Find Your Home Value
Home Appraisal Tips & Advice
California Home Values and Property Taxes: Are the Laws What They Should Be?December 22, 2008
California is once again rethinking Proposition 13, the law that bases home property taxes on the purchase price of a house. Will a new property tax law pass? California Home Values Are Falling: Can There Be an Upside?
September 30, 2008
Home sale prices are down and most people have seen a loss of home value in their neighborhood. Can there be a hidden benefit? Selling Your Home Successfully in Today's Market
September 8, 2008
Yes, the home selling market has slowed in the past year; however, houses are still being purchased on a daily basis. What is the secret to successful home selling? Home Value Significant in Planning Home Improvement Projects
By Karen LawsonHome Worth Columnist
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Your kids need their own bathroom. It's time to update the kitchen. You've always wanted a koi pond and outdoor sanctuary. Which projects can add lasting value to your home? Which improvements are most desirable in your area? How much home equity do you have available? You can determine estimated home value by using a free home value calculator tool. To get an idea of your home equity, subtract the amount of your mortgage loan from current value. Home equity financing can provide a convenient way to fund your home improvement projects.
Family Room or Fish Pond: Choosing Home Improvement Projects
Selecting the right home improvement projects largely depends on whether you plan to keep your home or sell it in the near future. If you're keeping your home, you'll have more flexibility to add improvements specific to your lifestyle and interests. Not everyone would consider a koi pond a desirable feature, but generic improvements such as new paint and flooring can be attractive to a wide range of potential buyers. Local real estate professionals can provide detailed information about current home value and the type of improvements likely to add to it. Your home equity can provide a great source of financing for home improvement projects.
Finding Home Improvement Financing
A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, can supply cash as needed, or you can get a lump sum of cash through refinancing or a home equity loan. Contact mortgage lenders to compare options and costs of home equity financing options. Obtaining a free home value estimate is a first step toward making your home improvement plans happen.
About the Author
Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with extensive experience in mortgage banking. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.