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FurnitureFurniture Center 19

Glass/MirrorsAnderson Glass 15 Bullseye Glass 10

Grout Staining/SealingGrout Works of Central Texas 12

Handicap ModificationsAccess Mobility 14

Home BuildersKevin Bearden Custom Homes 11

Home TheaterCustom Integrators 7Matt Panter Home Theater 10

House PlansGreat House Plans 6

HVAC ContractorsLochridge Priest 2Oasis Heating and Cooling 10

InsulationDEK Insulation 8E6 Insealation 6 Think Home Insulation 14

Insurance AgencyTerry Strickland State Farm 7

IrrigationStein Lawn and Landscape 18

Metal Roof SuppliesPioneer Steel and Pipe 6

Paint/SuppliesWigley’s Paint Inc. 18

Plumbing FixturesWaco Winnelson 8

Portable BuildingsCook Portable Warehouses 3

RoofersTalbert Construction 15Wehrmann Metal Roofs 19

Real Estate LoansCommunity Bank and Trust 3 Loan Source 15

RemodelingKevin Bearden Custom Homes 7Talbert Construction 12

Septic SystemsBlount’s Septic 7

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If you have been searching for a custom home builder, remodeler, service provider, or just a tradesman to complete a small home project, then All Things Home is the only guide you will need. Inside you will also find helpful tips and suggestions for various home projects. Thanks for showing an interest in All Things Home.

Welcome to All Things Home

Index September 2011

Featured ArticlesGreat Mortgage Options for First-time Homebuyers 13 Upgrading Your Home 16

Featured BusinessesBlinds and ShuttersPeg’s Blinds and Shutters 15

Building MaterialsRedwood Inc. 19

CarpentersRingo’s Construction 18

CountertopsGary Beam Formica Countertops 18Goldstone 12Italian Granite 15Red’s Quality Marble 19Unique Kitchen & Bath 12

ElectricianMr. Electric 8Zawadzki Electric 10

FlooringBrazos Valley Carpet One 20Custom Stain and Scoring 18Lake Air Interiors 14Texas Art Tile 14

PublisherAll Things Home™

ArT DireCTiON & DesiGNJose Gonzales

TO ADVerTise PleAse CAll254.709.6045

© 2011 All Things Home™. Reproduction without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

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One of the greatest things about living in the United States is the promotion of the right to own real estate. With the evolution of our tax laws, homeownership is still one of the best tax breaks available. More important than any tax benefit is a sense of pride from owning your own home. Thanks to the large inventory of affordable housing and the relative ease of buying and financing real estate, millions of families own their own home and thousands more join their ranks everyday. Today is truly a “Buyer’s Market”.

Several government agencies promote and help first-time homebuyers through unique programs. They all realize that our neighborhoods retain vitality and value if the percentage of homeowners is higher than tenants occupying property.

Most first-time homebuyers utilize a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage. The reason this type of loan is the most popular is that it was designed for the first-time buyer offering reduced down payment requirements and less rigorous credit standards than a conventional loan. The standard FHA loan requires a minimum down payment of 3.5% of the selling price of the home. This loan will vary depending upon the price of the home you select and whether you pay your own closing cost. It is not uncommon in today’s housing market for family members to be willing to help potential homebuyers with a gift of down payment funds to purchase a home. Most lenders will accept these funds as long as the source is identified and the funds need not be repaid. The City of Waco has down payment funds and closing cost assistance available for buyers purchasing within the city limits of Waco. Restrictions include maximum income and property location requirements as well as a completing a homebuyer education course. For example: A family of four can have income up to $41,500.00 and qualify for up to

$15,000.00 to be used for the down payment and closing cost of an existing home. When purchasing a new home, buyers can qualify for an additional $10,000.00 in assistance.

Designed as a benefit for Veterans of our Armed Services, the VA Loan is a great loan First, find a copy of your DD-214 discharge. With this discharge form you can order your Certificate of Eligibility or we can do it for you electronically. VA guarantees a portion of the home loan for the lender, and this certificate shows how much they will guarantee. The VA loan does not require a down payment, sellers are permitted to pay closing costs. There are no property location restrictions with a VA loan.

USDA is committed to the future of rural communities. There are no first-time homebuyer requirements. Properties must be located in a Rural Development eligible area.

The most important thing you can do to help yourself with the approval of your home loan is to go through the prequalification process. Your lender will give you important guidance about the best loan for your personal financial picture. I always suggest that you be prequalified or fully approved before you buy. It makes your contract offer much more attractive allowing you to concentrate on the “fun” part of buying.

Should you like to be pre-qualified, please call us at 254-753-9922.

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Spending money on your home can be one of the best investments you will ever make. Putting money into your kitchen and bathroom upgrades has long been the ideology for adding the most value to your home. While this is a great general guideline, it fails to address other areas in the home in need of improvements.

A few considerations when makingthe decision to update should include: what is the average priced home in yourneighborhood; is your home one of the largest or smallest on the street; what is your budget; how long do you intend to stay in the home? For example, you might not want to have solid granite counter tops installed in a starter home that you only plan to stay in until you find a larger one to suit your needs. An alternative might be a granite tile top- investing less money and increasing the probability of a larger return on the investment.

When deciding where to invest your money, flooring can make the biggestvisual impact. You may want to seewhat neighboring homes have usedwhen updating for ideas of whatmaterials to use and the price range of flooring you are willing to invest in.Chartreuse shag is an obvious material to update, but no rule says you have to replace carpet with carpet. Flooringprofessionals can be fabulous assetswhen sifting through the countlessflooring options available. Don’t forgetthat flooring patterns are potentially as important as the material itself.

A couple of areas that may needattention, although sometimesoverlooked, are hardware and lighting. Polished brass is a constant visualreminder of the home’s age. Selecting popular finishes such as brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze showappreciation for details. Energy efficient lighting,sensors, timers, and dimmers help to lower electricity bills. Lighting for specific activities or daylight conditions versus overall general lighting can also drastically reduce wasted wattage.

Built-ins such as fireplaces, cabinets, bookcases, shower rooms, etc. are other areas where upgrades can makea significant impact. My best suggestion for these areas is to focus on functionality

while simultaneously addressingyour personal taste. A tiled showerwall functions just as well as a glass divider, but the wow factor of theglass is more memorable for buyers and might even make you feelmore pampered in your own home. If privacy becomes an issue try atextured, etched, or frosted glass.This detailed approach to built-inrenovations can be applied throughout the home to enhance its, overall value.

Finally, regular maintenance is agreat way to protect your financialinvestment. An elegant slate floor can quickly become a dusty mess without proper continual care. Ensure that allof your renovation budgets includeany weekly, monthly,or annual allotments to maintain the integrityof materials and finishes. Even minor upkeep can sustain your home’s worthfor years to come.

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Brazos Valley Carpet One Floor and Home has been locally owned and operated for over 30 years. We are a leader in the flooring industry because of the quality of product, customer service, warranty, and unbeatable knowledge that only 30 plus years in the business can give.

We would like to introduce ourselves, Harlan King and Beverly Culp, owners of Brazos Valley Carpet One Floor & Home. Our personal goal is to provide people with quality products and service that will make your home complete and enjoyable. Our staff is trained and ready to assist with all of your needs and we are always available to answer questions. Together with our sales staff, we have the expertise to create the most enjoyable buying experience.

  If you haven’t visited our store, we want to personally extend an invitation to come see what we are about. Whether you are looking for expert advice, design consultation, or a “pain-free” flooring installation, we are the store for you!