The market is hot!

With interest rates at an all time low for buyers, the market has turned into a feeding frenzy, and home sale prices are increasing. In such a high demand seller's market, homes are selling for more which equates to more money going in your pocket. If you have been considering selling your home, doing so in today's market will most likely bring you a higher sales price. 

Don't wait for the market to shift when interest rates begin to start going up again. The National Association of Realtors has gathered data to predict a strong 6 months of sales throughout the United States. With such a large influx of buyers hunting for homes during the summer months you have a great potential to sell your home quickly and be able to move on to bigger and better things sooner. 

This is also a great buying opportunity if you are wanting to transition into a new home. Low interest rates equate to more savings. You could potentially end up getting a bigger home for the same monthly payment cost when you buy your next property. 

If you have not already spoken with an agent, get in touch with us & we'd love to provide you with a complimentary CMA & have a consultation with you about selling your house. See if the numbers work out for you and/or your family, if it financially makes sense for you to move now, and if moving is something you really want to do.

Whether you are re-sizing, or moving to a different state, we can get the numbers in order to make sure it's in your best interest to transition in today's market or when the time is right for you.

Don't wait and potentially lose tens of thousands of dollars in your sale price if you don't have to!

Are you ready to make the transition into home ownership? That's awesome! In this exciting time you might be turning to friends or family for insight into the process. There seems to be a circulation of misinformation spreading so we're going to clear up a few myths. 

1. THE FIRST STEP IS SEARCHING FOR A HOME

You know the saying, "Don't put the cart before the horse," well that's very important to remember when it comes to buying a home. You don't want to start looking for a house until you have gotten to sit down with a lender and discuss what the bank will qualify you for. If you fall in love with a house that's $250,000 and come to find out you're only qualified for $200,000 you can get your hopes crushed and waste a lot of time. Don't start the process on the wrong foot, make sure the numbers work and you're comfortable with them.

2. YOU DON'T NEED A REAL ESTATE AGENT

When buying a home, typically the buyer's agent gets paid by the sellers. So you're getting to use the services of a real estate agent for free. Having a real estate agent on your side means you'll get to see homes that aren't as readily available on public searches, you avoid outdated listings and scammers (there are lots of them), and you have protection when it comes to navigating the legalities of contracts and buying a home. Why wouldn't you want an incredible negotiator working to ensure you get the best from the transaction? For FREE!

3. YOU CAN'T BUY A HOME WITH BAD CREDIT

Fortunately for some, this is a myth. Lenders and banks come by the hundreds of thousands and all though there are a few loan options, a lot of lenders can work with credit scores down to the low to mid 500's & will provide you with a game plan on ways to improve your credit so that when the time comes you can earn a better rate. Connect with the right lender who can help you potentially approved. We can offer you suggestions on great lenders we trust to help you. There are a lot of factors that go into approvals. An excellent lender will be able to advise you on a game plan and help make sure you're comfortable with future payments. 

4. YOUR DOWN PAYMENT HAS TO BE 20%

Not at all! There are low down payment options such as a FHA loan might only requires 3.5% and a conventional may only require 5%. There are a lot of programs that can potentially help you with down payment assistance or be a 0% down mortgage. USDA and VA loans are the most popular 0% down programs. If you qualify, this can take a big chunk off the amount of cash you have to bring to the closing table. 

5. DOWN PAYMENTS ARE THE ONLY UPFRONT COST

This is one of the biggest misconceptions. There is a lot of cost that goes into buying a home, and that includes upfront costs. One of the mandatory ones are an appraisal & some loans require a termite inspection. If you are getting a mortgage, the home will have to appraise. Termite inspections can range between $100-125. An appraisal can range from $450-$700 dollars. Aside from your down payment, you then have to pay for closing costs. Closing costs can range anywhere between 3-6% of the purchase price. Often this can be negotiated for sellers to cover by rolling into the offer price, but whether that decision is smart to do or not when it comes to landing your dream home will need to be discussed with your agent.

Now that you have some knowledge to get the process started, get in touch with us & we will help you get through the process as smoothly as possible!

If you haven't bought a home yet, you're missing out!

There's nothing like that moment when you walk through your doors, lay your purse or keys on the kitchen counter, and breathe a sigh of relief while thinking, "Finally, it's ours (or mine)!"

The joy of looking at all of your boxes ready to be unpacked and organized, rolling your eyes about why you have so much stuff, then giving yourself a moment to take a nap because you worked hard to get here and earned it! That's a real feeling!

We often hear about the cost effectiveness of home ownership. The equity build-up, the freedom it can give us from finances in our retirement years, and numerous other ways owning a home can bring a positive impact to your financial future. What we don't often hear about is the emotional impact owning a home can have. Yes there will be days the fridge is acting up and you need to call a repair person or the days you have to get outside to add mulch to your flower beds & power wash the driveway, but nothing beats the pride of owning a home. 

There is a sense of security, and a sense of "this is mine and I worked my way up to this moment," that provides moments of bliss. The ability to do with your home as you please, not pay a fee for every member of your fur family you adopt, and the privacy it provides can't be matched.

Home ownership gives you the ability to put down roots. Figuratively and literally. Build memories through the holidays and experience many milestones with your family, that leave a significant impact into the later years. You get to build bonds with your neighbors and grow in a community oriented neighborhood. With rentals, people come and go annually, but there are deeper roots planted with building relationships with those owning a home next to you. Potlucks, 4th of July cookouts, and New Year's Eve spent lighting sparklers, and the enjoyment of getting to know each other and build lasting relationships. 

Buying a home isn't about the future finances for everyone, sometimes it's just about the joy of owning your own place and getting to build amazing memories in it. If you've been longing for this get in touch with us, and we'll make it happen for you and your family. Let us help make your dreams come true!

Welcome Home!

This is what you want buyers to feel when they drive past your house & pull into the driveway for a showing.

The curb appeal will be the first impression of your home. Buyers & agents will notice a well cared for lawn & front entrance to the home and will also notice if it has been neglected. 

The most common areas of curb appeal that have the biggest impact on home buyers are:

Lawn

Lighting

Fencing

                                                  Front entrance (driveway & walkway)

You don’t have to do a huge transformation of the front, a little spruce up of the curb appeal will go a long ways. Here are a few tips for you to add desirable curb appeal almost immediately with minimal investment:

• Mow the grass weekly & edge the borders
• Wash &/or wipe down outdoor light fixtures
• Add solar lighting to add nighttime appeal
• If you have a fence repair loose or broken boards and re-paint or stain if needed
• Power wash driveway & sidewalk and remove any weeds
• Fresh coat of paint on the front door
• Consider adding a flowering potted plant & chair
• Put a brand new "welcome" door mat in front of the door

Here are more tips for Lawn Care provided by my company, Keller Williams:

Mowing a Lawn 101

Stick to the 1/3 rule try not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade length in a mowing.

Mow when the grass is dry. This is when grass blades are upright, and less clumping.

Mow in the morning or night. Mowing in the heat of the day stresses the grass.

Aim mower clippings (unless you bag them) towards the area you have already cut.

Leave clippings (unless you bag them, or their clumped) as it returns nutrients and nitrogen to the lawn.

If you bag your clippings, consider composting them.

Pruning

Prune away winter damage once plants have lost their leaves. Cut limbs back to live wood.

Mulching

If you're mulching a large area, use a cheaper hardwood mulch for the ‘filler’ then top-dress it with your mulch of choice. You can also top-dress old mulch by just adding a 1-inch layer on top.  It'll look brand new, and you're not paying for something you don't see.

Planting Annuals
Annuals are plants that live for only one season. Late spring is the best time to plant annuals such as Petunias, marigolds, salvia, and impatiens. Make sure roots are not too matted so they can expand into the soil.

Gardens

Flower gardens make a yard look beautiful and welcoming. Vegetable gardens give the added bonus of providing fresh vegetables to eat.

One of the best gardening tools is a monthly landscaping calendar. To download one for your area, visit The National Gardening Association’s website. Plug in your zip code and you get a specific plan for your area.

Plants, flowers and shrubbery are great ways to add allure and definition to a home’s landscape. Flowering plants are a wonderful addition, but homeowners should consider the appeal when the plants are not in season and flowering.

Planted herbs are easy to plant and maintain. They also do great in pots for entryways and backyard patios.

By investing a little time and money into the yard this spring, homeowners can increase their home’s valuable first impression and “wow” factor.

When you're thinking about making a move, whether it's buying a home or selling your current house let me know. I'd love the opportunity to help! You can reach my team at 910-679-6525. 

-Brittany

In addition to the purchase price, there are many costs to be aware of when buying a home. Extra fees associated with buying a home could put you in an unexpected financial bind if you're not prepared. While there can be more (be sure to ask your agent & your loan officer!) here are the 10 most common extra costs you should be prepared for.

1. Property Taxes - you will most likely have to pay your pro-rated share of the current year's property taxes at closing.
2. Survey Fee - if you choose to get a survey there will be a cost with that. It typically is between $400 - $1,000 depending on the size of the property.
3. Appraisal - if you are getting a loan you will be required to get an appraisal. They are typically around $400 and you may have to pay for this upfront to your lender before closing.
4. Home Inspection - I highly recommend you get a home inspection before purchasing any property. You need to know what you're getting into and any unexpected expensive repairs so you can be prepared and negotiate them with the seller. Cost is typically between $350-600 depending on the size of the property.
5. Insurance - home insurance covers the replacement value of your home, this will vary so get the cost from your trusted insurance agent.
6. Utility Fees - the utility companies (CFPUA, Aqua, etc) might require you to pay an installation fee &/or deposit.
7. Legal Fees - you need to have a lawyer review all paperwork and handle the transaction. Cost is often around $900.
8. Lending Fees - ask your loan officer. There will be in origination fee, possibly a credit check fee, and more. Your loan officer will be able to let you know how much you're looking at.
9. HOA Fees - typically pro-rated at closing. Make sure to ask if there are any special assessments confirmed or pending.
10.  Well or Septic tests - if there's a well or septic it's advisable for you to get them tested while still in your due diligence period of the contract.

There could be more fees and expenses when buying your home and the amounts mentioned above are just estimates, so be sure to ask your agent and loan officer exactly what fees you should expect and for what amounts so you're prepared. Buying a home & moving can be stressful enough, I want to make sure the process is affordable for you and you're not left in a financial bind with added stress.

When you're ready to purchase a home let me know, I'd love the opportunity to help you find the home that's perfect for you. If you hear a friend or family member mention they are thinking about buying a home please don't keep me a secret, I'd love to help them as well!

- Brittany

Are you currently selling your home or thinking about selling your home? If so then June's real estate tip of the month is meant for you.

Think minimalism.

Don't ever let a buyer think your house is lacking storage space or too small for their things.

- Get containers or boxes and pack up any extra things you have laying around that you don't need every day.

- Empty your closets as much as possible, only keep this season's clothes & the ones you wear most often available. By having fewer clothes out it'll also force you to do more laundry & not have an overflowing dirty laundry basket for showings either.

- Empty your kitchen cabinets as much as possible, only keep necessities on hand. Do you really need your holiday plates easily accessible in June? Do you really need 3 sets of dishes available at all times?

- Pack up the excess kid's toys. I know this one is hard but if they are anything like my child then they probably have toys to spare anyhow. Keep out their favorites & box up the rest. I personally can vouch that when you open the boxes back up at your new house it'll be like they are brand new toys again in the eyes of the child and the "new" toys they had forgotten about will keep them entertained while you work on setting up your new house.

- Pack up your collections. I understand you enjoy being surrounded by the things you love but you're going to have to pack them up eventually so go ahead & get a start. You probably don't really need all of them out constantly. Pick your top favorites to keep out & safely pack away the rest...I'm talking your favorite 1 or 2, not top 10 :)

If you're serious about selling your home, get any excess stuff out. Ideally remove the boxes/containers from the home completely but if you can't, store them neatly along the walls of your garage. It's better to have them in the garage than in the house if at all possible.

If you're thinking of selling your home let me know. I'd love the opportunity to meet with you and provide you with more suggestions while we walk through your house. Give me a call at 910-679-6525 or send me an email at brittany@brittanyallenhomes.com.

Brittany