What’s the Most Popular Countertop for Kitchens?

 When planning new tops,  Is granite still a hot choice?Granite remains the biggest seller, having accounted for 56 percent of kitchen-countertop sales in the past year, according to the NPD Group, a market-research company. Quartz (Caesarstone and Silestone) and laminate (Formica), each with 13 percent of the countertop market, trail granite in popularity, followed closely by solid surfacing (DuPont Corian).

It will be interesting to see whether granite’s dominance holds. Consider that about 75 percent of certified kitchen designers specified quartz, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s “2010 Kitchen & Bath Style Report,” as we recently reported in “What’s Cooking in the Kitchen: 7 Trends in Remodeling and Design.”Granite earned its spot as the most popular counter courtesy of its good looks and durability. Indeed, in our countertop tests, granite was the only stone that could resist heat, scratches, and, when properly sealed, stainsWhen it comes to natural stone, marble and limestone also offer aesthetic appeal but have their drawbacks. Marble, more porous than granite, is not as stain or heat resistant and scratches and chips easily. Limestone withstands heat very well, so scorch marks aren’t a problem, but this soft, porous material is easily sliced, nicked, and scratched; it also stains easily, even when properly sealed.When you’re shopping for a granite countertop, remember that veining and pattern can vary enormously from slab to slab, so be sure to visit the store or stone yard to find a piece you love. You can save some money by using 3/4-inch-thick stone instead of the typical 1 1/4-inch-thick material. (Note that our test results are based on a thicker stone.) Granite costs about $50 to $200 per square foot, including installation.

657 Goldenwood Court Powder Springs GA 30127

This new listing is one I am proud to bring to you.  It is priced to sell at $287,900,  which is down 100K from the high market point in 2007.  It is move in ready in the Broadlands Subdivision and has much to offer.

This executive home has hardwoods on the main, 2 year old roof, 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, the master is on the main, entrance foyer, gourmet kitchen overlooks the family room, french doors open to the deck which has it’s own pergola, media and bonus room are upstairs, basement is full daylight and ready for your expansion, and a creek borders rear of property.  The high school is Hillgrove, and is 5 minutes from the Avenues of West Cobb.  This community has swim/tennis, walking trails, soccer field, pavilion, lake, and 20 acres of common area. For an exclusive showing contact Dino today.  Visit my website at www.soldbydino.com or email me at dinog@topproducer.com.

 Tips On Keeping Our Water Clean  & Saving Money

Keep Chemicals Out of Water and More Money in Your Pocket

When most people think about water pollution, images of leaking oil tankers, factories spilling toxic wastes into waterways, or garbage strewn along the beach come to mind. The fact is the problem is a lot closer to home. In fact, it’s in your home.

One of the major sources of water pollution is area residents, not industries. Commonly used products like paint, motor oil, pesticides, and many cleansers contain toxic chemicals which, when poured down drains, pass through wastewater treatment plants and end up in local creeks, lakes and the ocean, harming fish and wildlife. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat biological wastes and cannot remove all the metals, solvents, and chemicals contained in many household products.

Use these tips to help keep pollutants out of our water. Many of these tips will also save you money because they are less expensive than commercial cleaning products:

• Use baking soda mixed with water as an inexpensive, effective, all-purpose cleaner instead of using harsh commercial products.
• Use lemon juice or vinegar mixed with water to cut grease, clean glass, and clean vinyl and linoleum floors.
• Use toothpaste to remove scuffmarks from floors and watermarks from wood furniture.
• Use vinegar around faucets to remove hard water mineral deposits. Cover the deposits with vinegar-soaked strips of paper towels for about an hour, then wipe clean.
• Use club soda to clean carpet and upholstery stains.
• Use olive oil or linseed oil to revitalize old furniture.
• Use a plunger instead of chemicals to clear clogged toilets and drains.
• Use digital fever thermometers instead of ones that contain mercury.
• Use latex instead of oil-based paints. Use water-based paint removers.
• Use boric acid to control cockroaches and ants instead of toxic pesticides.
• Use traps instead of poisons to control mice.

Dispose of unwanted paint, pesticides, solvents, cleansers and potentially hazardous household products at your local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility – never down the drain or in the trash.

These are great ideas homeowners can use everyday to make a difference.    For more about buying or selling homes, email Dino at dino@soldbydino.com.      

This new listing is a “best buy” home located in Acworth, Georgia walking distance from downtown.  This home is on a level lot, and has an inground swimming pool.  Lake Alatoona is a 3 minute walk away.  The detached 22×22 bonus room can be used for a rec room, office, etc.  4 bedrooms and master is on the main, renovated kitchen includes all new cherry cabinets, granite tops, and all new stainless steel appliances. This home is listed for 200K and is not a short sale or foreclosure. Call Dino today!

So your thinking of selling or buying a short sale home.  I have a buying clients that have an offer to buy a short sale home since January 5, 2010.  As of this writing, we have not heard anything from the bank (which will go unnamed at this time) Bank of America. The timeline for a short sale is anything but short.  If you have patience, this is a great option to score a below market valued home in our current declining market.  The majority of the time, the lure of short sale homes are their 80% of market value.  This is a great savings to the buyer, and bad news for your neighbors you leave behind.  If you need a professional short sale consultant, contact me whether your buying or selling.  I welcome your comments, concerns, or questions.

Welcome to my blog.

Buying a foreclosed home is a little different from buying a typical resale.
In our current local market, 40% of our community homes being sold are foreclosures, and another 50% of homes being sold are short sales.   The remaining 10% are good old resales!   In all three of these transactions, I am certified to assist buyers to purchase.

The majority of the time, only one real estate agent is involved and represents the purchaser. The seller wants a preapproval letter from a lender before accepting an offer. There often is little, if any, room for negotiation. The home comes as is, and it’s up to the buyer to pay for repairs.

On the upside, most bank-owned homes are vacant, which can speed up the process of moving in.

If your considering a foreclosure, you must have much patience during the process!  

You’ll get fantastic pricing, but sometimes it takes going through a lot of houses and writing a lot of offers to get the home you want.

In Cobb County, upwards of 90% percent of homes sold are “distressed properties” — foreclosures and short sales. (A short sale happens when the lender agrees to let the owner sell the house for less than the amount owed because the owner can’t afford the monthly payments.)   At closing, the owner of the home nets zero dollars.

Nationwide, about two-third of sales currently are distressed properties. If you know people who don’t know what to do when they owe more on their home than it can sell for, call Dino.   I can help them when you call & introduce them to me.   I appreciate you trusting your friends and family with me.

Before you begin the house hunt

The first two steps in buying a foreclosure should happen almost simultaneously: Find a real estate broker who works directly with banks that own foreclosed homes (like me) and get a  preapproved with one of my mortgage professionals.

5 steps to buying a distressed property

1.         Get preapproved for a mortgage.

2.         Find an agent specializing in foreclosures.

3.         Know how long it takes to sell a home in your price bracket.

4.         Study the sale prices of comparable homes in your area.

5.         Remember the sale is for the home as is.

Dino recommends that shoppers first visit the Web site www.soldbydino.com, or any site with a database of foreclosed homes. You also could look at a local real estate Web site that lets you filter the results to see only foreclosures. You might find the acronym REO, which means “real estate owned” (owned by a bank, that is). This signifies that a home has been through foreclosure and the lender is selling it.

If you or someone you know has questions about foreclosure or short sales, contact me through this blog, or email me at dinog@topproducer.com.

Welcome to Dino Genovese’s Blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Marietta. Visit my website at http://DinoGenovese.featuredwebsite.com.