebox, has portable studios available for purchase.

Kline's project also comes on the heels of a recent announcement that the world's first mobile retirement pods will hit the market this fall. While it's undeniable that Kline's mobile units could turn a formerly empty building into a livable space, convincing renters to switch from traditional apartments to prefab cubes may prove a bit more of a challenge. Kline believes that he may be able to get around the problem by appealing to consumers who need a joint living and working space.

"Since the apartment folds up, you could easily have it in a larger space where you work," he says. "A yoga instructor, for example, could fold up the apartment and teach classes in the surrounding space, then unfold the apartment to live in at night."

Whether the unit can seduce a new kind of renter and transform unused space is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, more shots of the project can be found here.

Anyone interested in purchasing the unit can contact Kline directly at andkline@gmail.com.


More on AOL Real Estate:
See apartments for rent in your area.
Looking for a new home? See "Should You Rent or Buy?"


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Andrew Klinehousing solutionslow-cost housingnew homesportable apartmentsmall housesChristina Couch2010-07-12T15:19:00 00:00Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Why They Make Sense Againhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/09/adjustable-rate-mortgages-why-they-make-sense-again/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/09/adjustable-rate-mortgages-why-they-make-sense-again/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/09/adjustable-rate-mortgages-why-they-make-sense-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

Why ARMs are coming back in vogueEven with a potential double dip recession underway and fixed-rate mortgages boasting all-time low rates, some homebuyers are taking a shot at adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). While 30-year fixed-rate loans are hovering around the 4.5 to 4.75 percent interest mark, buyers who opt for 5/1 adjustable-rate products will enjoy rates as low as an astonishing 3.1 percent for the next five years.

"What we're seeing right now with five-year adjustable rate mortgages is interest rates that are shockingly low," explains Neil Merritt, senior director for Sherman Bridge Lending in Colleyville, Texas. "The low rates are bringing a number of buyers back into the adjustable rate market."
Unlike a typical adjustable rate loan, 5/1 ARMs lock in an interest rate lower than that of traditional 30-year fixed-rate products for five years. After 60 months of payments, the rate gets adjusted every six months for the remaining duration of the loan. Also available in one-, three-, five-, seven- and 10-year products, the 5/1 ARM is the most popular, since it offers a substantially lower interest rate than the seven- and 10-year products and also gives the homeowner a significant amount of time to enjoy the fixed rate.

"The 5/1 works best for people who are planning on moving within 60 months before the adjustable rate portion kicks in," says Merritt. "If they're doing a temporary work stint in one particular place, or they're in the military, or planning on expanding their family and moving to a bigger place, that's when a 5/1 ARM makes sense."

The catch, says Sue Pearlstein, managing partner for Statewide Funding in Kentfield, Calif., is that 5/1 ARMs can be tougher to get than 30-year fixed-rate products.

"As of July of this year, [5/1 ARM] consumers have to have a debt-to-income ratio that can support a loan with a 2 percent higher interest rate than the current 5/1 price," says Pearlstein. "That means that if the 5/1 rate is three percent, you have to prove that you can pay off a mortgage of the same value at a 5 percent interest rate in order to qualify."

Essential How-To Guides on AOL Real Estate
Home Buying
Selling a Home
Renting and Moving
Home Improvement
Pearlstein adds that 5/1 ARMs can also come with steep prepayment penalties, and since rates are so low right now, consumers can pretty much bank on a significant rate hike once the fixed-rate period is over. Combine those potential problems with the fact that it's difficult to estimate how fast a home will sell -- many have stayed on the market for a year or more before changing owners -- and you've got several considerations to take into account before deciding if a 5/1 ARM is right for you.

"In the housing market, there's still a lot that's up in the air right now, so a lot of my clients are still moving out of ARM products and into 30-year fixed-rates," says Pearlstein. "Mentally knowing that you're not ever going to have your interest rate changed is comforting to a lot of people."



More on AOL Real Estate:
Get tax advice from our experts.
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.


************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Sign up for a reminder on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>51 ARMsadjustable rate mortgagesfixed rate mortgageFixedRateMortgagesmortgage ratesChristina Couch2010-07-09T10:36:00 00:00High-Tech Chandeliers: Science for Your Ceilinghttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/08/hi-tech-chandeliers-science-for-your-ceiling/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/08/hi-tech-chandeliers-science-for-your-ceiling/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/08/hi-tech-chandeliers-science-for-your-ceiling/#commentsFiled under:

spikey chandelier, interior deluxe, elettra, elettra chandelierYou've got art for the walls, rugs for the floor and furniture to fill in the spaces between. Your ceiling, on the other hand, is probably still a blank canvas. Never fear, these super sweet, super geeky chandeliers provide light and lively decor.


Elettra 66 Grand Chandelier (pictured)

We love this thing because it looks like a delightful spiky light explosion. Designed by Italian light artist Renato Gambato, the Elettra 66 is completely wireless and uses satin glass to eliminate glare. Plus, it looks like a fireworks display in your home.

Learn more about the Elettra 66 and other high-tech chandeliers....


Those willing to shell out the $4,640 necessary to purchase it can do so here (silver lining: it comes with free shipping) or check out Gambato's smaller designs here, here and here.







WAC Organic LED Chandelier, WAC Lighting

led chandelier, wac lighting, wac chandelierInstead of burning traditional light bulbs this luxury chandelier is lit by OLED panels that use 10 to 40 percent less energy. There's a pretty long list of reasons to like this piece -- it's produced without using heavy metals or rare earth materials, the firm that makes it maintains ridiculously high sustainable manufacturing standards in creating the product (detailed here), and it will cost you less in the long run than typical chandeliers. But the real reason it makes our list of coolest chandeliers is simply because it's an energy-efficient piece that can appeal to science nerds as well as those with classic taste. Those considering adding it to their lighting can e-mail sales@waclighting.com to find a distributor near you.





Constellation Chandelier, Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn

consellation chandelier, kenzan tsutakawa-chinn, kenzan, studio 1thousandDesigned to "inspire dreams of the future and fond memories of the past," artist Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn's Constellation chandelier is another LED, energy-efficient piece, only it comes with a more modern feel. Powered by the same amount of energy it takes to light a 15-watt bulb, the chandelier is also made almost entirely of copper tubing, making it recyclable as well.






consellation chandelier, kenzan tsutakawa-chinn, studio 1thousand


























Rainlight, Charles Kalpakian

Charles Kalpakian, rainlight, rain chandelierPart lighting element, part art installation, this weather-inspired piece sheds light through neon tubes hanging down from a glass "cloud." "You can touch the rain and it turns into light," explains Parisian-based artist Charles Kalpakian. Quite a way to brighten up a depressing room. More Kalpakian designs can be found here.
Charles Kalpakian, rainlight, rain chandelier































Gummi Bear Chandelier, Ya Ya Chou

ya ya chou, gummi bear chandelierWe threw this one in for pure fun. Designed by artist Ya Ya Chou as a commentary on marketing for children, this 45-inch chandelier is made of beads, bulbs and more Gummi Bears than you can shake a stick at. "I explored the relationship between food consumption and class," explains Chou. "By rearranging the embellished snacks in the forms of luxury commodity, I wish to pose the questions: Who consumes these foods? Who has the choice to choose?"

Currently residing in a private collection, this Gummi Bear chandelier has inspired a few copycats (we wrote about one here). Though the piece isn't edible, it's definitely biodegradable.





ya ya chou, gummi bear chandelier

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>chandeliergummi bearinterior designLEDlightbulbslightbulglightingChristina Couch2010-07-08T11:36:00 00:00'Star Trek' Interior: Boldly Decorate Where No Man Has Gone Beforehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/06/a-star-trek-interior-boldly-decorate-where-no-man-has-gone-be/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/06/a-star-trek-interior-boldly-decorate-where-no-man-has-gone-be/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/07/06/a-star-trek-interior-boldly-decorate-where-no-man-has-gone-be/#commentsccording to the gospel of Tony Alleyne, the best way to get through dark times is to simply build your way out. After losing his job and going through a divorce, the now 57-year-old Alleyne of Leicestershire, England spent nine years transforming his home into an exact replica of the interior of "Star Trek's" Enterprise spaceship.

"It was an accidental sort of therapy," Tony says. "Back in the early 90s, I had no wife, no job and was depressed, staring down two roads. One road was to end it all and the other was to occupy myself. A friend of mine found a technical manual that people who worked on "Star Trek" used to build props. I told him, 'We'll have a go at building this.'"

You really have to see it to believe it....

With no carpentry experience, Alleyne started simple, with the goal of turning one room into a replica of the transporter station in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Thinking the project would only last a few months, Alleyne started studying the show, then adding smaller details, like paneling, before tackling larger scale work.

Tony Alleyne, trasnporter console, star trek"I was staying up until the early hours of the morning and totally enjoying every minute of it," Alleyne recounts. "I studied the show to get the scale and color right. It had to be absolutely perfect."

The Transporter Console itself took almost two years to finish. Complete with fader lights that respond to touch, stand-alone computer units that emulate the ship's navigational systems and of course a replica of Chief Miles O'Brien's transporter -- a creation Alleyne says took three months alone to construct --the console also includes its own cooling system to keep the sci-fi facade operating smoothly.

"When people come visit, they always want to be transported," explains Alleyne. "I added in sound effects to give it the right feel."

Once the console was in place, Atrekkie bathroom, tony alleynelleyne was out of his depression. It seemed logical to just keep going. Over the next six years, he added a brig designed after the one featured in "Star Trek: Voyager," a galley where guests can chomp sci-fi snacks, and even a space age bathroom. Over the past eight years, Alleyne has invested eight years, more than $10,000 and countless man-hours into making his geeky dream home a reality.

Today, he says that guys and hardcore Trekkies appreciate his creation, but women usually are still a little hesitant.

"A lot of women come in and aren't happy with the fact that there's no sunlight, there's no view," Alleyne reports. "Fellows seem to be OK with it, but there aren't many people who say that they could live here. For me, it works just perfect."

Also at AOL Real Estate.
See apartments for rent in your area.
Looking for a new home? See "Should You Rent or Buy?"

star trek kitchen, tony alleynetony alleyne, trekkie shower, shower schematics, trekkie bathroom

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>enterpriseleicestershirestar trekStarTrektony alleynetransporter consoleChristina Couch2010-07-06T17:28:00 00:00Cities With Jobs: Yes, They Do Existhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/cities-with-jobs-yes-they-do-exist/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/cities-with-jobs-yes-they-do-exist/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/cities-with-jobs-yes-they-do-exist/#commentsFiled under: ,

humbertomoreno, job search difficulty index Summer: Time for flip-flops, beach vacations and the hunt for that first post-college job for recent grads. According to the job search engine, Juju.com, certain towns offer better career opportunities than others.

Measuring a city's unemployed population versus the number of advertised positions, Juju's June list ranks Washington, D.C. as the easiest urban area to find work (with a scant 1.28 unemployed workers for every job) and St. Louis, Mo. as the worst (with more than 12 out of work people for every position on the market). Rounding out the top five for available employment are: San Jose, Calif., New York City, Baltimore and Hartford, Conn.

But, of course, a job isn't everything ...

A re-read of the RentedSpaces article from last week that presented the top-rated cities for new grads shows that several cities, like Phoenix and Atlanta, ranked high in livability due to the high concentration of young adults and low rents, but low on the percentage of jobs available. A study by CareerRookie.com that evaluates a city by the number of entry-level positions available, rental prices and concentration of young adults, ages 20 to 24, ranks Atlanta, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas and Boston as the top spots for recent grads, despite the fact that they boast fewer available jobs than Washington, D.C. and San Jose.

When evaluating employment studies, it's best to examine them with a grain -- or quarry -- of salt. Since employment trends vary wildly by industry, location and position level, blanket studies like Juju's may or may not indicate how readily you personally will be able to find a job in a particular destination. While jobs may exist in Washington, D.C. and San Jose, Juju's study doesn't indicate if they're all minimum wage positions or pay respectable salaries.

Finding where the jobs are is a question that's highly debated among statisticians. A study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D. are the three towns with the lowest level of unemployment in the country (approximately 3.5 percent). To find out if a given destination has work available to you, it's best to ignore generalized lists and head directly to local job-search boards to see who's hiring in your industry.

The same goes for livability studies. A survey conducted by Gradspot.com listed Chicago, San Francisco and New York City as the best places for recent grads, despite the fact that none of these cities cracked the top five on CareerRookie's list. Whether Juju's list of towns with available positions fit your personal style and career goals, they're good places to begin the hunt for a job. Here's the full list for June:

Job Search Difficulty (Least -> Most)

Metro

Change Since Last Ranking

Unemployed Individuals Per Advertised Job

1

Washington, DC

0

1.28

2

San Jose, CA

0

1.64

3

New York, NY

0

1.76

4

Baltimore, MD

0

1.78

5

Hartford, CT

2

2.27

6

Oklahoma City, OK

-1

2.46

7

Boston, MA

2

2.75

8

Salt Lake City, UT

0

2.80

9

San Antonio, TX

-3

2.84

10

Denver, CO

1

2.85

11

Austin, TX

-1

2.90

12

Seattle, WA

1

2.99

13

Philadelphia, PA

2

3.21

14

Richmond, VA

9

3.25

15

Indianapolis, IN

-1

3.40

16

Milwaukee, WI

3

3.41

17

Kansas City, MO

-1

3.41

18

Cleveland, OH

3

3.48

19

Dallas, TX

-7

3.50

20

Pittsburgh, PA

0

3.51

21

St. Paul, MN

3

3.60

22

Virginia Beach, VA

4

3.65

23

Charlotte, NC

5

3.77

24

New Orleans, LA

-6

3.81

25

San Francisco, CA

-8

3.83

26

Tampa, FL

7

3.92

27

Nashville, TN

-5

3.94

28

Atlanta, GA

-3

4.20

29

Phoenix, AZ

5

4.31

30

Buffalo, NY

-3

4.42

31

Houston, TX

-2

4.43

32

Columbus, OH

-1

4.44

33

Rochester, NY

-3

4.60

34

Jacksonville, FL

3

4.81

35

San Diego, CA

-3

4.81

Courtesy Juju.com


More on AOL Real Estate:
See apartments for rent in your area.
Looking for a new home? See "Should You Rent or Buy?"
************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts, "What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Watch it now on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>citiesemploymentemployment ratesgraduatesgraduationjob search difficulty indexJuju.comPepsiRefreshProjectst. louiswashington dcChristina Couch2010-06-30T16:30:00 00:00Living Next to Cemeteries: Plots With Peace, Quiet -- and Great Home Values?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/living-next-to-cemeteries-peace-quiet-and-great-home-values/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/living-next-to-cemeteries-peace-quiet-and-great-home-values/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/30/living-next-to-cemeteries-peace-quiet-and-great-home-values/#commentsFiled under:

graveyard real estateSome homeowners aren't worried about block parties, blaring music or their neighbors taking their parking spaces. That's because, according to an article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, an increasing number of homeowners are finding that their neighbors are ... well ... dead.

Whereas cemeteries were once relegated to land far outside of the city, urban sprawl means that everything once distant, including graveyards, is closer to urban centers and the living who reside within. While the peace and quiet that comes with living near the dead is undoubtedly nice (provided, of course, that there are no zombies), there is something undeniably creepy about living next door to a memorial park.

So what does living near a graveyard do to your home value?
"Living next to a graveyard lowers housing value, because many people are spooked," explains Issamar Ginzberg, a licensed real estate agent and home value expert in New York City. "If you want your home to increase in value, you're better off buying in a worse neighborhood than near a graveyard."

While the creep factor is in full-effect for many buyers, the quiet and open space can draw those seeking an escape from busy urban and suburban environments. Anne Wilson, a residential realtor in Oklahoma City, says that in these cases, a nearby cemetery can increase area housing values.

"In Oklahoma City, we have an upscale housing addition that borders a graveyard. This particular area is gorgeous, lush and peaceful so in this instance, the graveyard is a selling point," she says. "It can go the opposite way though too. Graveyards that feel spooky are a detriment."

The only way to truly find out if a nearby graveyard will haunt your housing price for the rest of its days is simply to visit the property, both during the day and night, and to talk to local real estate agents and neighbors about their experiences. Zillow.com can also give you a good idea of whether housing prices have been affected. Either way, prospective homeowners should prepare themselves for a potential decrease in housing values from the deceased neighbors, as well as all the horrible puns that come with the territory. With prices that low, people will be dying to get in.

Also on AOL Real Estate:
Check out homes for sale in New York
Check out homes for sale in Oklahoma City
Here's how to calculate your mortgage

************************************************

Want to learn more about home buying and home finance? If so, you won't want to miss
our online discussion with industry experts,
"What Works Now: Smart Moves When Buying a Home,"
created by AOL Real Estate in participation with Bank of America Home Loans.
Sign up for a reminder on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>anne wilsoncemeteriescemeterycemetery home salesgraveyardhome valuesissamar ginsburgChristina Couch2010-06-30T14:30:00 00:00Cheap Rentals for Chinese Youth: Capsule Apartments Out; Human Ant Farms Inhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/29/cheap-rentals-for-chinese-youth-capsule-apartments-out-human-a/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/29/cheap-rentals-for-chinese-youth-capsule-apartments-out-human-a/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/29/cheap-rentals-for-chinese-youth-capsule-apartments-out-human-a/#commentsFiled under:

capsule apartment beijingIn a world of rising rental prices, shrinking square footage and fewer amenities, it's borderline shocking that China's infamous capsule apartments aren't cutting the mustard.

Designed primarily to help low-income recent graduates gain a toehold in one of the country's most expensive cities, the tiny 8-by-4-foot rooms located on the outskirts of Beijing were available for as little as $40 a month. Hailed as a solution to China's skyrocketing housing costs and high level of homelessness, the capsule apartments offered a reprieve, albeit a small one, for those with no fiscal alternatives.

Which is why it comes as a surprise that some are being torn down. And where capsule apartments fail, many low-income Chinese residents are hoping "ant tribes" succeed.


A report by China's Global Times newspaper reveals that several tenants of the Haidian District's capsule apartments were evicted when the building was demolished for failure to meet the city of Beijing's new regulation that high-rise apartments encompass at least 7.5 meters (approximately 25 square-feet) of space. Currently, designer Huang Rixin is seeking new places to build more of his capsule facilities.

According to an Associated Press article, certain buildings are getting around the space requirement by creating slightly larger rooms built for multiple tenants. The so-called "ant tribes," are typically about 50 square-feet -- approximately the size of a walk-in closet -- shared by two to three tenants. At $45 to $100 a month (plus an extra $15 if your tribe wants a private bathroom), rent is low, but so is privacy, hygiene and luxuries like heating and air conditioning.

Even at such an economical price, those who live in ant tribes are far from lucky. Located in suburban slums, the facilities are so low-grade, they most likely would be condemned in the United States. Most residents share public bathrooms, split twin-size bunk beds and constantly fight the dirt, debris and disease that sweep through the buildings. For those taking China's notoriously low entry-level salaries -- which can frequently sit at less than $200 a month -- there are few other choices.

"We have no alternatives," an ant tribe resident stated in an interview with the The Wall Street Journal. Zhao Lei, a 24-year-old computer-science major, shares a 130-square-foot room with five roommates, split among three bunk beds. "This is a place we can afford with our meager income ... when we first step into society."

According to the book "Ant Tribe," written by the University of International Business and Economics professor who coined the term, Dr. Lian Si, China's ant community is somewhere close to 1 million with more underemployed graduates added every day. While the U.S. is experiencing the problem on a much smaller scale with our current 9.3 percent unemployment rate, we're still a significant ways from cramming three Harvard grads into a room the size of a small vehicle.

What do you think readers, could you live in an ant tribe without going nuts?

See apartments for rent at AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ant tribeapartmentsbeijingcapsule apartmentchinachinesehaidianhiadianLian SiChristina Couch2010-06-29T15:04:00 00:00Decorate Like a 'Steampunk': Mix History and Futuristic Sci-Fihttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/decorate-like-a-steampunk-mix-history-and-futuristic-sci-fi/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/decorate-like-a-steampunk-mix-history-and-futuristic-sci-fi/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/decorate-like-a-steampunk-mix-history-and-futuristic-sci-fi/#commentsFiled under:

steampunk interior designNothing combines vintage and future-chic quite like the "steampunk" aesthetic. Mixing elements from the Victorian Era -- you know, when steam power was the only option -- with futuristic punk rock styles, steampunk is basically a sci-fi junkie's design paradise with bits of fantasy, science and engineering all converging with dark artistry.

In literature, think Jules Verne or H.G. Wells; in movies, "The City of Lost Children"; and on television, "The Wild Wild West."

Fortunately you don't have to travel back to the 19th century to get it.

Here are our favorite steampunk home accessories:






For the Walls
 Chuck hodi, octopus pring

1903 print, Chuck Hodi

"I've always been a fan of gas masks, yet terrified by octopuses," explains artist Chuck Hodi. "Drawing this octopus helped me overcome my fear of the creatures, along with giving it a Nuclear Neo-Victorian look. This is my interpretation of steampunk!" What more is there to say?

Prints of freak octopi, sea monsters and Edgar Allen Poe are available on Hodi's site.
















Steampunk Heart print, Morgan Kessler

Morgan Kessler, steampunk heartSimple and romantically geeky, this black and white linocut is tasteful without going overboard. Also it's a steal for $13.

Available in Kessler's etsy store, momoma.

























Bird Collage, Shelley Howard, Single Stone Studios

steampunk bird, steampunk wall decal, wall decal, single stone studiosThose who change their artistic taste faster than they change clothes needn't fret. This vinyl bird and gears-themed wall decal is removable and can perch anywhere you like. (And you know we love our wall decals here on Rented Spaces.)

Available at Single Stone Studios.






















Baron's Clock, James Potter, Pastpassions

James Potter, steampunk clock, baron clock"What I think I like about steampunk most is that it combines the old with the new creating a continuum of time," explains Potter. "Of course I am a time traveler."

Available at Potter's steampunk-based etsy site, Past Passions.
























For Play:


Steampunk Chess Set, Laura Palmer

Laura Palmer, steampunk chess, steampunk Crafted from nuts, bolts and old jewelry, artist Laura Palmer constructed this set originally for her boyfriend from a chess board from Target and pieces from the Home Depot.

"Steampunk lets us expose the nuts and bolts that support everyday life and recombine them into something elegant, beautiful, and unexpected," explains Palmer. "The common becomes the novel; the supporting players become the main attraction. Sometimes, an octopus is involved."

Steampunk wannabes can craft their own by checking out their local hardware store or by hitting up Palmer's Etsy shop, sitarah.







For Light:


The Spider, Benjamin Jones, Luminent Design

benjamin jones, steampunk lamp, steampunk Whimsical: check. Metallic: check. Totally bizarre: check, check, check. For those who love giant mechanical spiders, there's only one lamp for you. Jones also has dragonfly and people-themed lamps available, but this one is by far the most delightfully creepy.

Available on Luminent Designs.



















Machine Light 01, Frank Buchwald

Frank Buchwald, steampunk lampIt's the perfect mad scientist lamp. Showcasing industry at its most aesthetically pleasing, Buchwald's Machine Light series highlights each work's raw insides.

More on Buchwald's Machine Lights site.



















For Kicks:


Techno Skull, Richard Symons

steampunk skull, richard symon, technology skullIt takes a very special person to welcome a wire-riddled skull into their home. Created by UK artist Richard Symons, a guy who specializes in creating sci-fi props for film and television, this skull is a Hamlet meets Terminator.

Available on Symon's etsy site.























Steampunk Goggles Light Green, Ricky Wolbrom, edm designs

edm designs, ricky wolbrom, steampunk gogglesSomewhere Ben Franklin is smiling in his grave. A steampunk's take on the bifocal, these mod goggles can be worn or simply admired. Available here.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>home decorinterior designprintssci fisteampunksteampunk home accessorieswall decalsChristina Couch2010-06-28T16:40:00 00:00Inventive Furniture Made of Popsicle Stickshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/inventive-furniture-made-of-popsicle-sticks/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/inventive-furniture-made-of-popsicle-sticks/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/28/inventive-furniture-made-of-popsicle-sticks/#commentsFiled under: ,

popsicle stick furniture David Hrobowski makes those of us who have a hard time assembling Ikea furniture look silly. The 56-year-old Los Angeles-based artist spends his days making one-of-a-kind chairs, tables, lamps and mirrors out of Popsicle sticks.

Creating multiple layers to reinforce the sticks' weak points, Hrobowski's creations are fully functional, expertly crafted and aesthetically pleasing. Who knew Popsicle sticks could be so cool?"When I was 9 I was home, sick in bed, and my neighbor who was a fifth-grade teacher brought me some Popsicle sticks to play around with. I made a lamp and somehow I ended up on a local television station," explains Hrobowski. "They ran my phone number and I got orders. I made three or four of them and then dropped it. Fast forward 40 years and I'm in downtown L.A. with a friend. I told him about my Popsicle story and his response was 'Oh.' He totally dismissed it. I bought a box of Popsicle sticks thinking that if I could make one of those lamps, I would get my props. That's how this whole thing got started."

In the past few years, Hrobowski's single lamp has turdavid hrobowski, Steven Tassopoulos, popscile stick art, riffsticksned into a series of lamps, chairs, sconces, decorative boxes and tables worthy of their own gallery space. Taking anywhere from a few thousand to 20,000 popsicle sticks to make a single piece, Hrobowski says his work can take several years to finish, since only a small portion can be completed before having to pause to let the glue dry.

"Some of these pieces have nearly killed me," Hrobowski confesses. "I don't start out with a plan, I just see what comes out of me. That table took a year and a half to complete because I kept running into questions like 'How am I going to reinforce the center?' and 'Does this piece need a base?' As they say, that's just how I roll."

Since creating his first revamp of the original Popsicle lamp,
Hrobowski has landed his own show at the MorYork Gallery in L.A., has sold several pieces and currently is waiting for his second show to open at Santa Monica's Bergamot Station Gallery of Functional Art on July 10. Since each piece takes a significant amount of time and effort to create, Hrobowski doesn't see Popsicle stick furniture landing in mainstream stores any time in the near future. But his work does call to question what design creations are possible with ordinary materials and a little ingenuity.

"It was an important lesson for me that sometimes inspiration happens on accident," he says. "All of my work is an offshoot of one friend responding to me in a way I didn't expect. It was a blessing."

For more info on Hroboski's work, contact him directly at info@riffstick.net.

Steven Tassopoulos, David Hrobowski, popsicle stick art

















Steven Tassopoulos, david hrobowski, popsicle stick art, riffsticks
Steven Tassopoulos, david hrobowski, popsicle stick art

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bergamot station galleryDavid Hrobowskifunctioning artfurnotureHrobowskiinterior designpopsicle stick furnitureChristina Couch2010-06-28T11:30:00 00:00Closing Costs: Settlement and Escrowhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/25/guide-to-settlement-and-escrow/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/25/guide-to-settlement-and-escrow/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/25/guide-to-settlement-and-escrow/#commentschecking a list of closing costsSet with solid jobs, nice cars and a baby on the way, there was only one thing Liz and Wes Clayton were missing: the perfect house. They had no problem tracking down the ideal three-bedroom ranch in Fairfax, Va., negotiating a price or securing a loan -- it was the closing costs that left them less than settled.

"The only real problem we had came when we went to close the deal," says Wes. "Our closing costs were just astronomical. We really weren't prepared for that kind of bill."

The Claytons, like most first-time homebuyers, had no idea what goes into the settlement and closing process, including those pesky closing costs. Here's what you need to know to close the deal.


Step One: Negotiate a Price, Get a Loan, Enlist Escrow

How your closing works and what your closing costs are depends on what you're buying, the conditions of your purchase and what state you're buying in, says Alan J. Perlowitz, an attorney and managing partner with Chaves & Perlowitz LLP, a law firm that specializes in lender representation cases in New York City.

"When it comes to closing real estate transactions, there are a lot of moving parts that are contingent on what and where you're buying," he says. "The process is basically the same, but each state has its own laws regulating real estate closings."

Real Estate
Essential How-To-Guides on AOL Real Estate: Home Buying, Selling, Renting, Moving and Home Improvement
Perlowitz adds that the closing process starts once the buyer and seller have agreed on a price, and the buyer has obtained a mortgage. From there, both parties -- as well as the lender, listing agent and selling agent -- enlist the help of a third party to ensure that the property is free and clear to be sold, and that the funds make it from buyer to seller.

"Escrow is the third-person mediator that orchestrates the closing of the transaction," explains Heidi Cassel, regional escrow administrator for the State of California. "We are the third party that makes sure that the property doesn't have any liens that could prevent it from getting sold free and clear, and that all the necessary documents get recorded in a timely manner."


Step Two: Show the Seller Your Fiscal Faith

Joshua Livingston, director of national sales for American Title Inc., in Omaha, Neb., adds that during the closing process, the buyer transfers some money -- anywhere from $500 to several thousand into a third-party escrow account. This part of the closing costs, commonly referred to as an "earnest money" deposit, ensures that the seller will take the property off the market as the property closing goes through.

"That money can be refunded if the sale doesn't go through," says Livingston. "It's pending on certain requirements that the seller has to address before the sale closes."


Step Three: Verify the Property

With an earnest money deposit in place and the property officially off the market, the next step in closing is to have a third party verify that both buyer and seller are meeting all their respective requirements. To ensure that the property is legally available, the agency handling the escrow, usually the title insurance company, organizes any necessary paperwork.

This involves verifying the state of the property (including surveys, deeds and inspections) and checking to ensure that no outside organizations have issued a lien against the property, claiming it as collateral against an outstanding debt on the seller's side. Once it's verified that the property is clear, the settlement agency issues title insurance, which officially declares the new buyer as the owner of the property and legally protects them against any mistakes that may have been missed.

With the title insurance and surveys in place, the only thing that's left to do is transfer the purchase price of the house and dole out closing cost fees to everyone involved in the transaction.


Step Four: Get the Cost Breakdown

In outlining the total closing cost of the transaction (including required surveys, inspections, lender fees, taxes, attorney fees and closing costs), a HUD-1 or final closing document (depending on the state the purchase is taking place in) breaks down how much each player gets out of the transaction. Drawn up shortly after the buyer gets a loan, the HUD-1 acts as a guide to paying for a new piece of property and will include an estimate of how much the buyer can expect to fork over in closing costs. (Buyers also can estimate their own closing costs by using an online calculator).

Vettner warns that the final closing statement isn't necessarily final. Since real estate transactions frequently involve surprise closing costs that neither the buyer nor seller can predict, fees on a HUD-1 or final closing document can vary by up to 10 percent.

"The buyer should expect to see fees for origination, fees for credit checks and underwriting, and fees to pay for the bank's legal costs," says Alan J. Perlowitz. "There are typically a lot of closing costs, but you should see everything on your HUD statement."

With fees disclosed, property analyzed and the loan approved, the buyer finally OKs the escrow agent to disburse the remainder of the purchase price and the seller hands over the deed to the property.


How to Prepare

The closing process is complicated and riddled with state-specific loopholes that can change the price and the time frame of the closing. To help expedite your closing, California escrow administrator Cassel recommends that first-time homebuyers spend several days (even weeks) organizing the necessary paperwork, that they stay in good communication with all parties involved and that they voice any questions they might have about the closing process or closing costs.

"Read the documents, know what you're signing," advises Cassel. "Buyers need to be clear on whether there are any restrictions, like saying that they can't paint their house a certain color. If there are home or community association dues, things like that. Clarify up front what you can and cannot do with your property."

In fact, an amazingly comprehensive list of questions that a first-time homebuyer should ask comes courtesy of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Simply asking questions, doing outside research and comparing closing costs can put homebuyers vastly ahead, says Vettner.

"You'd be surprised on a housing transaction how many people show up and hand you money and have no idea of what's really going on," she says. "It's crucial that homebuyers understand what they're really getting into."

Learn more detailed information about closing costs in our article "Closing Costs: No Surprises."


Searching for what's right for you? Here are some other AOL Real Estate guides to help you no matter whether you choose to buy or rent:
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Get property tax help from our experts.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>closingescrowfirst-time homebuyersFirst-timeHomebuyershomebuyersHUDHUD-1 Settlement StatementHud-1SettlementStatementreal estate escrowRealEstateEscrowsettlementChristina Couch2010-06-25T15:58:00 00:00