Those who rent often don’t usually think about making home improvements to apartments they don’t own. But there are some inexpensive projects that can make your rented nest more comfortable. As always, clear the projects with your landlords, or risk loosing your security deposit. And, who knows, maybe your landlord will help with the expense of the renovation.

The first and maybe simplest form of a quick fix-up is paint. A rule of thumb when it comes to painting is to avoid any color that would take more than one new coat of paint to cover. That means cherry red is out. Instead, renters should stick to whites and neutral tones. If you want to use a color, stick to organic tones. Those in smaller apartments should plan on using three or four gallons of paint. Keeping all of the walls in the same color will make a small space look larger.

Also, think about the importance of lighting. The right lighting can add a feeling of comfort to a room. Plus, fixtures come in a wide variety of styles and can be purchased at low cost to replace the inevitable hideous chandelier or light fixture that ruins an otherwise perfectly pleasant room. It will cost about $75 to have an electrician take a light down and put another in its place. That’s a small price to pay. It’s worth it to get a light fixture you like. Take down the existing, indigenous light fixture and store it carefully,” he says.

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Ready to sell a Boca Raton Florida home? Consult with licensed agent Caesar Parisi. Caesar has assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers, giving sound advice on how to most effectively buy and sell property.

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Plenty of blame has been pinned on the big credit rating agencies for the sub-prime mess. Just what went wrong at these firms. What can be done to stave off another disaster? That will be the topic of hearings on Capitol Hill this week. Lawmakers are expected to grill executives from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, two of the biggest agencies, before the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday. Securities and Exchange Chairman Christopher Cox is also scheduled to testify. The House Financial Services Committee will follow with a hearing on Thursday.

The salient question is “have the firms failed investors by blessing complex mortgage-backed bonds and other products in turn for big fees”? The critics say the agencies were blinded by their close relationship with issuers and their eager pursuit of profits. Many say there is little Congress can do to overhaul the rating system, and in turn, restore confidence in the complex debt products that have exploded on Wall Street in recent years.

The rating agencies have responded to the criticism by contending that they only issue opinions about creditworthiness - and investors can choose to ignore their ratings. They contend that their ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold a particular security. They simply provide a tool for investors to assess risk and differentiate credit quality.

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Looking for a condo in The Oaks at Boca Raton FL Real Estate? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

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Tampa real estate is experiencing more than a few months of inventory, some say about 17-months of inventory, which may be a record for that metropolitan area. It’s more than double the amount of time a home traditionally sits on the market. The Florida building boom two years ago seems to have backfired. Too many people wanted to flip for a quick buck. It didn’t happen. And many homeowners got in over their heads with loans they couldn’t afford and didn’t understand.

Linda Pichler is with the non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Service. She said the agency has over 7000 calls a month coming into their office, an increase because of all the foreclosures. The organization is helping homeowners dig themselves out debt. “Nationally individuals (paced with possible foreclosure) who are working with credit counseling, 80-percent are able to save their homes,” she said.

Pichler said the biggest mistakes homeowners in this situation make is not reaching out for help. These days, she said, lenders are willing to work with homeowners to restructure loans. With some help, chances are you’ll be able to keep your home and if you’re in the market for a new one, you’ve got plenty to choose from. Industry experts say to be aware of all the scams out there. They suggest you seek out a trusted adviser such as an accredited agency like the consumer credit counseling service, an attorney or a tax adviser.

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For more information on this and other real estate matters, your first source for Boca Raton real estate should be licensed agent and long-time resident Caesar Parisi.

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Today’s buying strategy is not determined by a shortage of homes or a lack of sellers willing to bargain. Rather it’s that buying in this market can be risky. Why, because values may continue to fall and fall for months, maybe even years, to come.

Actually, there’s no way to determine when an absolute bottom to housing prices will occur. This means that buyers looking to make a purchase in today’s marketplace need to act with special care. It’s not enough just to get a lower price, buyers must also look for long-term value. Look at the relationship between prices and inventory. Even if prices have been declining they may have further to go if the inventory of homes on the market is increasing or is far larger than usual.

Ask yourself, what are the long-term prospects for the local community? Many questions need answering such as population growth, job base expansion and new home construction. A growing population suggests more demand for housing. A growing job base indicates a larger pool of qualified potential buyers. If home construction is not sufficient to meet marketplace demand then supply is likely to tighten and home prices will be pressured to rise.

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Shopping for that perfect home in a Boca Raton Real Estate Neighborhood? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

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Workers in South Florida are seeing the benefits of a tight labor market. Companies are offering them referral bonuses and perks. The costs of housing, insurance and property taxes are prompting bigger relocation packages and sign-on bonuses. Businesses also are asking existing employees to refer new workers, offering thousands of dollars in incentives.

With only 4 percent unemployment in Florida, companies are adding recruiting perks, such as day care and Disney World tickets. They’re more focused on workers who already reside in South Florida, and they’re expanding recruitment to people they may have overlooked: those with disabilities, older workers and those with criminal records.

Companies are getting more proactive, casting the net a bit wider. And companies being more flexible to attract the talent. A couple of years back, people would migrate to Florida without an opportunity. That’s slowed down. To attract someone who is gainfully employed, companies have to be more generous with the relocation package or sign-on bonus to pack the truck and get here.

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Ready to buy or sell a home in the Santa Barbara community? Consult with licensed agent Caesar Parisi. Caesar has assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers, giving sound advice on how to most effectively buy and sell property.

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According to IPRE.com, sales of single-family homes fell again in August to 688. The drop is in the neighborhood of 15 percent year over year. Also, the median price of homes in Palm Beach County fell to $280,000 in August. That’s down from $300,000 a year ago.

These numbers are from the MLS and trend lower than the Florida Association of Realtors’ numbers that will be published today. One reason is that the MLS report contains all sales, including condos. But it does gives us an indication of other numbers from the August existing-home-sales report. Days on market (the time it takes to sell a property) have been rising steadily and in August were up to 146 from 107 in August 2006.

The most alarming trend the August report reveals is that “inventory”, the number of unsold homes on the market, continues to show significant increases. In August, there were 24,428 existing homes and condo units for sale in Palm Beach County, according to the report. At the current pace of sales, that’s almost a three-year supply.

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Real estate agent Caesar Parisi stands ready with effective advice for Selling Your Boca Raton home.

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