Real Estate Realness: Calculating Equity
Equity is a valuable number to know as a homeowner. It’s useful if you’re thinking of selling, taking out a line of credit, or funding a home renovation. So, how do you calculate it?
Your Equity = Your Home’s Value – What You Owe on Your Mortgage
The fair market value can be used to estimate equity, but a formal appraisal is required by most lenders to determine the home’s value. Talk to your lender to see your options and learn more about what you can do with your equity!
Real Estate Realness: Tips for House Hunting
Are you going house hunting this winter? How exciting! Let me help you prepare with a few tips to gather both your finances and your thoughts.
My Tips for House Hunting:
1. Get preapproved for a loan before house shopping.
2. Ask your realtor questions – that’s what we’re here for!
3.Take your time. It isn’t a race, even if it feels like one.
4. You may not win every offer, but don’t settle!
5. And don’t forget, this process should be fun.
Real Estate Realness: Enhance Your Lighting
Ever since the clocks jumped back, it’s been pretty dark outside. Your home’s lighting may work well enough during the rest of the year, but it could use some help when winter comes along. So, let’s enhance your lighting and bring more shine to your home!
1. Get LED light strips you can stick on and plug in behind shelves, furniture, and electronics for controllable mood lighting.
2. Add mirrors behind lamps and opposite windows that get natural light to amplify what you already have.
3. Swap your light bulbs for ones with a higher lumen and a dimmable switch for a brighter light that you can turn down when needed.
And of course, this is the season for outdoor twinkly lights. I won’t judge if you leave them up through February!
Real Estate Realness: Perks of Homeownership
If you already own a home, then you know it comes with some work but also some great perks! Homeownership can offer you both short-term and long-term rewards, both instant and delayed gratification.
What kind of perks come with owning a home?
1. Your Own Mortgage
2. Potential Investment Opportunities
3. Personalizing Your Home
4. Sense of Belonging
and many more!
If you don’t already own a home, contact our realty team today to find out what else owning a home can do for you. Let’s go get you those perks!
Real Estate Realness: Pre-Approval Letters
You’re ready to buy a home and you know what you can afford. So why are people asking you for a pre-approval letter? Can’t they just take your word for it?
A pre-approval letter lets sellers know you’re serious about buying and that you’ve already spoken to a lender. It shows that the lender has determined you are eligible to receive a loan of a certain amount. It’s concrete evidence that you are ready and able to buy now!
Our team works with all our clients to ensure they are pre-approved before searching for homes. It saves them time and stress later and reduces the chances of a seller rejecting their offer.
Real Estate Realness: Listing your Home During the Holidays
The year is almost over and people are busy getting ready for the holidays. What a horrible time to sell your home, right? Actually, no!
Here are 4 reasons to list your home during the holidays:
1. There are fewer homes on the market, which means less competition for buyers’ attention.
2. People transitioning to new jobs in the new year are looking to buy now.
3. Buyers are more emotional around the holidays and have more time to look.
4. There are potential end-of-year tax breaks for both buyers and sellers.
If you’ve been thinking of selling, then let’s talk. We will walk you through the home selling process and strategies for a successful sale.
Real Estate Realness: Homeowners Insurance vs Title Insurance
Most big purchases include some form of insurance for protection, and purchasing a home is no different. But you’ll want a couple of forms of protection when becoming a homeowner: homeowners insurance and title insurance.
Homeowners insurance protects the home against loss and common damages resulting from covered events under your policy.
Title insurance protects your ownership interest in the home against anyone else who may try to claim ownership.
Both are equally important and sometimes required by your lender in order to close on the home.
Real Estate Realness: Winterizing your Home
With colder temperatures on the way, a comfortable and cozy home is a must.
So, here are 4 tips for winterizing your home!
1. Insulate your pipes to prevent them from freezing and bursting.
2.  Seal and insulate your windows plus any spaces that might leak heat and allow cold air in (like attics and basements).
3. Keep your gutters clean to prevent water from building up and freezing over.
4. Trim weak branches from your yard that might fall on your home or on passersby.
And don’t forget to stock up on your favorite candle scents, pull out your winter blankets from storage, and get ready for some cozy winter living!