Arden, NC Home: Country Setting, City Convenience

If you've been looking for a private setting but don't want to be in a remote location, our new listing at 38 Old Lime Kiln Road in Arden may fit the bill for you.  Situated on a 1.6 acre lot this home has lots of great features which include 2X6 construction w/extra insulation, mahogany floors, a wrap around covered porch, Pella windows, 3' doors, infrared heaters on all tubs, appliance garages in the kitchen, Dacor appliances, a utility shed in back, and so much more! This is a great opportunity for someone to live an unrestricted setting and be so close town.  You're not far from shopping/dining in Biltmore Park Town Square, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Village and I-40.

Are you looking for a home that fits this description?  Call The Puffer Team today, we'll be happy to set up a showing for you, 828-771-2300.


Check out this list of other homes available in the Arden area, we'll be happy to show you one of these as well!

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The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com

8 Steps To Buying An Asheville Area Home. . . Are You Ready?

A couple of weeks ago we talked about the home buying process and the steps a buyer will need to take from beginning to end, we wanted to elaborate on that just a little bit more:

(the following provided courtesy of www.kw.com)

 

Step 1: Decide to Buy

The decision to purchase your first home is one of the biggest and best decisions you could ever make. After all, a home is the largest (and most emotional) investment most people will ever make. So, how do you know if it's the right time for you to buy your first home?

• There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. The key is finding a good buy and taking the time to carefully evaluate your finances.
• A home purchase is an important step in the path to long-term wealth. Purchasing your own home is a great investment that provides specific financial advantages, including equity buildup, value appreciation potential and tax benefits. It's also an automatic savings plan that you cannot get from renting!
• Here's the most important rule for keeping your stress to a minimum: you don't have to know everything. At The Puffer Team we are ready to help you through every step of the process.

Step 2: Hire Your Agent

When you're looking for a real estate professional to help you, know that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come true.

A great real estate agent will:

1. Educate you about the current conditions of the market.
2. Analyze what you want and what you need in your next home.
3. Guide you to homes that fit your criteria.
4. Coordinate the work of other needed professionals throughout the process.
5. Negotiate with the seller on your behalf.
6. Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
7. Solve any problems that may arise.

Step 3: Secure Financing

Ultimately, your lender will pre-approve you for a certain amount, but YOU will decide what you're comfortable paying every month. Remember, your lender only sees your finances on paper. It's up to you to decide how much you're willing to stretch your budget in order to get into your dream home.

Be sure to follow these six steps to financing your home:

1. Choose a loan officer.
2. Make a loan application and get preapproved.
3. Determine what you want to pay and select a loan option.
4. Submit to the lender an accepted purchase offer contract.
5. Get an appraisal and title commitment.
6. Obtain funding at closing  

Step 4: Find Your Home

So you are preapproved and ready to begin your search. But how or where do you begin? There are a lot of homes out there and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing. A great agent will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria. The right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your additional wants as possible. Some questions you might ask yourself include:

• What do I want my home to be close to?
• How much space do I need and why?
• Which is more critical: location or size?
• Would I be interested in a fixer-upper?
• How important is home value appreciation?
• Is neighborhood stability a priority?
• Would I be interested in a condo?
• What features and amenities do I want? Which do I really need?

You'll learn as you look at homes, your priorities will probably adjust along the way.

 

Step 5: Make an Offer

Once you've found a home you love, the next step is making a compelling offer. While emotions are probably in high gear once you've found a home you love, it's important to remember that a home is an investment. Your agent will research similar properties in the neighborhood to help you determine the market value, and fair price, for your home. Look to your agent to explain and guide you through the offer process.

• The three basic components of your purchase offer are price, terms and contingencies.
• Price is the dollar amount you are approved for, willing and able to pay.
• Terms cover the other financial and timing factors that will be included in the offer.
• Contingencies are clauses that let you out of the deal if the house has a problem that didn't exist or which you weren't aware of when you went under contract. They specify any event that will need to take place in order for you to fulfill the contract. 

Step 6: Perform Due Diligence

Just because you love a particular property doesn't mean that it's perfect. In fact, this is where reason has to trump emotion. You'll need to have a property inspection (which we highly recommend you attend) that will expose hidden issues. This way you'll know what you are getting into before you sign closing papers.

• Your main concern is the possibility of structural damage. This can come from water damage, shifting ground, or poor construction when the house was built.
• Don't sweat the small stuff. It's the inspector's job to mark everything discovered no matter how large or small. The inspectors report may be long, but, things that are easily fixed can be overlooked for the time being.
• If you have a big problem show up in your inspection report, you should bring in a specialist and if the worst-case scenario turns out to be true, you might want to walk away from the purchase.
• Even if your home passes inspection, you'll still need to buy a home owner's insurance policy that protects you against loss or damage to the property itself and against liability in case someone sustains an injury while on your property.

Step 7: Close

Once you've made your offer and have completed the inspection process, you're in the "home" stretch! But, in order to ensure that you don't put your closing date, or your mortgage at risk, you have a few pre-closing responsibilities that you'll need to be mindful of. These include:

• Staying in control of your credit and finances. If you are tempted to make any large purchases during this time, it's best to talk to your lender first.
• Keeping in touch with your agent and lender, returning all phone calls and completing paperwork promptly.
• Communicating with your agent at least once or twice a week, and verifying with your lender that all mortgage funding steps are completed.
• Conducting a final walk-through of the home with your agent.
• Confirming with your agent, home insurance professional, and lender that you have the settlement statement, certified funds, and evidence of insurance lined up prior to closing.

Step 8: Protect Your Investment

Congratulations, and welcome home! The home-buying process is complete, but just like any big process, there's a maintenance plan! It's now your responsibility, and in your best financial interest, to protect your investment for years to come. Performing routine maintenance on your home's systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage, and wear.

And remember, just because the sale is complete, your relationship with your agent doesn't need to end! After closing, your agent can still help you - providing information for your tax returns, finding contractors and repair services, and even tracking your home's current market value.

Ready to get started?  Call The Puffer Team at 828-771-2300, and feel free to visit our website: www.homefinderasheville.com.

What's Your Pinterest Style?

By now almost everyone has heard of Pinterest.  It's a great way to keep track of ideas and find new ones as well.  We use Pinterest to showcase our Asheville area real estate listings, check out what's new in home decor, as well as keep a list of inspirational quotes/ideas.  Here are some of our most recent pins:

Puffer Team Listings

 Home Decor

Inspirational Quotes

What do you like to "pin" on Pinterest?  Check out our boards here.

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The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com

11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100

Looking for new and improved ways to welcome friends, family, & buyers into your home?  Check out this great article courtesy of HouseLogic.com to help you amp up your curb appeal.


(source)


First impressions count — not just for your friends, relatives, and the UPS guy, but for yourself. Whether it’s on an urban stoop or a Victorian front porch, your front door and the area leading up to it should extend a warm welcome to all comers — and needn’t cost a bundle.

Here’s what you can do to make welcoming happen on the cheap.

1. Clear the way for curb appeal. The path to your front door should be at least 3 feet wide so people can walk shoulder-to-shoulder, with an unobstructed view and no stumbling hazards. So get out those loppers and cut back any overhanging branches or encroaching shrubs.

2. Light the route. Landscape lighting makes it easy to get around at night. Solar-powered LED lights you can just stick in the ground, requiring no wiring, are suprisingly inexpensive. $45 for a pack of 8, lowes.com.
3. Go glossy. Borrow inspiration from London’s lovely row houses, whose owners assert their individuality by painting their doors in high-gloss colors. The reflective sheen of a royal blue, deep green, crimson, or whatever color you like will ensure your house stands out from the pack. Consult Bonnie Rosser Krims’ book, The Perfectly Painted House, for ideas.

And find out what your front entryway says about you.

4. Pretty up the view. A door with lots of glass is a plus for letting light into the front hall — but if you also want privacy and a bit of decor, check out decorative window film. It’s removable and re-positionable, and comes in innumerable styles and motifs. About $5.25 per running foot, decorativefilm.com.

An less expensive way to get the look of stained glass without doing custom work or buying a whole new door: Mount a decorative panel on the inside of the door behind an existing glass insert, $92 for an Arts and Crafts-style panel 20” high by 11” wide.

5. Replace door hardware. While you’re at it, polish up the handle on the big front door, or better yet, replace it with a shiny new brass lockset with a secure deadbolt, $57.

6. Please knock. Doorbells may be the norm, but a hefty knocker is a classic that will never run out of battery life, and another opportunity to express yourself (whatever your favorite animal or insect is, there’s a door-knocker in its image). $39, potterybarn.com.

7. Ever-greenery. Boxwoods are always tidy-looking, the definition of easy upkeep. A pair on either side of the door is traditional, but a singleton is good, too. About $25 at garden centers. In cold climates, make sure pots are frost-proof (polyethylene urns and boxes mimic terracotta and wood to perfection). $80, frontera.com.

8. Numbers game. Is your house number clearly visible? That’s of prime importance if you want your guests to arrive and your pizza to be hot. Stick-on vinyl numbers in a variety of fonts make it easy, starting at about $4 per digit.

9. Foot traffic. A hardworking mat for wiping muddy feet is a must. A thick coir mat can be had at the hardware store for less than $20, or spring for something fancier, like this decorative half-round that promises weather and mildew resistance, $45, frontgate.com.

10. Go for the glow. Fumbling for keys in the dark isn’t fun. Consider doubling up on porch lights with a pair of lanterns, one on each side of the door, for symmetry and twice the illumination. $69 each, shadesoflight.com.

11. Snail mail. Mailboxes run the gamut from kitschy roadside novelties masquerading as dogs, fish, or what-have-you to sober black lockboxes mounted alongside the front door. Whichever way you go, make sure yours is standing or hanging straight, with a secure closure, and no dings or dents. The mail carrier will thank you.
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Is your front entrance ready to welcome a new buyer?  Call The Puffer Team today to help you get your home sold, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com. 

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Cara Greenberg Cara Greenberg is a veteran writer on architecture, design, and gardens for magazines and newspapers, including This Old House, Coastal Living, and Garden Design. Her blog, casaCARA: Old Houses for Fun and Profit, is based on her experience owning six properties.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-improvement/front-door-entry-ideas/#ixzz2EweBSA7G

Low Maintenance Home on 3+ Acres

MOTIVATED SELLER, MOVING OUT OF STATE:  Great home in West Asheville just off of New Leicester Hwy, don't let the acreage fool you, the sellers have landscaped their yard in such a way that it's easy to maintain.  You're close to downtown Asheville in a private yet convenient location.

22 Blue Ridge Acres; Asheville, NC  28806

(click on the address for more information)

While you're in the area, feel free to head towards Candler and check out these homes as well:

 267 JDs Trail; Candler, NC  28715

 

16 Nottingham Drive; Candler, NC 28715 

Would you like more information about these homes or similar homes in the area, call The Puffer Team today; 828-771-2300, or visit our website:  www.homefinderasheville.com.

Buying A Home? Why You Need A Home Inspection

Before signing on the dotted line and getting the keys to your new home, there are many hoops you will have to jump through, one of the major ones is getting a home inspection.  Below is a great article on common red flags to look for.

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12 Red Flags That Should Raise Concern

By Michele Dawson

Indeed, more than 40 percent of the previously owned homes on the market have at least one serious defect, according to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in more than 390 cities in the United States and Canada.

"Virtually every 'used' home needs some repair or improvement," said Kathleen Kuhn, CEO and president of HouseMaster. "That's to be expected. But with today's high prices, you want to make sure that you are aware of any major problems in a house you are considering purchasing, and what it will take to remedy the situation."

Drawing from their own findings from more than one million home inspections, HouseMaster says the most serious home defects to be on the lookout for are:

1. Cracked heater exchange
2. Failing air-conditioning compressor
3. Environmental hazards including radon, water contamination, asbestos, lead paint, and underground storage tanks
4. Moisture in the basement
5. Defective roofing and/or flashings
6. Insect infestation -- termites or carpenter ants
7. Mixed plumbing
8. Aluminum wiring
9. Horizontal foundation cracks
10. Major house settlement
11. Undersized electrical system
12. Chimney settling or separation

Kuhn says most of these problems can be repaired. However, depending on the specific problem, the cost can be substantial, particularly if the defect involves one of the major systems. The cost could become a factor in whether you ultimately buy the house.

For example, a new air conditioning compressor could cost you up to $1,200. A new roof or repairs can cost at least several thousand dollars. A wet basement could cost up to $5,000 to remedy.

If you enter negotiations to buy a particular house, your agent should advise you to provide a provision for renegotiating or backing out of the contract if a home inspector finds major problems.

"If the property inspectors find that little or no corrective work is required, you have little or nothing to negotiate," say Eric Tyson and Ray Brown in their book, Homebuying for Dummies. "Suppose, however, that your inspectors discover the $200,000 house you want to buy needs $20,000 of corrective work for termite and dry-rot damage, foundation repairs, and a new roof. Big corrective work bills can be deal killers."

If repairs are needed, there are several ways to proceed if you still want to buy the house, the Dummies book advises.

• The sellers can leave enough money in escrow to cover the cost of repairs, with instructions for the escrow officer to pay the contractors as the work is completed.

• The lender can withhold part of the full loan amount in a passbook savings account until the work has been done.

• The sellers may give a credit for the work. Lenders may disapprove of this last alternative because there aren't assurances that the repairs will be made.

A home inspection usually costs between $250 and $400. Hire a qualified inspector. Try to get referrals from friends or anyone you know who has had a satisfactory experience with a home inspector. Also, look for affiliations with organizations like the American Society of Home Inspectors or the American Association of Home Inspectors. Both groups require its members to be certified, meet professional qualifications, and adhere to specific business ethics.

Once you make an appointment with a home inspector, it's important to be there.

Your investment of spending these few hours with the inspector could prevent headaches and save time in the future. As the home inspector examines the various systems and components of your home, ask him or her to explain what problems may be encountered down the road, what signs to look for, and how to prevent them. Try to learn how things work and how to maintain them. The inspector may also point out little flaws or oddities that don't measure up to being mentioned in the report, but may warrant keeping an eye on.

Says Kuhn of HouseMasters, "A pre-purchase inspection is your best protection against buying a home based more on emotions, rather than as a sound investment."

Copyright © by Realty Times

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Are you ready to begin the home buying process?  We have a great team of Buyer Specialists ready to walk you through every step of the process and point you in the direction of great vendors to help make it a seamless process.  Call The Puffer Team today, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com 

5 Small Home Improvement Projects with Big Returns

Whether you're looking to get your home market ready or to spruce it up to make it feel new again, there are a few things you can do on a small scale that will feel like large improvements.

(source)

The very mention of ‘home renovation’ can cause anxiety in homeowners, particularly those who have already gone through the process. Extensive remodeling projects can be expensive, disruptive, and time-consuming, but that does not necessarily apply to every project. There are a number of upgrades that can dramatically improve the look and feel of your home without breaking the bank or creating total chaos in your life. If you are trying to sell your home, you will find that inexpensive improvements can yield big returns. Here are five enhancements that fall relatively low on the hassle scale:

1. Hardwood Flooring Installation

Installing hardwood flooring should, in most cases, be left to a contractor, as it requires special equipment and expertise. On the other hand, glue-down hardwood floors are less costly, especially if your home is on a concrete slab. The installation of nailed hardwood floors over concrete requires that a layer of plywood or other suitable wood medium be applied first so that the new product can be attached with nails. However, glue-down flooring eliminates this step because an adhesive is used for the attachment process. It is generally a faster installation as well. For instance, a 400 square foot room floored with 3-inch flooring can usually be completed in 1 to 2 days.

If you already have hardwood floors that are worn, you might want to consider refinishing. Again, this is a job for the well-skilled craftsman, but it will dramatically improve the look of the room and require much less time than a complete replacement. In fact, approximately 86% of homebuyers in 2011 chose a home with hardwood floors, so this renovation is a worthy investment if you plan to sell your home somewhere down the road.

2. Kitchen and Bath Hardware
One of the simplest upgrades that can be performed is the installation of new hardware such as towel racks, cabinet handles, toilet paper dispensers, and other wall-mounted hardware. Several aesthetically pleasing designs are available for a range of prices. If you are handy, this is a true do-it-yourself project.

3. Cabinet Upgrades
Replacing cabinets is an extensive process, particularly in a kitchen. Unfortunately, this process will make that area practically unusable during the renovation. If your cabinets are not dated or damaged, you may opt to refinish the doors and drawer panels instead. In addition, you may want to replace old hardware like pull handles and knobs. This is a much cheaper option and will reduce the disruption since the cabinets themselves do not require demolition.

4. Exterior Door Replacements
The front entry is one of the first things a visitor sees when approaching your home. If the front door is old, warped or damaged, replacement should be considered, not only for cosmetic reasons but for energy efficiency benefits as well. Standard size doors can be purchased at virtually any home improvement center. They may also have an installation option as well, and that can make this a truly painless upgrade.

5. Wall Painting
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any room. Walls and ceilings get stained and dulled over the years, and a fresh application of paint not only brightens but protects these areas. Painting is a true do-it-yourself project; it does require patience and attention to detail but the outlay for materials and paint is minimal for the benefits gained.
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Erin Devine is the writer and owner of DIY Home & Floor, a blog all about interior design ideas, home renovation, and DIY decorating. She also writes articles for Floor & Décor Outlets and her work can be found on various interior design and remodeling blogs around the web.

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Need help finding a good source for upgrades?  We have a list of reputable vendors ready to get to work for you, call us today!  The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com