A picture might be worth a thousand words, but for most real estate agents, it could be mean losing a listing.  Even though there are other crucial factors that contribute to selling a home, it’s fascinating whenever a seller pulls a listing simply because a picture didn’t capture every alluring essence that only the seller sees.  However, this does not license a real estate agent to exert no effort while taking pictures. 

You think Rocket Science is hard?  Try photography.

On the flip side, sometimes real estate agents just don’t have much to work with.  Have you seen some of these HUD homes?!

“Mrs. Jones, I know you like this table, but what kind of ‘value’ are we talking about that this is adding?”

Here is a list of pictures showcasing some truly effortless listing pictures.  Enjoy!

It’s one thing to move some toys out of the way, but having to take a mattress out of the kitchen might be pushing the requirements of an agent.  Maybe if we just shut the oven, fix the blinds, and sweep the floors.  Then again, we can always include “Fixer-upper” in the ad.

“So are we going for the whole ‘CSI investigative scene’ here?”

Can you imagine a world without spell check?  Believe it or not, there was a time we had to proofread stuff.  It’s amazing to see how replacing a “v” with a “c” can really change a message.  Now, I just hope I used proper spelling when poking fun at this ad.  That would be embarassing…

Rule of Thumb: Apartments with spacious first floors are prone to lice.

I shouldn’t have to say this.  Nevertheless, a listing picture should include the house you are selling.  If unkempt shrubbery is your selling hook, then good luck trying to find an avid hedge artist.

Some buyer’s enjoy playing I Spy, right?

You might know this, but real estate agents have very fragile legs.  It’s a struggle to leave our beds much less our cars.  Lucky for us at McNaughton Real Estate, we’ve been taking full advantage of our Pilates instructor that moved in next door.   

Whoever said drive-bys were only for gangsters?  

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some eyes must not work correctly.  Being from Arkansas, we’ve seen our share with camo theme houses.  Try to stay with neutral colors when selling your house.  And don’t use wrapping paper as wall paper either…

If you look closely, you can see the entire family wearing matching PJs.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures” has been the mentality for many realtors throughout the nation.  Lafayette, IN must be in great despair.  Not only do their houses need to be digitally enhanced, but the budget cuts required a downgrade on their computer software.

This agent’s proud mother added this gem to her refrigerator.

Nothing says “sold as is” than beef jerky sizzling in the corner.  A better idea would have been leaving the road kill on the street.  On the other hand, I bet this is actually the neighbor’s pet, and the owners panicked while trying to find a hiding place.  Too many scenarios, so little time.

The sellers also included the microwave that Sparky shot out of.

It’s always good to keep the tenant in the loop during picture day.  You never know what you’ll find or, better yet, not find (in this case a shirt.)  Sex does sell, but make sure your advertising something remotely sexy…

Try not to schedule your showing between 2:00-5:00.  That’s when Phil parties his hardest.

Between pink flamingos and garden gnomes, there are plenty of options to make your yard tacky.  Let’s try to keep the skulls and toilets to ourselves.  And don’t give me that “it’s an outhouse.”  Slap some walls around it and cut a crescent out of the door and maybe we’ll talk.

Seriously though, isn’t it up to the owner to decide how many bathrooms there really are?

I’ll admit some sellers work as stringently as agents.  And agents should know their client’s sleep patterns (well, enough to not be creepy.)  But if it’s picture day, we don’t need a client as a centerpiece. 

“Hey you with the camera, can you find me a new TV?  Maybe one that isn’t the size of a Teletubby’s belly? ”

It’s common to fumigate your house, but I haven’t heard too many instances where an exorcist was needed.  I’m scared enough going into a seller’s home where the electricity is off.  I definitely don’t need to add Ghost Hunter to the resume.    

Who ya gonna call??? Another agent…

Let me know if you find any horrible real estate ads.  You can send them to me at tyler@mcnaughtonrealtors.com.  I'll see if we can get a special section for your pictures on our Facebook page.

“Oh, you went paragliding?  Hmm…  Well, I have an island.”

So if you’re ready to grab the American dream by the horns, then take a look at Private Islands Online.  With an assortment of listings throughout the world, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect island for you and your yacht.  Here are a few to put on your wish list.

North Coco Plum Island, Belize

Price: $2,750,000

Size: $10.3

Location: Dangriga 

Features:

• 15 minute flight from the International Airport
• 30 minutes by boat from the mainland in the Southwater Marine Reserve
• 5 concrete Casitas
• 5 Over Water Cabanas
• A 3 Unit Family Villa that accommodates 31 in privacy
• 1200 foot seaside boardwalk
• 3 bars (I'm assuming sand bars.)
• 2 dining areas
• A scuba center
• Banks, pharmacies, markets, and essentials only 30 minutes away

West Nalaut Island, Philippines

Price: $8,000,000

Size: 118 acres

Location Palawan

Features:

• “Top 10 island destination in the world” –National Geographic
• Mostly trash and garbage free due to governmental awareness programs
• Located in the region with the highest tourism potential in the world
• Permits and licenses for luxury resort provided
• Record breaking growth in tourism arrivals of 392% in a 12-month period
• One thousand pages of documentation are included in the full purchase price, giving you plenty of literature to read on your lonely island.  
• 40 minute-flight from Manila to Busuanga
• Out of the Philippine typhoon belt
• “A” seismic safe tsunami free zone (Not sure why there are quotes around “A,” but it leads me to believe that this island isn’t safe from "many" seismic tsunamis)
• Freshwater source on the island
• 3G GSM cellular signal on the island, which isn’t useful for having pizza delivered

Rangyai Island, Thailand

Price: $160,000,000

Size: 110 acres

Location: East of Phuket

Features:

• Freshwater
• Electric generator
• Mobile signal, so you won't be stuck talking to Wilson all day
• 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport
• 10 minutes by boat from the nearest town
• Beautiful white sand beaches
• Lush tropical forests
• Incredible 360° views

The fabulous life of the rich and famous awaits you.  However, if you don’t have a couple of million hiding under your suede, Siberian white tiger couch cushions, then check us out for plenty of great prices for homes in Northwest Arkansas.  We’ll even let you build a moat around your home if you desire.    

“I wonder if the price of stale Cheerios has increased this year.”

Buyers interested in owner occupied properties have four options: Rural Development (RD), Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and Conventional.  Notice the RD, VA, and FHA chart below are listed side-by-side for easy comparison between their set down payments and fico credit score requirements.  The Conventional chart is separated due to the correlation between the fico credit score and the down payment (a better credit score allows a lower down payment.)  

Notes:  Conventional bonds do not offer 100% financing. Units refer to the type of property.  For example, a one unit is a typical home; a two unit is a duplex; and a three or four unit is a multiplex.

For investors, conventional loans are your only option.  Notice that the loan requirements are different for first time investors and veteran investors.  Two charts are provided for each scenario.

First Time Investors

Veteran Investors 

Do not miss this opportunity to buy at the bottom of the market here in Northwest Arkansas.  For a free list of the listings available in NWA, check out our website.  For more information on loans, call our good friend Kelly Franks at Priority Bank.

Lumosity.com has a website that will grade your brain from your lifestyle choices.  Just go to www.braingradetest.com to try your free test.  It only takes about 5 minutes.

Along with your grade, the test gives an analysis on your diet, exercise, health, lifestyle, and cognition.  It will highlight areas you’re strong at and explain why that activity is important.  The test also includes areas that you’re struggling in and how you can improve them.  If you want, Lumosity.com can help train your brain.

I won’t tell you what I got, but let’s just say I need to eat more fish.  Let me know what y’all think!

Top 10 Workout Supplements for Men & Women   

1. Whey Protein Powder

• Men - Whey protein powder is a clean, natural, and effective supplement for building muscle and burning fat.  It provides essential amino acids that our muscles need.
• Women - This stuff isn’t only for men.  It helps fight cravings for unhealthy foods, keeps you energized for workouts, and helps you lose considerable tummy fat. 

2. Multi Vitamins

• Men - Even if you’re consistent with a daily healthy diet, a strenuous workout can deplete those nutrients.  Taking a multi vitamin designed for men helps the recovery process.
• Women – Same story for women.  Find a multi vitamin designed for women.

3. Creatine

• Men & Women - One of the most effective and researched supplement, creatine is naturally found in meats and helps your body store and use more energy especially in intense situations.  So if you’re looking for a little motivation for those extra repetitions, here’s your answer.

4. Pre-workout energy drink

• Men – Pre-workout gives you that boost you need to plunge into an intensive workout.  Most of these energy drinks contain caffeine, nitric oxide, and other metabolism charging compounds, which gives you a rush of energy. 
• Women - If you need motivation just to get started, then invest in a pre-workout energy that is targeted for women.  Women’s pre-workout energy drinks consist of some great ingredients like Green Tea and natural amino acids like Taurine and Arginine. 

5. Omega 3’s

• Men & Women - This supplement contains essential fatty acids that we need because our bodies cannot create them by itself.  Omega 3’s help with cardiovascular health, cognitive function, rebuilds cells, and restores joint flexibility.

6. Thermogenic Fat Burner

• Men & Women - These aren’t essential but are popular among women.  Be sure to look for a “metabolism boosting” thermogenic fat burner because these have the least side effects.  When using these, make sure to follow up with a great diet with plenty of water.   

7. BCAA’s

• Men - Containing three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine, branch chained amino acids help spare our muscles from being broken down during your workout.  BCAA’s help you gain muscle which will help you burn more calories.  When combined with BCAA’s, glutamine plays a primary role for protein synthesis and is a cellular energy resource.  This is great as a post-workout supplement. 
• Women – Don’t worry about increasing muscle mass.  Gaining muscle doesn’t necessarily mean greater bulk.  You need muscles to burn more calories.

8. Natural Sleep Supplement

• Men & Women - Sleep is what our bodies need to help rebuild muscle.  During sleep, your muscles repair, recover, and grow; therefore, depriving yourself from rich deep sleep robs yourself from these benefits.

9. Casein Protein & Antioxidants

• Men – Unlike whey protein, casein protein has a natural time-release.  This supplement maintains a steady level in our amino acids for our muscles.  It should be taken an hour or two before going to bed in order to reap its benefits while your muscles are repairing in your sleep.
• Women - Want to look younger?  Then you’ll need to reduce stress and eliminate toxins.  What supplement helps you do this?  Antioxidants.  Acai and Gojiberry have high antioxidant content, which is why they’ve been receiving a great deal of publicity.

10. Joint Support

• Men & Women - Glucosamine can help support flexibility and mobility for your joints.  With a greater range of motion for your joints and muscles, you can receive better results when strength training.  Also, joint support supplements can assist with knee, shoulder, and back pain.

Source: www.weightlossandtraining.com

Note: The pictures supplied for each supplement are examples and are not preferences.

Included in this report is data taken from our local MLS database from the 12^th of December of 2010 and data from the 12^th of December of 2011.  From the comparison of these two snapshots, an assessment of the yearly change between the listings, the number of months supply, and new construction while be provided for the cities of Fayetteville, Farmington, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers, Bentonville, and Bella Vista.  Also within this report, significant changes in certain pricing categories will be supplied that showed substantial influence in each city.    

What is being measure?

Listings – a change between 2010’s and 2011’s houses on the market, also known as inventory, is provided.  A positive change usually indicates that inventory is increasing, and prices are decreasing.  On the other hand, a negative change usually indicates that inventory is decreasing and prices are increasing.  Changes in inventory within a certain price category have the greatest effect on price categories that are immediately less than or immediately greater than that category.  For example, a change in inventory in the pricing category of $100-149 will have a greater impact on the change in price and inventory within the pricing categories of $0-99 and $150-199.  Therefore, price categories such as $500-599 will have insignificant effect by these changes initially. 

Months Supply – a change between 2010’s and 2011’s number of months a house will remain on the market is given.  A positive change indicates an increase of time (in months) a house will remain on the market before it will sell.  A negative change indicates a decrease of time.  It is best to monitor specific price categories besides the overall average of each city to determine which housing prices are in high demand.  The most significant changes with each category have been provided.  Favorable significant changes have been highlighted in green; whereas, unfavorable changes are in red.

New Construction - a change between 2010’s and 2011’s number of new constructions have been included.  An increase in new construction is usually a reliable indicator of local economic growth, since many industries are involved during new construction.  A negative growth is to be expected in a recovering economy.

Fayetteville

Fayetteville barely improved its months supply overall.  Fortunately, months supply for $100-149 and $350-399 were almost cut in half.  For houses priced at $100-149, houses will now sell within seven months.  In 2010, it would have taken almost 14 months!  Houses priced at $800-899 did have an impressive difference of about six years.  Houses priced at $400-449 had a large increase of 63 months.  A strategic seller would drop their price within the $350-399 category.

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $400-499 increased 63 months.
• Fayetteville has the lowest months supply difference (-0.7).
• Fayetteville has the lowest months supply percentage change (6%).
• Fayetteville has the lowest percentage change decrease in new construction (14%).

Farmington

Farmington did phenomenal this year.  Overall the month supply dropped 56%.  Houses that took 20 months to sell now only take about nine.  Hot price categories included $100-149, $150-199, $200-249, and $250-299.  Almost all these categories took over a year or two to sell last year, now only take a few months!

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $250-299 decreased 19 months.
• All significant changes decreased in months supply.
• Farmington has the largest percentage change in listings (47%).
• Farmington has the largest months supply difference (-11.2).
• Farmington has the largest months supply percentage change (56%).
• Farmington has the lowest decrease in new construction (-4).
• Farmington has the largest percentage change decrease in new construction (67%).

Springdale

Considering how Springdale is the second largest city in Northwest Arkansas, a 35% change in listings is prominent.  The majority of this change came from houses priced at $0-99 with a five month supply change and $100-149 with a seven month supply change. High-end priced homes, such as $250-299 and $300-349, didn’t favor as well this year with an increase of an eight and a 33 month supply respectively.

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $500-599 decreased 75 months.
• Springdale has the largest change in listings (-270).
• Springdale has the largest decrease in new construction (-35).

Lowell

Lowell’s real estate market showed little activity this year.  Listings dropped with a 28% change, but total months supply barely showed any significant signs of change.  Most notably, the price category of $200-249 had a significant increase of 71.2 month supply.

Key Takeaways

• Lowell is one of two cities that increased in new construction.
• Lowell has the largest percentage change increase in new construction (6%).
• Lowell has the lowest change of listings (-30).

Rogers

Unlike Lowell, Rogers experienced ample real estate activity with the overall months supply decreasing 34%.  All significant price categories that had a decrease in months supply range from seven months to roughly six years.  Price categories such as $250-299, $550-599, and $1,000+ increased from 11.2 to 70.5 month supply.

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $550-559 increased 70.5 months.

Bentonville

Much like Rogers, the real estate market was very active in Bentonville with a greater overall months supply change of 49%.  Bentonville shows favorable activity across the board amongst each price category, ranging from five months to four years!  The only significant downfalls were in the price categories of $550-599, $800-999, and $1,000+, ranging from six months to five years. 

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $1,000+ increased 63 months.
• Bentonville was one of two cities that increased in new construction.
• Bentonville has the largest increase in new construction (6).

Bella Vista

Bella Vista also did well this year with an overall months supply decrease of 30%.  Even though price categories such as $350-399 and $400-449 took a hit, $550-599 has the greatest decrease of about 6 years of months supply!  Lower price categories did exceptionally well with decreases ranging from about 4 months to almost a year.

Key Takeaways

• Greatest change: $550-599 decreased 75 months.
• Bella Vista has the lowest percentage change in listings (14%).

While all agents in the state are educated the same and required to take the same amount of continuing educational hours, a Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) specializes in saving distressed property owners from foreclosure.

According to the Charfen Institute…

“A Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) has a thorough understanding of complex issues in today’s turbulent real estate industry and knowledge of foreclosure avoidance options available to homeowners. CDPEs can provide solutions, specifically short sales, for homeowners facing market hardships.

Homeowners regularly proceed without guidance of any kind through the often financially and emotionally devastating prospect of foreclosure. Speaking with a well-informed, licensed real estate professional is the best course of action for a homeowner in distress. Through comprehensive training and experience, CDPEs have the tools to help homeowners find the best solutions for their unique situations and to avoid foreclosure through the efficient execution of a short sale.

Living through financial difficulties poses a challenge for any family, so why make the process of finding a qualified real estate professional difficult too? Select an agent with the CDPE Designation to ensure you have a trained professional to address your specific needs. For more information, contact a CDPE in your area.

CDPEs don’t merely assist in selling properties, they serve and help save their clients in need.”

Our message to homeowners who do not know where to turn: there is hope. Foreclosure is not inevitable and neither the government nor your bank wants to see that happen. No one expected to find themselves on the brink of foreclosure, but we have worked with countless clients who have managed to turn their financial trajectory around and get on a path of financial recovery. 

It CAN be done! And it would be our privilege to help.

While all potential agents in the state are educated on the same principles and required to take the same amount of continuing educational hours, a Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ (CIAS) takes it many steps further in real estate investing education. 

According to the Charfen Institute…

“A Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ (CIAS) finds, creates, and closes with residential real estate investors with the knowledge and tools earned through comprehensive education and experience. CIAS-designated agents can streamline the process of real estate investment to increase returns for investor clients.”

CIAS-designated agents help real estate investors navigate:

• Investment Strategies
• Self-directed IRAs
• 1031 Exchange
• Leverage Options
• Key Calculations
• Return-on-Investment
• Capitalization Rate
• Average Returns
• Cash Flow
• And much more!

Investors are coming out on top this year with low housing prices, low interest rates, and rising rent prices.  It’s not hard to get started either; check out what this family did…

See?  Not as hard as it sounds to be an investor.  If this interests you, call us today and ask for a CIAS-designated agent.  They will be more than happy to help you. 

We hoped y’all had as much fun as we did.  If you forgot your Christmas ornament from us, come by anytime to pick it up.  We had a photographer at the party that took some amazing pictures.  If you would like to see them, check them out on her website.  You can also Like our Facebook page to see some pictures there.  Be sure to tag yourself!

Have a safe and merry Christmas from all of us at McNaughton Real Estate! 

Samsung Stainless Steel Refrigerator with LCD Touch Screen and Apps ($2,300)

What’s a cool house without a cool refrigerator?  However, this refrigerator does more than cool your eggnog.  Not only does this fridge come with French doors, tempered glass spill-proof shelves, water filtration, a twin cooling system, and 28 cubic feet of space, this cooling powerhouse is the first refrigerator with a Wi-Fi enabled LCD touchscreen installed on the door panel.  So while Santa is raiding your fridge for more milk, he can check his Twitter, listen to his favorite Christmas mix on Pandora, and leave you a memo to not be so greedy with your Oreos next year.

Addison Faucet with touch20.xt ($416)

It’s about time the whole “hands-free faucet” idea made it into our homes, which is probably the only thing we’ve been envying from a public restroom.  How does it work?  A sensor that picks up static electricity turns this faucet on when you’re within 4 inches of it.  Or if you’re having physical withdrawals from your faucet, you can always just give it a friendly tap.  Gone are the days of having to cleaning your faucet immediately after cleaning your soiled hands.

WhisperSense Ventilation Fan ($312)

I don’t know about you, but nothing gets me fired up than forgetting to turn the bathroom vent on after taking a steamy shower.  No more drawing pictures on your mirror as you wait for the steam to clear.  This new ventilation fan automatically switches on when someone enters and remains on until the humidity drops.  This smart fan is the perfect wingman!

Ipod Roll Holder ($50)

If someone gave me this as a gag gift, I would laugh it off nonchalantly.  After the party, I’m racing home to install this toilet paper roll so I can enjoy it for the rest of my days.  This holder can play all Ipod and MP3 players through two sets of tweeters and woofers.  It is simply mounted on the wall with a basic two-screw kit that’s included.  Now you can finally have an empowering theme song while you use the bathroom.

Aquarium Sink by Opulent Items ($4,500)

A bathroom can be a cold, lonely place.  I’m aware that the bathroom is a private setting, but I would enjoy having an audience listening to me sing along with my Ipod Roll Holder.  This sleek sink houses a number of nonjudgmental fish while functioning as a bathroom sink.  Of course, my mom would refuse to take this because my dad would take advantage of having a livewell in his house.

Picture Wall Clock by Opulent Items ($50)

This chic wall clock displays 12 multicolored frames so you can remain in a state of nostalgia every hour of the day.  Or you can put it in your living room with pictures of your favorite TV shows that come on every hour.  Or you can place one in your teenager’s room with pictures of chores he needs to complete every hour.  The possibilities are endless!

Improved Cordless Blower from Stihl ($500)

Those leaves have been taunting you and your leaf whisperer long enough.  This handheld hurricane produces a 102 mph stream of air and moves 385 cubic feet per minute.  It has a 36-volt battery and is neighbor-friendly at 64 decibels.  Make sure not to let your neighbors know if you get this gift.  Let them remain confused whenever mysterious piles of leaves suddenly accumulate in their yard.

Looj Robotic Gutter Cleaner from iRobot ($130-$170)

This innovative little gadget makes me want to get gutters so I can have a reason to use it.  Instead of letting your gutters clog up, use the Looj to fling the debris for you.  All you need to do is climb a ladder, set the Looj in the gutter, and watch it bulldoze away.  Watch it in action!

Mint Plus Automatic Floor Cleaner by Evolution Robotics ($299)

When I was younger, I always thought the future would hold an army of helpful robots that would clean my house.  Welcome to the future!  This little robot tracks an infrared beam on the ceiling to triangulate its location in a room and then sweeps or mops the floor in neat rows without bumping into every wall in the house.  It will only be a matter of time before these little wonders start climbing on the walls and cleaning our ceilings.

DropCam by DropCam Inc. ($199-$279)

This neat little gadget would make James Bond jealous.  It only takes about two minutes to set it up without the need of a computer or DVR box.  The DropCam sends a live recorded full-motion video to your iPhone or Android.  Whenever it detects motion, you’ll get an email and an iPhone push notification.  I presume this will be the end of all late-night teenage sneak-ins for your kids.

Of course, everyone knows that the best gift that someone can receive is a new home.  Give us a call today, and we'll get you fixed up.  Merry Christmas Everyone!

Small homes cost less.  It’s almost as involuntary as your next heart beat that the next statement to follow this illuminating epiphany is “duh.”  However, let’s not focus on the face value of the house, but instead the extra cost that come along with a large home.  Heating and cooling alone can drive a homeowner crazy.  Let’s not forget how most home-improvement projects will inevitably be on a much larger scale and require more time to complete.  A lot more exterior paint for your walls, more shingles for your roof, and more hardwood flooring for your kitchen are required for these major tasks.  In addition, the extra furniture and decorations need to be accounted for in order to furnish all those extra rooms.   

Smaller homes prevent all these problems.  Another benefit is the savings on the utility bills and home maintenance.  You’ll also save money on property tax, since you’ll have less square footage.  Check out this video for ideas to enhance small spaces.

Small houses save time.  As mentioned before, smaller homes can save you a significant amount of time not only on home-improvement projects but also on general household upkeep and cleaning.  Even though leisure time cannot be measured in terms of total value, it’s still a treasured part of being a homeowner.  With less time spending on housecleaning and maintenance, you can use your extra time to play with your kids, create a garden, cook healthier dinners, or enjoy your favorite hobbies.

Smaller homes make it easier to live simply.  Did you know goldfish only grow to the size of their environment?  In the same aspect, living in a home with less area for storage causes you store less junk.  You’ll be less likely to buy superfluous accessories causing you to live simpler and more efficient.  On the other hand, living in a smaller house doesn’t have to stunt your moral growth.  Living leaner causes you to make choices between what you want to keep and what you should donate.  Many support groups such as the Small House Society and the Small House Movement promote the idea of smaller homes being more affordable and ecological.

Smaller homes mean quality splurges.  Get ready to lose an arm and a leg if you’re looking to upgrade your five star, restaurant-sized kitchen.  Luckily for smaller homes, you won’t need as many cabinets or as much granite to get a quality updated kitchen.  You can also use the money you save from living leaner on more quality appliances and furniture.  Just because you give up square footage doesn’t mean you give up luxury.    

Small homes may be easier to sell.  Seriously.  These benefits thus far hold a lot of weight when buyers consider buying a new home.  With energy cost continually rising, smaller energy-efficient homes will continue to be in high demand in the future.  Also, there’s a broader market for smaller homes.  First time homeowners aren’t the only consumers; additionally, investors love adding smaller homes to their portfolio of rental homes, especially in growing college towns.

Don’t let the size of the home be the only factor when choosing the perfect home for your family.  Consider all the extra cost that comes with owning your "dream" mansion.  The size of a house may correspond with financial success or be downright impressive, but it’s the people inside that make that building a home.

*Source:  "5 reasons you should buy a small house" by Heather Levin of U.S. News & World Report

Home Office Remodeling

Average Cost: $28,888

Expected Return: 45.8%

What’s the Deal?

The decrease in demand for home offices can be credited to technology.  With laptops, smartphones, and tablets, people can rarely be found sitting at their home office, especially if they can work at their favorite restaurant or amongst nature.  If you’re home has an office, you can get the most value if it can be easily converted into a bedroom or a den for the next buyer.

Backup Power Generator

Average Cost: $14,718

Expected Return: 48.5%

What’s the Deal?

Nothing screams “prepare for the worst” more than a backup power generator, particularly to a non-local.  If your house is in an area that is prone to power failure, then try to find the most inexpensive model.  Buying an inexpensive model or finding an inexpensive installation could cut costs significantly.

Sunroom Addition

Average Cost: $75,224

Expected Return: 48.6%

What’s the Deal?

We all want more; we just don’t want to pay for it.  The connotation of “addition” scares the buyer’s wallet even though you’re giving that buyer that additional square footage.  Additionally, the amount of money required in adding on a sunroom and the huge slump in housing prices causes your return to be dismal. However, adding a sunroom can be beneficial if another common area is needed.  Make sure that the sunroom fits the context of the entire house.

Upscale Master-suite Addition

Average Cost: $232,062

Expected Return: 52.7%

What’s the Deal?

You might as well throw a dart in the dark (and an expensive dart that is) in hopes to not losing it in the process.  The uncertainty of not knowing what kind of taste your buyer has in terms of design and layout makes upscale master-suites a risky investment.  To make matters worse, buyers could probably find a newer house with the same features and a better floor plan than your renovation for a better price.

Bathroom Addition

Average Cost: $21,695 to $40,000 for upscale

Expected Return: 53%

What’s the Deal?

Telling a buyer you spent $20,000 to $40,000 on a bathroom addition can be compared to flushing money down the toilet.  If you feel your house needs an extra bathroom, try utilizing your existing space to save money.  Reconfiguring your existing bathroom offers an inexpensive and effective alternative.

Upscale Garage Addition

Average Cost: $90,053

Expected Return: 53.6%

What’s the Deal?

The thought of having the top-of-the-line, detached garage that’s immune to clutter and confinement seems foolproof initially.  Unfortunately, only a small target audience is seeking an upscale garage.  With just a little over half of your return to expect back, you might want to save that money or invested it elsewhere in your home.  Garages rarely sell houses.      

Foreclosures are prominent.  People are simply not making enough money to pay for their homes.  They are being forced to move.  Immediately buying a new home is out of the question.  Moving out of town comes with high costs, both financially and emotionally, especially if the owner has a job and a family. 

The only financially viable option for most victims of foreclosure is renting.  As an investor, an important factor comes into mind.  What counties have the most foreclosed homes?  According to www.RealtyTrac.com, Benton County contains the most foreclosed homes in Arkansas with Washington County coming in at third.  McNaughton Real Estate’s website, www.allNWAhomes.com, has accounted for over 1,000 foreclosed homes in Washington County, Benton County, and Madison County.

The availability of foreclosures are evident, but what about the demand?  Having multiple, massive corporations such as Tyson, JB Hunt, and Wal-Mart stationed in Northwest Arkansas creates a significant inflow of rentals.  In addition, Arkansas’s flagship university, the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville continues to pull renters throughout the world with this year being a record-breaking enrollment count for the university.

If the demand isn’t enough incentive to invest, then consider the quick return a rental property can provide.  With historically low interest rates, hovering around 4%, and low prices, NOW is the time to buy.  The increase in demand has also provided a healthy increase in rental prices. 

Inevitably, real estate investors gain a sense of pride in owning something tangible like land and/or a house compared to owning a small sliver of a corporation that stocks give.  These investors also have greater control in managing the value of their assets with the option to enhance, add-on, and renovate their property.  In addition, many real estate investors feel compassionate about offering an affordable home for families in need of shelter during this economic dip.

For everything that has a pro, there is always a con.  Many investors find it difficult to make time to search for quality tenants, have access to a network of contractors for maintenance, and be available for major and minor emergencies.  Fortunately, McNaughton Real Estate can alleviate the stress with their expertise in property management.  With McNaughton Real Estate you can expect:

• A Property Management Team with 25+ years of experience whose primary focus is to protect your investment.
• A vast network of local contractors, which can help you find the most cost-effective bid.
• A quality tenant due to helpful insights with our credit and background checks.
• Inspections to ensure security in your investment.
• A 24/7 maintenance request line.
• Abundant leads with our strong presence on the Internet and with our 35 years worth of referrals.  

We want to help maintain your focus on building your portfolio.  Allow us to protect what is yours and to advise you on any new opportunities that hit the market.  A professional Certified Investor Agent Specialist will be here to help you every step of the way. 

But as real estate professionals who are in the trenches with financially stressed homeowners every day, it never for a second feels like “business-as-usual.”

The prospect of losing one’s home is right up there among the major sources of grief, and often, it goes hand in hand with other tragic setbacks such as the loss of a job, a divorce, death of a loved one, mounting medical bills, or skyrocketing mortgage payments.

Unfortunately, the first stage of grief is denial, and that’s even more the case when the threat of foreclosure is looming. No one wants to talk about or admit financial troubles—even when millions of others have found themselves in a similar spot.  It’s completely understandable, but for homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, decisive action is often the most critical step toward ensuring the best possible solution.

As real estate professionals who have sought out the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, we help homeowners to deal with every aspect of the grief and uncertainty that accompanies a mortgage which is no longer manageable. In the process, we help them to get on a path of financial solvency.

If you or someone you care about would like to change the course of a life that’s facing foreclosure, we get it, and we can help.

Contact us today!

Too good to be true?  Hear it from Don yourself…

Our moving truck is also available for non-profit organizations such as

• Churches
• Schools
• Fund raising events

What's the first step?  Getting Pre-approved!

Tell 'em, Don...

Here’s a little bit about the airport as posted on their website…

“Opened for commercial passenger business on November 1, 1998, the geographic terrain where the airport is located provides tremendous facilities for regional and larger jet aircraft to operate. One of only two Airport Authorities in the state of Arkansas, the Board of Directors' sole purpose is to build, operate and maintain the facility. The airport's staff strives to keep pace with the growing demands of NW Arkansas' thriving economy and passenger traffic. This is done by initiatives to provide increased passenger destinations and expanded customer service - what the citizens and visitors to NW Arkansas have come to expect and deserve. NW Arkansas' dynamic economy, coupled with our air carrier partners' response to demand, combined to make the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport the most eXciting New Airport in the country.”

No matter if you decide to move to Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers, or any other cities in Northwest Arkansas, XNA is centrally located.  You’re never too far from home! 

HARP was created in 2009 to enable borrowers whose loans were backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the FHA; who were current on their mortgage; and who owed up to 125 percent of the current value of their homes to refinance.

Under the new plan, borrowers can refinance no matter how far underwater they are. Banks will only have to verify that they have made their last six payments, haven't missed more than one payment over the past year, and have a job or another source of regular income.

While the new HARP won't help homeowners who are behind on their payments and at risk for foreclosure, it will be a welcome relief for homeowners who have been caught in the Catch-22 of not being able to refinance because they owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth, but at the same time, don't qualify for a short sale or a loan mod because they are current on their payments and still have income and assets.

*Information collected from CDPE's "The Distressed Property Report" for November 2011

Introducing the FHA 203K!  This loan allows you to borrow up to $35,000 for repairs, replacements, upgrades, remodeling, and enhancing.  Below is a list of eligible and ineligible improvements as well as a bid/proposal requirement checklist:

Streamlined 203K “Eligible” Improvements

Below are the types of improvements that are allowed in the streamlined 203K program.

• Repair/replacement of roofs, gutters, and downspouts
• Repair/replacement/upgrades of existing HVAC systems
• Repair/replacement/upgrades of plumbing and electrical systems
• Repair/replacement of existing flooring
• Minor remodeling, such as kitchens and bathrooms, which does not involve structural repairs
• Weatherization: including storm windows and doors, insulation, weather stripping, etc.
• Purchase and installation of appliances, including freestanding ranges, refrigerators, washers/dryers, dishwashers, and microwave ovens.
• Accessibility improvements for persons with disabilities
• Painting, both exterior and interior
• Repair/replace/add exterior decks, patios, and porches
• Basement finishing and remodeling, which does not involve structural repairs
• Basement waterproofing
• Window and door replacements and exterior wall re-siding
• Septic system and/or well repair or replacement
• Lead-based paint stabilization or abatement of lead-based paint hazards

Steamlined 203K “Ineligible” Improvements

Below are the types of improvements that are not allowed in the Streamlined 203K program.

• Major rehabilitation or major remodeling such as the relocation of a load-bearing wall.
• New construction (including room additions)
• Repair of structure damage
• Repairs requiring detailed drawings of architectural exhibits
• Landscaping or similar site amenity improvements
• Any repair or improvement requiring a work schedule longer than six months
• Rehabilitation activities that require more than two payments per specialized contractor
• Required repairs arising from the appraisal that do not appear on the list of eligible repairs
• Walkways or driveways

Bid/Proposal Requirement Checklist

• Must reflect date of bid/proposal
• Must reflect borrowers name
• Must reflect property address
• Break out specific costs for materials, labor, permits, etc.  (Lender needs to understand what the reflected items are)
• No “structural items” reflected
• Indicate the estimated completion date (must be within 6 months)
• Licensed Contractor must sign and date
• Borrower must sign and date
• Copy of Contractors license, references, and any other state licensing requirements
• Copy of permit(s) for any work that requires a permit (if you are not sure, ask your contractor)
• Homeowner/Contractor Agreement to be completed for each bid/proposal and must be signed and dated by the licensed Contractor and the Borrower (copy included in package.)
• Total sum of bid/proposals and closing costs cannot exceed $35,000

*PLEASE NOTE…ALL REMODELING WORK MUST BE COMPLETED BY A LICENSED CONTRACTOR.  BORROWERS MAY NOT PERFORM REMODELING WORK!!!

*The only work that can be performed by the borrower is painting or installations of some appliances.  Please check with our office to determine if your project can qualify for SELF-HELP.