Renee Grosz's Real Estate Blog

 Have you heard about the HUD’s 203 (K)? If you’re a buyer who wants to purchase a handy man special or fixer-upper and you don’t have a large down payment or the ability to pay cash for the home. Then you should check with your  real estate agent or lender regarding  HUD’s 203 (K) Rehabilitation Program.  This program can help you purchase  a property which includes the loan and the cost of making repairs and improvements. The FHA insured 203 (K) is provided through approved mortgage lenders nationwide. The home must be owner occupied. The down payment is approximately 3.5% of the purchase price and repair costs of the property.  Locate your fixer-upper (your real estate agent helps you with thisand the whole process). Once you have an executed a purchase agreement to purchase the property (the contract should state that you purchasing with a 203 (K) loan). The appraisal is done on the property to determine the value after renovation. A contractor is needed to estimate the costs of the repairs and improvements. At closing the seller is paid off and the remaining funds are held in an escrow account to pay for the repairs and improvements during the rehabilitation period. Mortgage payments and remodeling begin after the loan closes. To find out more about this program contact your real estate agent who can help guide help get you started and find a lender who is offer the 203 (K) Rehabilitation program.  It’s a Great time to Buy!

 Now that you understand what a home inspection is (did you read my last blog?) So what  is a Home Warranty? It is an insurance (not to be mistaken for home owners insurance) protection plan that can be purchased at the time you are buying a resale or new home. It will protect a resale home buyer against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of major systems and appliances that break down due to normal usage. You will have to pay a small deductible (service call fee) when you have a problem. Most home warranty has extended plans to cover just about anything. If you have a  home inspection and you know your furnace or another major component is old, you may be better off to buy a warranty when you purchase. I recommend you look closely at what is NOT covered in warranty company policies as you compare prices. So who pays for it?  The cost can be paid by buyer, seller or split ½ each! I recommend that  my clients ( Seller or Buyer) seriously consider home warranty plans. When I purchased my home I purchased a home warranty protection plan. It has more then once paid for the  initial cost of the plan.

A home inspector’s report will review the over all condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning system, interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement, and visible structure. What you shouldn’t expect from a home inspection is protection against future failures. Components like air conditioners and heat systems can and will break down. A home inspection attempts to reveal the condition of the component at the time the component was inspected.  A home inspection is not an appraisal that determines the value of a home.  A home inspection is not a code inspection, which verifies local building code compliance. A home inspector will not pass or fail a house. Home inspectors will report findings when it comes to safety concerns that may be in the current code such as ungrounded outlets above sinks. A home inspector thinks “Safety” not “Code” when performing a home inspection. You should attend the home inspection if at all possible it is often helpful to be there so the home inspector can explain in person and answer any questions you may have.Your real estate agent can help you find a home inspector near you! This is an excellent way to learn more about your future home even if no problems are found. Find out more also Check out this web site for more information.

I know I would love to have fresh vine ripe tomatoes and more! I don’t have a large spot for a garden. I have decided that a container garden might be just right for me! You don’t need a plot of land to grow fresh vegetables. Many vegetables lend themselves well to container gardening. Vegetables that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, tomatoes and peppers, are perfect for container vegetable gardens. What you can grow in a container vegetable garden is limited only by the size of the container and your imagination. How about a Summer Salad container? Plant a tomato, a cucumber and some parsley or chives all in a large (24-30″) container. They grow well together and have the same water and sun requirements. This makes a great housewarming present, too. I can’t wait to get started it isn’t too late!

Selecting Containers: Containers for your vegetable gardens can be almost anything: flower pots, pails, buckets, wire baskets, bushel baskets, wooden boxes, nursery flats, window planters, washtubs, strawberry pots, plastic bags, large food cans, or any number of other things.

Drainage: No matter what kind of container you choose for your vegetable garden, it should have holes at the base or in the bottom to permit drainage of excess water.

Color Considerations: You should be careful when using dark colored containers because they absorb heat which could possibly damage the plant roots. If you do use dark colored pots, try painting them a lighter color or shading just the container.

Size: The size of the container is important. For larger vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants, you should use a five gallon container for each plant. You can grow these plants in two gallon containers; however you need to give the plants considerably more attention.

Soil and Fertilizer

You can use soil in your container vegetable garden, but the synthetic mixes are much better. Peat-based mixes, containing peat and vermiculite, are excellent. They are relatively sterile and pH adjusted. They also allow the plants to get enough air and water. Mixing in one part compost to two parts planting mix will improve fertility.

Using a slow release or complete organic fertilizer at planting will keep your vegetables fed for the whole growing season.

Watering

Pots and containers always require more frequent watering than plants in the ground. As the season progresses and your plants mature, their root system will expand and require even more water. Don’t wait until you see the plants wilting. Check your containers daily to judge the need for water.

Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences  had a lot of information!

There are many websites to get you started! How to do just about everything, A-Z Master Garden . Have fun and enjoy!

 Happy Birthday America!  I hope that everyone has a safe and Happy 4^Thof July holiday!