Have you recently built or remodeled your deck? When you look at the beautiful, natural wood from which it’s made, you probably can’t see why it needs painting or staining. You can’t imagine it needs a protective layer to keep water damage at bay. But even if your deck or balcony seems indestructible, deck waterproofing is a smart step to take if you want your newly-minted porch to withstand many years of varied weather elements. Read on to find out how waterproofing benefits your deck.

Prevent Water Stains

It may take more than a year to notice any water damage on your deck. But even if it’s a covered structure, your wooden porch will incur signs of wear, and it’ll show if the wood isn’t coated with a protective layer.

The first sign of damage might be small water stains. Not only do these stains look unsightly, but they are the beginning stages of softening wood.

Think about it this way: If you put a piece of paper into your kitchen sink and turn the faucet on, that paper dissolves in a matter of seconds. All that’s left in the sink is a soggy, mushy mess. Paper is just a very thin piece of wood. Over time, water has the same effect on sturdy decks made of thick lumber.

Prevent Splintering

Even if your deck doesn’t stain easily (perhaps due to a dryer climate), if it lacks a protective waterproofing coat, the wood is bound to splinter. Splintering can happen after just one rainstorm.

Imagine trying to enjoy your deck barefoot, or putting down a blanket on it’s floor for a picnic. A splintered deck is a nightmare-come-true in both scenarios. Even just trailing the porch railing or resting your arms on it while looking out over the deck can be unpleasant with splintered wood.

Prevent Wood Rot

The worst possible water damage that your deck can incur is wood rot. When the wooden beams and boards disintegrate when in contact with various weather elements, the wood can sink in on itself.

Deck waterproofing often consists of a coating that seals the bare wood, protecting it from the elements. This keeps the wood hard, sturdy, and whole.

When Should You Waterproof Your Deck?

Ideally, waterproofing your deck should be a priority within the first year. Before your deck lasts through its first fall and winter, you should hire a professional to coat it with a sealant or a stain.

The process looks a lot like the painting of a deck. However, while painting only adds color, a waterproof sealant actually adds a hard surface to the wood which keeps it intact.

Ideally, if the deck is sealed within its first year, this process doesn’t have to be repeated for several years. You may need to waterproof your deck approximately every four years.

However, if your deck wasn’t sealed within its first year of existence, or you’ve just purchased a house with a deck that hasn’t been sealed for years, expect to have to go through the waterproofing process more frequently. A deck that’s been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time is more vulnerable, thus it requires more frequent maintenance.

For a long time, artificial grass has been associated with immaculate lawns, golf and soccer fields, rooftop gardens and balconies, among other external uses. As artificial grass is available in a wide range of colors and textures, synthetic lawn installation can be done both on the outdoors and indoors.
Some of the creative indoor uses of artificial turf include:

Carpeting

Using artificial grass in place of conventional carpeting is a great way to accentuate natural elements such as hardwood and stone. Synthetic lawn installation can be done to create an inviting children’s toy room or play area. You can also use artificial grass in your home to create the perfect, sporty man cave.

Patios and porches

Whether you have a large or small patio or a porch, synthetic lawn installation is an easy and effective way of brightening up the outdoor space. Apart from withstanding the heavy use that such rooms face, artificial grass also adds an outdoorsy, warm, and fresh feel to the porch or patio.

Recreational areas in businesses

With more businesses embracing work-life balance, break rooms where employees take time to unwind are becoming quite popular. As green evokes feelings of growth, optimism, safety, and rejuvenation, you will notice a positive change in productivity as well as improved energy levels if you install artificial grass.
Businesses selling outdoor furniture will reap the benefits of showcasing them on artificial grass as potential clients get a real perspective of how they will look like on the outdoors.

 Seating

Pieces of artificial grass can be cut and used to cover picnic tables and lawn furniture. While this look is common in business establishments such as hotels and restaurants, recreating it for your home is a great way of differentiating your outdoor space.

Artificial grass for dog kennels

Artificial grass is great for dog kennels both at home and in pet facilities. As the fibers look and feel like real grass, it is comfortable for your pets. Synthetic grass is able to withstand rough play even from larger dog breeds.

Benefits of using artificial turf on the indoors

Some of the reasons why artificial grass is great for the indoors include:

•  It provides a natural appearance
•  It is easy to clean and maintain
• Artificial turf can be installed on virtually any surface
• The slip-resistant surface makes it quite safe
• It is recyclable
• As it is non-toxic, it is harmless to your children and pets

Artificial turf has quite a number of uses, both indoors and outdoors, and how you decide to use it is only limited to your imagination and creativity. For a professional and quick synthetic lawn installation, contact ForeverLawn Bellevue at 425-217-3671.

Appraisals are an essential part of buying or selling a house. A property’s market value establishes the price of houses. An appraisal informs a lender that the property sells for the least amount it is lending. The state provided certification is a requirement for appraisers. 

What is an appraisal?

People confuse comparative market analysis and appraisals. A CMA is a report to help clients determine the asking and offering prices that are realistic. Real estate agents utilize comparative market analysis. An appraisal report is the only report a lender looks at when considering a loan.

The same type of confusion happens when learning about home inspections. Appraisals are not the same thing. Appraisers value a home while an inspector checks different systems within houses to ensure there are no problems.

Appraisal Reports on Houses

• Appraisers produce detailed reports including the on-site evaluations and an assessment of sales data.
• Details about the house and comparisons to other houses on the market
• Analysis of the real estate market in a given area
• Issues an appraiser finds as negatives in terms of property value
• Dangerous problems with a property that needs addressing
• Average sale estimate
• Type of property

The Meaning of an Appraisal

Appraisal Red Flags

• If houses get appraises for lower than the sales price
• Time on the market longer than the local average
• Shared roads, private entrances, and lack of maintenance agreement

Two Common Appraisal Methods

Cost Approach — New houses lean towards the cost approach. The cost of building a house is a known factor. The estimation is how much it costs to replace the structure if destroyed

Sale Comparison Approach — Estimating a property’s market value using comparable properties that are similar.

The FHA streamline program works with FHA homeowners to refinance their homes for lower interest rates and a corresponding lower monthly payment. There are lenient requirements for credit and documentation. To attract current

To further entice FHA mortgage holders, the program offers an upfront mortgage insurance premium refunds. A portion of the premium paid on your original FHA loan closing is applied to the new streamlined loan.

Streamlined Processes

There are many benefits that help the process go quickly, including:

1. Employment verification isn’t required
2. Income verification isn’t required
3. Credit score verification isn’t required. This makes it possible for borrowers with FICO scores under the 640/620/580/500 thresholds eligible for streamline refinancing.
4. Appraisals aren’t required, which can save borrows hundreds of dollars.

Are You FHA Refinance Eligible?

The FHA Streamline Refinance program doesn’t require all the verifications of traditional loans, but there are other requirements to be eligible, including:

• Perfect payment history for three months
• It must be at least 210 days since your last refinance
• The refinance must serve a valid financial purpose, such as getting a better interest rate. There’s a calculation governing this requirement; the refinance must reduce your combined rate by at least 0.5%.

For example, a borrow with an FHA loan opened in June 2014 at 5.00%, and a monthly mortgage insurance premium of 1.35% has a combined rate of 6.35%. If the refinance would net a 5.85% combined rate, it meets the net tangible benefit requirement.

• There’s no cash-out offer available since the main purpose is to drop your payment and rate.

FHA streamline document checklist

Gather the following documents to make sure your FHA streamline refinance goes smoothly:

• Mortgage notes of any current FHA loan— it should show your current loan type and nterest rate
• Current mortgage statements
• Final settlement statement or Deed of Trust showing the case number of your current FHA loan
• Contact information of your HR department to verify employment (not income)
• Bank statements for the last two months, including blank pages to verify you can pay any out-of-pocket costs
• Contact information of your HOA to verify insurance on your home

You Can’t Roll the Loan Costs into the Balance

The FHA doesn’t allow extra money to be tacked onto a Streamline Refinance, so you’ll need to cover any closing loan charges.

The new loan balance can be for a maximum dictated by the following formula:  Principal Balance + Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium.

The origination, title, and escrow charges must be either waived by the lender or paid by the borrower. When it’s paid by the lender, it’s called a “zero-cost FHA Streamline”.

Check Today’s FHA Streamline Rates

Keep track of the most recent FHA rates to time the refinance for maximum savings. The FHA streamline refinance program is the perfect opportunity for FHA homeowners to reduce their interest and monthly payments.

The easier documentation and credit requirements make it a hassle-free process that gives you extra money in your monthly budget.

Bayfront homes are highly susceptible to fluctuations in the market. First-time home buyers or owners may find that the interest rates they first see are not at all the reality a few months or years from now.

Higher interest rates add up to greater costs, making it harder for some people to purchase the homes they want.

Between 2009 and 2015, mortgage interest rates varied by month, but they went from around 5.04% in 2009 to around 4.17% in 2013.

Sometimes, time can help interest rates lower, which, in turn, guarantees that a mortgage can go further for potential homeowners.

Even a fraction of a percent can add up over the course of a 15- or 30-year loan. For example, on the 4.17% interest rate, the interest on a $250,000 home would be $188,541.

At 5%, and with no down payment, you’ll pay around $233,139 in interest, according to www.mortgagecalculator.com.

What can potential buyers do to get the best interest rates for Bayfront homes?

Every lending institution decides what it will charge for mortgages. Adjustable-rate mortgages are impacted by the federal government’s annual adjustments.

Fixed-rate mortgages are less affected. So, to save money, people should aim to get a fixed-rate loan.

Good credit also makes a difference, so those with great credit can score a lower interest rate and get a higher loan than someone with lower credit.

If interest rates rise and nothing else about a situation changes, buyers still won’t be able to get as much money in a mortgage as they’d like.

That’s why lower interest rates are so important; With lower interest rates, people qualify for more money to get the homes they want most.