Shopping for a new home is exciting, but it can be a bit stressful.  As technology advances at a lightning pace, the web and smart phones are helping house hunters with their search.   Here are 5 websites that will significantly reduce stress when the time comes to buy your home:

After reaching highs in the second quarter of 2006, the US Zillow Home Value Index reported increases.

From 12.4% annualized depreciation in March 2009, the depreciation rate moved to 12.3% in April, 12.2% in May and 12.1% in June. Even some of the most hard hit areas in the US are reporting that they have had about 5 to 8 months of these rates decreasing. 

These signs are good for stabilization of home values.

COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE SURVEYS 1,000 MEN AND WOMEN TO DISCOVER GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE HOME-BUYING PROCESS

Survey Finds that While Couples Make Real Estate Buying Decisions Together, Women Make Up Their Minds Significantly Faster than Men
           
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (August 17, 2009) –   It often seems as though men and women are from different planets, but every day millions of couples navigate through day-to-day and even life-altering decisions. Because a home is the biggest purchase most people will make in their lifetime, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC surveyed 1,000 individuals to discover how much men and women differ in the home-buying process.

The real estate company engaged a third-party research firm, International Communications Research (ICR), to delve into the innerpsyche of men and women, asking questions such as “How long did it take for you to know that the last home you purchased was right for you?” and “If you found the home of your dreams but had concerns about its security, would you still be interested?” Coldwell Banker Real Estate also surveyed couples on additional topics, such as “Who wears the pants in the relationship?” when it comes to making major financial decisions.

“The results were surprising,” said Diann Patton, the Coldwell Banker consumer real estate expert. “Not only did we uncover some of the inherent differences between men and women, but we also pinpointed a number of ways that the two genders are actually the same. For example, both men and women are increasingly concerned with having a space to work in their homes – something we would not have seen 40 years ago.” She continued, “We also found that feeling insecure about a home’s safety is a deal-breaker for most people, regardless of gender.”

Patton noted this topic is particularly timely given that many first-time homebuyers are hoping to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit before it expires on December 1, 2009.

Below are some key highlights from the Coldwell Banker Real Estate study:

Women may be inclined to make up their mind more quickly than men …

• When asked how long it took before they knew their home was “right” for them, almost 70 percent of women had made up their mind the day they walked into the house, vs. 62 percent of men. Conversely, significantly more men needed two or more visits: (32 percent of men vs. 23 percent of women).

Women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job …

• 55 percent of women find it more important to be closer to their extended family (those that do not live in their household) than to their job, compared to only 37 percent of men.

A home’s security is a deal-breaker for both men and women …

• 64 percent of women said that if they found the home of their dreams but had concerns about its security, they would no longer be interested. More than half of men agreed (51 percent).

Couples say that no one “wears the pants in the relationship” in terms of major financial decisions …

• When asked who wears the pants in the relationship (when it comes to major financial decisions, such as purchasing a home), almost 70 percent of respondents living with their significant other said it’s actually mutual.
• However, 23 percent think that they, themselves, wear the pants in the relationship, not their partner. More men than women said this (26 percent vs. 20 percent, respectively).

Men and women agree on how they would use a spare room, for the most part …
When the respondents were asked how they would use an extra 12 x 12 room if it could be anything they wanted, men and women agreed on the top three most popular, and very practical, responses:

• Bedroom: 25 percent
• Office/Study: 15 percent
• Family Room / Den: 11 percent

However, men really do want a “Man Cave”…

• Interestingly, out of the 8 percent who indicated they would turn that spare room into an entertainment center, it was a preponderance of men leading the charge.  In fact, four times as many men as women said they would use the extra space for recreation / entertainment.

In addition to providing background on the survey results, Patton is able to offer tips for couples who are currently going through the process of buying a home.  “These results further validate how critical it is for couples to recognize each other’s differences and work together, from deciding a neighborhood to how to use a spare room,” she said. “Online tools and the expertise of a real estate professional can be particularly helpful for couples, especially if they work together step-by-step along the way.”

Methodology: Coldwell Banker Real Estate engaged ICR to conduct an omnibus survey via telephone in May 2009, among more than 1,000 respondents.

About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,200 residential real estate offices and approximately 100,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Homes are one of our largest, and most import investments, and it is important to maintain the best value of your home.  Yahoo Real Estate and Zillow put out a list of things that will help you maintain the value of your home:

Kitchen:  Check for leaks under and around the sink.  Plumbing leaks can damage cabinetry and floors.  Check and repair grout and caulking on tile countertops and around the sink.  Also check wear and tear on wood floors, which periodically need to be refinished.

Bathrooms:  Check for plumbing leaks and check grout on tiles.  If the grout gets worn away water will start getting into the walls behind the bathroom, causing damage.

Basement:  Check for cracks in the foundation and leaks.  Buildings settle over time and even after decades of having a dry basement leaks may suddenly occur.

Attic:  Check for signs of water leakage from the roof.  Also look for any sign of termites or rodents.  Squirrels or rats that nest in your attic can chew electrical wiring, which can lead to fires.

Smoke alarms:  Batteries need to be changed annually.

Heating system:  If yours has a filter, change it annually.

Air conditioning system:  Change all filters monthly or as recommended by the filter manufacturer.

Roof:  Note if any shingles have fallen off or if gutters or downspouts appear clogged or damaged. You can always hire a reliable roofing company to get on the roof and take a look. Reputable roofing companies won’t try to sell you a new one unless you really need it. You can simply pay them for an inspection.

House exterior:  If your house is wood, check that the paint hasn’t worn away so much that the primer paint is showing.  If the primer also wears down, you can do damage to the wood.  Brick houses should be inspected for damaged bricks or masonry.  Check stucco houses and repair any cracks large enough to slide a nickel into.

Asphalt and concrete driveways:  Repair any cracks or buckling.

2008 Tourism Estimates For Dare County

State Report Shows Tourism-Related Spending Up Nearly 2% To $777.4 million

The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau announced that domestic visitors to and within Dare County spent an estimated $777.41 million dollars in 2008, an increase of 1.9 percent from 2007, according to a North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development county-by-county report. “These figures reflect what we on the Outer Banks of North Carolina have always known, that tourism is our lifeblood,” explains Renee Cahoon, Chairwoman of the Dare County Tourism Board.  “The better we are at promoting tourism, the better our economic development will be.”

Tourism impact highlights for 2008: The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 11,250 people in Dare County.  Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Dare County was $171.14 million.  State tax revenue generated in Dare County totaled $37.32 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income.  Approximately $37.31 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.  You can view the full NC county-by-county comparison at nccommerce.com

Gov. Beverly Perdue announced in March that visitors to North Carolina spent a record $16.9 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.1 percent from 2007.  “While we recognize that current economic conditions are impacting businesses all across the state — including those in the tourism industry — this continued economic growth, and especially growth in tax revenues, is encouraging,” Perdue said. These statistics are from the “2008 Economic Impact Of Travel On North Carolina Counties.” The study was prepared for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development by the U.S. Travel Association.

Statewide highlights for 2008: Total visitor spending saw an increase of 2.1 percent to $16.9 billion, up from $16.5 billion in 2008. The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 190,000 North Carolinians, up 2 percent from 2008.  The tourism industry generated a total of more than $1.3 billion in tax revenues.  State tax revenue totaled $815 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income.  Some $529 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

Another positive report about the US Housing Market was released yesterday.  Home sales have grown in the second quarter in 39 states.  The quarterly sales rose 3.8% from last year.  This left the adjusted rate at 4.76 million over last year’s 4.58 million. 

Throughout the country foreclosures and other types of distressed transactions accounted for nearly a third of all second quarter sales.  Lawrence Yun, the trade group’s chief economist, called the sales increase “a hopeful sign for the economy.”

10 tips for energy efficiency that could help save significant energy and money…and the added benefit of helping our environment.

·      Start with an “energy audit.”  This can be as easy as calling your local utility company

• Put a damper on things. An open damper in a fireplace can increase energy costs by 30 percent.
• Become a draft dodger. One of the easiest ways to save money around the house is to seal off drafts
•  Install a programmable thermostat.  A programmable thermostat costs less than $50, is easy to install, and will pay for itself in one
• Paint a masterpiece with healthier paints. Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds These unhealthy ingredients are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paints are completely dry. Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.
• Fix those leaky faucets. A dripping faucet or pipe joint can really add up to substantial water waste.
• Install low-flow showerheads and toilets. Older toilets waste large amounts of water.
• Let there be (energy-efficient) light.  Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb
• Buy Energy Star Appliances. When buying appliances, don’t forget to check for the energy efficient Lable 
• Don’t forget your yard. You may be surprised, but planting trees can make a difference in our energy usage.

Pending Homes Sales of previously owned US homes rose at a faster-than-expected pace in June according to real estate experts. 

The National Association of Realtors also reported that its pending homes sales index rose significantly in June for the fifth month straight.

“Historically low mortgage interest rates, affordable home prices and large selection are encouraging buyers who’ve been on the sidelines,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Another indicator that the housing market is turning around!

Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker, appeared on Fox Business News again to chat with Alex Glick about the housing market.