Charlie Weiblen's (archwood) Blog

Often times, sellers will bend the truth a little bit, or even a whole lot, in order to unload their property on new, unsuspecting buyers.  Fortunately, the government does have regulations in place that require sellers to disclose pertinent information about their property - but many times, ther...

Thanks to the new standards in the Good Faith Estimate program that was released this month, it's easier to shop around and find the best offer on a home mortgage loan.    As long as you're offering accurate information that is required to efficiently and accurately project loan figures, it shoul...

10 cheap solutions to upping the ante when putting your home on the market. 1. Retouch the front shell.  If the house has bad curb appeal, nobody is going to care to wander inside and look at your brand new kitchen. 2. Trim the greenery.  Don't let the overgrowth hide the aesthetic appeal of the ...

An escrow account is used to collect and hold funds to pay for your annual property taxes, homeowners insurance premiums and other fees.  The account is often established for you by your mortgage company when you take out your mortgage.  Real estate taxes and insurance premiums must be paid regul...

1. Check out Schedule MThis is the new tax document that you'll use to account for the Making Work Pay credit money you got last year in your paychecks. Thanks to revised payroll withholding tables used from April through December, most workers got an extra $400 each or up to $800 for married cou...

GREAT NEWS!!! Texas is about to implement a mail-in rebate program to help encourage consumers to replace old ineffiencient appliances with new ENERGY STAR-qualified efficieny appliances.  This program is to begin in April to kick off Earth Day activities and will continue until the funds are gon...

While building, remodeling and redecorating might not be the most popular in 2010 with a slowly-recovering economy, keep in mind these trends if you are able to make some improvements.  Home decor. Rumor has it that the sleek, sophisticated but comfortable style 'soft contemporary' will be a key ...

While Michigan, Maine and Rhode Island are losing a small percentage of their residents, Texas added the most new residents to their population in the past year.  One reason the population keeps increasing in Texas is because the housing market has remained fairly stable compared to other states...

With home resale values still in a slump, there are a few cheap improvements you can make to the exterior of your home to up the sales price.  The cost of these projects will be minimal when compared to the higher price tag on your home.  The most valuable exterior upgrade has come from replacin...

1. Prices to bottom: After three years of continuously falling prices, homes will finally hit rock bottom in 2010.  Projected bottom is expected to occur in the third quarter.  2. Mortgage delinquencies up: With the unemployment rate significantly elevated and an expected increase in the beginnin...