Simple Ways to Make Your Bathroom Seem Larger

If you want to make your small bathroom look larger, you don’t need to spend a great deal of money. 

Begin with choosing a pale, soft color which tends to give the illusion of more space, and the feeling of serenity.

You can jazz up your bathroom with bright accessories, towels, and throw rugs.  If you like wallpaper, remember to choose open, airy designs with white and neutral colors, as bold, busy wallpaper will make the room appear smaller

Think about replacing your vanity with a pedestal sink or a wall mounted sink, both which provide a feeling of openness.  Add a large mirror over the sink to reflect all the light in the room while it picks up the colors. 

Avoid the use of shelves or hanging racks.  Anything that protrudes will take up space, and make the area feel smaller.

Keep your floor covering light, again adding bold or pattern throw rugs for accents.

And lastly, don’t forget about lighting.  The brighter and lighter the room, the larger it will appear.  Add decorative wall sconces, and table lamps in addition to overhead lighting and natural lighting provided for by windows and skylights.

Weekly Market Forecast

Week of: Monday, April 28, 2008

Present Market Conditions
U.S. stocks posted the first back-to-back weekly gains since February after earnings at Boeing Co. and Philip Morris International Inc. bolstered speculation that overseas growth will offset slower domestic demand. With stocks climbing, U.S. Treasury prices continued to decline and investors are now waging strong bets that the Federal Reserve will indicate this week it plans to end its campaign of interest rate cuts.

Expectations
The central bank is widely expected to cut rates by a quarter percentage point at its policy meeting on Wednesday. A growing number of economists predict the Fed will then keep rates on hold to ward off inflation. “What it means is that the market isn’t so convinced that the economy is falling apart as it was a month ago,” said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard and Poor’s. “It also means that investors are not expecting the Fed to go down as far–25 basis points instead of 50.”

Guidance
Mortgage rates have an inverse relationship with bond prices. As bond prices continue to fall, it is likely to see an increase in mortgage interest rates. With current mortgage rates still at historically low levels, now is the time to contact Georgie so she can structure a mortgage solution to meet your financial goals.

 

Traverse Mortgage Corporation

   (231) 947-9700        (800) 968-3680 

georgie@traversemortgage.com

 

How to Save Time and Money by Planning Meals

A small investment in weekly meal planning offers big returns in quality of life. Making and following a good plan saves time and money. It provides increased nutrition and reduces stress. Here’s how to streamline the process.

What do we want? Make a list of favorite foods – dishes, sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Unless you live bachelor-style, get the family involved. Their cooperation is essential. Sprinkle the favorites into your weekly meal plan. Spend a few minutes researching new things to fill the gaps. For money-saving ideas, consult supermarket flyers.
What have we got? Look in the cupboards, fridge and freezer for missing staples. Write them on a shopping list, along with anything needed for this week’s meals. Post a checklist of regularly consumed foods in the kitchen, with a red pencil attached. Whoever eats or drinks the last bit marks the item on the list, resulting in fewer dashes to the store.

What’s on the list? List in hand, shop for the week’s meals. Impulse purchases distract everyone from the plan. Stick to the list to increase the plan’s effectiveness and to save time and money.
What’s extra? Whenever possible, cook in large batches so that there’s extra to use in another meal. Cooked meat and chicken are handy for sandwiches, stir fries and so on. Freeze surplus food for future consumption.

First Impressions Count: Make Your Home Really Stand Out

First impressions at house showings are everything; when there is an excess of inventory on the real estate market, you need to make your home the one buyers just have to have – you must be the standout. Here are some ways you can do that.

Give your Realtor talking points – say what’s good about your home. Maybe it’s in a prime location with access to great schools and amenities, has a bustling nightlife, or enjoys a private, quiet setting – whatever you think is great about your home.

Show you care about your home – make it loved, and make it show.  Make sure that your house is sparkling clean for every showing and impeccably maintained.

Get rid of any trash and clutter – open up your home to make it feel more spacious and sell yourselves as conscientious homeowners passing down a family treasure.

Don’t let anything in or outside of your home be in disrepair – because you’ll give the impression that this is a home not worth caring about.

As maintenance goes, painting is your number one best property maintenance investment – it’s relatively cheap, covers neglected surfaces, and gives everything a fresh, clean topcoat.  There is just no better bang for your home improvement buck.

Cleaning your home for every showing is absolutely critical to selling it at a favorable price.

May 2008 Newsletter

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Mancelona – Quiet Country Setting w/ 10 Acres

7323 Covert Rd

Mancelona, MI

Priced $ 15K under recent appraisal. Quiet country location for this stick-built ranch on full basement, with steel roof & almost 10 acres. Large pole barn for all the toys, hobbies & is insulated in one half. Parcel is open at the front making it a perfect spot for that garden you’ve always wanted. Just over 1200 SF & ready for quick occupancy. Great spot for the outdoor enthusiast, close to snow-mo trails, state lands, lakes & more. Seller is looking for offers & has thrown in a Home Warranty too!

Just $114,900

View Listing Details       Vitrual Tour

For more information, please call the Nichols Team at 231-941-8283 or tcinfo@remerica.com

 

Mortgage Market News for the week ending April 25, 2008

Looking Ahead to the Fed

With little scheduled economic news and a couple of major events on the horizon, there was little change in mortgage markets during the week. The daily volatility remained high, however. Mortgage rates ended a little higher than the prior week, and the stock market was almost flat. Investors were mostly preparing for next week’s Fed meeting and Employment data.

Investor sentiment for future Fed actions has shifted significantly over the last couple of weeks. Just weeks ago, investors were expecting an additional three quarters of a point of Fed rate cuts over the next two meetings. Now many believe that the Fed will cut rates by only one quarter point at Wednesday’s meeting and then will hold rates steady. The thinking is that the Fed will pause to consider the effects on the economy of prior rate cuts, other expansionary monetary policies, and fiscal stimulus packages (such as the tax rebates). With energy prices at record levels and the dollar at historic lows, the Fed wants to balance the risk of slower economic growth with the need to prevent higher future inflation. This path could be good for mortgage markets, as higher inflation would generally lead to higher mortgage rates.

In the housing sector, the market for existing home sales showed additional signs of stabilizing, while new home sales displayed weakness. Matching expectations, March Existing Home Sales fell a little from February. Median home prices fell 8% from one year ago, while inventories of unsold homes rose slightly. March New Home Sales fell 9% from February. The chief economist of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) suggested that housing market conditions varied greatly in different regions of the country. The NAR predicted that housing market activity will be flat for a few more months and then will pick up during the second half of the year.

Brought to you by:

Corey Phelps

Front Street Mortgage

Phone: 231-360-7283

Home on 80 Acres South of Kingsley

1770 2 1/2 Rd

Kingsley, MI

Open floor plan, lots of storage. Home is currently rough-in stage construction, but will be completed by close. Estimated completion 30-45 days. Over 5000 sqft, 3-car attached garage with full walkout basement. Can also be purchased as 60 acres of vacant land or unfinished home on 20 acres for $299,900 or finished on 20 acres for $399,900.

View Listing Details

Call Sharon Reid-Brown at 231-632-6260 or sharonreid@remerica.com

60 Acres S of Kingsley

00 E 2 1/2 Rd

Kingsley, MI

Subject to third party approval. This is a great piece of property. Creek flowing through thru. Plenty of build sites. Private. Close to state land and the Manistee River. Some splits available. Call listing agent for details. Dimensions: 660×2640x1320×1320x660×1320.

For more information, please call Sharon Reid-Brown 231-632-6260 or sharonreid@remerica.com

Newer Spacious Long Lake Township Home

7211 Forest Lodge Dr

Traverse City, MI

Newer home on over an acre of land with awesome countryside views and within minutes of Traverse City. Cathedral ceilings, open floor plan, hickory cabinets, slate & hardwood floors. Walkout LL has finished 4th bath with additional 700 feet to add finishing touches.

Listing Details

For more information, please call Mary Murray at 231-632-2343 or marymurray@remerica.com