Buying That First Home? Don’t Forget the Home Inspection

Many consumers are considering buying a house to take advantage of first-time homebuyer tax credits. Homebuyers will want to learn as much as they can before they buy in order to reduce unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties. A home inspection can identify the need for major repairs or builder oversights, as well as the need for costly maintenance to keep the house or condominium in good shape. With so many choices on the market right now, including foreclosures and short sales, a home inspection is especially important to reduce the risks for buyers. Buying a home will likely be the …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, General | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Household Burglary Prevention Tips

  Summertime often means vacation time! However, while you are away, is your house safe and secure from burglary? According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are more than 2.15 million burglaries each year, over 65 percent of which are residential break-ins, with the majority occurring in the peak vacation months of July and August. So how can you make sure your home is protected while you are off enjoying your summer? Here are a few household burglary prevention tips that can help: Use motion sensors lights on the exterior of your home. …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Signs of Change: Existing-Home Sales Rise 3.6% in June | RISMedia

RISMEDIA, July 24, 2009-Existing-home sales rose for the third consecutive month with inventory easing and home prices declining less sharply in June, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Existing-home sales-including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops-increased 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2% lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful about the gain. “The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country,” he said. “We expect …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

First Time Home Buyers Seminar Announced

It’s all changed for first time home buyers! The repayment requirement has been removed on the tax credit benefit available to first time home buyers. A first time home buyer is anyone who has not owned a residence with the past three years. Prudential Floberg REALTORS is hosting a FREE seminar to help First Time Home Buyers learn to take advantage of this extraordinary tax credit. The discussion will be lead by Chris Ackerman of Wells Fargo Home Mortage and Jeanne Stecher of Accounting and Tax by Stecher.

The record low interest rates, the tax …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, General | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Billings leads forecast for home appreciation

Billings leads forecast for home appreciation
By Gazette News Services

Billings is ranked No. 1 in the nation for expected 2009 housing price appreciation by HousingPredictor.com, a Web site that provides housing news and real estate market forecasts for more than 250 U.S. cities. Its houses are projected to increase 2.1 percent in value.

Four other Montana cities and one Wyoming city were listed in the top 15. Only 10 of the top cities showed increasing values.

Fargo, N.D. was No. 2 at 1.8 percent; Lander, Wyo., was No. 3 at 1.7 percent, Bozeman No. 7 at 1.3 percent; Great Falls was No. 11 …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, General, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Free 1st Time Home Buyer Seminar Offered

Prudential Floberg REALTORS is hosting a free seminar for First Time Home Buyers. Our presenters, Chris Ackerman of Wells Fargo and Jeanne Stecher of Accounting and Tax by Stecher will discuss how to take advantage of the $7500 Tax Credit that is currently available to first time home buyers. A first time home buyer is someone who has not owned a residence within the last three years.

Low, low interest rates, the tax credit and great homes on the market make this a perfect time to buy your first home. The tax credits are available for a …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, General, Education, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Tips for Protecting Your Pets During the Holidays

By Denise Flaim

RISMEDIA, Dec. 15, 2008-(MCT)-Lost in the holiday shuffle are usually the family critters, and maybe just as well, lest anyone get the bright idea of making them wear faux reindeer antlers.

But holiday hazards loom, and here are some to anticipate and avoid:

Food for Thought

Cooked turkey and chicken bones are an oft-warned-about danger, as they splinter easily, creating the potential for perforation or choking. Sugar is never appropriate for companion animals, so keep an eye on the cake and cookies. And while many home-feeders happily give their dogs and cats table scraps year-round, those animals who are not accustomed …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Lifestyle, General, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

How to Choose a Christmas Tree

Posted By Paige On December 2, 2008 @ 4:32 pm In Today’s Home Spun Wisdom
By Brian McDonald

RISMEDIA, Dec. 3, 2008-(MCT)-Thanksgiving? It’s come and gone. Your appetite? Satiated by monumental quantities of turkey, gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Now you can sit back, relax and wait for the next big holiday feast, right?

Wrong! Now’s the time to work up an appetite before the gluttony yet to come. Arise from your turkey stupor-you’ve got to pick out the perfect Christmas tree! The sooner you pick it, the longer you can enjoy the rewards. And if you wait, your neighbors might get …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comment (1) | Permalink | Lifestyle, General | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Billings Chamber Roche Jaune Awards Announced

The Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence 2008 will be held Friday, Nov. 14, at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Cocktail hour is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the recognition program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Call 245-4111 or e-mail info@billingschamber.com for more information.

This year’s honorees are:

Lifetime Achievement Sam E. McDonald, Jr.

Civic Leadership
Billings Association of Realtors Quality of Life Program

Business Person of the Year
Stella Ziegler
Stella’s Kitchen & Bakery

Education Excellence
Cindy Welch
Meadowlark Elementary School

Healthcare Excellence
Stacy Handley & The Montana Pediatric Outreach Team

Salesperson’s Excellence
Kate Hamlin
Life Launch
Century …

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Lifestyle, General, CityBlog, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Thinking of a career in real estate? Check this out.

A career in real estate is a perfect match for highly motivated people like you. Prudential Floberg REALTORS has the tools and systems to help you succeed. Contact Marc Dean (406)-869-7660 or Linda Parker (406)238-7161 for more information.

Explore more of Billings, Montana

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, Education | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...