Vinyl siding as an alternative to regular paintings has been available for years. Some homeowners eschewed the product as looking just too — phony. However, modern science and better manufacturing techniques can now produce vinyl products that, from a foot away, look just like painted wood.

Historically, vinyl building products have not been supplied in deep dark colors because they tended to fade and change color. Recently, Altuglas International the makers of Solarkote and Plexiglas has introduced products to alleviate that problem.

Solarkote has being introduced as a way to easily add dark, rich colors to the look of a home and yard without heavy household burdens. According to the manufacturers, Solarakote acrylic capstock is applied to a vinyl building product in the manufacturing stage. The protective layer of acrylic won’t peel off as paint does and it significantly reduces fading or yellowing of building product materials. (more…)

search for : Vinyl siding, vinyl building products

One of the major challenges when building or remodeling is to find a good contractor. Luckily, with the downturn in the real estate market, builders are no longer concentrating on construction of “spec” homes — those properties built just to sell upon completion.

It’s our opinion that the best method of finding a contractor is through a referral. Friends and co-workers have either built or remodeled, or know someone who has. You might be surprised, if you just ask, how many opinions, both good and bad, that folks have when discussing their experiences with contractors.

You will also find that sub-contractors, those trades that deal in new and remodeled projects for electrical, plumbing, flooring, etc. will be on the minds of many consumers. Stories abound about projects where the “subs” made for a good or terrible project. (more…)

search for : find a good contractor, remodeled project

Homeowners, particularly those with growing families are sometimes in a quandary. Should they sell and buy a larger residence or add-on to their present home. In this era of depressed real estate prices, along with declining home values, remodeling may just make more sense, and even save them money.

To help you make that decision, consider the following. Are you happy with the location of your home, your neighborhood and your home’s general layout, style and size? And, consider if the real estate market in your neighborhood will support your remodeling plans. Remember, it’s never a good idea to have a house whose value is a multiple of the other houses in your community. (more…)

search for : depressed real estate prices, declining home values, remodeling

Real estate marketing has experienced pronounced changes in recent years. The age of YouTube is upon us. YouTube, and other online video-centric services means that anyone can upload a video to market a home to anyone else using these free Internet services.

It’s so easy that over one in five (22 percent) American adults shoots their own videos and 14 percent post them online. Citizen journalism is now citizen advertising. If you can operate a cell phone, you can be theMartin Scorcese of home listings. (more…)

search for : YouTube

Many new homeowners, particularly those that purchase modular or mobile homes, develop some form of respiratory distress. Often, those individuals attribute the affliction to “allergies”, a common term used to describe a number of medically-related symptoms.

However, manufactured homes, especially ones built to Super Good Cents (SGC) standards, tend to be very “tight”. When they are first inhabited the indoor air quality can may be less than optimal.

For that reason, SGC homes most always have some sort of passive or active ventilation built into them to provide for a constant low-volume flow of fresh air. If the ventilation system for the home is blocked, inactive or not working for any other reason, then individuals experience higher than normal indoor pollutants, commonly called “out-gassing”. (more…)

search for : mobile home, respiratory distress, Super Good Cents

This article chronicles how Cleveland is suing banks.

The city is claiming that their subprime lending practices created a public nuisance that hurt property values and city tax collections.

The lawsuit seeks to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, including lost taxes from devalued property and money spent demolishing and boarding up thousands of abandoned houses.

Will this happen in local venues? Could be, let’s wait and see. (more…)

search for : subprime lending practice

Beautiful Wilkes County NC Timber Frame Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 51166, List Price: $898,500

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 half baths, 2 car attached garage, full basement, and a barn on 5 acres of land.

These terms are used to describe thousands of homes and yet some things just can’t be described, they have to be experienced. This is one of those homes that really has to be seen to be appreciated.

This majestic Timber Frame home of the Bob Timberlake genre is not just another house, it provides a feeling of home that is not about walls and floors and windows and doors. It creates a feeling of the flow between your outdoor and your indoor environment that is seamless. Everywhere you look there is a view. Everything you touch feels natural and beautiful in a way that cannot be described, only owned.

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information