Have you thought about doing some “work” around the house to update/improve your home? If your home is more than 10 years old, and still has some or all of its original fixtures, finishes, etc., it’s probably time for some changes. But where to start? And how do you know what to do (or not do) that will be cost effective over the long term? In other words, what projects will give you the best…
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Interest rates–everyone wants the best they can get when purchasing a big-ticket item like a car or especially a house! The interest rate you qualify for depends on your particular situation, your credit rating, your debt-to-income ratio, and other factors. But does it really make that much difference? In a word–YES! Your interest rate for a mortgage loan makes a difference in how much home you can buy for the money. Click on the link…
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Below is a link to a blog post from Keeping Current Matters. There are lots of terms that are tossed about during the home buying process by lenders and realtors alike. I know I’ve been guilty of this, forgetting sometimes that some of these terms that I deal with every day may not be familiar to those not “in the business”. And that is particularly true for first-time homebuyers! Real estate has its own “lingo”,…
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Click on the link below to read how some experts are predicting the impact of rising mortgage rates on home values. Basically, as rates rise, and they are and probably will continue to during 2017, some buyers will be forced out of the market. With fewer buyers, sellers may see a slowdown in activity when trying to sell their homes. This could have the impact of slowing down appreciation in home values and prices. Bottom…
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Selling your home is stressful, no doubt about it. Selling your home while you’re still living in it just adds a couple more layers to that stress! And when children and/or pets are involved, add on a few more layers! Now for the good news–there are ways to handle the stress and make it all work for you, your family, and your prospective buyers! But flexibility is key! And patience and understanding from all parties….
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I think most people will agree that there is a financial benefit to being a homeowner. Homeowners can deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage loan, they build their net worth with increases in the value of the home, and there may be other ways to deduct some of the expenses involved in home ownership. But there’s also a social benefit to home ownership–being part of a neighborhood. Homeowners have a stake in their…
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Did you watch Sunday’s Super Bowl, NE Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons? Most people probably did–at least for part of the time. Toward the end of the 3rd quarter, you may have thought like I did, and probably most people did, that the game was really one-sided, tilting to the Falcons. After all, they were ahead 28-3! As I watched the game and listened to the talking heads, aka sportscasters, who went on and on about…
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When you and your Realtor successfully negotiate an offer to purchase a home and you go officially “under contract”, the next step for smart buyers is to hire an inspector to inspect the home. But what does that entail, and how do you find a good inspector, and how do you know what he finds? Inspectors are like any other professionals–there are good ones, there are really good ones, and there are not-so-good ones. Your…
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If you’re thinking of selling your home, here are some things to look at before you put it on the market. If anything needs to be fixed, do it now, before you list. It will make your life much easier and make your sale transaction much smoother! Exterior: Look at siding, stucco, wood trim. Patch cracks, replace rotted wood, paint and freshen up. 2. Landscaping: Remove dead plants, trim back overgrown bushes/hedges. Remove weeds, fresh…
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We’re getting to the end of 2016–hard to believe! But 2017 is right around the corner and here’s a list of a few things you might want to check on as we move from one year into a new one. 1. Change your smoke alarm batteries. Many people, myself included, like to do that when we spring forward and fall back, but if you haven’t done it yet, please take a little time to change…
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