http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog Florida Real Estate Q&A Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:08:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Our Home Is Keeping Us Healthy               In 1975, Nikken pioneered the concept of total wellness. This philosophy is centered on the 5 Pillars of Health —   Healthy Mind Healthy Body Healthy Family Healthy Society Healthy Finances.   Instead of curing disease, total wellness focuses on PREVENTION.               We emphasize not only better physical health, but peace of mind and ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2007/02/23/is-your-home-making-you-sick/   A.  Using “natural” resources to build energy efficient homes has become quite popular.  Most building codes now recongnize alternative building materials as equal to or better in quality than traditional materials.  These are also fully accepted by lending and insurance companies.  There are three popular alternative materials that have been ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2006/11/04/q-we-are-preparing-to-build-our-own-home-and-are-wondering-about-using-alternative-%e2%80%9cnatural%e2%80%9d-building-materials-do-you-have-any-suggestions/     A.      There are several steps you can take to not only shorten the sale time of your home, but also help it sell for greater value.  The one “mistake” sellers often make is failing to see their home from the perspective of a potential buyer.  Here are a few helpful ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2006/05/10/q-what-steps-can-i-take-to-make-my-home-sell-faster/ Over 70 percent of homes in the United States are underinsured.  And, of those homes, 70 percent are underinsured by at least 30 percent.  This is a major problem!  The confusion between market value and replacement value is where many of these problems originate.  Many people base their insurance coverage ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2006/04/01/qhow-can-i-figure-out-how-much-insurance-coverage-i-need-to-protect-myself-if-my-home-is-ever-destroyed/ Everybody's looking for a good deal. Sellers want the highest price possible and buyers want to buy a house below asking price. They both want the same thing -- a good deal. Following years of a sellers market, many consumers are facing a more normalized market across the country. Particularly, ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2006/03/24/is-a-good-deal-just-a-matter-of-interpretation/ A.     When you’re interested in purchasing a home, the mortgage company or your REALTOR® will usually determine the amount you can afford by using one of two formulas.          The Payment to Income Ratio is a fairly simple formula.  It adds your future mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance together to ... http://gmprealty.com/floridarealestateblog/2006/03/24/how-much-can-i-afford-to-pay-for-a-new-home/