How many times have you thought about remodeling your kitchen but talked yourself out of it because it just seemed like a lot of work? This may come as a surprise, but remodeling your kitchen brings great rewards.  Rewards to the tune of 80-100% return on your investment!

It can seem overwhelming to remodel your kitchen.  There seem to be so many things to consider that it can paralyze you from doing anything at all.  But for your basic kitchen remodel there are really only five major items to consider.

Your Appliances Set the Stage

The first item to consider is your appliances.  The look of your appliances really sets the stage for how the rest of the kitchen should look.

Are you after an ultra-modern stainless steel feel for your kitchen?  Or are you more of a homey white appliance kind of family?  Perhaps you like the flare of jet black appliances.

Give this a little thought and then get online or visit your favorite appliance store to see what's currently available.

Selecting The Cabinets

Once you've gotten your appliances and know the general feel you're going for, it's time to select the cabinets.  If you're looking for ultra-modern, consider stainless steel cabinets.  Glass doors can really give a modern edge to your kitchen as well.

If you're after a more homey kitchen, then solid wood cabinets with a rich wood finish will do the trick.  For the edgier black appliances, look to flat faced doors with sharp edges and less country flare.

Now For The Counter Tops

Selecting the right material for your countertops is of vital importance to your newly remodeled kitchen.  The color, texture and look of the counters make a real statement in the kitchen.

But even more important than that, the counters are the real work space of the kitchen and must be able to withstand what your family is going to put them through.

Granite is a popular countertop material because it's very durable and has a great finish for almost any kitchen design.

Faucets and Sinks

While the faucets and sinks make up a relatively small portion of the kitchen space, they can really make a difference to the look and feel of your new kitchen.

For a classy kitchen, rounded hardware with edges full of flare and a brass finish often do the trick.  Again, ultra-modern design calls for stainless steel sinks and bold streamlined faucets.  The homey look can be achieved with porcelain sinks and tall, rounded faucets.

Spending a little extra money on those faucets can really add class to the whole remodel.  Going cheap on the faucets and hardware can dull down even the most expensive cabinets and countertops.

Finally, The Floors

Finally, be careful not to overlook the flooring you're going to put into your newly remodeled kitchen.  As with faucets, going cheap in this department will really lessen the look and feel of the entire kitchen.

While grouted tile is not a necessity, if you go with linoleum be sure to find a quality pattern that isn't too busy.  You don't want people staring at the floor the entire time they're in the kitchen.  Hardwood floors (or great looking imitations) really add class as well.

Now, that wasn't so hard was it?  There are really only five things to consider for most kitchen remodels: appliances, cabinets, countertops, sinks and faucets and flooring.

Start with the appliances to set the stage and follow through in the rest of your selections.  Print out your selections from the web or clip them out of magazines and lay them out on a table to see how they look together.  Getting a bird's eye view in this way will really help you get the pieces that fit best together.

 Here's a great article that came out this morning.  This should really help out in the long run.

updated 1:36 p.m. MT, Thurs., Jan. 24, 2008

A component of the U.S. government's tentative economic stimulus package announced Thursday would give an immediate lift to buyers and sellers in higher-priced housing markets.

The package agreed upon by Democratic and Republican members of the House would allow government-sponsored Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy mortgages 50 percent more expensive than the current $417,000 limit. The Senate and White House still must sign off on the proposed stimulus plan, which also includes tax rebates for Americans.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio announced the deal in a press conference Thursday.

The higher cap of $625,000, to apply for one year, would breathe life into housing markets in New York, California and other pricey areas because lenders would feel more comfortable knowing Fannie and Freddie can buy and package the loans into securities that investors consider to be relatively safe.

A Freddie Mac spokesman said in an e-mail message that such an increase "would be in the best interest of the market and consumers."

To address the mortgage crisis, the package also raises limits on Federal Housing Administration loans, which are insured by the government in event of default, congressional aides said.

Groups representing Realtors, bankers and home builders, which have been hit hard by the mortgage market downturn, have been lobbying for such changes for months.

The National Association of Realtors has been pushing for a permanent expansion of the Fannie and Freddie limits to $625,000. It calculates that borrowers could save $3,000 to $5,000 per year in reduced interest costs as a result and projects up to 210,000 foreclosures could be prevented since refinancing into lower-rate loans would be easier.

Dale Stinton, the group's chief executive, said in a statement Thursday that increasing the loan limits "is a truly meaningful economic stimulus and should be enacted quickly."

Rates have dropped—and homes are a lot more affordable now.

Mortgage rates are at a two-year low, and Century 21 Mortgage is offering you the opportunity to obtain reliable financing at very affordable rates. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get into their dream home while rates are low.

If you finance your home while rates are low, you can save hundreds of dollars a year (or more), according to Freddie Mac’s January 10, 2008 Primary Mortgage Market Survey:

The average principal and interest payment on a $250,000 loan has dropped by $131.83 per month since August 3, 2007.1

And, there’s more good news:

• The 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.87% with 0.4 points2
• The 15-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.43% with 0.5 points2
• The 5/1 ARM averaged 5.63% with 0.5 points2
• The 1-year ARM averaged 5.37% with 0.6 points2

Go with a lender you can trust.  
With over 150 loan products, Century 21 Mortgage will find the mortgage that meets your financial needs.

1. Calculations based on the Freddie Mac average 30-year fixed rate mortgage on August 2, 2007 (6.68% with 0.3 points) versus the Freddie Mac average 30-year fixed mortgage on January 10, 2008 (5.87% with 0.4 points).
2. “January 10, 2008 Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS),” Freddie Mac, McLean, Virginia.

I've linked this article to the City of Phoenix 2007 Annual Report.

http://phoenix.gov//PIONEWS/0108note.pdf

Please read what the City of Phoenix has done this last year.  I believe Phoenix is now on the right track but there are many items that still need addressed in the future.

Randy

We want to ensure that our Sellers get the most money for their home. So to help boost the curb appeal of their home we have found 11 simple ways a seller can spruce up the exterior prior to listing the home.

1. Paint or stain your front door. You probably won't even have to take it off the hinges. Installing a metal kick plate is another inexpensive way to freshen your entrance - it will cover years of wear.

2. Polish door hardware. Consider replacing the hardware if it's really worn or flaking. Don't forget the doorbell and lighting fixtures.

3. Replace worn welcome mats. A new welcome mat in a cheery complementary color can boost the front entrance welcome factor.

4. Install outdoor lighting. Consider solar garden lights to line a walkway, or a bright new porch light. This will make your home look more inviting in the evening when most buyers have the time to drive by.

5. Kill mold and mildew. Use a pressure washer to easily blast the siding, roof, deck and driveway clean.

6. Mow the lawn. Trim around flowerbeds and other stationary objects. Make sure your lawnmower's blades are sharp for a clean cut.

7. Get rid of weeds. Replace them with blooming flowers and add new bark or gravel for a fresh look.

8. Trim shrubs and tree branches. Cutting overgrown shrubs can open up your home's exterior. Be sure branches aren't creeping onto the roof. Show off appealing architectural elements by trimming around columns and windows.

9. Add a hanging flower basket. Install a stylish but discreet hook on your front porch and add an inexpensive hanging plant.

10. Clean gutters. If the downspout is badly damaged, consider replacing it with a decorative rain chain, which allows water to run down ornamental funnels into the ground drain.

11. Clean windows. Use an industrial cleaner to make your windows sparkle from across the street. Don't forget to wash the screens.

You won't get a second chance to make a first impression to potential Buyers.  If a seller would spend just one weekend to prepare the home they could expect a big pay off.  A great first impression can mean a difference between a quick sale versus having the hoe sit on the market for months.