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De-Stress Your Home Buying Process

NORFOLK, VA, Nov 19, 2013—For many, buying a home is one of the most stressful endeavors you will ever take on. While you may never erase all of the stress associated with home-buying, with the right mindset, and the right toolset, you can certainly minimize the stress of finding and buying your dream home.

1. Get pre-approved. Making sure you are able to get a mortgage will reduce the stress of the home buying process, because you know you're eligible before you even begin hunting, automatically taking that stress factor off your plate. That's not the only way pre-approval will reduce stress – it also makes the home search easier. “Many sellers won't even work with a buyer who is not pre-approved, so you automatically open up your housing pool when you get pre-approved,” says Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty.

2. Find the right budget and stick to it. Money is a huge source of stress when buying a house. “Figure out exactly how much house you can afford, and refuse to even consider a home outside of that budget,” says Eisenberg.

3. Make a Needs vs. Wants list. Similar to sticking to a budget, understanding your needs (three bedrooms) in relation to your wants (a gourmet kitchen) can save you time and energy during the home hunt.

4. Hire an agent you trust. A real estate agent is the number one way to reduce the stress of buying—or selling—a home. “Find an agent who specializes in your market and similar clients—first-time buyers, move-up clients, vacation homes, etc,” Eisenberg suggests. While many think hiring an agent will make the home-buying process costlier, agents can help save money in the negotiating process. Regardless of money saved, working with an agent—who knows the process inside and out—will save you a great deal of stress.

For more information on buying a home, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, (757) 572-7244, or www.LouisEisenberg.com

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Average Annual Home Appreciation

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Year Over Year Change in Home Prices

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Stealing Space: How to Reconfigure Room for Your Home Addition

NORFOLK, VA, Nov 13, 2013—Looking to expand your home? You may have more room than you think, according to Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty. Just look around you. If you see any space you don't currently use—say, that downstairs powder room that rarely ever sees traffic—then you can repurpose it to fit your needs. This concept of “stealing” space from a neighboring room is called space reconfiguration and it is much cheaper than a major remodeling job.

“Recycling isn't just for cans and bottles. Repurposing room for your home can save money and energy as well,” says Eisenberg. “What's key is finding space that can work in a new way.” That space may be as close as the next room, particularly if there are unused or under utilized areas in your home.

There are two main ways you can do this:

Converting. Dying for a home office or a small in-house fitness space? “A garage, attic, side porch, large closet, or basement can all be converted to fit the use you have in mind,” suggests Eisenberg. The pre-existing structure and frame will make the process cheaper and easier to complete. This goes for major additions, like a bonus room, as well. Building up, or placing it above the garage, will be easier than creating a whole new foundation.

Carving. If you have an oversized kitchen or a big formal dining room, consider putting up walls to carve out a new space from the existing one. Maybe a small area can be carved from a larger area to create a powder or laundry room. Or, do it the other way around. “If your bedroom is bigger than you really need, expand your bathroom into a deluxe master suite,” says Eisenberg.

When looking to convert or carve new space, it's important to utilize what's already around you, and this includes things like plumbing. “Putting a new laundry room next to a kitchen or bathroom will be easier than sticking it on the second floor, because the piping is already nearby,” notes Eisenberg.
For more real estate information, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510,  leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, (757) 572-7244, or www.LouisEisenberg.com

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