If you’re thinking about making a move, are you considering buying a condominium or a single-family home?

The number of condominium owners has risen dramatically in the last few years. Condos are a popular option because they are often more affordable, require fewer maintenance and landscaping chores, suit busy lifestyles, and serve well as a first home or downsizing from a larger house. Here are some differences to consider:

Condos
*There are usually fewer maintenance requirements.
* They can be less expensive than a single-family home.
* You own the space between the walls.
* There may be more security with neighbors close by.
* The exterior of the building, landscaping, surrounding roads, driveways and common areas are owned by the condo association, a group made up of all unit owners.
* Special assessments by the association for painting or repairs can add significant expense.

Single-Family Homes
* They usually offer more storage space.
* You own the interior as well as the exterior.
* You have to do the maintenance, landscaping and repairs.
* Unless you live in a gated community, you don’t have condo association dues.
* You don’t have to worry about special assessments.
* You have room to grow plants, flowers, trees, veggies, etc.

Look at your lifestyle and consider how your household may change over the next few years. Will you have enough space in a condo? Or will you be happier in a house with room for a garden?

Stone countertops and ceramic tile have become quite popular over the past several years. Their attractive good looks add an upscale touch as well as resale value. But stone and tile aren’t as durable as you might think.

If not cared for properly, replacing or resurfacing can be an expensive proposition. Here are 4 tips to help keep your stone and tile surfaces looking their best while protecting your investment:

1. Keep stone and tile surfaces clean. Use warm soapy water and rinse well with clean water. Avoid cleaning stone surfaces with cleaners that contain bleach which can compromise sealants used to protect the surface.

2. Reapply a surface sealant every six months. Sealants help keep spills and food from being absorbed into the surface and causing stains. Look for professional-grade stone and tile cleaners and sealants at specialty stores or large hardware stores. They’re easy to use and apply.

3. Wipe up acidic spills immediately. Foods or liquids containing acids can quickly etch any stone or tile surface, creating rough spots that can only be removed by having the surface professionally resurfaced and polished. Tomatoes, citrus fruits, wine, and vinegar can quickly ruin your gleaming surface.

4. Clean tile grout regularly with a laundry bleach pen. Use an old toothbrush for stubborn stains. Chipped or broken areas can be cleaned out using a grout removal tool. New grout is easy to apply. Just ask how at your local hardware or tile store.

A Block Watch is simply an extension of what you’re probably already doing: watching out for your neighbors’ property and taking action in case of an emergency or suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1.

Joining or starting a Block Watch doesn’t require you to perform any special tasks, go to a lot of meetings or take on extra responsibilities. You don’t have to patrol the neighborhood or chase burglars. Block Watch just involves being alert as a part of your everyday life.

For example, when you go to the window to open or close the drapes, stop for a second and glance around the neighborhood to be sure everything is normal before adjusting the drapes. When you go out to get in your car, glance up and check the neighborhood. This is the kind of watching that’s involved.

All a Block Watch requires is that you and your neighbors be familiar enough with each other to know who belongs in the neighborhood and who doesn’t; which cars are a part of the neighborhood and which aren’t; and when something suspicious is going on. This concept of “neighbor watching out for neighbor” is important for those who live in condos as well.

Are you thinking of making some home improvements?

With large home improvement centers offering “do it yourself” classes on home repair and maintenance, homeowners are tackling big home improvement projects more and more.

Here are a few helpful tips to consider when deciding whether to take on home projects yourself or hire an expert for the task:

* Compare your own hourly wage to what you would pay per hour to have the job done.
* Consider how much longer it would take you to get the job done compared to an expert.
* Take into consideration the value of the time you would spend on the project. (Could that time be spent with family or on hobbies?)
* Determine whether you have the necessary equipment, or if you would need to rent tools for the project.
* Always think of the cost/benefit ratio when you plan a home improvement project.

“How long will it take my house to sell?”

That’s the question real estate professionals hear the most.

As agents, we can easily obtain information from our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) about average time on the market from time of listing to accepted offer. These statistics vary depending on interest rates, price range, local economics, and other factors.

What most sellers really want to know, however, is “How long will it be until I have to move?” This depends on how long it will take from accepting an offer until the transaction closes. Once an offer is received and accepted, it may take from 30 to 45 days to obtain financing and close the deal. Buyers who are preapproved by their lenders can shorten that time frame considerably.