Jul 27, 2018 | Real Estate
If you are a home owner trying to reduce your carbon footprint, it’s time to make some changes to your property. The more you can do to reduce energy costs, increase efficiency and reduce waste, the less impact you and your home will have on the earth.
From small changes, such as using energy efficient light bulbs, to big changes such as adding solar panels to your home, you can make your home a more Earth-friendly space.
Install Energy Efficient Appliances
Appliances that are labeled energy efficient are going to help you reduce your carbon footprint. When you need a new appliance, look for ones that are energy efficient.
When doing things like washing dishes, flushing the toilet or washing clothes, look for the settings that use less water and energy. Take the time to understand your dishwasher or washing machine to see how you can reduce energy and water waste.
Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs
One of the easiest ways to make your home a little more Earth-friendly is to replace old light bulbs with energy saving ones like LED lights. In many areas you can have an energy audit done on your home and get ideas on ways to save even more on energy related costs. Pay attention to turning off your lights when not in use.
Saving Energy Saves Money And The Environment
When you reduce your use of energy to heat, cool or run your home, you are going to save money on utility bills. Try having your home a few degrees cooler in the winter to see if it is still comfortable. Use fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible in the hot weather. Hang out clothing to dry instead of using a clothes dryer. Save money on bills to run your home and protect the earth at the same time.
Collect Rainwater For Your Garden
If you have a garden, use rain barrels to collect rainwater to be used to water your flowers and vegetables. You won’t have to turn on the hose, and you will save a little bit of money on water fees. Rainwater is healthy for your plants, and can be used for a variety of things when you collect it properly.
Check Into Solar Energy
Check with a solar panel company and see if you can have solar panels installed. This may save you money on electrical bills and may allow you to sell electricity back to the grid if you produce enough. Saving energy and water is possible in your home, you just have to look for ways to do it.
If you are looking for an eco-friendly property, contact your trusted real estate professional today!
Jul 26, 2018 | Real Estate
Do you think that you don’t have the space for a home office? Maybe you are under the impression that you need an extra bedroom or spare room for a workspace.
An entire room is not necessary for an office. All that it takes is a little bit of creativity to carve out an office space in any home. Here are some home office ideas for smaller areas.
Here are some smart home office ideas that prove you don’t need to have a lot of space to have a home office.
Office Nook
If you have a small nook located near a window, close off the space with a curtain. This move will allow you to separate the home office area from the rest of the room. Use a subtle pattern on the curtain so that it blends in with the rest of the room. When not in use, you can just close the curtain.
For small spaces, simplicity is the key. So, add just the essentials to your little office nook. A small desk with some drawers for office supplies should suffice just fine.
Secret Under-The-Stairs Office
The space underneath a flight of stairs is valuable real estate that often goes unused. This area can be the ideal spot for a small home office. Just add a floating shelf and a cork board above the desk. A built-in cabinet can be used to add useful storage space.
Spare Closet Home Office
Do you have an extra closet or pantry that you are not using? If so, then you can make that space work for you. There are just a few things that you’ll need to do to turn any closet into an office space. First, take the doors off. This step will add more room. Next, paint the interior of the closet a light color to add brightness to the space. Add some storage shelves and a built-in desk, and you have with the perfect workspace.
Corner Office
Got a vacant corner in your home? Turn that space into a mini office. If you have a corner with a view, that is even better. You can purchase a corner desk pretty reasonably. Add a chair, and a few office accessories and you are good to go. To the make the most of the space, consider adding floating shelves to each side of the corner.
Implement these simple ideas to maximize your space and have an in-home office that you love!
If you have your heart set on a designated office space and you are in the market for a new home, make sure to tell your trusted real estate professional to add it to your must-have list.
Jul 25, 2018 | Real Estate
You can make the most of a small home with smart design strategies and careful planning.
Maybe your youngest has finally gone away to college, and you have much more space than you really need. Or perhaps you want to minimize your lifestyle and shrink your carbon footprint.
Whatever your reason for downsizing, you can rest assured that moving into a smaller home will not cramp your style. Making a more modest space work doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips can help you make the transition with ease.
Identify Your Needs
Before you start organizing things for the move, identify your needs. Think about your lifestyle and what things you will need to support your lifestyle. Be aware of what resources you will absolutely need moving forward.
If you have a lot of pictures and other sentimental items, consider ways to preserve these things for your children or grandkids. Maybe you can scan and upload old photographs to a shared online family photo album.
Get Rid Of Rarely Used Items
It can be challenging to get rid of things — even if you don’t use them often. However, change is good. Downsizing your belongings can also simplify your life. If you have items that still have a lot of life left in them, you might try giving them to family members, charities or friends. Finding a good home for your things can make it easier to part with them. You could also try to sell items that are valuable.
Choose Smart Storage Solutions
Having less square footage doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything you own. You just have to be smart about how you organize your space. There are many storage solutions that can help you make the most of a small area. Maybe mount your television to the wall to enhance your floor space. Use storage ottomans for combination seating and storage. Built-in cabinets are also great storage solutions for tiny rooms.
Take Measurements
Before you move furniture and other larger items, measure the space to make sure that they will fit. Also, measure how much cabinet and closet space you will have available for use. You can use these measurements as a guide before moving anything to your new home. This simple step will save you the hassle of having to later get rid of items that you have already moved over.
Contact your trusted real estate professional if you are thinking about selling your home or buying a home.
Jul 24, 2018 | Real Estate
Popular TV shows like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers have brought the charms of owning a fixer upper to light. A fixer-upper can be a great option if you are prepared for the experience of owning a house that needs work and time.
A house that needs work can be a great investment if you are ready to invest the time and money into it. On the other hand, buying a fixer upper might be a problem if you are not aware of what you are getting into.
Not sure if owning a fixer upper is worth it? Here are some considerations to think about.
Start With This Easy Equation
Start with the likely market value of the house after renovations will be made. Then, sum up the cost to renovate the home. Then, add another 25 percent to the renovation costs for unforeseen problems that will no doubt come up during the renovation process.
Next, subtract the renovation costs from the probable market value of the house after the renovations are made. Use similar real estate prices in the area to get your estimate.
What number is left? This number what you should offer.
So, if the comparable estimates are $100,000 and the house needs $25,000 in work, then you should offer no more than $75,000 to break even. Most professionals recommend deducting 10 percent from the asking price just to make the investment of time worthwhile.
Determine How You Will Pay
If you buy a fixer-upper, you’re going to need some way to fund the renovations. It can be hard coming up with the funds for repairs and upgrades after paying closing costs. Some options for funding renovations include a renovation loan, like Fannie Mae’s HomeStyle Loan. This loan is rolled right into your mortgage, which makes things easier.
Another popular option is an FHA 203(k) loan. This loan is a little easier to qualify for than the Fannie Mae HomeStyle Loan and it only requires 3.5% down.
Decide If You Want To Invest The Time
Buying a fixer-upper is an investment. You will have to invest your time in making a lot of decisions. You’ll need to decide on things like building materials and aesthetics.
Do you have a design or architectural background? Do you enjoy remodeling projects? These are questions that you’ll really want to think about before buying a fixer upper.
Your trusted real estate professional will be your best resource to help you find the right fixer upper and negotiate your best offer price.
Jul 23, 2018 | Financial Reports
Last week’s scheduled economic releases included readings from the National Association of Home Builders and Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released
NAHB Housing Market Index Unchanged in July
The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index held steady in July despite concerns connected with tariffs on building materials. Analysts said that high demand for homes continued to fuel builder confidence in housing market conditions, but some analysts said that housing market conditions may be at or near peak.
Builder confidence in current market conditions was unchanged with a reading of 74; confidence in housing market conditions within the next six months rose two points to 75. Builder confidence in buyer traffic in new single- family developments also rose two points to 52. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders are confident about housing market conditions than not.
Commerce Department: Housing Starts, Building Permits Fall
June housing starts fell according to the Commerce Department with 1.173 million starts on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Housing starts were 12.30 percent lower than downwardly-revised readings for May. Building permits issued also fell in June. 1.273 million permits were issued on a year-over-year basis as compared to May’s reading of 1.301 million permits issued year-over-year. Builders faced difficulty in producing homes at attractive pricing due to increased costs of building materials.
Builder confidence in buyer traffic in new single-family developments rose two points to an index reading of 52 in June. Summer months typically see more home buyer traffic due to school vacations providing a transitional period for families seeking new homes.
Mortgage Rates Mixed, Weekly Jobless Claims Fall
Freddie Mac reported mixed and minimal movement in mortgage rates last week. Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed rate mortgages were one basis point lower at 4.52 percent; rates for a15-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 4.00 percent which was two basis points lower. Rates for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged one basis point higher at 3.87 percent. Discount points averaged 0.40 percent for fixed-rate mortgages and 0.30 percent for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages.
First-time jobless claims fell to 207,000 claims filed, which was lower than the expected reading of 224,000 new claims filed and the prior week’s reading of 215,000 new claims filed.
What’s Ahead
This week’s economic releases include readings on sales of new and pre-owned homes, housing vacancies and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims will also be released.
