Virtual Assistants for the Home

Virtual assistants aren't just for uber-busy business execs or jet-setting celebrities anymore. If you frequently run out of time on projects, or you find it a hassle to perform certain tasks, a virtual assistant could be your solution. 

Sites like fancyhands.com and zirtual.com are specifically geared to provide general virtual services, while Odesk.com and elance.com offer thousands of specialized virtual tasks performed by those with certain skillsets. 

Costs for these services vary, starting at $25 a month, and are typically based on the number of task requests you make per month. 

Here are a few ways you can use a virtual assistant to make life easier: 

Bookkeeping, tracking bills and staying on top of banking information are popular, albeit time-consuming tasks better left to assistants. 

Online shopping for finding and sending birthday gifts and wedding presents, or for comparing and locating items to be purchased later, is another popular task to delegate to virtual assistants. 

Data-entry can be a pain, but assistants can help with everything from bills to managing calendar events to setting up money management software. 

Managing email is a hassle for lots of busy folks. Let virtual assistants help you sort and prioritize. 

Travel and vacation research can also be delegated to help you find the best travel deals. 

Finally, Knowledge preparation for business meetings, reports, homework, potential opportunities, or anything you want to know more about, can be outsourced to save you time. 

Time is money, and sometimes it pays big dividends if you have a little help! These ideas scratch the surface of tasks a virtual assistant can handle for you. Delegating tasks you don't have time for (or simply don't enjoy) will pay off in the long run.

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

St. James residents urged to respond to survey on reuse water for irrigation

Brunswick County officials and consultants from Hazen and Sawyer are urging St. James residents to complete a survey regarding potential use of reclaimed water for residential irrigation purposes by the Wednesday, February 19 deadline.

 

Reclaimed water is currently used for irrigation on golf courses in St. James Plantation, and county officials have begun looking at the possibility of offering it for irrigation on residential lawns as well. Doing so would reduce demand on the county’s potable water supply, especially in the visitor- and irrigation-heavy summer months, and would help postpone the need for expansion of the water system. Residents would be charged a lower rate for the reclaimed water than the rate charged for potable water used for irrigation.

 

But before the design process proceeds, county officials want to know if residents are interested in the reclaimed water for irrigation. The responses will let county officials know if they should proceed with the project and, if so, will help give a better idea of what rates would be.

“We would encourage each property owner to submit a response to the survey to indicate his or her willingness—or unwillingness—to connect to an irrigation system using reclaimed water,” said Brunswick County Public Utilities director Jerry Pierce. “The results of the survey will be provided to the board of commissioners so they can make an informed decision about whether to move forward with the project.”

“It is really important that we hear back from as many residents as possible so that we can determine if residential reuse is economically feasible,” said Patricia Drummey Stiegel, senior principal engineer with Hazen and Sawyer. “We will incorporate information from the survey into our model to determine system phasing and sizing. We hope residents will let us know what they think, even if they are undecided about reuse at their homes.

“We hope residents take this opportunity to learn more about water reuse in general and the potential for reuse in St. James in particular,” she added.

“Water reuse is commonly practiced around the U.S. and is an important part of a community’s long-term water supply portfolio,” added Ben Stanford, director of applied research with Hazen and Sawyer. “We feel confident that effluent reuse at St. James provides a safe, sustainable way to minimize demand on the drinking water system while preserving a resource for use in the community.”

Residents can access the survey at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1497464/St-James-Effluent-Reuse-Survey-1. The survey will only be available until Wednesday, February 19.

Fact sheets about the potential project, slides shown during two community meetings in St. James and a summary of questions asked at those meetings are all on Brunswick County’s website under the Utilities page.

The Reclaimed Water Study Committee Report, completed by a committee of St. James residents and presented to the St. James Town Council last week, is available on the Town of St. James’ website.

The survey is open to all St. James residents, though officials are requesting one response per household.

State Port Pilot Article

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

Southport going back 'Under the Dome' for series' second season

Filming permits that would make it official are not yet in hand, but apparently Southport will be going  “Under the Dome” again this season. 

 

Scouts and production representatives for the sci-fi series were in the city last week reviewing several locations that were used in the CBS series last year, including an East Bay Street home. Interior, exterior, side- and back-yard shots and the detached garage were all featured at times during the first season. Crew members have inquired about reconstructing a façade bunker door in the property’s side yard previously featured.

 

“The production has informed us of their intent and interest in returning to Southport to shoot for a period of about six months,” city tourism and economic development director Cindy Brochure said. “No permits have been filed, so things can always change, but I think we can say with a 99-percent certainty that they will be back.”

After opening production offices in Wilmington in early January, work on episodes, the first of which will be directed by Stephen King, are to start the first week of March. The famed horror writer wrote the 2009 source novel and played a major part in the pilot episode last year. 

Crews last year also utilized inside and outside shots of Trinity United Methodist Church, Old Smithville Burying Ground and Ocean Trail Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Southport Motor Cars and Spike’s Dairy Bar also appeared in the initial season, but only briefly. 

One location that likely won’t be seen again in the series is the pilot tower, which  stood in as the Chester’s Mill radio station, which was burned down by “Big Jim” during the show’s 12th episode, “Exigent Circumstances.”

State Port Pilot Article

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

Roll-out of new 90-gallon recycling bins in St. James expected next week

As many as 2,500 90-gallon recycling carts will begin showing up in St. James before the end of the month, town council members learned during their monthly work session on Thursday.

 

Member Wayne Deutscher reported that provider Waste Industries plans to deliver the carts on flat-bed trucks to The Members Club lower parking lot beginning Monday, January 27. The rest of the week, smaller trucks will distribute the carts throughout the community. Each cart will have a computer chip installed identifying it with a specific household.

 

About 100 persons responded via an e-mail survey that they wished to continue using the 18-gallon bins they already have; Waste Industries will not deliver carts to those addresses, but if later the homeowner changes his mind and wants a cart instead, he may call and the company will change-out the containers at no cost.

Those receiving new carts may choose to keep their 18-gallon bins for another use, or they may “recycle” the plastic containers by leaving them at curbside when the carts are placed there to be emptied.

With the seasonal absence of some homeowners, “There are going to be some bins out for a while,” town administrator Josann Campanello acknowledged. Considering this, Waste Industries has said it will place the carts near the garage entrance to be as out-of-sight as possible.

“It may be tumultuous for a month or two,” Deutscher said.

Article From State Port Pilot

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

Hearing set Friday on coastal insurance rate hike of 35-percent; 25-percent overall

As local government units line up in opposition, the state is gearing up for its first-ever public hearing on an industry proposal to raise standard homeowners insurance rates by 35-percent in coastal southeastern North Carolina and 25.3-percent overall.

 

The hearing on the proposal is set for the Dobbs Building in Raleigh from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, January 24. E-mail comments will be accepted through January 31 at 2014homeowners@ncdoi.gov.

 

Brunswick County and the municipalities of Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Bald Head Island, Boiling Spring Lakes and St. James have all passed resolutions opposing any increase. The resolution points out there have been five rate increases since 2002.

“Homeowners in coastal communities already pay … premiums two to three times the rate charged for the same type of homeowners policies (fire, theft) of inland properties, in addition to having separate flood, as well as wind and hail policies,” the resolution states.

Article from State Port Pilot

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

What the new mortgage rules mean for you

New mortgage lending rules are going into effect Friday that aim to put an end to the worst mortgage lending abuses of the past.

The new rules are designed to take a "back to basics" approach to mortgage lending and lower the risk of defaults and foreclosures among borrowers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which issued the new rules.

"No debt traps. No surprises. No runarounds. These are bedrock concepts backed by our new common-sense rules, which take effect today," said CFPB director Richard Cordray in remarks prepared for a hearing Friday.

Related: Million-dollar housing markets

Mortgage lenders are being asked to comply with two new requirements: The Ability to Repay rule and Qualified Mortgages. Here's how they will impact borrowers:

Ability to Repay

• Lenders must determine that a borrower has the income and assets to afford to make payments throughout the life of the loan. To do so, the lender may look at your debt-to-income ratio, which is how much you owe divided by how much you earn per month, including the highest mortgage payments you would be required to make under the terms of the loan. To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, add up all your monthly obligations -- including student loan, credit card and car payments, housing costs, utilities and other recurring expenses -- and divide it by your monthly gross income.

Calculator: How much house can you afford?

• In an effort to put an end to no- or low-doc loans, where lenders issue risky mortgages without the necessary financial information, lenders will be required to document and verify an applicant's income, assets, credit history and debt. For borrowers, that means more paperwork and longer processing times.
• Underwriters must also approve mortgages based on the maximum monthly charges you face, not just low "teaser rates" that last only a matter of months, or a year or two, before resetting higher.

Qualified Mortgages

• To make sure you aren't taking on more house than you can afford, your debt-to-income ratio generally must be below 43%. This rule is not absolute. Banks can still make loans to people with debt-to-income ratios that are greater than that if other factors, such as a high level of assets, justify the risk.
• Qualified mortgages cannot include risky features, such as terms longer than 30 years, interest-only payments or minimum payments that don't keep up with interest so your mortgage balance grows.
• Upfront fees and charges cannot add up to more than 3% of the mortgage balance. That includes title insurance, origination fees and points paid to lower mortgage interest rates.

The rules also restrict "steering," or practices that give financial incentives to loan officers or mortgage brokers for pushing people into higher-interest loans that they can't afford -- a practice that was all too common leading up to the housing bust, Cordray said.

Related: American dream homes: What you'll pay in 10 cities

"We think the new rules are balanced and well-drawn. They will offer consumers protection without limiting credit to qualified borrowers," said Gary Kalman, the policy director for the Center for Responsible Lending.

Lenders don't seem to be too worried about the new rules, according to Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com, a mortgage information provider. "It's no surprise; everybody has been preparing for the change for months," he said. "Because there will be additional underwriting scrutiny, it could gum up the works initially and slow loan processing, but it's really just the codification of things that are already in place."

A significant factor is what's not in the rules. There's no minimum down payment or credit score requirement.

"[The qualifed mortgage] is not taking a one-size-fits-all approach. It ensures that first time homebuyers can still come to the table," said Kalman.

Related: 5 most and least affordable housing markets

If the rules required a minimum down payment of, say 10% or 20%, it would eliminate many first time buyers who would have a difficult time raising that much cash.

The lack of a credit score requirement will enable lenders to loosen currently tight underwriting standards in the future should conditions warrant, according to Gumbinger. For the moment, most loans will still have to be backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and, with a few exceptions, they won't approve applicants with scores below 620.

Original CNN Article

Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation

Real Estate Photos: Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

When you are interviewing for a job, you want to put your best foot forward. You wear nice clothing, carry a briefcase, and make sure every hair is in place. Your resume is in pristine condition and you sell your smile to every person you meet. Selling your home is very similar; you want to put your best foot forward.
Many people have begun to rely solely on the Internet to find their next home. According to the National Association of Realtors, nine out of ten home buyers search for their next home on the Internet. With those kinds of odds, you need your home to have a strong presence on the Internet. How can you do that? With great real estate pictures.
On the Internet, your St. James Plantation will be almost entirely judged based on its photographs.  If a potential home buyer is turned off by your photographs or the fact that you don’t have any, you can bet they won’t take the time to come check out your home.

Implement the following suggestions when taking photos of your real estate:

• Invest in a decent camera and use a tripod for sharp photographs.
• Stage your home effectively. Use flowers and limit the clutter in your home.
• Use as much natural lighting in your photographs as possible.
• Choose flattering angles. Corners and hallways are usually a good spot to take your photos.
• Take as many photos as possible. Experiment with lighting and angles to get the best shots. Review your photos and choose the best ones.
• When you are reviewing your photos, it may be necessary to implement some photo editing tools to brighten pictures or crop unflattering photos.

By showcasing your home on the Internet you can gain exposure and allow potential home buyers to preview your St. James Plantation Real Estate before they see it in person.


Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
www.KenKeegan.com
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation

What to Expect During a Home Inspection

When selling your home, it is necessary to get a home inspection. While it may not be something you immediately think to do, it is very helpful in identifying any problems you may have before you even put your St. James Plantation home on the market.
A home inspection can last anywhere from two to three hours and involves the inspector going through every part of your home from top to bottom. The following are some of the things an inspector will pay close attention to during an inspection:

• Operation of plumbing
• Operation of heating
• Operation of air conditioning
• Electrical systems
• Appliance systems
• Structural integrity of the roof
• Structural integrity of the foundation and basement
• Structural integrity of windows and doors

The purpose of a home inspection is to identify any flaws or structural damage that may be an issue when you attempt to sell your home. It is important to remember though, that home inspections do not necessarily detect every conceivable flaw. They only inspect areas that are clearly visible; there could be problems hiding beneath the surface that remain unidentified.

Having an inspection before you put your home on the market can help you fix any major problems before you try to sell, and it can also help remove any nagging questions about the condition of your home for potential buyers.
 
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
http://www.kenkeegan.com/
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation

How To Price Your Home Effectively

Determining your selling price is probably one of the biggest problems associated with selling your home. You don’t want to price it too low and lose valuable money, but you also don’t want to price it too high and lose potential buyers. So how should you go about determining the magic starting value for your St. James Plantation Home!

Don’t start too high

While that is easier said than done, initially pricing your home too high can have a variety of negative consequences in the long run. Not only will you lose buyer interest, but pricing too high can make competing properties in your area seem like better deals. It can also lead to mortgage rejection once the appraisal is in. So how do you avoid this common mistake?

• Get a professional appraisal of your property

• Purchase an online pricing report

• Find similar homes for sale in your area

• Always set your price slightly below a whole value (Ex. $89,000 instead of $90,000)

Don’t start too low

The reasons for not pricing your home too low are fairly obvious. Not only will you be losing out on money, but you will not be factoring in the negotiations that take place between buyer and seller. Most home buyers aren’t going to accept the asking price; they will attempt to barter a slightly better offer. You need to compensate for this in the initial pricing of your home.

A quality real estate agent can help walk you through the process and work with you to develop a starting point where you feel comfortable. Remember, the real estate market experiences frequent changes, so be sure to re-evaluate the price of your home every few months.



Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
www.KenKeegan.com
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation