Monthly Archives: November 2011

How to Build an A-Frame | Bedford NY Realtor

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How to Build an A-Frame

The iconic rural getaway digs, an A-frame home is a low-cost, simple and sturdy structure that sports elegant soaring ceilings and can include a cozy loft.

From Fox Chapel Publishing
November 25, 2011


Cabins And Cottages
Whether you want to build a sophisticated chalet, a low-key rustic retreat or the off-the-grid home you’ve long dreamt about, “Cabins & Cottages” has the know-how you need to get started confidently and finish beautifully. This detailed, color-illustrated guide pilots you through all of the pre-building considerations, such as assessing and preparing your site, and then lays out step-by-step instructions for fashioning four structures: a classic log cabin, an A-frame cabin, a cottage of prefab panels, and a house suspended on poles. You’ll also learn how to equip your new lodging with heat, running water and all of the other comforts of home.
COVER: FOX CHAPEL PUBLISHING

The following is an excerpt from Cabins & Cottages (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2011). Ready to make the leap from sheds and chicken coops to larger-scale DIY projects? Or just looking to expand your carpentry skills and repertoire of building experience? Meet Cabins & Cottages, your comprehensive resource for creating simple, affordable, permanent living spaces. From the woodworking and crafting pros at Fox Chapel Publishing, Cabins & Cottages leaves no know-how stone unturned, and it also details how to design a home to withstand some of the worst Mother Nature can dish out (heavy snow, flooding, high winds), making it a valuable resource for any builder. This excerpt is from Chapter 3, “Four Simple Structures.” 

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One of the sturdiest of all structures is the A-frame, whose skeleton consists simply of a row of triangles. The bases of the triangles are the joists that support the floor, and the sides are the rafters that hold the combined walls and roof. The simplicity of construction and comparatively low cost make it a popular choice for vacation cabins. Any style of foundation can serve as its base.

Planning Your A-Frame Structure

As you read this article, you’ll likely find it helpful to reference this labeled illustration of the completed A-frame. — MOTHER 

The most common shape is equilateral — joists and rafters are equal in length and set at angles of 60 degrees to each other. You can use different angles to modify the shape, however (see “Common Floor-to-Rafter Angles,” below). An A-frame can be built to almost any size simply by varying the number of triangles and their dimensions, but a cabin with a sleeping loft must have rafters at least 20 feet long to allow adequate headroom on both floors. For a small structure like the one described here, three people can lift the assembled triangles into place without the assistance of special equipment. A structure with rafters greater than 24 feet may prove too unwieldy for a crew of amateurs. Frame doors and windows in the end walls. For a large A-frame, plan a lot of windows to keep the interior from being too dark.

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via motherearthnews.com

Pound Ridge Realtor | A New Mortgage Is Not Out Of The Question After A Foreclosure

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The past few years have been an absolute nightmare on many people’s finances and investments. Literally thousands of people lost their homes through foreclosure. And, as everyone knows, a foreclosure is a huge black mark on your credit scores. But, it is not as bad as it seems in today’s market. Some lenders are realizing that they may have to take other things into consideration when approving mortgage applications in the post crisis world. No longer are there a lot of people with good credit scores.

Some of the things being reconsidered are job loss, death or disability of a primary wage earner and other instances. Because so many lost jobs at the same time, lenders are now approving loans based on that information as unforeseen. If you had been paying regularly all the time before the economic crisis, you will stand a very good chance of being able to buy another home.

In addition, if you have some cash to put down, such as 20% or more, the lenders will take a closer look at you. One of the things that have helped many is to take out small loans and pay them back within 30 days to avoid paying interest and then this shows on your credit scores as paying a loan off early. This is a really good boost to your credit score in a small amount of time. For instance, when you know you are going to be getting a tax refund in March, visit a lender. Explain what you are trying to do and that you will be paying the loan back within 30 days. Lenders like this idea and will be more apt to work with you. As soon as you get your tax refund, pay the loan off. Alternatively, explain the same thing, but when you get the cash, put it in savings for a couple of weeks and then pay the loan off with the very same money. And it has not cost you a penny.

As you can see, all is not lost in today’s world. You just have to be a little more creative than in the past. Think about what is best for you and your family. You will be owning your own home again in no time. Visit with several real estate agents to find the right home with the right terms for you.

 

Related posts:

  1. Mortgages: All Is Not Lost For Those That Lost Their Homes
  2. Are You About To Miss The June 30 Cut Off? – All May Not Be Lost
  3. Do You Have An Assumable Mortgage?
  4. What You Can Do To Raise Your Credit Score To Buy A Home
  5. Your Credit Score and Getting a Mortgage
via realestatebriefings.com

Chappaqua NY Realtor | U.S. National Association of Realtors Forecast

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The following is the text from the NAR’s quarterly commercial real estate forecast release.

Growth in Commercial Real Estate Markets Expected in 2012

Commercial real estate markets have been relatively flat this year, but improving fundamentals mean a more positive trend is expected in 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is little change in most of the commercial market sectors. “Vacancy rates are flat, leasing is soft and concessions continue to make it a tenant’s market,” he said. “However, with modest economic growth and job creation, the fundamentals for commercial real estate should gradually improve in the coming year.”

The commercial real estate market is expected to follow the general economy. “Vacancy rates are expected to trend lower and rents should rise modestly next year. In the multifamily market, which already has the tightest vacancy rates in any commercial sector, apartment rents will be rising at faster rates in most of the country next year. If new multifamily construction doesn’t ramp up, rent growth could potentially approach 7 percent over the next two years,” Yun said.

Looking at commercial vacancy rates from the fourth quarter of this year to the fourth quarter of 2012, NAR forecasts vacancies to decline 0.6 percentage point in the office sector, 0.4 point in industrial real estate, 0.8 point in the retail sector and 0.7 percentage point in the multifamily rental market.

The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, in its SIOR Commercial Real Estate Index, an attitudinal survey of 231 local market experts,1 shows the broad industrial and office markets were relatively flat in the third quarter, in step with macroeconomic trends. The national economy continues to affect the sectors, with 92 percent of respondents reporting the economy is having a negative impact on their local market.

Even so, the SIOR index, measuring the impact of 10 variables, rose 0.6 percentage point to 55.5 in the third quarter, following a decline of 2.6 percentage points in the second quarter. In a split from the recent past, the industrial sector advanced while the office sector declined.

The SIOR index is notably below the level of 100 that represents a balanced marketplace, but had seen six consecutive quarterly improvements before the last two quarters. The last time the index reached the 100 level was in the third quarter of 2007.

Construction activity remains low, with 96 percent of respondents indicating that it is lower than normal; 88 percent said it is a buyers’ market in terms of development acquisitions. Prices are below construction costs in 83 percent of markets.

NAR’s latest COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK offers projections for four major commercial sectors and analyzes quarterly data in the office, industrial, retail and multifamily markets. Historic data for metro areas were provided by REIS, Inc., a source of commercial real estate performance information.

Office Markets

Vacancy rates in the office sector are expected to fall from 16.7 percent in the current quarter to 16.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The markets with the lowest office vacancy rates presently are Washington, D.C., with a vacancy rate of 9.3 percent; New York City, at 10.3 percent; and New Orleans, 12.8 percent. After rising 1.4 percent in 2011, office rents are forecast to increase another 1.7 percent next year. Net absorption of office space in the U.S., which includes the leasing of new space coming on the market as well as space in existing properties, is projected to be 20.2 million square feet this year and 31.7 million in 2012.

Industrial Markets

Industrial vacancy rates are projected to decline from 12.3 percent in the fourth quarter of this year to 11.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The areas with the lowest industrial vacancy rates currently are Los Angeles, with a vacancy rate of 5.2 percent; Orange County, Calif., 5.7 percent; and Miami at 8.4 percent.

Annual industrial rent should decline 0.5 percent this year before rising 1.8 percent in 2012. Net absorption of industrial space nationally should be 62.0 million square feet this year and 41.2 million in 2012.

Retail Markets

Retail vacancy rates are likely to decline from 12.6 percent in the current quarter to 11.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Presently, markets with the lowest retail vacancy rates include San Francisco, 3.7 percent; Long Island, N.Y., and Northern New Jersey, each at 5.7 percent; and San Jose, Calif., at 6.0 percent.

Average retail rent is seen to decline 0.2 percent this year, and then rise 0.7 percent in 2012. Net absorption of retail space is seen at 1.2 million square feet this year and 13.5 million in 2012.

Multifamily Markets

The apartment rental market – multifamily housing – is expected to see vacancy rates drop from 5.0 percent in the fourth quarter to 4.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012; multifamily vacancy rates below 5 percent generally are considered a landlord’s market with demand justifying higher rents.

Areas with the lowest multifamily vacancy rates currently are Minneapolis, 2.4 percent; New York City, 2.7 percent; and Portland, Ore., at 2.8 percent.

Average apartment rent is projected to rise 2.5 percent this year and another 3.5 percent in 2012. Multifamily net absorption is likely to be 238,400 units this year and 126,600 in 2012.

The COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK is published by the NAR Research Division for the commercial community. NAR’s Commercial Division, formed in 1990, provides targeted products and services to meet the needs of the commercial market and constituency within NAR.

The NAR commercial components include commercial members; commercial committees, subcommittees and forums; commercial real estate boards and structures; and the NAR commercial affiliate organizations – CCIM Institute, Institute of Real Estate Management, Realtors Land Institute, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, and Counselors of Real Estate.

Approximately 79,000 NAR and institute affiliate members specialize in commercial brokerage services, and an additional 171,000 members offer commercial real estate as a secondary business.

The next commercial real estate forecast and quarterly market report will be released on February 24.

SOURCE: National Association of Realtors http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/Pages/commercialhome

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristy Scheuble in Washington at kmckeaney@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net

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via bloomberg.com