5 Things to Consider About a Neighborhood Before Buying

Buying a home is a long-term, important investment, so take the time to discover what makes your targeted neighborhoods tick. There are a number of ways to check the pulse of a community; talking to neighbors can give you a great snapshot of what it’s like to live there. Here are five other ways to determine whether a neighborhood is the right fit for you.

1. Is it an up-and-coming area or still in transition?
You might start by researching local home values and foreclosure rates. Consider such factors as crime rate, development plans and proposed or new businesses. You can even contact local officials, such as the county property appraiser or the HOA manager (if applicable) for better insights. Sometimes buying a home in a transitional area may prove to be a good investment, but you probably want to make sure you'll feel good about your home in the interim, too.

2. Do the schools make the grade?
Even if you don’t have school-age children, you should be interested in how the schools in your potential neighborhood perform. Homes near high-ranking schools tend to maintain higher resale values. Start your research by visiting GreatSchools.org  or using the SchoolFinder tool at education.com.

3. What’s nearby?
Consider what’s important to you in your future neighborhood, and then explore the surrounding areas near your targeted home. Among things to keep in mind are proximity to stores, schools and green spaces. Aside from being practical, these amenities make it easy to mingle with neighbors, set up kids’ play dates or just play fetch with your pup. WalkScore.com is a great place to search for nearby amenities – all you have to do is plug in an address and mode of transportation.

4. How far is it from work?
Try the new INRIX Drive Time tool on remax.com to determine how long it will take you to drive to work, school or area stores from your new home. You can also time a potential commute by doing a test drive during the time of day you’re most likely to go to and from work. Explore mass transit options. In addition to offering an alternative to driving, good public transportation near your home can have a positive effect on your property value.

5. How safe is it?
A neighborhood watch, well-lit streets, walkways, security systems and little to no signs of vandalism are signs of a safe neighborhood. You can see a picture of the types of crimes that occur in the neighborhood by researching on city-data.com or FBI.gov and the local police department’s website.

A RE/MAX agent is one of the best helpers you could have on your quest to find the right neighborhood – and the right home – for your needs.

For the information you’re looking for, give me a call at 832-570-5726 or visit me online at CallJared.com.

6 simple steps for you to follow for a clean and organized garage

Your garage's main function is usually to safeguard and store your car, truck or motorcycles. That can't take place if your garage has turned into a glorified storage unit, stuffed to the rafters with boxes, toys, tools, bikes, strollers and everything else you either don't have room for or just don't want in the house.

Below are 6 easy to follow steps that will help you clean and organize your garage and seize control once again.

Step 1 - get everything out of the garage and sort it all into groups. Categorize it all and put everything into groups with like items. For example, toys with toys, carpentry tools with carpentry tools, yard tools with yard tools etc. Make a pile for trash, anything you don't want that you can sell in a garage sale and items to give away.

Step 2 - Get the appropriate organizational tools and supplies. After you've grouped everything, decide on exactly what tools and resources will help you organize these items better.

For example,do you need shelves? If so what kind... a free standing shelving system or shelves mounted to the wall? Do you need storage bins, cabinet systems, tool chests, peg boards, hanging roof systems, hanging bike racks, hooks etc.

Step 3 - Clean garage. As soon as you empty your garage it's important to take time to sweep out all the loose debris and remove cobwebs. You'll appreciate your garage much more if it's clean so make sure to sweep and dust routinely.

Step 4 - Decor. This does not mean you need to remodel your garage into pseudo-living room, however you could think about a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Next think about the floor?

Lots of people prefer to paint and seal the floor of their garage to protect it from stains and also makes cleaning easy. Transforming your wall and floor surfaces will have a enormous effect on the appearance of your garage.

Step 5 - Arrange Items For Storage. As soon as you are done with cleaning the garage (floor and walls) now's the time for you to put everything back. Place those items that you use on regularly within easy reach.

Put items less frequently used further back in the garage or higher up on shelves or in cabinets. Putting labels on shelves, bins and boxes will make it a lot easier for you to find what you're looking for.

Step 6 - Lastly, make some rules for yourself and family members and implement them. Rules along the lines of, "Always return the items you used back to where you got them," needs to be put into practice at all times if you plan on keeping your garage clean and organized.

If you follow these 6 simple steps, in no time you will have a clean and well organized garage. Not only will you be able to park your car in your garage but you'll also be able to find anything want when you need it. One more thing, don't forget to have a garage sale to help get rid of all those unwanted items and put some cash in your pockets!

by: Walter Jensen

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7210.shtml

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

Moving this Summer? Navigate the Peak Season Like a Pro

(BPT) - Summer is busiest time of the year for home and business moves. In fact, an estimated 65 percent of the 43 million Americans who are moving this year will do so in the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

What does that mean for those with a move in the immediate future? Considering the fact that moving is ranked just behind death and divorce in terms of life's most stressful events, a summer move might mean stocking up on extra stress balls and taking a few extra deep breaths along the way.

"Whether you are hiring help or doing it yourself, you can expect a fair amount of anxiety," says Sean E. Burns, a psychologist with Counseling Associates of West Michigan. "It's helpful to simply recognize that it's normal that your life is out of order during this period. Once moved, it's important to resume life's routines as soon as possible. Don't worry about getting everything in place right away; put a priority on resuming your workouts and family trips to the park, and the rest will take care of itself over time."

A summer move also means that you need to plan further in advance and be more flexible with your move dates.

"We moved 1.3 homes or businesses per minute last summer," says Randy Shacka, president of Two Men And A Truck, the nation's largest franchised moving company, "In fact, we moved 2,851 homes and businesses in the two days between June 28 and June 29. Based on year-over-year trend analysis of every move within our 260 store system, we believe that same weekend will likely be our busiest again this summer."

So, beyond avoiding a late June move, how do you begin to navigate the waters of the busiest moving season?

"In a perfect world we'd all plan ahead, but the reality is we're busy with work and life and next thing you know you have seven days to get moved," Shacka says. "So while it's important to be flexible, box things in advance, etc., you might just consider doing a few simple things to make your life a bit easier on move day."

Shacka suggests the following:

Kids rule: If hiring a sitter isn't an option on move day, get the kids involved as "supervisors." Help them with a simple checklist or turn a box into a "treasure chest" of their own belongings so the move becomes a positive experience for them. For more kid-friendly move-day ideas, visit www.twomenandatruck.com/moving-with-kids.

Free Fido: If watching the kids weren't enough, try managing the dog as she tries to skirt through every open door. Ask a family friend to watch the animals, or consider boarding them for the day. The money spent is a good investment in reducing your overall stress.

Space it out: Often homeowners will move all their furniture into one room to save time for their movers. This can be a cost savings for boxes, but when it comes to furniture it can slow the move down. A good moving company will use stretch wrap to protect furniture, so when packed tightly together into one room the pieces have to be moved twice to properly prepare for the move. Go ahead and consolidate boxes, but save yourself the hassle and leave furniture where it lives.

Picture this: Photos are often the last thing to be packed because it seems safer to just leave them hanging until they are ready to be moved. In truth, they often delay a move because movers have to remove them to get furniture past. This time ask your movers to provide you with-the appropriate packing materials in advance and pack your photos yourself. It's often light lifting, and it's a fun way to relive memories while thinking about life's next great adventure.

For more moving advice, visit www.twomenandatruck.com.

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

#moving #realestate #Houston #Galveston #Texas #Property

TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Accounts) Tips for Young Families

(NC) Still wondering how to use a Tax-Free Savings Account to your best advantage?
“When you're starting a family, setting financial priorities can be a challenge,” said Tannis Dawson, a tax and financial planning expert with Investors Group. “A TFSA is a flexible way to save and minimize your taxes at the same time.”
Dawson offers these TFSA tips for young families:
Save for emergencies and large short term expenses like a vehicle, vacation or home down payment without having to liquidate investments and paying taxes on the income.
Save for a home in addition to or instead of the RRSP Home Buyers Plan.
Save for education in addition to or instead of non-registered savings, the RRSP Lifelong Learning Plan or RESPs.
Save for your children: as a parent, you retain control of TFSA funds and when to disburse them.
Save to start a business: TFSAs are a tax-effective way to save the initial equity you need and can be used as security for bank financing.
Save for retirement in addition to your RRSP contributions.
Source: This column, written and published by Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (in Quebec – a Financial Services Firm), presents general information only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Contacta financial advisor for specific advice about your circumstances. More information on this topic can be obtained from your Investors Group Consultant.

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com