How to Buy a House by 30

Along with the recovery of the market, came the rebirth of the dream to own a home.  More and more young people…ahem…Millennials, are catching the homeowner bug.  Not only are rates still stellar, but younger people are starting to get more savvy about their money.  Turning 30 is already a milestone in itself, but why not mark the momentous occasion and rejoice in all the life lessons your 20s have afforded you and make it the year you buy a home!

Honestly, the younger you are the easier it is to save.  In your early 20s, you’re less likely to have life complications and big expenses such as children, investments or big car payments—the one you got in high school still works and has been paid off!  But unfortunately saving is not necessarily a top priority for someone in their 20s unless already instilled in them at a young age!  But don’t look back with remorse wishing you had known then when you know now.  Start saving today while it’s relatively easy.  Yes, you’re making less, but you’re still used to your college years of living frugally.  While there are lots of options out there for low down-payment loans, but the more cash you have upfront, the better your rate will be.

Sure, you had a credit card in college that you needed to use to pimp out your first dorm room with Bed Bath & Beyond essentials— but those days are over!  You know the weight a credit score can bring and all the opportunities it can unlock.  Remember, it’s not necessarily a good thing to close a credit account, in fact in may end up hurting your credit.  One of the keys to keeping your credit balanced is not purchasing anything you can’t pay off in a month.  More importantly don’t make any large credit card purchases before buying a home, maxing out your credit before applying for a mortgage is a no-no.  The single most important thing to remember is to always pay your bill on time.

Seek out housing opportunities.  New homeowners making renovations in up and coming neighborhoods seems to be a trend.  However, doing it DIY is not the only money-saving maneuver.  Often times you can find great deals when you buy new construction.  Especially if you get in from the beginning.  The earlier you get in the better because generally, prices tend to go up and up after initials sales goals have been met.Developers are eager to sell the first few plots and homes because it’s a big investment for them as well!  Often times you can find great deals in closing costs. 

If you are determined to be a trendsetter by buying into an up-and-coming area, do your research!  Having an agent that is familiar with the city where your shopping can help A LOT in this case.  They have insider knowledge on what’s trending and where local businesses and shops are migrating to.  Additionally, if you know of bigger stores “Coming Soon” in certain areas (i.e. Trader Joe’s or Aldi), those companies put big money into research and development, they not only track the trends, the solidify the “up-and-coming” status. 

Facts About First Time HomeBuyers

     These are some very entertaining and revealing trends the Real Estate Market has seen from first-time homebuyers.  Forwarded to us from our friend Thomas, it is interesting to find that an estimated 74% of renters "want to buy a home but are afraid they won't qualify so do not even try!"  That is an astounding statistic!  As a realtor, it's my job to help people invest in their future and even possibly the biggest savings account they'll ever open - their home!  I know people who look and look at resources like Zillow and Trulia with only dreams of buying, but believe me when I say that it may not be so far-fetched of a goal.  There are so many programs, incentives, and grants available to first-time homebuyers, it's just a matter of knowing and taking advantage of these opportunities.  Even without the best credit or a smaller downpayment it's possible to buy a great home and invest in yourself rather than wasting vast amounts of money on rent.  Don't let fear or doubt stop you from reaching your goal of homeownership.  It is truly what brings me pleasure as a Realtor, finding my clients the best possible home for them!

Sales Tax Holiday on Big Ticket Appliances

  One of my passions as a Real Estate Agent is investment properties.  I love connecting the right people to get a project done quickly and efficiently to create a beautiful result; a home that someone would love to own.  If you’re working on an investment property right now, this weekend is the time to shop for all of your big ticket Energy Star and WaterSense appliances!  Whether your home’s appliances are outdated and need an upgrade, or you need to furnish your flip, this weekend’s tax holiday is the time to buy!

Qualified Energy Star items include:

• dishwashers
• clothes washers
• air conditioners
• ceiling fans
• lightbulbs
• dehumidifiers
• refrigerators

Qualified WaterSense items include:

• bathroom sink faucets
• faucet accessories such as aerators
• shower heads
• toilets and urinals
• landscape irrigation controllers

Items that are exempt during the combined sales tax holiday include items that are affixed with Energy Star or WaterSense label and the cost of the item is $2,500 or less and the item is purchased for noncommercial or personal use.

For more information on all the Sales Tax Holiday items search here.

Lawn Care Tips

A lush lawn is not something the average homeowner thinks about before the Spring.  But once the trees start blooming and your grass isn’t quite coming in how you imagined it; time to hit your local home store.  Here are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your lawn while it’s still early.

     First and foremost, get local advice pertaining to the growing conditions in your area.  There isn’t one fertilizer, one weed killer or one grass seed that works for every lawn.  Get customized solutions for your region. Talk to an expert at your garden center or call your agricultural extension service.

     Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn after the second mow of the spring.  This will prevent seeds scattered in previous years from germinating, which is where crabgrass grows from.  As the seeds remain viable for a few years, it’s a good idea to apply the herbicide every spring.  Making a preemptive strike on crabgrass will save you tons of hassle later, trying to fight it back in the heat of summer.

     Don’t over stress about the shady part of your lawn.  Many people over water and over fertilize these shady areas, because it seems that the grass is having trouble growing.  In fact, it’s these measures that prevent it from growing to it’s potential.  Shady areas need less water because the sun doesn’t evaporate it as quickly and less fertilizer because without sun, it doesn’t grow as much.  Cut your fertilizer amount to about half of what you’d use for a sunny spot.

     Cut your lawn the right length.  Cutting your lawn too short can weaken the grass and allow weeds to dominate.  Finding the right length for your grass variety will allow it to grow thick and lush while crowding out more established weeds.  Adjust your lawn mower to the right height for your variety.

     If you’re really having trouble with growing grass, check your soil's pH.  Most home centers sell pH testing kits, however, using an extension service can guarantee more accurate results.  For growing grass, soil needs to be a pH between 6.0 to 7.2.  Add lime to raise the pH, add iron to lower your pH.

     Cut down on your lawn care by planning ahead.  It’s generally recommended that you fertilize four times a year for the best lawn ever, but if you want those results with less work and more cost efficiency all you have to do is fertilize once in the fall!  Fertilizing about 3 weeks before the last mow of the season will give your grass stored nutrients throughout the winter.   It will help feed the growing root system as the temperature cools before the grass becomes dormant.  Those stored nutrients will give your grass a burst of energy come next spring.

     

Having a healthy lawn not only makes your home look great, it becomes an inviting place for your children to play, or the perfect place to have an afternoon picnic.  A healthy lawn is the best weed preventer of all.  A thick lawn crowds out weeds without having to use a lot of chemicals to prevent them.