Get more ideas here.

1. Paint, panel or paper
Keep in mind, light colors make rooms look larger, dark colors smaller (cozier). If you like soft colors (pale pinks, greens, blues, yellows), they’re ideal for enlarging small rooms. Perk them up with accents in deeper tones or with interesting textures (such as sponging some walls or adding sisal).

If you like a touch of the dramatic, paint a door in primary colors or add a “fool the eye” scene (such as a landscape that seems to be seen through glass). Don’t be afraid to put reds and pinks together, or blues and greens. For real drama, add white trim to deep colors. Remember, if you’re thinking of selling your home soon–neutral tones are “safer.” Splash color around using upholstery, throw pillows, artwork and other furnishings.

2. Give small rooms extra dimension
Put in floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Place one at right angles to a corner window to bring in the outdoors. Mirrors at different angles create a patchwork of repeated patterns that can be interesting, light reflecting and fun.

3. Light up the house
Consider creative lighting, including:

• Spotlights to point up art work
• Track lights to illuminate bookshelves
• Indirect lights or decorative wall sconces wherever shadows are too deep
• Under-counter lights in kitchens and workshops
• Using incandescent or halogen lighting, which is warmer than fluorescent

4. Transform your floors
Look under foot to refinish, recarpet or retile. Wood floors can be bleached, pickled, stained, painted almost any color or made unique by installing ceramic tiles in the kitchen, or a block of patterned wood (inside a wood border) in the center of a dining room or bedroom.

5. Open spaces and clear surfaces
Go with the trend of fewer furnishings and belongings in view. For things you want handy but not displayed, create storage places:

• A window seat
• Narrow shelves inside closet and cabinet doors
• A tip-down triangular tray (for brushes, sponges, etc.) built into the cabinet at the front of the kitchen sink
• A wall system with cubes of different sizes, some with shelves, some with drawers
• A “Murphy” bed that folds into the wall

6. Large family kitchens
Top-grade is the trend in appliances, including microwave ovens, disposals and compactors, work islands that sport stainless steel double sinks or a down-vented stove, plus side bookshelves or lift-up table top. The dining end of the kitchen might be equipped with comfortable chairs, a desk, or book shelves. A fireplace turns the kitchen into a homey family room where everyone lingers.

7. Luxurious bathrooms
Make your privacy a pleasure. You might install light dimmers and thermostatically controlled mixer taps, extra mirrors, a solarium window, or create a sunken bath set in a raised floor that houses the plumbing.

8. Year-round comfort
Utility bills can be lower when windows are installed with low-emissity glass (gas filling between panes) that can be twice as efficient as double-glazed windows. They reflect heat, keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. An invisible coating also blocks ultraviolet light and protects furnishings.

9. Makeover the garage
The car park may not be the most beautiful part of your home, but it may be the most useful space you have–if it’s soundly built, clean, well organized and uncluttered. A garage can double as a workshop, garden house or playground. An automatic door opener is the warmest welcome in wet or cold weather.

10. Consider safety and convenience
Whatever alarm system you add to your basic smoke detector contributes to your peace and security. Electronic “smart” devices can be installed to turn lights, appliances and heating/air conditioning off and on at pre-set times, to warn of intrusion or announce a visitor, to remind you (in a synthesized voice) when you’re due at an appointment or when you’re using too much electricity.

Home improvement possibilities are endless. But if your home can’t accommodate your dreams–with neither love nor money–remember there are homes in the area that will. When you’re ready to explore the possibilities, we’re here to help make your dreams come true.

To search all Wilmington NC real estate, please visit www.cbbaker.com

Lenders Welcome Borrowers With Open Arms

Affordable interest rates mean more people can qualify to buy a first home or move to a bigger home, and lenders are reaching out to make mortgages more attractive. Some lenders even sweeten the pot with low (or even no) closing costs. Recently, best buys have been 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. In many cases, the rates for these loans have been just above adjustable rate mortgage initial rates, which are low for a short period of time, then adjust (rise or fall) with the market.

FHA Changes Mean Help For More Buyers

Changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) mortgage program opened FHA up to many more potential home buyers. Home buyers with an FHA-insured single-family home loan may now finance 100% of the closing costs on the loan. Previously, FHA allowed home buyers to finance only 57% of the closing costs, which added hundreds of dollars to the up-front cash home buyers need for settlement.

A second important change to FHA was raising the maximum loan amount in high-cost areas and linking the maximum to local housing costs. The FHA’s mortgage limit varies by location and property type, depending on home prices in an area and the number of units in the property. In addition, FHA has higher limits in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands because these are considered to be high-cost areas. You can check the current FHA loan limit in your area by going online to: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm

Now borrowers will have to put down 3% of the first $25,000 of the loan amount; 5% of the loan amount between $25,001 and $125,000; and 10% of the loan amount above $125,000.

These changes will interest higher-end buyers in FHA loans and make FHA more accessible to those whom the program is primarily intended to serve — prospective buyers who do not qualify for conventional financing. Traditionally, FHA has served buyers who have lower incomes, make smaller down payments and purchase less expensive homes.

More Good News For Loan Shoppers

Federal regulation now mandates that mortgage brokers itemize all fees they receive to originate or close a loan.

Previously, brokers were allowed to lump miscellaneous charges and premiums into a general fees category, which made it nearly impossible to comparison-shop lender fees. The law applies only to mortgage brokers, not mortgage bankers. Fees really do add up, so when loan shopping, ask up-front for an itemized breakdown of lender fees.

Mortgage Help For First-Time Buyers

An exciting Fannie Mae program may help open the door to home ownership for low- and moderate-income buyers.

The Community Home Buyers Program allows for slightly more debt when qualifying for a loan than standard mortgage plans.

Although this program requires a 5% down payment, borrowers can make the down payment with as little as 3% of their money and up to 2% from a family gift or loan from a government or nonprofit agency. In addition, the Community Home Buyers Program waives the common requirement that borrowers have two months’ worth of mortgage payments in savings after closing.

There are special requirements to qualify: Borrowers must attend a series of home-buyer education classes and the borrower’s income must not exceed 115% of the median income in the area. For more information: Fannie Mae, Public Information Office, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 or call (800) 732-6643.

Computer Programs Rate Borrowers

There’s a relatively new twist in mortgage lending. Recently, lenders have started to replace traditional underwriter’s judgements on an applicant’s creditworthiness with a computerized credit rating called “credit scoring.”

Both ways of assessing a potential borrower’s ability to pay back the loan — the underwriter’s judgements and credit scoring — rely on much the same information: salary history, credit history from credit reporting companies, ratio of debts-to-income, etc. But credit scoring uses a computer program designed to predict who will default on a loan. It assigns a numerical score to each factor and then adds them up. Credit scoring is objective and designed to uncover hidden problems. For this reason, credit-scoring programs may assign more importance to some factors that the underwriters might overlook.

If you are interested in learning more about any of these new lending procedures, call or e-mail us. We’ll be happy to assist you.

Welcome to our Free Wilmington NC Foreclosure Site.

These prices won’t last for long!

Foreclosure, short sale closeouts.

Many desirable properties sell within 48-72 hours of availability.

Be the first to know about these homes!

Foreclosures from $50,000 – $175,000  Click Here…

Foreclosures from $175,000 – $300,000 Click Here…

Foreclosures from $300,000 Click Here…

Click Here to search on your own

We will provide you with free daily updates on Foreclosures and Short Sales in the Wilmington area.  Save money and enjoy quick equity when you purchase a foreclosed  or a short -sale home.  You provide the price and what you are looking for, and we will put you on our automatic  listing alert service directly from our MLS system, so that only the homes that match your criteria will be emailed to you.  At your convenience look through the listings  and if one catches your eye, call us and we will make arrangements with the bank to get more information about the home. It’s just that simple.
Just fill out the email request below and leave the rest to us.

Our speciality in todays market is short sales, foreclosures and Bank owned property.  We are knowledgeable and up to date on how to get you the very best price. Just have questions about the real estate market, email us anytime and we will be glad to answer your questions or concerns.

This service is available for New Hanover County, Brunswick County & Pender County. Wilmington NC Real Estate searches can be done on our websitewww.cbbaker.com

 View Wrightsville Beach Listings

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests about Wrightsville Beach NC homes for sale or Wrightsville Beach NC real estate, or any location in the Cape Fear Region. We have lived here all our lives and can help match a neighborhood with a home and schools. I know where the best shopping is and all the main attractions. If you are looking for a second home or investment property in Wrightsville Beach, there are still real deals in the great coastal area, but you will need a real estate expert to help you. Baker Wayne and Associates are experienced real estate professional’s who has decades of home buying and selling experience in the Wrightsville Beach area. For true local and knowledgable service in the Wrightsville Beach real estate market, contact our Team today.

The breathtaking island of Wrightsville Beach stretches four miles from Masonboro inlet on the south to Mason inlet on the north. The clear waters off Wrightsville Beach often resemble those of the Caribbean. The city limits of the town of Wrightsville Beach today encompass not only the barrier island but also Harbor Island and a small portion of mainland. Most of the early visitors were fishermen and hunters traveling to the Island by boat. Already the history of Wrightsville Beach, NC was being built on an appreciation of nature and Wrightsville’s bounty. You will truly be amazed at the sunrises on the Atlantic and calming sunsets on the Intracoastal Waterway. Wrightsville Beach, NC offers boating, surfing, fishing or simply true relaxation by the water’s edge. And best of all, Wrightsville Beach is accessible by I40 or our international airport in Wilmington, just minutes away. Wrightsville Beach has it all!

 It is a great time to buy if you know where to look, as a real estate expert in the Wrightsville Beach market, we are here to help you find a great property at a great price, please contact us today for an up to date market report.

For all your Wrightsville Beach real estate needs, please give Baker Wayne and Associates a call at 910-202-3607 or email bakerwayneassociates@ec.rr.com

An Ounce Of Prevention

Sometimes a $1,000 disaster can be prevented with a $4 hose. That’s the finding of many Wilmington NC homeowners who end up paying a lot for repairs that could have been prevented with just an ounce of inexpensive prevention.

One of the best places to check first is any place in your home that can be damaged by water. A survey by the American Society of Home Inspectors found that 40% of home maintenance problems are related to water. Water seeping into the basement or crawlspace, leaks from neglected washer and dishwasher hoses, and leaking pipes can leave you wet and poor.

Pay attention to the following items in your home regularly:

Water Threats
• Check for leaks from appliance hoses (washer and dishwasher), connections to the hot water heater and humidifier, outside spigots, exposed plumbing. Tighten all connections.

• After a heavy rain, check for water in attics, basements and crawlspaces. Make repairs as soon as the area is dry.

• Backed-up gutters can cause water to seep back up into the attic. The solution is simple, though: regularly remove leaves and debris from the gutter system.

Electrical System
• Check the circuit breakers about every six months.

• Check switches when lights seem to blink when the switch is touched.

• Keep wall-socket plates secure and replace broken ones.

A/C and Heating System
• Check these systems at least once a year; have them cleaned and serviced. You could save thousands in repair/replacement bills later, and improve operating efficiency thereby lowering monthly costs.

• If you have a fireplace, make sure it is professionally inspected and cleaned annually. Wood-burning fireplaces can cause creosote to build up in their chimneys–a dangerous fire hazard.

To Search all Wilmington NC real estate please visit www.cbbaker.com

 The 6th Annual Justice 4 ALL day will be this Friday March 1, 2012 from 7 am – to 7pm. 

North Carolina residents may call in with any legal question they may have and they may be offered referral resources.  The NC Bar lawyers will have the phones manned with volunteers.  There are  7 call centers in NC.  These are the numbers to call for your area of the State.

N.C. residents who reside in the viewing area of the stations are encouraged to call the toll-free numbers and view coverage of the event throughout the day. Personal visits are not permitted, and calls to the call center’s normal phone numbers cannot be transferred. Asheville: (800) 289-0013; Charlotte: (866) 616-4255; Greensboro: (877) 391-6179; Greenville: (888) 616-0614; Raleigh: (800) 424-9725; Wilmington: (888) 442-3428; Spanish-Language Call Center: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., (855) 455-4255.

If you need Real Estate advice, please call us 800-497-7325-3607 or email bakerwayneassociates@ec.rr.com – please visit  www.cbbaker.com