The engineering firm that had, for many years in Whatcom County, performed HUD manufactured home foundation certifications has closed its doors. As a result of that closure, lenders and Realtors are finding it difficult to proceed with FHA financing requirements. When federal money is involved, a factory assembled structure foundation will probably require a certification of HUD compliance. Photo: Underneath a manufactured home The paperwork involved in the certification, but not the field wo... Read Full Post

The home inspector, being a generalist, provides a basic visual inspection of a chimney and any wood or solid fuel burning device such as a fireplace or a wood stove. We inspectors do not light fires and, even if an inspection takes place in the cold of winter, and there is a blazing fire, the device is so hot that we often actually learn less about the conditions inside the fireplace or the stove. In the USA, to enhance public safety, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) takes the... Read Full Post

Your bedroom should be a place of relaxation and de-stress. If your bedroom doesn't fit this description, then consider one of these ways to create a relaxing bedroom environment. Pick the right colors- If you want your bedroom to be a relaxing place, avoid loud or really bright colors. Blues and greens are great colors for relaxation. Set the mood- Remove things from around your bed that might cause stress or keep you from relaxing. By doing this, you make the room a place of relaxation. Doi... Read Full Post

Over the past months we have been burning the midnight oil to bring to fruition our new Vacation Rental company website, for vacation rental properties in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. We decided to split the company off from our main Real Estate business to allow it to grow in its own direction, free of the typical constraints of Real Estate companies. Our new company and its website http://www.lapazbay.com will provide travellers to La Paz, Mexico with a one stop shop to fantastic va... Read Full Post

When purchasing a home, buyers should be aware of their biases. They should know their expectations, and they should know that only a custom built home will fulfill all of their desires. That being said too many imperfect houses can wear down a buyer's hope for a purchase that will leave them satisfied and with a home to be proud of. At this stage you, as a buyer may realize that compromises are in order. You will need to settle for some imperfection. That being said, there are some defects t... Read Full Post

With the heat of summer here in Florida right around the corner, chances are your electric bills are going to start to rise. Your ai rconditioner unit will be working harder, and with the kids home from school, you will have more appliances running in your house throughout the day. Here are some helpful ways to keep your energy cost down. Close the blinds- Doing this during the day will keep the sun from heating up the house. The house will naturally stay cooler, thus keeping your AC unit fro... Read Full Post

With temperatures rising and a hot Austin summer just around the corner, it's time to consider home energy upgrades! Energy upgrades tend to be on everyone's radar in the winter, but blasting air conditioners and fans can quickly rack up expensive electricity bills. Let's talk about our top ways to stay cool, help out the planet and keep your money in your pockets this summer: Close The Blinds: We understand the desire to flood your home with light, but this is an unfortunately great way to h... Read Full Post

I've started changing the way I date our contracts regarding mortgage commitment vs. closing dates. Rarely do I see full buyer commitment a week or more prior to the closing date. In most cases, the commitment is given the week of the closing date and sometimes we have to ask for extensions for one or both dates. I am giving closing dates as follows: 45 days for conventional financing (used to be 30 in the past) 60 days for FHA/VA (used to be 45 in the past) I don't like to ask for extensions... Read Full Post

Whether or not people admit it, a bathroom is one of the most important areas of a home. Many homeowners choose to remodel their bathroom with the goal of adding personal touch or enhanced features. Bathroom remodels are difficult in a sense because they usually involve a tight space, and due to the small square footage, extra care needs to be taken when deciding on the process. Below I explain some main steps to remodeling a bathroom and why they matter. 1. Have a clear vision. The first ste... Read Full Post