Looking to add a little bit of “Spring” in your home? Check out these handmade Rose pillows from
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 The Moroccan Floor Poufs would be really Chic in a little girl's room! *Information courtesy of http://www.materialgirlsblog.com/ |
I am here to guide you through the wonderful woes of homeownership. Here's to hoping you learn something along the way! Cheers - Staci
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Rose Buds
Sunday, April 3, 2011
10 Important Steps to Homeownership!
Follow these 10 important steps, and home-buying will be a breeze!
1. Decide what you can afford: Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
2. Develop your home wish list. Then prioritize the features on your list.
3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and over your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20% of the purchase priced saved as a down payment. Also, don't forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs-including taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fees - average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
5. Get your credit score in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct and errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.
6. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options - such as 30 year or 15 year fixed mortgages or ARMS - and decide what's best for you.
7. Get pre-approved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of a t least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.
8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you've saved to buy your first home without paying a penalty for early withdrawl.
9. Calculate the costs of home ownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if appilcable.
10. Contact a REALTOR! Fin an experience REALTOR who can help guide you through the process.
1. Decide what you can afford: Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
2. Develop your home wish list. Then prioritize the features on your list.
3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and over your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20% of the purchase priced saved as a down payment. Also, don't forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs-including taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fees - average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
5. Get your credit score in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct and errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.
6. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options - such as 30 year or 15 year fixed mortgages or ARMS - and decide what's best for you.
7. Get pre-approved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of a t least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.
8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you've saved to buy your first home without paying a penalty for early withdrawl.
9. Calculate the costs of home ownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if appilcable.
10. Contact a REALTOR! Fin an experience REALTOR who can help guide you through the process.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Let's Sell This Place!
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| I Want Out! |
Follow my simple steps to home staging & watch your home activity rise!
The key to staging is SIMPLICITY! You want prospective buyers to picture themselves living in "your" home & this is how you'll achieve that:
1. Neutralize your home. Keep colors soft & neutral. Do not give the buyer a chance to say a bad thing about the color of your room. Just because you enjoy that color does not mean somebody else will. Many buyers turn and run when they have to think about putting work into a home. And we all know it's a Buyer's Market out there, they have many homes to choose from - Make them choose yours!
2. Simplify & De-clutter: As well as you may love the portraits of your families, your children, and your pets - Remove them. These post as a distraction for your buyer. Keep them "picturing themselves" in your home. Clean off Kitchen counters by removing rarely used appliances and miscellaneous items that can be placed elsewhere. Take as many odds and ends out of rooms & pack them away in boxes. Keep it looking Clean.
3. Clean: No one likes a dirty home. Keep it clean. A clean home will sell itself.
Simple Upgrades that will give your home a fresh flair:
-New Bathroom Towels
-Fresh Coat of Paint
-Clean Rugs
-Removing old lighting fixtures
-Nice bedding
Do's
Clean the home from top to bottom
Mow your lawn
Send pets to the neighbors
Keep things organized & clutter free
Vacuum fur and remove pet odor
Don'ts
Leave valuables out on display
Leave pictures or personal effects out
Clutter the Closets (Buyers Look!)
Visit www.REALTOR.COM to find the Home Sellers Guide to Success under the "Advice & Ideas' Section. Happy Selling!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Spring DIYers
As I woke up this morning I couldn't have been more ready for Spring. Frost? Really?! C'mon its April! I am ready to get out of this house and dig in the dirt! Over the past couple of summers I've been busy arranging my perennial beds trying to get that "just landscaped" look. Whew, easier said than done let me tell ya! But on a lighter note, I have so many new and exciting ideas for this year! Number one on my "honey do list' is building a conversation patio full of potted flowers & topped off with a pergola. Anyone have any ideas for great unique plants to put in my pots?!
And for all you DIY's check out this great idea I came across in Midwest Living!
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