Ms. San Francisco Real Estate (Janice Lee)

Tips on Hanging a Mirror Over Furniture Mirrors reflect light and make a room feel larger, and when hung above furniture they act as stunning yet simple wall decor. Focus on size, shape and the style of the frame when selecting a mirror for your space. While brightly colored artwork doesn’t fit everyone’s taste, a decorative framed mirror adds depth and color without overpowering existing design elements. Choose a frame style and color that coordinate with the furniture below; a simple wood-framed mirror in turquoise brightens an espresso stained shaker-style dresser, while an ornate metal frame in tarnished gold coordinates beautifully with a Victorian-style sofa. The Importance of Width Balance is essential in interior design, and an oversized mirror hung above a narrow lingerie chest throws the entire room off. The mirror should be two-thirds or three-quarters the width of the furniture below it to create visual balance; however, feel free to go wider, up to the width of th...

How to Refinance a First Mortgage & Pay Down a Second During a refinance transaction, you may be able to obtain a first mortgage that enables you to pay down your second mortgage at the same time. Sufficient equity in your home will be required to refinance your existing first mortgage and to facilitate the funds toward paying down your second mortgage. Your loan officer will determine the amount that you're qualified to borrow. The maximum loan amount will be based on your income and the equity within your home. 1)   Order your consumer credit report. View the loan payment history for your first and second mortgages, as well as for your other revolving and installment accounts. Timely payments on your mortgages and other debts could increase your ability to receive favorable refinancing terms. Report discrepancies or disputes to the respective credit bureaus. Ensuring the accuracy of your credit history could position you to obtain more attractive loan terms. 2) ...

How to Buy a House for Beginners   Unless you have a couple hundred thousand dollars or more to spend, you can’t just plunk down cash and buy a home. Instead, you need to go through a process that takes you from getting loan approval to sitting down at the closing table. This can be overwhelming, but if you break the procedure down into steps and take your time, you can be a homeowner one day, living the American dream.   Tip Buying a house is not only an emotional experience, but a financial commitment as well. Understanding the process and costs involved will make the experience easier for first time buyers. Determine Whether You Are Ready to Buy In your market, a mortgage payment might be about the same or maybe even less than your rent payment. Tack onto the mortgage additional funds for taxes, insurance and in certain instances, homeowner's association dues. A quick calculation is that the total cost should be about 1 percent of the purchase price. Save...

Will I be happy in a condo? If you've been house shopping, especially in an urban area, you've likely wondered if you should opt for a condo. And why not? Condos offer homebuyers affordability and convenience. Condos are essentially the medium between an apartment and a house. But living in one can drive you insane if you're not cut out for communal living. You've got to weigh the pros and cons before you take the plunge and purchase one. Wondering if you'd be happy in a condo? Answering these 9 questions will tell you: Question 1. How much free time and extra cash did you have last week? Owning a home leads to chores ranging from lawn care to roof repair. In a condo, the association pays someone to handle those chores. That's why it collects a monthly condo fee. "If you realize you have no business spending your nonexistent free time mowing your lawn, shoveling snow out of your driveway and scooping disgusting muck out of your gutter...