Buying A HomeEasy Home Care On A BudgetFirst Time Home BuyersHome CareSelling Your Home November 23, 2015

Baby It’s Cold Outside! Don’t Forget To Prep Your House!

 

Well it is officially freezing outside! Remember there are a couple really important to do's for any home owner to make sure your house is ready for winter.

​Service Your Heater  

It usually costs between $80-$150 to get your heater serviced before temperatures drastically drop.  This will keep your furnace efficient keeping your heating bills as low as possible & check carbon monoxie levels.  

Check Your Roof

Hop up there (or hire someone) take a quick look to see if there are any strongly damaged shingles. If you fix it proactively before the winter storms come in you will save your self a big headache when you realize your roof is leaking! Remember to check the flashing around your chimeny to verify it is sealed correctly. Be proactive!

Check The Gaps

Between your windows and doors.  If the gap is bigger then the width of a nickle you should caulk over them to keep your heat in, the heat bill down and the cold out.

Clean Your Gutters

Fall is almost over, leaves have fallen! Make sure to clean your gutters or get them cleaned so water doesn't sit in them.  The wet leaves will keep moisture close to your home giving rot a perfect envoirnment to take off, it will also weigh the gutters down causing them pull away from your house causing them to fail and fall. Remember to divert the run off water AWAY from your house so your not allowing the gutters to pour all the water it collects by your foundation.  That opens up room fo lots of issues!

Turn Off Exterior Faucets

Water freezes! Any water sitting in your exterior faucets/hoses will freeze.  When water freezes it expands and your pipes can crack and burst! Disconnect your hoses and drain any left over water in the in the faucets.  You can also drain your lawn irrigation systems if you are in an area that has heavy freezing weather.

Test Your Sump Pump

It's important to test it every few months but especially after a long dry season like we are coming out of.  It would be better to know it isn't working properly before you actually need it.  Pour a few gallons of water in there and wait for it to kick on.

Test Your Generator

Another item you want to make sure is working properly before you need it. Plug it in and fire it up! Sock Up On winter essentials.  Have all items ready to go and accessable.  Make sure you have plenty of water, canned food and extra batteries stored in case of any big winter storms.

Stay Warm and Happy Holidays! 

– Aimee Slesk

AimeeS@windermere.com

 

 

 

Buying A HomeFirst Time Home BuyersSelling Your Home April 23, 2015

Tips For A Successful Closing

Hello Buyers and Sellers! Here are a couple short and sweet tips on having a smooth closing:

  • Avoid "shifting" your money from bank accounts, credit cards etc, keep everything as is
  • Maintain your current employment/income source, don't change jobs
  • Respond quickly to all requests for information
  • Keep residence, marital status, business ownership, etc. stable
  • Do not obtain new debt – maintain your credit record and defer any major purchases aka don't go buy a new truck until AFTER you close on your house!
  • Funds to close must come from the same verified accounts provided at time of applications, you can't have a last minute gift fund if you spend your savings so…. be careful what you spend!

I hope this helps you during your real estate transactions! Contact me if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

Have a great week!

-Aimee Slesk

AimeeS@windermere.com

First Time Home BuyersMortgage Insurance February 24, 2015

How Lower Mortgage Insurance Effects YOU!

I have had quite a few questions lately on how the changes made in January to lower mortgage insurance actually effect your buying power (the amount you are approved for through a bank to purchase a home).

Example:  In January if you were pre approved for $205,000 and have done nothing to improve/lower your credit score, your buying power is now $220,000.  That is a $15,000 difference, and you didn't have to do anything. Pretty Aweome!  If you have been house shopping online via redfin, zillow, or windermere, you know that $15,000 makes a substantial difference in the houses you are looking at.  

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to know more about the hows/whys and see how your buying power has changed since January.  I am happy to help!

Cheers!

 

First Time Home Buyers January 14, 2015

How to Make an Offer on a Home

 

You found your dream home and are ready to make an offer – now what!?

 

DON'T OVER THINK IT! If you love the house and have been looking for a while, make the offer, don't wait.  Here is why: Would you be mad at yourself if you missed this opportunity to purchase this home? If the answer is Yes, then make the offer.  I was helping a couple try and purchase a condo for a couple months, they finally found one they liked in their price range and they wanted to sleep on making an offer over night.  Again this is after months of looking for something.  The next morning we went to make an offer and someone else had already made a full price cash offer, that same morning! The sellers had accepted the cash offer.  That was about 2 months ago, they have still not found something in their price range that will accept their loan program.  

The real estate market is a tricky thing, sometimes there are lots of options to chose from and sometimes there are not. We also cannot predict the future, we don't know if another party will come in and make an offer today or tomorrow on the same home regardless of how long the home has been sitting on the market. 

You have a couple days after making the offer to essentially change your mind (obviously don't go around making offers for fun, you are playing with peoples financial lives, professions and emotions here). But if you would be mad at yourself for missing the opportunity, lock it up, make the offer and be one step closer to owning the home you love. 

 

CALCULATE what your mortgage will be for the home.  Have your real estate professional to do this, to make sure the mortgage will be within the budget you have set.  Online, click here for a quick mortgage calculator.

 

COMPARE similar homes in the area to the home you love, make sure you feel comfortable with your offer price, your real estate professional will help supply comparison properties

 

TRUST your real estate professional and yourself.  It's important to work with someone you trust so you know they truly have your best interest at heart. Also trust yourself, If you feel that you have found the right place for yourself and your family (or potential family) act on it.  If you feel it is not the right house for you, wait.

 

GET EXCITED!  This is a big step! You are ready to move into home ownership, no more renting and paying someone else's mortgage, making someone else's dreams come true.  Feed your own.  Make your own dreams come true.  Invest in your financial future!

 

If you have any questions on making an offer or feel you are ready to start your home search for your first home or any home.  Please contact me, I am happy to help point you in the right direction! 

Cheers!

Aimee Slesk

AimeeS@windermere.com

 

First Time Home BuyersSelling Your Home January 1, 2015

Why It Will Be Easier To Buy A Home In 2015

Happy New Year!  

 

Home buyers get ready for some exciting news if you are thinking about purchasing a home this year!

 

1. Less Strict Credit Requirements: Since the housing market crashed a little while back, lenders have been extremely cautious in their qualifying buyers for a mortgage loan. They are now relaxing their credit requirements making it much easier to qualify for a home loan.  Government programs are projecting an increase by about 1.2 million home loans given this year, exciting news for all you home buyers out there!

2. Even Lower Down Payments: Home buyers should be excited about both Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae's decision to lower the required down payment!  They are lowering the required down payment to 3 percent!  In 2014 they were 3.5 percent.  This is an amazing down payment compared to numerous loan programs that require 10-20 percent down payment.

In addition to your monthly mortgage payment, most first time buyers are also required to purchase mortgage insurance.  Some programs allow you to pay a few thousand dollars upfront but if you are unable to afford that, they will add it to your monthly mortgage payment. This can be a few hundred dollars a month! With the increased amount of mortgage insurance required for low and middle class buyers, it has become more difficult to afford a mortgage AND the additional couple hundred dollars of insurance a month.  The now lower down payment requirements will help cushion the also required monthly mortgage insurance making it easier for buyers to purchase a home.  

This coupled with the fact that credit score standards are allowing more wiggle room will help many more first time home buyers break into home ownership this year.

3. Rates Are Still Historically Low: It was projected by experts that by the end of 2014 the average rate would top around 5 percent.  As of last week (years end), average rates on a 30 year fixed mortgage didn't even top 4 percent.  According to Freddie Mac, they averaged 3.89 percent, an 18 month low!  Before the end of 2015 they could eventually get up or pass the 5 percent mark but that is still historically a very low rate. 

If you are a first, fifth, or tenth time home buyer and have questions, please contact me AimeeS@windermere.com . I would be happy to help answer any questions you have and get you started on your home buying process!  

 

Selling Your Home December 3, 2014

Selling Your Home During the Holidays – Decorating Tips

If your home is listed on the market, it is always a balancing act living in your home (especially if you have a family) and keeping it show ready.  Add the holidays into the mix and it's an even more challenging scenario.  How do you celebrate the holidays, host holiday get togethers and keep your house ready to show at any time? Here are a couple tips that will help with that: 

 

First of all, go less Clark Griswold and more Martha Stewart. Take down Santa and his reindeer on your roof and the giant blow up frosty the snowman collection in your front yard. Only for this year, it can go back up next year when your home is not on the market.  Clutter and 'overdecorating' can be serious deterrents to potential buyers.  When I say more Martha Stewart, I mean make a cozy simplistic holiday atmosphere. Less is more.  

 

Size Matters when it comes to your Christmas tree. If you have vaulted ceilings a tall Christmas tree can show them off.  Make sure that the base of the tree is not overly wide though it can make your floor area look smaller than it is.  Keep the decor on your tree simple.  

 

Highlight your homes features. If you have a view, keep your windows clear of holiday stickers and garland.  If you have a banister, use garland/lights to make it look elegant.  Hang mistletoe in a high archway in your entry way or an oversized hallway to bring warmth. Highlight your mantles and wood burning stove to bring in a cozy feel to your home.

 

Avoid Clutter. If it is holiday clutter or not, try and hide as much of it as possible.  One easy trick I recommend is purchasing non see through plastic bins and shelving (if you don't already have it) and place your 'clutter items' in the bins on the shelving in your garage.  It will look organized and give the home a welcoming open feel as opposed to a hoarders feel.  The best prices I have found on bins is at Target, $5.49 for an 18 gallon storage bin!!

 

Religious Overtones and the holidays are always a hot topic. The foundation of these holidays are religious and that's why majority of people celebrate them (including myself).  This is your home and you can decorate and celebrate however you like, this is America after all.  Something to take into consideration though, while your home is on the market, you want to attract any and all buyers.  If your house has been 'taken over' by religious themed decor, that becomes the focus of the home tour, not the home.  The same goes for clutter, holiday decor, collectibles, childrens toys etc.  You want your potential buyers to be able to picture themselves and their family and friends in your home. I'm not saying hide your nativity scenes and menorahs.  Just don't place the giant blow up ones in your front yard, on your roof and in your living room.  Keep it simple. 

 

Keep it Clean.  The holiday season is twice as busy as your normal life with holiday parties, kids activities, family gatherings etc.  It is the perfect time to hire a little extra help.  My personal recommendation is 2 times a month have professional come in and deep clean your home.  Yes you have to pick up your home a bit before they come but it will save you a lot of time. You can focus on keeping your home tidy and show ready as opposed to deep cleaning it.  That's enough of a task in itself.  If you are looking for an excellent house cleaner try Michelle with Shell Cleaning Services.  Her e-mail is m-starkey@comcast.net.  She is great.  Mention my name for an additional 10% off your first house cleaning.

 

Keep Your Emotions in Check, or at least try.  Please don't forget to take care of your self.  According to numerous studies, selling your home and moving is one of the most emotional times of any persons life.  Remember to make time for yourself, take a hot yoga class, wor​kout, take a walk, sit down and have a cup of tea and read.  You are important and if you are not taking care of yourself through the holidays this process will be more challenging than it should. My favorite place in town to de-stress is Elements Hot Yoga. Check it out! 

 

Please feel free to contact me and ask personal questions on your home decor or listing your home.  I am happy to list your home through the holidays (any time of year of course) and help get it show ready. If the home is not in my listing area I will be able to point you in the right direction.

 

Cheers! 

 

Happy Holidays,

Aimee Slesk 

AimeeS@windermere.com