Real estateSATURDAY

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n S

ATU

RDAY

, FEB

RUA

RY 4

, 201

2 A

1

Produced ByAdvertising Editorial Staff

lubbockonline.com homes.lubbockonline.com LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Inside Real Estate: Local Real Estate News - Page 5WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 7 On The Web: Follow us on Facebook & Twitter

View Full MLS Listings & Open House ListHomeowners Insurance - Page 8Creative Laundry Rooms - Page 9

Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent?

Why make a “SMART” move? Because I care. I am both serious and passionate about what I do. I recognize the importance of purchasing and/or selling a home. A home is the largest single purchase most people make and should not be taken lightly. A home is not something you can return. My love for people, my attention to detail, my experi-ence and knowledge of the market along with my desire to ensure a smooth and effec-tive transaction for all par-ties, makes me the “SMART” choice. I try to abide by my mission statement...Knowl-edge you can Trust...Atten-tion you Deserve...Excellence you Expect.

What is your specialty? I specialize in residential

real estate, assisting both buyers and sellers. For those of you who are looking to purchase a home, congratula-tions! I realize that this is not a decision that has been made lightly; this is some-thing you’ve been working towards...hoping for. It is, after all, the embodiment of the American Dream, and while some find their perfect house on the first try, for oth-

ers it takes longer. You will be looking for houses that are “home” worthy. You see, each house is merely a shell made of materials. What will make it a home will be the personal touches that you and your loved ones add to it over the years.

For those of you who are ready to sell, whether the house you are currently living in is your first home, or one of many, I understand the emo-tional attachment that one makes to the “four walls” that began as mortar and bricks. To you, this is where holidays have been celebrated, losses have been commemorated, events rejoiced and tragedies overcome...this house, which started as piles of lumber, has become your home. As you prepare to pass the keys to the next owner, you want someone who will treat your home with the same tender loving care that you have over the years...for we all know that “home is where the heart is.”

How long have you worked in real estate?

I have been working in real estate in Lubbock for 11 years. As a full-time Realtor, I find there is never a dull moment. No two houses are the same and with each new

client there are new oppor-tunities and challenges. My life has certainly been blessed and enriched by relationships that have been established over the years.

What tips do you have for buying or selling a home?

For someone looking to buy a home I would suggest that they prioritize those things that are most important to them in looking for just the right property. Whether it is price, location, size, style or specific features, what are those things that will most

affect their life and lifestyle, keeping in mind the future and anticipating wants and needs that might be important down the road? I would encourage a buyer to recognize the importance of having someone representing them, working on their behalf and looking out for their best interests. A Realtor who will listen to their needs, provide facts and information, and who they can trust will be a valuable resource to anyone looking to buy a home.

For someone who has a home to sell, I would suggest that they enlist the help of a professional Realtor. It is important and imperative to seek out someone who is knowledgeable about the lo-cal market and has expertise in marketing to the consumer, as well as to other Realtors. As a seller, it is important to be realistic in your expec-tations and to recognize that the current market is dictated by what a buyer is willing to pay.

What do you like most about the Lubbock area?

We moved from Thousand Oaks, CA to Lubbock in 1998. My husband, Kent, designed and manufactured a golf knitwear line. We moved here to set-up and develop a yarn with the International Textile Center. Lubbock has grown on us over the years, and as we have lived here longer than anywhere else, we are happy to call it “home.”

Liz Smart WeSTMARk ReALTORS 806-535-5311lsmart@westmarkrealtors.com

Realtor Revealed

Liz Smart, WestMark REALTORSPhoto by Kent Smart

ABR, GRI CRS

JUNE 23, 2012

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n

The South Plain’s #1 Real Estate Source ● Visit our mobile site @ m.homes.lubbockonline.com

To advertise, call

806-766-8687

Jason Whittle 806-766-2196Josh Horsey 806-766-8653Kendall Krohn 806-766-8646

To Advertise Call...

Download the Real Estate Section

on the AJ iPad App

View listings on your

iPhone or Droid with the

AJ Mobile App

or view on our mobile site

m.lubbockonline.com

Real Estate

BEST!at its

2 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

SAT

URD

AY, J

UN

E 23

, 201

2 A

2

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n S

ATU

RDAY

, JU

NE

23, 2

012

A3

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 3homes.lubbockonline.com

4 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

SAT

URD

AY, J

UN

E 23

, 201

2 A

4

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n S

ATU

RDAY

, JU

NE

23, 2

012

A5

REAl ESTATE SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 5homes.lubbockonline.com

When you decide to move, don’t expect to hear anyone say, “I’m so jealous. I just love moving!” It doesn’t mat-ter if it’s your first house or fourth, mov-ing can be stressful. But with the kids out of school and the sun-ny weather, many people consider May through Sep-tember the best months to move. Whether you’re moving across town or somewhere much farther, here are a few things to consider when planning your next move.

Get An eArly StArt

The first step in planning a smooth move is to create a moving checklist that includes things like packing and/or hiring movers,

submitting change of address forms and setting up utilities. You should do this at least four to five weeks in advance of your actual moving date. If you are moving yourself, reserve a moving truck as soon as you can. If you plan to hire professional movers, it’s important to set that up early, too. Waiting until the last minute – particularly during the busy summer moving season – limits your options and may result in disappointment with both avail-able service dates and the selec-tion of the movers. At this stage, you should also begin notifying friends, family, and the post office of your change of address.

De-Clutter your Home

Start sorting through your be-longings early. Look at your next move as an opportunity to get rid of clutter. Hold a garage sale or donate items to your favorite char-ity. Downsizing will make packing simpler and less time consuming. And, if you’re hiring movers, fewer boxes mean lower moving-related

expenses.

PACk It uP

Proper packing is crucial to a good move, but you don’t have to do it yourself. You can hire profes-sional movers to do the packing for you. By doing so, they typi-cally are also accepting liability for items damaged in the move, but you should read the contract closely to see what’s covered.

If you do the packing yourself, you will save money, but make sure you either pack well or in-sure your goods. There are several options for insuring your goods against possible loss or damage. If you choose a moving company that is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association, you will likely have limited li-ability insurance on your belong-ings. But this will only provide you with partial coverage. You can also purchase full-value protection based on the value you declare for your goods. In this case, any items that are lost or damaged are repaired or replaced, based on

current market value. If you have homeowners insurance, check to see if it covers damage during a move.

WHen to mAke your move

Most people want to move dur-ing the summer months, which means professional movers are extremely busy and are likely charging premium rates at these times. It may also be easier to secure the company of your choice during the low season. Additional-ly, many consumers prefer to move at the end or the beginning of the month because that’s when most mortgage and rent payments are due. If you can move in the middle of the month, during off-peak times, you’ll likely save yourself some money and hassle.

CHooSInG A ComPAny

When it comes to choosing a moving company, it’s important to do your homework. Ask your Lubbock Realtor for a recommen-dation of local moving companies. Get several estimates and ask for

a written, binding estimate. You may ask the moving company to visit your home for a more accu-rate estimate based on things like weight, number of boxes, what needs to go up or down stairs and the distance they will travel. Bind-ing estimates guarantee the cost of the move based on items to be moved and services listed on the mover’s estimate sheet. But re-member, if you fail to list an item or need some additional packing services, the price will go up.

Ask questions such as if they are licensed for in- or out-of-state moves, what insurance they offer and if there are items they won’t transport. These movers are holding your life’s possessions in their hands, so make sure you feel comfortable with your decision.

Moving doesn’t have to be a terrible experience. With some advance planning, you can enjoy a smooth transition. For more moving tips, I invite you to visit TexasRealEstate.com and to find your Lubbock home, visit Lub-bockRealtors.com.

How to prepare for your next move

Ruiz

LocaL ReaL estate News – Lubbock associatioN of ReaLtoRs

BY Debora Perez Ruiz, PresidentLubbock Association of REALTORS®

HOUSTON – BRER Affiliates Inc., a Brookfield Residential Prop-erty Services company and owner of the Prudential Real Estate fran-chise network, announced that An-derson Properties has become one of their most recent franchisees. Anderson Properties will operate its 10 offices located in Lubbock, Austin and the greater Houston area, as Prudential Anderson Properties (formerly Better Homes & Gardens Anderson Properties).

With the Prudential name the company also connects to one of North America’s most prestigious real estate networks backed by a strong and committed parent company and talented leadership. “We are a growth company and this transaction positions us nicely for the future,” said Prudential An-derson Properties Broker/Owner Mike Huff. “Our new Prudential affiliation gives us access to the

industry’s finest resources and we will be unstoppable.”

Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate, welcomed Huff and his team. “Prudential Anderson Properties has everything we look for in an affiliate – strong man-agement, skilled and motivated agents and a solid reputation,” he said. “We’re eager to help this company grow and prosper in its markets.”

Prudential Anderson Properties, founded in 1980, builds lasting cli-ent relationships through superior service and client dedication. Huff said his company will reach new heights and service thresholds as a Prudential Real Estate affiliate. “When you take our sales team and markets, and combine them with the prestige of the Prudential name, you really have a compel-ling offering. We’ll be there for even more clients and for real

estate professionals who want to supercharge their careers.”

Brookfield Residential Property Services is a leading global pro-vider of real estate and relocation services, analytics and knowledge. The company’s portfolio consists of leading brands, including Brook-field Global Relocation Services, the second largest provider of global relocation services, Pruden-tial Real Estate, Brookfield Real Estate Services, Royal LePage, Real Living, Via Capitale and Centract. Through its real estate brands, it has nearly 80,000 real estate professionals in more than 2,800 locations, who transact more than $150 billion annually. Its global footprint spans North America, the United Kingdom, France, China, Singapore, India, Brazil and Australia, and includes more than 2,500 employees world-wide. It is a division of Brookfield

Asset Management, a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion of assets under manage-ment.

BRER Affiliates Inc. is a part of Brookfield Residential Property Services’ integrated real estate brokerage franchise company. Its Prudential Real Estate franchi-sees are independently owned and operated. Companies are selected based upon outstanding perfor-mance records and high levels of customer service.

Prudential Real Estate provides franchisees with business strate-gies using Operation Reviews. Other benefits include access to Prudential Real Estate’s Online Seller Advantage® program, designed to provide real-time information to sellers with the touch of a keystroke, and Online Buyer Advantage®, which enables consumers to easily search for

properties in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with more than 1,500 franchise offices and 50,000 sales professionals as of Dec. 31, 2011.

“Customers, clients and friends are invited to come by and visit our beautiful office at 4621 S. Loop 289 or call us at (806) 687-7700 to speak to one of our real estate pro-fessionals” says Gayle Ninemire, manager of the Lubbock division. “We are a full service real estate firm offering residential, commer-cial, farm and ranch and property management services.”

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities and are used under license, with no other affiliation with Prudential.

Anderson Properties goes ‘Blue’

6 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

SAT

URD

AY, J

UN

E 23

, 201

2 A

6

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n S

ATU

RDAY

, JU

NE

23, 2

012

A7

REAl ESTATE SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 7homes.lubbockonline.com

The “American Dream” for most people is that someday they would own their own brand-new home. Well, that day is today with S.C.O.R.E. Builders.

S.C.O.R.E. Builders, established in 2006 and a member of the West Texas Home Builders Association, is in the business of building homes for people who think they cannot af-ford a brand new home of their own. They are a business that makes your dreams a reality. S.C.O.R.E. Builders’ name is an acrostic for a Second Chance Opportunity A Rebuilding Experience, which is exactly what many people are doing when trying to achieve their “Ameri-can Dream.”

The company is founded on the

principles of helping those who are willing to help themselves. S.C.O.R.E. Builders’ mission is to walk in God’s Kingdom and to be physical proof of God’s Grace and Mercy as they manifest this mind set for those who cannot afford a traditional mortgage. As they dem-onstrate the Love of God to their home-buyers, they are helping to build a brighter future for the next generation.

S.C.O.R.E. Builders provides the best value in a home and at the most affordable price. They believe that after paying all their vendors and suppliers plus the overhead that every penny of profit is best served by putting it back into the cost of the home and thus lowering

the cost to the buyer. They believe their job, in developing the best home suited for each buyer, is to have you looking forward to going home every day.

Their Featured Brick Homes are located in the 2000 block of 89th Street and in the 900 block of Wheelock. They come in 1,287 square feet, three-bedroom floor plans with beautifully tiled kitchen, dining and bathrooms. Each has a covered porch as well as a patio. The eye-catching exte-rior features rustic red brick with garden areas for creative land-scaping to design your own oasis in West Texas.

As you walk into the warm surroundings of the family room,

Brick or siding Featured Homes in South Lubbock

Featured Floorplan – S.C.o.r.e. BuIlderS

you’ll see carpet in a soft light brown with walls painted in light taupe that display the inviting setting to any mode of decor chosen to embrace your style. The tan tiled areas in the kitchen and dining areas add to the home’s casually elegant ap-peal and lead into the open concept family room with a coffered ceiling. The functional kitchen, including all the amenities needed for an active family, is complimented by the faux-granite look For-mica countertops. The plush carpeting in the bedrooms with walk-in closets creates a cozy feel that give that relaxing appeal of a place to come home to after a busy day. The baths provide privacy and convenience for everyone in the home. These homes start at just the upper $80s.

The South Brook Siding Homes offer the opportunity of a life time! Brand new homes starting in the mid-$70s in an amazing area of Lubbock. This new community is lo-cated in Southeast Lubbock, just off of 82nd and University, in the 8900 blocks of Av-enue T, Temple Avenue, and Terrell Avenue. They offer 2- and 3-bedroom floor plans. Each home is more than 1,020 square feet

with an attached garage and wooden fences. There are a very limited number of lots re-maining, so give S.C.O.R.E. Builders a call.

S.C.O.R.E. Builders offers multiple avenues for financing, including rent, rent-to-own, self-financing, and conventional bank mortgages. We understand each buyer is different so we custom-fit our financing plans with each buyer’s needs.

S.C.O.R.E. Builders – “Building a Bright-er Future for the Next Generation.” Visit www.scorebuilders.org, or to view homes and visit with a S.C.O.R.E. Builders’ repre-sentatives, call (806) 776-1000 or come by the office at 5438 40th St., Lubbock, Texas.

These S.C.O.R.E. Builders homes are sponsored by the West Texas Home Build-ers Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Real estate8 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL lubbockonline.com

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n s

atU

RDaY

, JU

Ne

23, 2

012

a8

Selling a house is seldom easy, and homeowners are often willing to do whatever it takes to make their home more attractive to prospective buyers. One of the areas sellers typi-cally focus on is the home’s land-scaping. A well-maintained lawn and garden increases a property’s curb appeal considerably, increasing the chances a buyer will have a strong first impression of the home.

But homeowners don’t need to have a green thumb to ensure their lawn improves curb appeal. The fol-lowing are a few tricks of the trade savvy sellers can employ to make their home an instant hit when buy-ers pull up to the curb.

• Color the landscape. The plants outside a home shouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb, but a few splashes of color can make a home more appealing. For the cost of some annuals, which are typically inexpensive, homeowners can turn a drab flower bed into a colorful spot bound to catch a buyer’s eye.

• Lay down new layers of mulch. Mulch is not only good for plants, helping them to retain mois-ture while inhibiting weed germina-tion and growth, but a fresh layer of mulch also adds to a yard’s aesthetic appeal. Mulch made of wood or bark chips is also slow to decay, so apply a

new batch right before the “For Sale” sign is erected and you might not have to apply another batch before selling the home.

• Prune trees and shrubs. Pruning trees and shrubs is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve a landscape. Dead branches in shrubs and trees might suggest to buyers that the homeown-ers weren’t terribly preoccupied with maintenance, and this might cause them to think twice about making an offer. Stay on top of pruning re-gardless of what season it is, and be sure to remove any fallen branches from the yard on a regular basis.

• Clean bird baths and other water features. Water features cre-ate a peaceful atmosphere around a property if they’re well maintained. If not, buyers won’t see the yard as a sanctuary but rather a place where mosquitoes congregate and odors emanate from algae-filled water. Remove any debris from water features, including leaves and algae, and clean the filters so water is always clear.

• Invest in a power washer. Buying a power washer might be a tad over the top, but homeowners whose yards are filled with grimy surfaces might find a power washer can work wonders at restoring a

home’s external appeal. If plants are in pots that are covered in years-old dirt and grime, a power washer can restore the pot’s luster in a matter of minutes. Spray down walkways and even home siding that has fallen vic-tim to dirt and grime over the years.

• If planting trees, don’t go too big. Especially large trees are not always attractive to prospective buy-ers, who likely won’t want sight lines obstructed or won’t want to worry about a tree falling and destroying their home during a storm.

• Address issues with weeds. A prevalent problem with weeds around the property is another situ-ation that some buyers might feel is indicative of neglect. Weeds are a pretty simple problem to remedy, so buyers might be correct to assume weeds around the property are there because the homeowner was not concerned with maintenance. Lay mulch around flower beds and gardens to reduce weed growth, and pull any weeds from sidewalks and the driveway. Once weeds are pulled, spray areas that were infested with a weed-treatment product to ensure weeds don’t grow back.

A well-maintained landscape is a great way for men and women hoping to sell their homes to make a strong first impression.

How to improve your landscape before selling

CLEAnIng WATER FEATuRES around the property is one way for homeowners to increase the curb appeal of their home.

When you bought your home, you took out an insurance policy to cover the house and all of your family’s belongings inside. But was that the last time you thought about your insurance coverage? Hom-eowners insurance includes insurance on the actual structure and the contents inside.

The structural part of the package generally covers damage such as fire and smoke, lightning, wind and hail storms, vehicles, explo-sion, and aircraft or other falling objects. The package should also include cover-age for theft, vandalism, riot or civil commotion, freezing or sudden water escape from the plumbing system or appliances, glass breakage, and sudden tear-ing of heating or cooling systems.

A comprehensive home-owner’s policy should cover your home, any structure attached to it such as a porch or garage and any unattached buildings on your property that are not used for business or rented to others. Damage caused by flooding, earthquakes and hurricanes are not covered by your regular homeowner’s policy. Your insurance agent can pro-vide you with information about coverage of these natural disasters.

The personal property portion of the insurance package protects things in your home like clothes and furniture. It should also provide protection for your personal property while you are away from home, the things you take with you on vacation. The amount of insurance on your personal property is equal to a percentage of the amount of insurance on your home (usually 55 percent). However, it is im-portant that you know that special limits may apply to certain types of personal property. For example, money bank note and rare coins, securities, stamp

collections, jewelry and furs, firearms, silverware/goldware, rugs, tapestries and wall hangings. Higher limits on most of these items are available through upgrades on the policy or by taking out a separate policy for the items.

Check to see that your policy is written for replacement costs and you may want to consider inflation coverage. Replace-ment cost coverage on your personal property means that the insurance will pay to repair or replace your personal property that is covered. For example, if you bought an item several years ago for $100 and to replace it today would cost you $200, the insurance would pay $200. Inflation coverage automatically in-creases the amount of your insurance coverage on your home and personal prop-erty as inflation changes the cost of replacing your property. The changes are based on the movement of an inflation index and are reflected in the premium on each renewal.

But how do you know if you have too little or too much insurance? Start with a home inventory to help you assess your insur-ance needs. First you need to know how much it would cost to rebuild your house today on your existing lot. Ask your builder what the market rate is per square foot to rebuild your house. Multiply that times the square footage of your house and that’s how much insurance coverage you should have. The amount of your personal property coverage is a percentage of that amount (normally 55 percent and can be upgrad-ed to 75 percent).

For your belongings inventory, list every item in your home, attic and garage, when you bought it, its original cost and its estimated value. It also helps to have photographs or a videotape of your pos-sessions. Have a couple of

sets of the photos or videos made. Keep one copy in a fireproof safe at home or a safety deposit box. Marking your items with a personal identification number such as the last four digits of your social security number (don’t put your full number as that will make you vul-nerable to identity theft) will make reclaiming any stolen items easier.

If you ever need to file a claim, the inventory will make it easier and ensure that you are compensated for virtually everything. If it’s not on your list when you file a claim, you won’t be compensated for some-thing that you’ve paid for years to insure. Check with your insurance agent or company for a home inven-tory guide or advice on how to best organize your list if you should ever need to file a claim with them.

A homeowner’s policy will also include “personal liability” coverage. That is, the insurance provides payments for bodily injury or property damage for which you or a relative who lives with you may be legally responsible. For example, if someone is ac-cidentally injured on your premises, such as falling down stairs and breaking a leg, or if your ladder falls over on your neighbors car and damages it. Personal liability also includes medi-cal payments to others, meaning that if someone is accidentally injured on your property or is acci-dentally injured by you or a relative who lives with you, the insurance will cover medical expenses to a certain limit.

In case of a legal matter, your personal liability cov-erage includes the cost of defending you, whether you are liable or not, against an insured or covered law suits. About one out of ev-ery three homeowners has proper insurance coverage. Take some time today to make sure you are one of them.

When was the last time you reviewed your homeowners insurance?

RenewAbLe eneRgyThe use of renewable energy sources is on the rise. Ac-

cording to the u.S. Energy Information Administration, the world consumed 504.7 quadrillion BTu of energy in 2008 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). Ten percent of that consumption was from renewable energy sources, including biofuels, biomass, wind, and solar energy. By 2035, the EIA forecasts that consumption of renewable energy will account for roughly 14 percent of the total world energy consumption. World electricity generation from renewable fuels also figures to be on the rise. In 2008, elec-tricity generation from renewable fuels accounted for nearly 19 percent of the world’s total electricity generation, a figure the EIA estimates will be nearly 23 percent by 2035.

RosesFossil specimens found in the united States and north-

ern Africa indicate that roses have been around for at least 30 million years. Although there are thousands of different species of roses, only a handful are considered the most popular. These include the hybrid tea, floribunda, grandi-flora, climber, and miniature roses.

DiD you know?

B

lack

Yel

low

Mag

enta

Cya

n S

ATU

RDAY

, JU

NE

23, 2

012

A9

REAl ESTATE SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 9homes.lubbockonline.com

(NAPS) – It may come as a surprise to many, but the laundry doesn’t have to be a dark or boring space.

Stephen Saint-Onge, author of “No Place Like Home,” has come up with a few tips on turning your laundry area into a place where you like to spend time.

Says Saint-Onge, “You want to end up with a laundry area that you love going into—instead of feeling like you are stuck doing chores—and this can be done creatively and without breaking the bank. These small changes will make the laundry process more enjoyable overall.”

• Accessorize away. Find fun things to put in the room, such as matching, colorful storage bins and baskets, and area rugs with vivid patterns. To create vi-sual moments on counters, add coordinating canisters for detergents or other cleaning products. Make the space stylish while still keeping the room practical for everyday use.

• Light up your life. Make sure you have proper

lighting. Don’t use harsh fluorescent light-bulbs in the laundry room. Use lighting that will warm up the space and make it more comfortable. Easy-to-install halogen track lights are great for directing light on to work areas. Think about nice pendant lights over a “folding counter” or island to add some visual interest to the room.

• Color a closet. You can even have a lovely laundry room in a closet when you choose a color you love. This can be a great place to put a color that you wanted to use—such as a darker tone or a vibrant color—but didn’t want to use in the more “public” rooms of your home. Complement a big pop of wall color with a stackable front-loading laundry pair in a more neutral shade such as the Whirlpool Duet in Lunar Silver.

• Bring in some sound. Having a small sound sys-tem or TV in the space can make the time spent there more enjoyable.

• Make the space. Even if you don’t have an actual

room open in your home for a laundry room, you can create one in a corner of the kitchen or some other area. Add chic stor-age pieces that can also be used as countertops. Bring in some visual detail on the walls by hanging family photos or display-

ing your child’s artwork for an instant laundry room makeover. The point is to surround yourself with things you love so doing the laundry can feel more like good clean fun.

• Learn more. For more ideas and information, see www.whirlpool.com.

Get away from it all and still get things done

WHErEVEr YOUr LAUNDrY rOOM may be, you can turn it into a creative space you’ll enjoy being in.

WASHINGTON – Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained one point in June from a slightly revised level in the previous month to rest at 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released Monday, June 18. This is the highest level the index has attained since May of 2007.

“This month’s modest uptick in builder confidence comes on the heels of a four-point gain in May and is reflective of the continued, gradual improvement we are seeing in many individual housing markets as more buyers decide to take advantage of today’s low prices and interest rates,” said Barry Ruten-berg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gaines-ville, Fla.

“While the June HMI is in keeping with our forecast for gradually improving single-family home sales this year, recent economic reports that have shown some weakening in the pace of recovery likely factored into the marginal gain,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “In addition, build-ers across the country continue to report that overly tight lending conditions and inaccurate appraisals are major obstacles to completing sales at this time.”

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 25 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expec-tations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

In June, the HMI component measuring current sales conditions rose two points to 32, which is its highest level since April of 2007. Meanwhile, the components measuring sales expectations in the next six months and traffic of prospective buyers held unchanged at 34 and 23, respectively.

regionally, the HMI results were mixed in June, with two areas of the country posting gains and two posting declines. The Midwest registered a five-point gain to 31 and the West registered a four-point gain to 33, while the Northeast and South each posted two-point declines, to 29 and 26, respectively.

ABOUT NAHB: The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construc-tion, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commer-cial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB’s builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year.

Builder confidence rises one point in June

WASHINGTON – Due to low prices and the relative weakness of the dollar, international buyers continue to identify the U.S. as a desirable place to own property and make a profitable investment.

According to the National Asso-ciation of Realtors 2012 Profile of International Home Buying Activity, total residential international sales in the U.S. for the past year ending March 2012 equaled $82.5 billion, up from $66.4 billion in 2011. Total international sales were evenly split between non-resident foreigners and recent immigrants.

“Today’s advantageous market con-ditions have drawn more and more foreign buyers to the U.S. in recent years, signaling how desirable and profitable owning property in this country can be,” said NAr President Moe Veissi.

International buyers bought homes

throughout the country, but four states accounted for 51 percent of the purchases – Florida, California, Texas and Arizona. Florida has been the fastest growing destination of choice, accounting for 26 percent of foreign purchases. California was second with 11 percent and Texas and Arizona accounted for seven percent. Proximity to the home country, the presence of relatives and friends, the convenience of air trans-portation, and climate and location are all important considerations to prospective foreign buyers. Locations on the East Coast generally attract European buyers, while Asian buyers tend to purchase on the West Coast, particularly California. Florida at-tracts a diverse set of international buyers including South Americans, Europeans and Canadians. Mean-while, Texas remains popular among Mexican buyers.

“Foreign buyers recognize that owning a home in the U.S. has many benefits, both financial and social,” said Veissi. “Many purchase property as an investment, vacation home, or to diversify their portfolio. In addi-tion, many recent immigrants view homeownership as an important accomplishment, one of many ways they become established in the U.S. and attain stability, security, and a sense of community.”

International buyers came from all, but Canada, China, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom ac-counted for 55 percent of all inter-national transactions, according to the survey. Canada accounted for 24 percent of international sales while China accounted for 11 percent, up from nine percent in 2011. Mexico was third with eight percent of sales and India and the U.K. both account-ed for six percent.

International sales continue to climb in U.S. market

10 SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

SAT

URD

AY, J

UN

E 23

, 201

2 A

10