Answers To Your Questions

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS Navigating the Ins and Outs of Homeownership

What to Fix In and Outside Your House before Selling How to Choose the Perfect Neighborhood 3 Proactive Steps First-Time Homebuyers Should Consider

First Time Homebuyers Fulfill Dreams with the Right Mortgage

6 Powerful Home-Staging Secrets the Pros Use

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Letter from the Editors In this issue, we will touch on consumer-oriented topics regarding the sale and purchase of real estate. As the housing market continues to rebound, real estate agents and their clients still face issues of financing, pricing and strategies for showing their homes.

We will offer pointers regarding how to choose a real estate agent to represent your interests, whether you are a buyer or seller, and important questions to ask your potential agent.

You will also find useful information for first-time homebuyers as we outline steps they can take to proactively prepare for acquiring a mortgage loan. We will identify the credit reports and scores needed, steps that can be taken to improve credit scores, and documents they will be expected to provide for qualification.

Tracy M. Clarkin, Esq. Loan Officer, NMLS # 365318 American Financial Network, Inc. Direct: 808-369-9791 Cell (best #): 415-794-4333 TClarkin@afncorp.com Financing the American Dream

Also, the documents expected to gathered and presented to a loan officer.

For sellers, we’ll examine home improvements and reveal which come closest to paying for themselves, or if any of them do. We’ll also offer sellers a list of repairs they should make before even considering putting their house on the market.

Finally, we’ll share with sellers some professional staging secrets that help to ensure their properties are shown in the best possible light.

We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter, as we enjoyed compiling it for you.

Feel free to contact us if you have questions or would like your friends and family added to our distribution list.

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Contents 4. Ten Ways Owning a Home Can Save You Money at Tax Time 8. What to Fix In and Outside Your House before Selling 10. How to Choose the Perfect Neighborhood 12. 3 Proactive Steps First-Time Homebuyers Should Consider 14. First Time Home Buyers Fulfill Dreams with the Right Mortgage 16. 6 Powerful Home-Staging Secrets the Pros Use 18. Found the Perfect Home – But Furniture Won’t Fit! 19. A Bit About Mold

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TEN

WAYS

Owning a Home Can Save You Money At Tax Time Homeownership has long been the financial foundation for realizing the American dream. If you’re like most of us, purchasing a home is the single largest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Unlike renting a home, where you pay your landlord’s mortgage, owning a home can provide you with a financial “nest egg.” The equity your home can potentially accrue over time can be the financial cornerstone for financing your retirement, or perhaps providing an inheritance for your children.

Equity isn’t the only benefit of homeownership...the following article includes 10 tax benefits every homeowner should know.

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10 WAYS TO SAVE

1. Mortgage Interest Deduction Each year the federal government allows you to deduct the interest on your monthly mortgage payment. This deduction is available for the lifetime of the loan. Say you’ve purchased a home for $250,000. with an annual interest rate of 5%. In the first 12 months you’ll pay a total $12.500 in interest. When tax time comes around you can deduct the full amount of that interest from your earned income. While there are limits on how much you can deduct, most people rarely come close to reaching them.

2. Discount Points While not an ongoing deduction, if you’ve purchased points to lower the interest rate on your mortgage, you may deduct the cost of those points on your federal income tax in the year you bought your home. Many homebuyers purchase discount points up front to save on their monthly mortgage payment and increase their cashflow. A discount point is 1% of the total amount of your mortgage. Using our example of $250.000 from above, one point would be $2,500. For each discount point you purchase, you lower the interest rate on the life of your loan by .25 basis points - dropping a 5% interest rate to 4.75%, for example.

3. Property Tax Deduction Owning a home means you are subject to property taxes which are paid to the county, city and state where you live. While the amount of interest on your mortgage tends to decrease yearly, property taxes tend to increase. This means the ability to deduct these taxes could save you more money each year. Also, should you sell your home, be sure to deduct the prorated amount of property taxes paid in that tax year.

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10 WAYS PROBLEMS TO SAVE TO AVOID

4. Home Office If you work from home, your home office can provide additional tax deductions each year.

Homeowners who have a home office are allowed to deduct the amount of monthly mortgage paid based on the square footage of the office as well as a portion of the utility bills, including heat, electric and internet service.

5. Health Related Home Modifications If modifications to your home are required for health reasons, such as improving access by adding a wheelchair ramp or widening doors, the costs of these improvements are deductible.

Adding special equipment that is medically required, such as an air purifying system for a family member with asthma, or an elevator or bathroom on a lower floor for a patient with a heart condition, these expenses may be deductible from that year’s taxes.

6. Home Improvements While regular home improvements are not deductible, provided you’ve saved your receipts, you can add the total cost of improvements made over time to the original purchase price of your home to decrease the amount of capital gains tax you would have to pay when you sell.

7. Moving Expenses In the event that you are required to relocate for work there are deductions available for the expenses associated with moving your family, possessions and even vehicles.

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10 WAYS TO SAVE

8. Capital Gains When Your Sell When it comes time to sell your home, the difference between the original purchase price and the sale price is considered capital gains and is considered taxable income. However, as a single homeowner you are allowed up to $250,000, married homeowners up to $500.00, before you are required to pay capital gains tax. While not a deduction, this an an excellent profit to realize before paying taxes.

9. Mortgage Interest Credit If you are a low income homeowner you may be eligible for a mortgage interest credit.

Designed to make paying for your home easier, this particular deduction requires a mortgage credit certificate that can be obtained from your local or state government.

10. Prepayment Penalties Finally, in the event your mortgage has a prepayment penalty, and either when you sell or are able to pay off the balance early, you are allowed do deduct the amount of the penalty as part of your mortgage interest deduction.

These homeowner deductions* are in place to encourage investment and can go along way in helping you grow that all important nest egg. *Be sure to consult your CPA or Financial Advisor to be sure you are eligible for these individual deductions.

Tracy M. Clarkin, Esq. Loan Officer, NMLS # 365318 American Financial Network Inc. Direct: 808-369-9791 Cell (best #): 415-794-4333 TClarkin@afncorp.com Financing the American Dream 7

What to Fix Inside and Outside Your House Before Selling If you’ve decided to sell your house, your next step is deciding what improvements you will make that will make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Professional home stagers say this is the only way to ensure that your real estate agent will be able to sell your property in a reasonable amount of time for the price that it’s worth.

It is best to plan and complete all improvements before listing, showing and having your home appraised, while taking care not to go overboard with spending.

First Things First In real estate, as with so many things in life, first impressions are everything. That’s why the first thing you should focus on improving is how the outside of your house looks, commonly known as curb appeal. That’s because the exterior of your property is the first thing a potential buyer sees.

Cosmetic touches such as making sure your lawn is mowed and your shrubbery is trimmed are a must. If your house has siding that is weathered you should invest in getting it pressure washed. Some companies advertise that they will pressure wash any house for just $199. Or if you want to save some money and you have the time, you could rent a pressure washer.

It goes without saying that if there is any siding missing, it should also

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be replaced.

However,

If your house doesn’t have siding and it hasn’t been painted in a few years, consider putting on a new coat or two. This should include painting your front and garage doors.

something that is in fair shape but just needs to be scrubbed.

Inside Improvements Will Boost Its Value Again, inside cosmetic improvements can help you get op dollar for your home.

You should focus on improving the first impression a potential buyer gets when entering the home.. If the tile in your foyer is dated or cracked, replace it.

don’t

improve

For example, sometimes bathtub faucets can be spotted, dull and grimy. That’s the time to clean and polish them, resurrecting their original shine and beauty.

As with the exterior of your home, a coat or two of paint can cover up blemishes and accentuate the architectural lines of your dwelling.

It’s not unusual for those putting their homes up for sale to have second thoughts after sprucing the old place up!

Super Clean Bathrooms and Kitchens Cleanliness is something a potential buyer will see, smell and notice throughout your home, but especially in the bathrooms and kitchen.

As a result, home staging experts recommend thoroughly cleaning your entire house, but cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms with bleach.

They also suggest fixing any dripping faucets because they are a major turn off to potential buyers. So do repair them if you have this problem.

Sadly, it’s often these minor details that can kill a sale.

Say Goodbye to Clutter Finally, improving the appearance of your home so it will show at its best can sometimes be an exercise in subtraction rather than addition.

Staging professionals say clutter is the number one reason potential homebuyers reject some of the most pristine propertie. Clutter is insidious because it happens slowly over the years and finally forces home sellers to remove or pare down some of their favorite pieces of furniture and decorations. It also forces them to get rid of the junk that’s been accumulating over the years in their garages, basements and especially their closets. But get rid of it you must, if you hope to sell your house for a high-market price (if you really don’t want to get rid of it, rent a storage unit).

If you follow these suggestions, experts say you can expect you property to stand out from the rest, sell at a good price -- and do so in a reasonable period of time!

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3 Tips to Get You Started with the Outside of Your Home 1. Go stand on the street to see

3. Don’t forget the backyard.

what clients see when driving

While that might not be part of the

up to the house. Be aware that

potential buyers’ first impression,

any negative impressions they get

you still should make sure it’s in

outside the house (landscaping not

the best condition possible. Pull

maintained or non-existent, peeling

up weeds, water plants, do some

paint, etc.) is just going to make them

sweeping (if that’s applicable) and

think that the house itself has not been

maybe purchase new furniture or

well taken care of. So even if you have

accessories (plant pots, bird houses,

spent the time and money to fix up

etc.).

the interior, it would all be wasted if the clients get a bad first impression as

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine

they drive up to the house.

yourself

as

a

potential

buyer

looking at your property for the

2. Next, step outside your front door

first

and close the door; then stand on

you getting? Would YOU buy your

the stoop and look around for 5

house? What would you like to see

minutes. While the real estate agent

changed before you put an offer on

is searching for keys and trying to

your house?

time.

What

impressions

are

open the door, the clients are standing behind and looking around. So what

Proper staging helps you sell your

are they seeing? Dead plants, old

house in a shorter time and potentially

Halloween decorations in the middle

at the price you want.

of January, cobwebs?

It’s definitely worth it to take some time and clean it up. Want to go a step further? Try a new coat of paint or some new furniture or accessories.

How to Choose the Perfect Neighborhood Whether

you’re

a

first-time

local police stations can give you

homebuyer, or you’re selling to

this data. Suffice it to say, even if

upgrade to a larger home to

a neighborhood looks beautiful on

You can also get an idea of

accommodate a growing family,

the outside and there are plenty

the quality of education in a

or you’ve decided to downsize,

of houses to choose from, if you

neighborhood by comparing the

choosing the right neighborhood

find that burglaries and car theft

budget allotted by local officials to

should be your first consideration.

is skyrocketing there, it’s time to

the area compared to other areas

move on.

Another

source

is

education

While different people may seek as part of their neighborhood

planning to, the quality of a

the neighborhood. It wouldn’t

search, there are certain factors

prospective

neighborhood’s

hurt to look them up online and

everyone should consider before

schools should be a major facto

even give the education reporter

making a final decision on where

in making your choice. You can

a call. You’d be surprised how

to move.

contact the local school board

many of them will be glad to give

in the neighborhood’s jurisdiction

you their opinions of the state of

and obtain the latest stats on

education in the area they cover.

how the average student in the

Finally, you can contact the local

a

neighborhood scores on national

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

should

proficiency tests. You can then

and get both the pros and cons

check the crime stats of the

compare them to scores of students

of the education system in the

neighborhood. This can be done

in other areas. This stat often mirrors

area. Members of this organization

online using various websites that

the quality and effectiveness of

also can tell you if the schools

breakdown this critical information

education available in a particular

have sufficient room, or if they are

by zip code. In some jurisdictions,

neighborhood.

overcrowded.

particular

10

of

community newspapers covering

move

locale,

you

into

or

section

are

you

children,

information

If

Before

have

the

of

various amenities and aesthetics

Important Factors

you

Education Budget

How to Choose the Perfect Neighborhood Traffic and Future Development When

choosing

neighborhood,

a

new

quality-of-life

is in store for major development in

should also examine whether the

the next couple of years, you really

property values are trending up or

need to weigh this factor in your

down. You can easily check recent

decision.

property sales online to find this out, or call your real estate agent

issues such as traffic and potential crowding have become important

Proximity to Schools, Stores,

and have her run the numbers. This

factors in making a decision. Let’s

Hospitals and More

is an important factor in case you decide to sell the property in a few

face it, no matter how pristine a neighborhood is, if you have to sit

Another important consideration

in gridlock for a significant amount

in choosing a neighborhood is

of time before you can reach

the proximity of your new home

The point is to take your time

your front door, it might not be

to schools, hospitals, stores, parks

and

the area for you. The easiest way

and airports. If you have a family

neighborhood

to discover the traffic volume in

member who is disabled or sick,

perfect neighborhoods until you

a neighborhood is to get in your

it makes no sense moving into a

find the one that most closely fits

car and drive around it at peak

neighborhood that is far from the

your needs.

morning and evening rush hours.

best medical facilities. If you are

If it’s easy to drive from place to

an avid runner you probably want

place, then you have a winner. If

to choose a neighborhood that

not, then you might decide to cross

is close to a park with a running

the neighborhood off your list.

trail. While some neighborhood associations take pride in the fact

If a neighborhood you’re interested

they’ve managed to block zoning

in is already fairly built out, it makes

changes that would allow a local

sense to research whether there

convenience store, if you like to

are

development

grab a hot coffee everyday on

projects in the wings. This can be

the way to work, then you have to

done by visiting the local planning

take this into consideration before

board’s website, or visit in person.

buying a home in a neighborhood

Although it’s not a given that all

that bans stores.

any

major

proposed developments will be approved, a majority of them do

Rising Property Values

make it from the drawing board

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to completion. So, if you are

Finally,

before

you

choose

a

considering a neighborhood that

neighborhood to move to, you

years.

carefully

research on

your

each list

of

3 Proactive Steps First-Time Homebuyers Should Consider There are specific steps a firsttime homebuyer

can

take

1. Check Your Credit Score

before

Just use one of the many online credit monitoring companies that

entering the real estate market

If there is a single factor that can

provide the reports, as well as your

that will greatly improve his or her

help or hurt your foray into the

current credit score for a small fee.

chances of getting financing and

world of financing a new home

being able to purchase a starter

it is your credit score, according

home.

to mortgage-finance experts. So,

2. Repair Your Credit

if you want a good idea of what

Once you get the reports you

Here are three proactive steps you

your chances are of obtaining

should carefully examine them to

should consider taking before you

such financing, you should first

make sure there are no mistakes.

contact a real estate agent or

order a credit report from each

If there are any errors, you should

mortgage broker:

ofthe

bureaus,

contact the credit bureaus and

Equifax, Experian and Transunion.

take the necessary steps to have

three

credit

them corrected. You should also

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look for any unpaid or collection accounts. If there are

is required, are gone. In general, a mortgage lender

any unpaid or collection accounts you should settle

will ask a first-time homebuyer to produce two recent

them immediately, or set up some sort of payment

pay stubs and the last two years’ W2 forms in order to

plan. At the very least, this will show you are willing to

apply for a loan. In addition, the lender will require the

pay your debts. A copy of your credit report will also

applicant to provide two months of bank statements.

show all of the credit you have available in relation to your credit lines. This is something lenders consider

The exception to this rule is the documentation lenders

carefully before making a loan. It’s known as your

require of first-time homebuyers who are self-employed

credit utilization rate. For example, if you have total

or are in commission sales. If you fall into one of these

credit availability on your credit cards of $30,000 and

categories, you should be prepared to produce up

you owe $20,000, then your credit utilization rate is 67

to three to four years of W2s. Lenders are looking for

percent. This rate has a great effect on your overall

steady income and want to make sure your last two

credit score. The lower the percentage, the higher

years or earnings were not an anomaly.

your credit score will be, and vice versa.

While taking these steps may seem like a lot of work, According to industry experts, a good credit utilization

getting your credit score, working to improve it and

rate for a first-time homebuyer is less than 33 percent. If

gathering your documentation will greatly increase

your rate is higher than this, you should make a serious

your chances of acquiring a mortgage for your first

effort to pay off as much debt as possible and satisfy

home when you are ready to buy.

any unsettled notes. On average, it takes about six months to improve your credit score.

3. Get Documentation in Order As we mentioned, today more than ever, mortgage companies by law are requiring documentation of a potential borrower’s income and taxes. The days of the so-called no-doc loan, where no such documentation

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First Time Homebuyers Fulfill Dreams with the Right Mortgage When it comes to mortgages, it’s

annual credit report.

important to find the right loan officer.

Having

someone

help

you

Reviewing these reports will not

navigate through the maze of

only provide you with your credit

credit reporting is extremely useful

You want to work with someone

rating, but will alert you to any

even if your credit isn’t pristine so

who can find the type of mortgage

misinformation or errors contained

you can still apply for a mortgage.

that is right for you, whether you’re

in your report.

seeking to buy a new home or refinance your existing home.

Fulfilling Your Dreams Bad credit mortgages come with higher interest rates so it pays to

With the right mortgage, first time

The right loan officer takes pride

clean up your credit before buying

homebuyers can truly own a piece

in his or her customer service so

a home.

of the American dream.

A good loan officer will offer credit

It’s enormously satisfying to pay a

improvement ideas, or refer you

mortgage payment instead of rent

What if Your Credit is Less

to a service to help you repair you

every month, knowing that you’re

than Ideal?

credit prior to obtaining a loan.

building equity. That equity lays a

your experience will be more personalized.

foundation for your financial future

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Before you go to a lender, you

This

may

involve

setting

up

should check your credit rating.

payment plans to existing creditors,

Federal law requires that each of

challenging bad reports that are

the three major credit reporting

on your record in error, and so

agencies provide you with a free

forth.

and that of your children, too, which gives you peace of mind.

10 Tips to Buy Real Estate Without Breaking Your Budget 1. Get pre-approved for your home loan 2. Explore creative financing options 3. Sell your existing home first 4. Look for vacant real estate 5. Consider cosmetic fixers 6. Buy a major remodel project 7. Don’t discount bank foreclosures 8. Buy land with a manufactured home 9. Purchase an older, smaller home Tracy M. Clarkin, Esq. Loan Officer, NMLS # 365318 American Financial Network Inc. Direct: 808-369-9791 Cell (best #): 415-794-4333 TClarkin@afncorp.com Financing the American Dream 15

10. Buy the cheapest house in the best neighborhood

6 Powerful Home-Staging Secrets the Pros Use The art of staging a home so it will

alive with just a couple of pieces

produce to make a house look

have the most appeal to potential

of outside furniture, while a few

lived in. A few lemons on a cutting

buyers is something anyone can

strategically placed solar lights on

board in the kitchen is also not a

do, if they just follow the example

either side of your walkway will do

bad idea.

of professional decorators.

much to make your house sparkle as will porch lights kept on when a

3. Stylize Your Plain Dining

Here are six staging secrets that you

potential buyer drives by at dusk or

Room Table

can use to make your house stand

at dawn.

out and capture the attention of potential buyers:

A bare dining room table is a little 2. Make Your House Spotless

like a black hole. It is unfriendly

But Lived-In

and tends to suck the positive energy out of anyone who passe

1. Dress Up Your Porch While it’s critical to keep your house

by it. The pros say decorating such

Whether you have a large porch

super clean and spotless when it’s

a table with an assortment of small

or just a few steps in front of your

being shown, you don’t want it

colorful arrangements will breathe

house, adding a new doormat

to appear sterile or unpopulated.

life into an otherwise dreary dining

and a few exotic flowers or plants

After all, a house is a place where

chamber.

can help make your home stand

people live. Professionals use a few

out. A nice porch can come

fresh flowers in vases or a basket of

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4. Closets Wide Open Professionals say you should open closets wide after you have thoroughly cleaned and removed any clutter.

By doing so, you create a feeling of spaciousness and you’re declaring

Busting the Myth That Home Improvements Pay For Themselves

affirmatively that there is larger closet space.

For

years,

cherished

homeowners

and

embraced

from 82 percent in 2003 to 57 percent in 2013.

5. Install a Pedestal Sink to Create the

the

Illusion of More Space

renovations and improvements

Here

myth

that

expensive the

payback

to their homes were great

percentages on some popular

If you have a tiny bathroom that’s

investments that would more

home improvements:

cramped and makes you want to

than pay for themselves in

scream, imagine the effect it might

the long run by adding to the

have on a potential buyer. One

overall value of their properties

back 1.9 percent of their cost

possible and inexpensive fix the pros

when they were sold some day

when the house was sold.

use is to remove the big, old sink in

in the near future.

your tiny bathroom and replace it with

•

•

a small pedestal sink and decorate it

Many

with a few red roses. The result is the

improvement contracts have

optical illusion of much space and

been signed and justified by

style, transforming the bathroom from

this financial myth.

major

home

homebuyers

many tour

Steel

Entry

doors

paid

back

73

•

their

Built-in,

only

percent

initial

cost.

back-up

power

generators only returned

Remodeling and Improvements Equals Poor Return

6. Use Art to Draw People In Unfortunately,

Garage doors only paid

of

a liability to an asset.

a

47.5 percent of their cost at the sale of a property.

prospective house

with

• Remodeling

a sun room only returned

Magazine, over the last decade,

45.9 percent of their original

they have tunnel vision. How in the

payback

cost.

world can you get them to explore

remodeling

your home? Professional stagers use a piece of artwork hanging at the top of the stairs, or a colorful vase near the back of the house to catch the eye of prospective buyers. Such a strategy gets them to view the house in its blissful totality, rather than segmenting it into little chucks.

According

to

Popular additions such as

blinders on. It’s almost as though

the entire depth and breadth of

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are

on

the job

average

has

fallen

Found the Perfect Home – But Furniture Won’t Fit! You’ve been looking for a home

Give It Away?

and you’ve found one that feels

there?

almost perfect. The location is

Maybe the problem is that you

convenient and you can picture

have a bed that’s too large for any

your family living here happily.

of the bedrooms in the “almost

However, there’s a problem. One

perfect” house. Is it a Sheraton

Don’t turn down the idea of

or more pieces of furniture you’ve

tall post field bed with canopy or

purchasing a home you’d really

had for years just will not fit. Do you

a massive Victorian piece that’s

enjoy simply because some of

buy the home anyway, or keep

been in the family for generations?

your furniture won’t fit.

looking?

Do you love it, or might another

Move It?

won’t fit is a tall cheston-chest that’s

Evaluate and Decide

family member with larger rooms

Ask yourself questions about the

and taller ceilings be very excited

possibilities. When you come up

to get it?

with answers you like, you’ve

Suppose the piece of furniture that

made your decision.

Sell It?

always been in your bedroom.

Who

knows,

another

family

Could you use it in another room?

Maybe the offending piece of

member or a stranger shopping for

Might it be handsome and useful

furniture has monetary value, but

a special piece of furniture could

in the living room or dining room?

has no sentimental value. Why not

be delighted with your decision,

(Rooms downstairs often have

just sell it? There’s no need to buy

too!

taller ceilings than rooms upstairs.)

Could it store games, videos, tablecloths and place mats, and silverware in its new location?

If that thought process takes care of the chest, but you’re left without enough storage in the bedroom, what then? Is there a smaller chest of drawers that was used in your old guest room that would fit in your bedroom? What about putting an inexpensive chest of drawers into your walk-in closet?

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a house based on where it’ll fit, is

Best House Color to Sell

A Bit About Mold

When you go to social events, do you

5. On large flat surfaces, such as the

make an effort to snazzy up? Of course.

side of a garage, keep in mind the

Attraction is a key factor in forming

color you choose will have a washed

There are a number of little things to

relationships and the same applies to

out appearance.

look for when purchasing a new home.

your house.

Normally things to consider include

Now we get to the fun part. After

location, wiring, the condition of the

When you put the house on the

considering the above issues, make

house, and several other factors.

market, you need to make it look good

a preliminary list of colors and buy

for dates with potential buyers. The

small cans of each color. In a private

One of these factors is mold. There

color of your house can make all the

area of the house, start applying

are different types of mold that can

difference.

samplesstrokes a couple feet long and

occur in a home and lead not only to

a foot or so wide.

structural damage, but some health

First, there is no absolutely correct

concerns too. Mold can be difficult to

answer to the best color! Instead, the

Try to paint examples in shaded areas

find in homes as it grows exclusively in

decision depends on the makeup

and those exposed to the sun.

dark and moist areas that are hidden

of your home and the surrounding

somewhere in structural areas, like attics

landscape.

Do not immediately judge the results

and basements. By the time mold shows up in actual living areas, chances are

of your experiments. Instead, wait a few hours for the paint to dry and then

Let’s take a closer look:

that it is throughout the home.

start comparing.

1. Whatever color you choose, make

Another concern is if a home has ever

sure it doesn’t clash with the other

Dry paint takes on a very different

flooded and was not properly cleaned.

homes

appearance than when it is wet.

Leaky

otherwise appropriate color could end

plumbing

and

basement

crawlspaces are other likely candidates.

in

the

neighborhood.

An

up making your house an eye-sore.

Mold can be a difficult thing to get rid

Once the paint is dry, take a long look at each sample. You will typically find

of as the only thing it needs to continue

2. The Roof. What color is the roof on

the colors look much different. You

growing is organic material such as

your home? If it is a red tile roof, off-

may find one color is perfect or you

wood and moisture. Both of these items

whites are probably going to be the

may find something a little different

are abundant in most homes.

better choice than dark green. Unless

would be best. Either way, you’ll have

you are going to invest money in a new

come up with the best house color to

Usually moisture finds its way into a home

roof, make sure the paint color doesn’t

sell your home.

through leaky roofs and foundations.

clash with it.

Both areas should be checked by an experienced mold inspector on a

3. Highlights. If there is a particular

regular basis if there is any worry of mold

part of your house that should be

beginning to grow, or if there has been

emphasized, used light colored paint

mold in the past.

around it to draw attention.

Mold can be an expensive problem. Be

4. Hide It! Conversely, if there are parts

proactive about searching for it so you

of the house that are mundane, use

save money in the long run.

darker colors to draw attention away from them.

19

Opening Doors...

...Making the Dream of Home Ownership a Reality!

Tracy M. Clarkin, Esq. Loan Officer NMLS#365318

Cell: 415-794-4333 (best number) Office: 808-369-9791 Fax: 888-373-4565 TClarkin@afncorp.com www.afncorp.com/tracyclarkin

3 Park Plaza Suite 450, Irvine, CA 92614. American Financial Network, Inc. is licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight under the Finance Lenders Law License (6054548) and holds a CA Bureau of Real Estate, Real Estate Broker’s License (01317581) and Hawaii Mortgage Loan Originator Company License (HI-237341) under Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS), unique identifier of 842517. Broker is performing acts for which a license is required. Refer to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org and input NMLS #237341 to see where AFN is a licensed lender. In all states, the principal licensed office of American Financial Network, Inc. is 10 Pointe Drive, Suite 330, Brea, CA 92821; Phone: (909) 606-3905 (NMLS ID#237341). This is not an offer for extension of credit or commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Not all applicants qualify.

Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. The content in this advertisement is for informational purposes only.