| In
This Issue |
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| Monthly
Quote |
“A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King…”
-Emily Dickinson,
American poet, (1830-1886),
Complete Poems
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| Tip
Of The Month |
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Many potential homebuyers, especially
first-timers, may need to look beyond traditional mortgage options.
There are several creative options out there that may allow you
to purchase the home of your dreams:
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80/20
Loans. These loans are typically for buyers who do
not have the 20% down payment. To avoid paying for private
mortgage insurance, check into this type of loan, which “piggybacks”
onto the first, 80%, loan for 100% financing. |
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| · |
Interest-only
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). If it is important to you
to keep monthly payments low at first, consider this type
of loan, which requires no payment toward the principal
during the initial term before the rate starts to adjust.
You can start with this type of loan and then refinance
before the rate starts to adjust.
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Payment-option
ARM. This is a slightly riskier option that offers you the
choice of paying just interest, interest plus principal
or a “minimum payment.” If you have a varying
monthly income or unexpected bills, this may be the option
for you. Be forewarned, however, that if you pay smaller
payments, your loan is getting bigger. Also do not assume
that you will build equity simply through a home’s
appreciation.
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(Source: "MoneySmart" by
Sharon Epperson, USA Weekend, April 22-24, 2005.)
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Links |
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Homes for Sale
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Info |
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Estate Trends | Mortgage
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| Transform Your Garage with
Flooring |
 A
standard two-car garage is approximately 400 square feet of usable
space. Are you using it to its full potential? Many garages are
dirty and filled with clutter, making them not very nice to come
home to. Garage flooring, such as epoxy, locking-tile systems
or paint, can make the garage easier to clean and a nicer place
to come home to.
Epoxy flooring is often used in commercial
buildings. Epoxy is somewhat difficult to install, and can take
days of preparation and installation before it is ready to be
walked or driven on. It can also get damaged or scratched easier
than other flooring options.
An increasingly popular flooring option is
the G floor. The G floor has a vinyl base and is rolled out similar
to carpet. It attaches to the edges with double-sided tape that
is used for industrial flooring. It costs approximately $2.25
per square foot and takes only an hour-and-a-half to install!
It also comes with a 10-year warranty. Another excellent feature
is that it is incredibly easy to clean. Mud, anti-freeze, battery
acid, oil and brake fluid can be hosed right off. The G floor
can also be installed over any type of surface.
Racedeck is another flooring option, and is
a little more expensive than G flooring. Racedeck has been on
the market for commercial use for about 20 years, but is now designed
for residential use as well. Composed of 12-by-12 snap-together
polypropylene tiles, it is assembled in a similar manner to how
you would assemble a tile floor. The difference is that Racedeck
is a floating floor, so no adhesive is used on the ground. Instead,
the weight and structure of the system allows it to rest freely
on your garage floor. This options costs approximately $4.25 per
square foot, but since the system uses different tiles, you have
more design options.
A final alternative to your standard, concrete
garage floor is to paint it. Make sure to choose a paint that
is resistant to hot tire pick-up to prevent lifting paint due
to hot tires. It is also critically important to prepare and clean
the concrete surface thoroughly to ensure the paint sticks to
the surface.
Whatever flooring
option you choose, a nice garage floor will make the space more
pleasant and easy to clean. |
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