What are 10 Things You Need to Know When Buying a Home?

Purchasing a home can be your biggest financial purchase in your lifetime.  In fact, recent reports have shown that Americans have about 40% of their wealth tied up into their home.  But some people may not understand everything that goes into buying a home.

Buy a home for long term- On average, you should stay in your home for at least five years to build equity.

Improve your life by buying a home, not to speculate with your money- Your home is a place where you sleep, eat, host friends, get married and ever raise your kids.  It where your life happens.  It’s not intended to be a place to live for a short amount of time and move to make some extra cash.

 Focus on what’s important to you and your family- With inventory being so low, try to focus on finding a home you can afford that meets your needs and not get distracted by things that might break the budget.

Stick to a budget- It’s very important to establish a budget and stick to it before you even start looking. 

 A 20% down payment may be ideal but it’s not required- Buyers are not required to put down 20% when purchasing a home.  Some loans may even allow you to put as little as 3% down with a premium. Putting less than 20% down may require you to pay private mortgage insurance or PMI.

Set aside money for improvements- It’s no secret, owning a home comes with more responsible and issues.  Set aside money in case some major breaks at your home.

Get pre-approved- Get pre-approved before you start looking at homes.

Shop around to get the best rate- Compare rates from different lenders to see which lender can offer you the best rate.

Spend no more than one third of your after-tax income on housing- It’s always better to spend too little than too much on your home in the long run.

Always be willing to walk away- If the deal doesn’t go the way you want or it’s too much- walk away.  There will be other homes.

What Does It Take to Be the Best Neighbor?

Getting to know your neighbors doesn’t have to be a thing of the past- you may need that cup of sugar one day.  Getting along with your neighbors can make a huge impact on your daily life and how you feel about your home or neighborhood.  Below are some tips on getting to know your neighbors- you may even want to start after reading this!

Be friendly- If you are new to the neighborhood be sure to give a wave or smile when you see your neighbors.  Introduce yourselves when you run into your neighbors- small baked goods are also a great treat to help establishing rapport with them.

Be considerate of the noise coming from your home- Try not to have loud conversations or play music after 9:00pm and try not to start any power tool before 9:00am.  However, if you are planning a party, talk with your neighbors before the party or even invite them.

Deal with problems in person- All issues should be addresses promptly and in person. Sure, a note may be easier to deal with but give your neighbor a chance to hear what you have to say face-to-face. Your neighbors probably aren’t going anywhere for a while so it’s best you get everything resolved in a timely fashion.

Be respectful with your pets- The biggest complaint a neighbor may have is a dog barking into the night and early in the morning.  Make sure you don’t allow your pet to disturb your neighbors.  Be sure to clean up after your dog when you are out in the neighborhood.

Parking etiquette- Try not to park in front of your neighbor’s home if possible and never block other’s driveways.

How Can You Get Better Sleep at Night?

It is recommended to get eight hours of sleep a night to keep a healthy lifestyle but most of us are getting a lot less than that. Maximizing our comfort in our bedrooms is one way to help us get more sleep! 

Choose the colors that soothe- Tones of gray create a calming design that is also rich in detail and can be cool too so try to incorporate a yellow or pink base to add some comfort.  Try to avoid blue based versions.

Upgrade your bed- The bigger the bed the better sleep you and your partner will get. You will avoid disturbing each other while you sleep.

Ditch the TV- The TV in the bedroom will delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. If you must have a TV in the bedroom allow half an hour between viewing and sleep time to start the countdown to better sleep.

Ditch the cellphones too- It’s easier said than done but remove all phones from the bedroom.  Charge your phone well away from the bedroom.

Reduce the light- Street lights shining in your room can hinder your rest so bring on the darkness! Install window treatments that block light out completely.

Get a new mattress- If the mattress is causing you aches and pains, it might be time to get a new one. Find a new one that is compatible to both you and your partner.

Take a warm bath- Taking a warm bath before heading into a cooler bedroom can get you to sleep quicker and let you rest better.

Turn down the heat- If your body is too warm it can cause restless sleep. Try turning it down a few degrees to help you sleep better.

Don’t turn your bedroom into an office- Keep your office outside of your bedroom. If it helps, get a desktop instead of a laptop to completely avoid it.

Stick to a schedule- Even on the weekends, wake up and go to sleep at the same time.

What is a Foreclosed Home and What Do You Need to Know Before Closing?

Buying a home at an auction or from a lender can make you think like you are getting a major discount but purchasing a foreclosure property can be a complicated transaction.  So, before you think about buying a home, find out what you need to know!

What is a foreclosure property? A foreclosed property is when a lender or lien holder seek to take a property from a homeowner to satisfy a debt.  The lender can decide whether to take ownership over the property or put the property on the market to pay off the debt.  The lender isn’t always looking for the top dollar on the home, just a fair price that will cover the unpaid mortgage.

What is pre-foreclosure? The pre-foreclosure is the period after a default notice has been sent to the homeowner and before the property is sold at a foreclosure auction.  During this time, the owner of the home may be working out a way to fix their loan default or hoping a cash buyer will purchase the property before it goes into foreclosure.  This phase can be the most difficult phase during which to purchase a distressed home- you will be dealing with the owner and not the bank.

How does a foreclosure auction work? If you’ve never attended one before, you may want to go to a few to see what they are really like and get a feel of what you can expect during the auction of the home you want.  Some auctions are small trustee auctions that don’t take long while others are held by large auction firms and include multiple properties.  When you find the right property, contact the auctioneer or trustee to determine how much money you need to bring to the auction as the amount can vary. 

How to find foreclosure properties? Foreclosure properties are usually listed online on many different sites.  You may have to change your filters to find them.

Before you get started you should know…? Foreclosure homes are sold “as is” which means they don’t come with an inspection, home warranties or any other items that may protect you during a home sale.  Before you buy, you will need to know how much it will cost you to make the livable.  Lastly, make sure you hire a title company to research and cure title problems before closing on the property as lenders usually clear the title listing in a foreclosure transaction.

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution?

It can be scary when it comes to making your New Year’s Resolution list especially when you aren’t able to keep them by February or even by the end of January.  However, its important to remember that the New Year isn’t meant to serve as a way to change your character.  It’s a time for you to reflect on the past year’s behavior and make some changes.  Setting small and attainable goals throughout the year instead of one long list can help you reach and keep your goals.

Start small- Make resolutions that you can keep.  If you cheat your resolution one day remember that there’s always tomorrow.

Change One Behavior at a Time- Unhealthy behaviors are developed over time thus replacing one unhealthy behavior with a healthy choice one at a time won’t overwhelm you.

Talk About It- Share your experience with your friends and family.  Even consider joining a support group to help you reach your goals.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up- Perfection is not attainable.  Minor missteps when trying to reach your goal are normal and OK.  Never give up when making a mistake- keep going.

Ask for Support and Help- Having the support of your friends and family can help you when you are trying to achieve your goal.  The people who care about you and want to see you succeed with help you throughout your way to achieve your goals.

Happy Holiday's From My Family to Your's!

Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!  Thank you for the support throughout the year! I look forward to assisting you this upcoming year!

How to Decorate for the Holidays on a Budget?

Decorating for the holidays doesn’t limit you to certain decorations home that won’t make all of your friends and family jealous.  By carefully selecting a few affordable decorations you can speak some serious holiday magic and turn your home into a winter wonderland.

1. Deck the Walls- Add some bold art pieces to your walls. Big pieces can become the focal point of a room and can tie your Christmas decorations together.
2. Bring Some Christmas Magic to Flat Surfaces- Add some pieces to your shelves, coffee tables, and other surfaces to show off your holiday spirit.  Add a candle holder to bring extra warmth to your room. 
3. Get Cozy and Create a Comfortable Couch- Add a few cozy Christmas pillows to your couch.  Festive and affordable pillows will bring comfort of the holiday into your home.
4. Fill Up Your Floor Space- Add a few pieces that can fill up your floor space.  Adding these pieces will make it look like you’ve decorated more than you actually have.  Consider adding a metal stocking holder to display your family’s stockings. 

When it comes to decorating your home, always remember that each room only needs one or two Christmas decorations to draw the eye and truly stand out.  Simple standing items, wall décor, pillows and holiday candles create the holiday magical feel while saving you money!