Mar 15, 2019 | Real Estate
Are you saving up money for a down payment? Saving money to put down on a home is always a smart idea, but there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it. Understanding how to best save for a down payment will go a long way toward ensuring you’re ready when you finally find the house of your dreams.
Here are four down payment money saving mistakes to avoid.
1. Not Saving Enough
It’s very admirable to have a goal of saving exactly 20% for a down payment. However, this is a common mistake new home buyers make. First of all, consider loan programs that allow for a lower down payment.
In addition, there are lots of other costs associated with buying a home that you must also plan and save for, including:
- Closing Costs
- Title Fees
- Miscellaneous Fees
- Time Off Work
2. Not Keeping Track Of The Source Of The Money
Many lenders have strict rules about where the money comes from for a down payment. Pay careful attention to the source of your down payment money, and keep accurate records. You may be asked to present these financial records to prove the source of funds as part of the mortgage review process.
3. Borrowing The Money
In addition, many lenders may allow only a certain percentage of the down payment to come from a family member. They want to know that you have the resources to come up with the down payment yourself without relying on favors from family members. Don’t make the mistake of borrowing excessively for the down payment, even if it’s from a third party lender.
4. Not Keeping Money In Reserve
It’s essential to keep some money in your savings account that isn’t earmarked for the down payment. You’ll need to disclose how much you have in savings and it will factor in where you get approved or not. Lenders want to see a history of consistent saving. This shows that you’re a financially responsible person with cash reserves in the event of an emergency.
The sooner you can start saving money for a down payment, the better. As you save, keep these four down payment money saving mistakes in mind so you have the best possible chances for being financially ready to act when you do find the house you want to purchase.
If you are considering a new home purchase, please contact a trusted real estate professional to assist you with this valued investment.
Mar 13, 2019 | Real Estate
Your carbon footprint is the measure of your impact on the earth’s natural resources. This number describes the amount of fossil fuel it takes to support your lifestyle. In the United States, each person produces an average of 19.78 tons of carbon dioxide every year. A high carbon footprint means your daily habits are a quickening drain on our finite resources.
Homeowners can use these DIY projects to reduce the effect of their lifestyle on the environment.
Try Solar Solutions
A residential solar system gathers photo-voltaic energy from the sun and converts it into usable electrical current. Once installed, any energy your system produces is essentially free. However, the initial investment for a residential solar system to power your entire home can be prohibitively high. There are some ways to use solar power without a large upfront investment.
- Take advantage of state and federal incentives to lower your out-of-pocket costs.
- Opt for individual appliances like solar water heaters or solar lighting.
- Talk to your utility provider about existing programs that allow you to sell back your excess power for bill credits.
You could also get your neighbor involved and build a neighborhood solar bank for charging batteries and electric vehicles.
Plant A Vegetable And Herb Garden
Food transportation is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gases. Reduce your impact even further by growing some of your own food. Use containers, shelves, or construct a hanging wall garden to keep your home supplied with salad greens, tomatoes, and herbs of all kinds. Having a garden means fewer trips to the grocery store, which saves our supplies of natural gas.
Install A Clothesline
Skip the gas-powered appliances and hang your freshly washed laundry out on a clothesline to dry. When the weather is nice, your clothes will come back in with a sweet scent you can’t get anywhere else. And instead of spending the time staring at a spinning machine, you get the added benefit of fitting a little extra exercise into your day. You don’t have to completely ditch your dryer. Save it for rainy days or other unfriendly weather conditions.
Lowering your carbon footprint doesn’t have to be a big life change. Start with small steps and slowly build your property in an earth-friendly fortress.
If you are interested in greener living, be sure to tell your trusted real estate professional that finding an environmentally friendly property is a top priority.
Mar 12, 2019 | Real Estate
Your home is likely your largest investment. Beyond repairs and regular maintenance to keep it clean, comfortable, and safe, there are a number of projects that can increase the resale value of your property. These renovations top the list of changes you can make that positively impact your home’s value.
Kitchen
With the right strategy, your kitchen remodel could return up to 92.9% of your construction investment. The trick is to not overdo it. You don’t need to gut and rebuild the entire room. Instead, make strategic upgrades that increase the comfort and usability of the room.
- Paint wooden cabinets or install new doors and fixtures.
- Install track lighting or LED features.
- Refresh or change countertops.
- Refurbish flooring and spruce up walls with warm, neutral colors that are easy to clean.
Invest in new appliances right before you put your home on the market to catch the eye of potential buyers and pull them in.
Odd Spaces
Older homes with distinctive architecture stand out from the crowd of cookie-cutter residences. However, these unique buildings often hide a lot of unused space. Make the most of every inch of your home to entice buyers to place a bid.
- Convert a basement into a bonus room.
- Turn the space underneath a staircase into a storage closet.
- Divide oversized dining rooms to create a small home office.
Most buyers aren’t looking for a long-term project. Instead of pointing out the potential of your property, make it easy to see by getting creative with odd spaces.
Increase Energy Efficiency
In 2017, the average monthly utility bill reached $111.67. Help potential buyers lower their monthly costs by installing energy-efficient options throughout the home.
- Install a solar water heater.
- Change the windows to more energy-efficient models.
- Add extra insulation to outer rooms and around doors and windows.
- Use LED lighting outdoors and throughout the home.
You may be able to get some help paying for your earth-friendly upgrades with state and federal incentives.
Bathrooms
After the kitchen, bathrooms are the most scrutinized feature of homes for sale. Once again, a little goes a long way in these rooms.
- Update fixtures with shiny metals for a modern look.
- Change out the toilet seat.
- Fix up the shower tiles and head.
These projects don’t take a lot of time. However, they can offer a big payoff when you decide to sell your home.
If you are looking for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.
Mar 8, 2019 | Real Estate
Hunting for your new home can be a confusing process. There are countless factors you need to take into account to ensure your new location fits your family’s lifestyle and preferences. In their excitement, first-time home buyers can easily overlook some essential points about their potential property.
When you’re searching for your new residence, ask these questions to get exactly what you’re looking for.
Am I Financially Ready For A New Home Purchase?
It takes more than money to find the right home. Your credit rating is an important factor in your ability to secure enough funding to finance your dream. Check out your credit score before you buy to make sure you won’t have to settle for less.
Some of the things you have the greatest control over include:
- Payment history
- Credit utilization ratio
- Debt-to-income ratio
Even with a large down payment, having a questionable credit history can endanger your chances of qualifying for mortgage loans. Spend some time shining up your credit report for the best results. Getting a pre-approved home loan is a great way to find out how much house you can afford before you start shopping.
Is This The Right Neighborhood For Me?
No matter how beautiful the structure itself is, your house won’t seem like a home unless you’re comfortable with the surrounding neighborhood. Take a walk around your potential block to assess the area and compare it to your needs.
- For families with children, are there high-quality schools in the area?
- Do your neighbors’ homes seem well-kept?
- What amenities (dry cleaner, grocery stores, parks, etc) do you want in your community?
- How do the roads and sidewalks look?
Before committing to a purchase, visit the home at different times of the day to get an idea of what you might have to live with.
Am I Ready To Settle Down?
Align your home purchase with your future goals. If you know you’re planning to move out-of-state in the next several years, take that into account when shopping for a home. Will you be able to sell quickly enough before you leave? Or do you plan to retain ownership of the home and rent it out while you’re away?
Think about the directions your life might take in the next 5 to 10 years. By looking ahead, you can make a better plan for the best home you can afford which will accommodate you and your family in the years to come.
Buying your first home is a major decision. Knowing your goals, desires, and abilities before agreeing to a purchase a home will make you the most comfortable moving forward.
One of the best partners in your home search will be your trusted real estate professional. Be sure to make contact as soon as you are considering a new home purchase.
Mar 1, 2019 | Real Estate
The success of your real estate ventures depend on your ability to navigate the financial world. Learn these terms to make it easier to understand what’s going on with your real estate investments.
Cash Flow
Contrary to popular belief, cash flow isn’t just the amount of liquid assets you have available. Your cash and unused lines of credit are an essential indicator of your ability to complete projects and pay the cost of ongoing operations. However, these factors don’t tell the whole financial story.
Your actual cash flow is the difference between your gross income and your financial obligations. You can have a large cash reserve but still have a negative cash flow if you aren’t making enough to cover your obligations.
Gross Yield
When evaluating potential properties, it’s helpful to understand the gross yield. To calculate gross yield, divide the annual income you expect the property to produce by the property’s price. This number comes in handy for comparing properties and narrowing down your options.
Amortization
Lending institutions offer a variety of loan structures to fit your goals and financial standing. An amortized loan features a set amount of interest. This amount is integrated into each monthly payment. That means that borrowers are paying on the loan’s principal and paying down their interest liabilities from the very first payment.
Amortization is an excellent way to quickly build equity. This enables real estate investors to use existing properties to fund other projects without having to sell off their holdings.
Carrying Costs
Flippers and other short-term real estate investors need to keep a close eye on their carrying costs. These are all the expenses incurred after the initial purchase and before the property is sold for profit. Carrying costs include mortgage and interest payments, utility bills, taxes, and insurance.
The best way to limit carrying costs is to flip your property as quickly as possible. However, sudden changes in the market, illness, and other unexpected factors can prolong your need to make monthly payments. In this event, investors should carefully monitor their cash flow to ensure they don’t end up losing their entire investment.
Double Close
Wholesale home buyers often already have an exit strategy before signing on new properties. In this case, a double closing allows the wholesaler to purchase the property and sell it to a new buyer in a single transaction. This is also sometimes called a back-to-back closing.
Knowing these terms will make it easier for you to manage the financial details of your real estate investments. And partnering with a trusted real estate professional will make it easier for you to find just the right investment property.
