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            <link>http://www.goldengateestates.com/blog/from-thrift-store-to-center-piece.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>From Thrift Store to Center Piece</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
From hosting an elegant dinner party to a down-home get-together, you likely want to have some sort of centerpiece that reflects the occasion. Centerpieces are fun, beautiful ways to coordinate your table and pull all the pieces together. The really good ones get talked about and eyed enviously – and they don't have to be expensive, either.


Scour the Thrift Store


Go to your local thrift store and have a good look around at their housewares and antiques section – look for candelabras, soap dishes, candy dishes, baskets (wooden, wire, etc.), novelty mugs, wine glasses – anything that you could put together as a single piece.


Select a few Pieces that Work Together


Choose one or two pieces that could go together as a centerpiece – such as a large candy dish and two wine glasses, or a basket and little trinkets. You can also buy a stand-alone piece and polish it up when you get home, or you can glue two items together to make one outstanding piece.


Get Creative


Once you have your selections, you may need to stop by a craft or hardware store to pick up supplies to put them all together to create a finished product. Model glue or super glue, spray paint, and other crafty supplies can help transform a thrift store piece into a dazzling centerpiece. For example, the wine glasses and candy dish may not match, so pick up some silver spray paint, glitter, and glue. Glue the glasses stem-down to the bottom of the candy dish. Let it dry, then spray paint it a gleaming silver, and add glitter. Once it's dry, you'll have a bright holiday centerpiece.


Baskets &amp; Service Centerpieces


If you can find a number of differently sized baskets, there's no need to have a single centerpiece – you can use the whole middle of the table, running down its length, as your centerpiece. Take several baskets of differing sizes, polish them up with wood oil or glaze (or spray paint a metal basket), dress them with cloth napkins that match your theme, and use them as bread baskets.


Themes


When browsing at the thrift store to make your selections, think about what the theme of your dinner will be – is it a holiday party, birthday, or other special occasion? Is it a “just because” get-together? What colors will be on your table? Do you want the centerpiece to blend in, or contrast in an eye-catching way? Answer these questions ahead of time to help you pick the right pieces for your centerpiece.


Centerpieces don't have to be expensive to be beautiful and make a statement. They can be fun, elegant, or seasonally themed and still be affordable.




About The Author: Kevin Hughes is a BoiseIdahorealestate agent servicing buyers and sellers in Idaho. If you’re looking for a great home in Idaho, you can visit Kevin’s website where you can search great cities likeBoise,Meridian,Nampa, andEagle.


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:50:19 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.goldengateestates.com/blog/buying-your-first-investment-property.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.goldengateestates.com/blog/buying-your-first-investment-property.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Buying Your First Investment Property</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Buying your first investment property can be a very exciting time in your life. After all, you are getting ready to take a huge step toward solidifying your financial future. Of course, no matter whether looking for Nasvhille real estate or a new home in Naples, if you choose poorly, an investment property may not providing you with the type of residual income you were hoping for. Therefore, as you prepare to purchase your first investment property, be sure to keep these five simple tips in mind.


Tip #1: Save Up for a Down Payment


Most lenders require a down payment of at least 25-30 percent of the cost of the cost when purchasing non-owner occupied property. Therefore, you should be sure to save up the necessary funds before you even start looking.


Tip #2: Know the Cost of Ownership


When purchasing real estate, it is important to keep in mind that there are more costs involved than simply paying the mortgage. Other expenses will include insurance, property taxes and routine maintenance. You will also need to make repairs as necessary and there will be times when your property is vacant and not bringing in any income. By calculating these costs, you will be better able to determine if purchasing an investment property is truly right for you.


Tip #3: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Landlord


In addition to exploring the costs involved with owning an investment property, you should also take the time to learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a landlord. Not only will you need to run credit checks and contact past landlords when screening potential tenants, but you will also be responsible for handling any maintenance issues that develop. Furthermore, if you run into problems with a tenant, you will need to be well-versed in how to handle these problems as well as how to complete the eviction process if necessary.


Tip #4: Choose a Good Location


Everyone knows that the first rule in purchasing real estate is location, location, location. The same holds true when purchasing investment property. A good rule of thumb is to purchase property in the best location you can afford. Not only will this help guarantee a sound return on your investment, but it will also help you attract the best tenants possible if you plan to rent out the property.


Tip #5: Be Realistic About Renovations


A great way to score a good deal on an investment property is to choose one that needs a little bit of work. At the same time, you don’t want to get yourself into a situation where you will have to spend thousands of dollars to get the property up to speed. Furthermore, unless you are a skilled worker with experience in the area of home renovations, you should hire someone to do the work rather than trying to do it yourself.


About The Author - Josh Anderson specializes in Nashville area real estate, including  12 South homes for sale, as Realtor for Nasvhille Keller Williams.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:50:49 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.goldengateestates.com/blog/non-realty-items-it-can-get-tricky.html</guid>
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            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Non-Realty Items; It Can Get Tricky</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Once upon a time in a real estate transaction, things became very ugly over a dining room chandelier. The sellers had meant for it to be excluded, but it wasn’t listed as such. The buyers loved the chandelier, thought it was perfect in the dining room, and threatened to not buy the house without the chandelier.


“The chandelier issue” became very stressful for all parties involved as eventually the closing was delayed and it seemed as if the transaction was really not going to close because of this disagreement. The seller contended that it was a family heirloom and very sentimental. T


he buyer contended that if it was so special, why wasn’t a sign hanging from it, or why was it not noted in the MLS listing? Eventually the transaction closed with the sellers taking the chandelier and offering a credit in lieu for the purchase of a new one, but this all could have been avoided with a few simple steps.


When selling a home, it is a good idea to take a walk through the house and look at each and every fixture, thinking carefully about what you will want to take with you and what will stay. The best idea is to swap out the special light fixtures, curtains, etc. with a passable substitute prior to listing the home.


 That way there is no confusion as to what stays and what does not. As in the introductory story, these disagreements can escalate quickly, and with all the emotions involved in a home sale or purchase, avoiding the whole thing is definitely best.


The general rule of thumb is that anything attached to the structure or the ground stays. It has been said that if you could turn the house upside down and shake it, all the things that wouldn’t fall out stay with the home. One area that gets a bit murky is appliances. The stove and dishwasher generally stay, but the refrigerator, washer, and dryer go with the seller unless agreed to and specifically written into the contract.


From the buyer’s perspective, as you fall in love with a home, it is easy for all the existing items to feel just right they way they are currently. In fact, some buyers even write their contract and ask for several personal items of the sellers to be included in the sale.


That is fine, and it is possible they will even be willing to part with their stuff, but remember two things. First, do not take anything for granted. Be specific about the non-realty items you want to include. Second, these items are usually not free. The cost can easily be worked into the deal, but writing a low ball offer and then asking for 10 items will get the negotiation off to a bad start from the beginning.


On the flip side, in some sales, the house is listed as ‘fully furnished’, or ‘all furnishing stay’. This is particularly common with properties located in vacation or second home areas. What can happen there is the same but in reverse. If you are selling a property like this, you need to be very specific about which items you plan to take. Once during a transaction like this, the home was listed as fully furnished, but later the seller came back with an entire sheet of exclusions. Upon the final walkthrough, the buyers found that in this sellers case, fully furnished actually only meant, ‘We’ll leave the beds.’

As you can see, this is an issue that comes up a lot in real estate transactions. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, it is very important to be very specific about your wishes and they are in writing. About The Author: Kimberley Kelly is a Palm Springs Realtor who helps buyers and sellers buy or sell La Quinta CA homes. If you're in the market in Southern, California be sure to check out her real estate in Palm Desert website for listings options. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:33:02 -0600</pubDate>
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            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
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            <description> <![CDATA[ This is a sample post added to ensure the blogging system is working. This is just a test. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:05:00 -0500</pubDate>
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