Tag: moving

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Buying a Home For the Home Home

Think About These Options When You Are Moving to a New Home

If you are in the process of moving to a new home, you will no doubt be thinking about the different options you have available. Moving can be stressful, but this guide can make it as stress-free as you possibly. 

Moving to a New Home
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Consider These Options When You Are Moving to a New Home

Rent Or Buy

The first thing you need to consider is whether you want to buy or rent your new house. You may not be financially prepared to buy a home, so renting is the only option for now. There are pros and cons to both these options. It can be more expensive in the long term to rent, and you will also have nothing to show for it at the end of the lease. Whereas if you buy a house, your mortgage payments will mean you get to own the house at the end. However, owning a home is far more rigid, while renting gives you the flexibility to move around whenever you want.

Budget 

Before you move to a new home, you need to work out the type of budget you have available to spend on the monthly repayments. You will need to work out your incomings and outgoings and ensure your credit rating is okay before committing to anything. If you buy a house, you need to determine how much deposit you will need to put down for your mortgage application. If you are renting, you need to ensure that you have the advance payment ready when you sign the lease. 

Different Areas 

Now you need to think about the area you want to live in. You may already have a few ideas in mind about where you want to live. You may not be moving very far and staying in the area. The benefit of this is that you already know the local area and whether or not it is nice to live in.

When looking at different areas, you need to consider a few things. What is the crime rate like? You don’t want to live in a dangerous location, especially when raising kids there. Additionally, think about local amenities you may need, such as schools, shops, and doctors. You don’t want to move to an area that doesn’t have access to these if you don’t want to travel to get to them.

Type Of Home

Finally, think about the type of home you want to rent or buy. You have many options, including houses and apartments. It is up to you to decide which is better for you. A house includes more space and privacy, but the downside is more maintenance. Apartments come with added security and other amenities. However, the downside to an apartment is that they lack space, a yard, and can become noisy. If you choose an apartment, you can make the balcony the perfect space to relax, though.

Moving to a New Home

There are many things to consider when moving to a new home. Don’t decide without thinking it through because you want to do what’s best for you and your family.

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Buying a Home Home How To

4 Easy Ways to Tackle the Challenges of Buying Your First Property

If you’re thinking about purchasing your first home, it’s great if you can start climbing the property ladder as early as possible. However, you will need to be aware of the challenges that await you on the market. Knowing the potential issues can help you tackle the challenges of buying your first property, making the experience much better.

Challenges of Buying Your First Property
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How to Tackle the Challenges of Buying Your First Property

Credit Score

First, you need to think about your credit rating. Your credit score impacts whether you can access the right loan on the market. Some of the best ways to improve your credit score include:

  • Paying bills on time
  • Make frequent micropayments throughout the month
  • Increase credit limits but keep your balance the same
  • Dispute mistakes on your credit report
  • Take care of accounts in collections

Finding The Right Property

Next, you should consider how you will find the right property on the market. If this is your first home, it’s unlikely that you will be purchasing a home brand new on the market. Buying an older home means checking that it’s not riddled with expensive problems that lead to big bills for you. If the home was built before the 1980s, you need to ensure that it doesn’t have asbestos. Asbestos is an expensive issue to remove and will mean that the home is unsafe.

Getting The Best Mortgage 

Getting the right mortgage isn’t just about having the best credit rating. Your credit score is just one piece of the puzzle, but you also must make sure you find the right company offering the key deals. Companies such as Strong Home provide great options for first-time homebuyers so they don’t have to worry about ending up with a bad loan. You can also think about exploring working with a mortgage broker. If you use a mortgage broker, they will search the market for you and complete the right amount of legwork. They provide a stress-free experience when searching for the right loan on the market. 

Additional Costs

Finally, it’s essential to understand the additional costs of purchasing the property aside from buying the home. You need to make sure you have enough money saved to cover all costs, including legal fees and moving expenses. These additional costs are on top of saving for the deposit. Don’t forget, if you’re struggling to come up with a deposit for a home, government subsidies are available. The extra costs are why you should always have a budget plan to fall back on. The last thing you want is to end up in the red immediately after buying your home. 

Tackle the Challenges of Buying Your First Property

Understanding some of the challenges of buying your first property can make all the difference in your experience. If you explore the options, you’ll find the perfect space for your family without harming your finances.

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Home Life

3 Things To Keep In Mind When Viewing Potential Properties

Something is exhilarating about viewing potential properties and getting a glimpse of how you and your family could make memories there. It also helps you visualize where you would place your furniture and decide about the size and practicality of your space. As a result, it’s easy to overlook essential aspects of a potential new house when you’re sifting through listings. If you’re looking to buy a home, here are some things to keep in mind.

Viewing Potential Properties
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Keep These Things In Mind When Viewing Potential Properties

Signs of damp

One of the most typical reasons for putting a house on the market is because of damp damage. The bad news for first-time homebuyers is that it’s easy to cover up with a little paint. There are several warning indicators that you should look out for, though, to ensure that you don’t wind up regretting your decision. Here are a few examples of warning signs:

There is a musty odor throughout the building that is not generated by animals or smokers.

  • Deterioration can be seen on the walls and in the wooden fixtures
  • A musty odor throughout the building
  • Wallpaper is bubbling up
  • Paint is peeling or degrading
  • Damp walls
  • Dark spots, frequently found in the upper corners of the walls

Don’t forget to watch for any signs of dampness so that you don’t find out about the problem later on and have to spend more money than you intended. If you love the house, you could ask the sellers to make the necessary repairs before committing to the purchase.

Useful Additions

Instead of focusing exclusively on the negative, here are a few things to keep an eye out for that may be of tremendous practical value to you and your family:

All of these characteristics can be a tremendous asset to any property, so make a note of any you see when looking at suitable properties.

Window and door condition

The condition of each property’s windows and doors is an important consideration. Homeowners worldwide still have thin windows that are susceptible to letting breezes inside. The same is true for your doors, so be sure that the homes you’re looking at have modern double glazed windows so you don’t end up shivering and paying considerably more than you should on your energy costs.

If you have your heart set on a specific property, you may be able to negotiate a price reduction with the sellers before making your purchase. Energy bills can stay low if you have good windows and doors. You will also be safer than with single-pane windows, which can let in more heat or cold.

Keep In Mind When Viewing Potential Properties

When you’re looking at houses, keep these three tips in mind, and soon you’ll be living in the home of your dreams! If you have any other ideas, leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

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Adulting Finances For the Home Home Life

5 Ways to Know You’re Ready to Buy a House

Ready To Buy a House

There’s a point in everyone’s life where they consider buying a property. However, the decision to go ahead and do that or not depends on a few factors. Someone who’s in a position to buy a property might decide that it’s not the best option, and someone who would face an uphill battle could decide that it is the right decision. The good news is that you don’t have to make this decision blindly. There are some key considerations you can keep in mind that’ll help you know if you’re ready to buy a house.

Ready To Buy a House
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How to Know You’re Ready To Buy a House

Steady Income

It can be enjoyable to have a property, but there’s no avoiding that it is a financial commitment. You’ll be signing yourself up for monthly payments for several decades. While there’s no such thing as a 100% secure career, there are some jobs that offer more security than others. If you’ve been working in your position steadily for several years and can’t envision a future where you’ll be out of work, then you’re in a strong position.

Debt Management

You don’t necessarily have to be free of debt to buy a house. It all depends on what type of debt you have. If you have manageable debt then everything will be fine. If you have unmanageable debt, or you’re struggling to stay on top of your payments, then it’ll be better to get those things under control. Plus, if you have a history of good credit, you’ll be able to get better deals on a loan.

Deposit Savings to Help Get Ready to Buy a House

You’ll need to have some money set aside as a downpayment on your house. There’s usually a minimum and maximum, and talking to an experienced mortgage broker will help you get the best mortgage deal based on the value of your savings. Once you’ve decided to buy a house, it’s recommended to ramp up your savings goal. It might mean that you need to tighten your belts for a year or so, but it’ll be worth it!

Emergency Funds

There’s another calculation that you should make before you decide to buy a house: your capacity to deal with unexpected costs. While you can predict many of the costs of homeownership, there’ll always be something that surprises you. If you know that you have enough of a safety net to meet those costs, then you’ll be OK.

Ready to Commit

Finally, are you ready to commit? There’s value in having a property, but you have to make some sacrifices. But if you love where you live and your life, then it’ll be worthwhile making those sacrifices! 

Are You Ready To Buy a House?

Buying a house is an exciting time in your life, but you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to buy a house first. If you’re ready, it can be a beneficial move. Do you have any other tips for knowing if you’re ready? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

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For the Home Home

What To Do When Your Home Offer Is Rejected

Setting out on the adventure of buying a home is exciting but also nerve-racking. Then comes the time to put in the offer, sit back, and wait to hear from the owner. What do you do when the offer is rejected?

Offer Is Rejected, Home Offer Is Rejected

First, don’t be too hard on yourself.

There are plenty of reasons for rejection, and even seemingly perfect offers can end up getting pitched. Here is a quick rundown of why some offers are rejected and steps to take afterward.

For starters, we’re in a hot market — as you probably already know. Generally, in a hot market with rapid sales, a buyer has an increased probability of seeing his or her offer rejected as sellers see an increased number of bids. Receiving a negative response to your offer can stem from many issues. Was the amount of earnest money or the bid too low? Was there a competing offer with a higher down payment or even a cash offer?

All these financial issues and more could have factored into the seller’s decision. It could also be something so simple as the owners decided to remain in the house for personal reasons or you asked for too many contingencies. Having such conditions is good because it shows seriousness. However, having too many contingencies may put more responsibility on the seller than he or she is willing to accept.

The first course of action is to understand why the offer was declined.

Follow up with the real estate agents involved or ask an expert to review the bid.

Next, draft a counteroffer if one was not provided with the rejection.

If the sale was not made contingent with another offer, you can possibly seal the deal with a counter. It’s advised to seek the help of an agent for this part of the process, as well. Be sure to work with an agent who understands seller interests and is going to have your back. Aside from counteroffering, there are a few other steps.

Ensure your finances are in top shape to better compete with other offers. You can also seek new construction.

While the price may be higher than pre-existing homes, the process for buying new construction can be simpler and you might not have to face rejection after rejection. As you continue your journey, remember to keep in touch with an agent, stay informed, and don’t compromise too much. It’s better to miss out on a home than to agree to terms with which you are not comfortable, or pay more than you can reasonably afford.

While the market is currently wild, finding a place to call home is not impossible. It’s important to stay positive and to keep looking. If you can’t seem to find any luck, there are experts available to help get you on the right path. For further information on what to do when an offer is rejected, please see the accompanying resource.


Infographic Provided by Marketplace Homes

Author Bio: Ian Hall is Vice President of Marketing for Marketplace Homes, a national brokerage and property management company. He specializes in real estate functions, such as buying and selling homes, with a particular interest in new construction homes and SFR investments.

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Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

5 Ways To Add Value To Your Investment Property For The Rental Market

Add Value To Your Investment Property

If you own a property that you rent out to tenants, you want to make sure your investment comes with a great return. This way, when it is time to sell, you can ensure that you get more money for your property than you paid for it so that you can secure your financial future. You can achieve this by doing a few things to add value to your investment property for the rental market.

By following these tips, you can expect to increase the value of your investment properties and enjoy the benefits. 

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Add Value To Your Investment Property
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How To Add Value To Your Investment Property For The Rental Market

1. Pay Attention To The Structure 

If you want to hang onto your rental property for a long time, then you need to pay particular attention to its structure. You won’t be able to sell a property that is falling apart, and the house won’t stay around for very long if it gets caught in a storm. If aspects of the outside of the property (such as the roof) are showing signs of wear and tear, then it might be worth using a company such as RPS Metal Roofing & Siding, Inc to protect your property from any potential damage. 

2. Make it Look Good On The Inside 

You want to create a home that looks good and inviting to potential renters and buyers. According to some selling agents, home staging can increase the value of a home by between 1-5%. 

You don’t have to spend too much money on these projects, either. Focus on high-value rooms such as kitchens and living rooms as these are what people tend to be drawn to when they look around a property.

3. Keep Appliances Updated 

The power a new refrigerator or oven can have when it comes to renting or selling a property is unimaginable. Buyers and renters want to know that they’re coming into a place that is well-managed and that they can see themselves living in.

Nobody wants to use a fridge that has clearly seen better days or is functioning questionably. Update your appliances and you’ll be batting away people who want to rent your property for the top dollar. 

4. Focus On Energy Efficiency 

Listing energy efficiency in a home sale listing makes the home more desirable. People want to spend less on their heating bills, as well as having the knowledge that they are doing their bit to save the planet.

Spend the money on working out the efficiencies on heating and cooling, windows and doors, and energy-efficient appliances. 

5. Make the Most of The Space

Poorly thought-out spaces can be offputting to buyers or renters. Galley kitchens are a no-go in favor of the open-plan living situation that people strive for. When it comes time to sell, every time potential investors see something that they add to their mental DIY list then the offer they give you will be lower. This includes knocking down walls, if necessary, to create a more desirable living situation.

Is there extra space in a bedroom that could potentially host a new bathroom? While these are somewhat expensive renovations, they will sell your property in days rather than months if they’re done well. 

If you’re only looking to rent the home, you can ask more when the layout is perfect for potential renters. Plus, you will get more renters after your apartment, which means you can be picky and choose only those with the best references.

Add Value To Your Investment Property

If you want to add value to your investment property, try utilizing some of these tips. Some of them are easy and inexpensive, but if you are willing to go the extra mile, there are bigger things that you can do.

Do you have an investment property? What are some of your best tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home Life Parenting

4 Reasons To Think About Moving Your Family To an Apartment

Moving Your Family To an Apartment

Downsizing is a concept that more and more families are open to, and knowing the reasons may make you think about moving your family to an apartment. Before, it used to be an idea that was reserved for when your kids had flown the nest. Then, mom and dad would sell the big family home and move into a smaller place that’s easier to manage.

Now, families are considering moving to smaller places a lot sooner. In fact, a lot of families are looking to swap a traditional house for an apartment. 

You don’t have to do this, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with living in a house (I do!). There are a few benefits of living in an apartment with your kids, though, and they have even made me consider it.

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Reasons For Moving Your Family To an Apartment

1. More Social

Being in an apartment building means there are lots of other people and families living in the same place. You and your kids could meet new people, making it a more social place for them to grow up. If the apartment has a shared yard or is close to a play area for kids, they’re bound to make lots of new friends in the area. In a house, you are around fewer people and there isn’t always a social element to your neighborhood. 

2. Easier to Maintain

Apartments are naturally easier to maintain than houses, largely because there’s less space. Even in big apartments, though, it’s easier as you have no stairs to traverse – and also because you don’t take care of the building.

Things like your windows and the yard will be taken care of by the building owner. Also, if you’re renting instead of owning, lots of maintenance tasks are covered by the landlord. So, it gives you less to worry about and makes it easier to maintain a lovely home. 

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3. Fewer Pests to Worry About

Living in an apartment means you’re less at risk of running into any pests. Granted, apartment pest control exists for a reason – pests aren’t completely free from apartment buildings! Still, the chances of you encountering rats or mice are greatly diminished when you’re in an apartment.

Perhaps it’s because of the way apartments are made, or it could be because of good upkeep and regular maintenance. Either way, people rarely complain of pests in apartments, at least when compared to pests in a traditional house. 

4. A Better Location

Apartments tend to be in optimal locations for families. You will rarely see an apartment building in the middle of nowhere or out in the suburbs. Instead, they’re close to all of the action!

Your family can be within walking distance of your job and the kid’s school. You could be near public transport, right next to grocery stores, and so on. If you want more convenience in your life, then moving to an apartment could be a better option for your family. 

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Moving Your Family To an Apartment

While there are definite benefits to living in an apartment, this isn’t intended to force you to move out of your house. If you’re happy where you are, that’s absolutely fine. There are advantages to living in a house over an apartment as well, and perhaps that article will be written in the future! Still, if you are thinking about moving your family to an apartment, these benefits should help you with your decision.

Which do you prefer? Living in a house or an apartment? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home

4 Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

advice for first-time homeowners

Being a first-time homeowner is a lot of responsibility, but it can also be an enjoyable experience. Buying a home is a significant investment of your time and money so it makes sense you want to take your new purchase seriously and be a responsible homeowner. Luckily, there are a few pieces of advice for first-time homeowners that you can follow. This advice will help ensure you have a successful and smooth transition moving into your new home.

advice for first-time homeowners
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Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners

1. Take Time to Get Settled

One piece of advice for first-time homeowners is to take the time to get settled into your space and neighborhood. Avoid putting off unpacking boxes and get your belongings in order right away. You want to create as much livable space as possible and see what you’re working with before you decide on what home improvement ideas and decorating you want to start.

The more organized you are and less clutter there is, the better you’ll feel and happier you’ll be at home. Also, go around and introduce yourselves to your neighbors and get to know the area.

2. Budget for Repairs & Trouble

You never know when an item or appliance in your home is going to break. You must plan and budget for emergencies and trouble to unfold. Make sure you have plenty of money set aside for repairs.

For example, if it’s summertime and your air conditioner goes out then you’ll need to call and hire an AC repair or installation service to assist you. You’ll want it fixed or replaced right away so you can ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature.

Not only that, but you need to make sure that you find reliable contractors too. Be sure to look for a trusted roofing company and other trades in the area. Don’t just look for any old company, it’s good to look at reviews and get recommendations from new neighbors too.

3. Tackle One Project at A Time

Another tip to consider as a new homeowner is to plan on tackling one project at a time. Give yourselves some time to live in your home and enjoy it before you decide what you might want to do with it.

Make a priority list and create a budget you can follow to help you stay on track and organized. Maybe pick a few large projects each year to complete and sprinkle in some smaller ones to address when you have some downtime. You want to avoid overwhelming yourself or spending more than you had intended right away.

4. Don’t be afraid to DIY

You shouldn’t be afraid to complete and tackle some of your house projects yourself. Deciding what you can DIY is what homeownership is all about. It’ll be fun to research and teach yourself new skills and you’ll save money by not having to hire a professional.

However, know your limits and never put your safety at risk. For example, you may not want to mess with anything that has to do with the plumbing or electrical. However, there are plenty of other projects you can do yourself such as making small repairs, sprucing up your curb appeal, painting your walls, and refurbishing old furniture.

advice for first-time homeowners

Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

Owning a home is exciting, but it can be stressful if you don’t handle it well right from the start. Use these pieces of advice for first-time homeowners and you will see how enjoyable it all can be.

What piece of advice would you add for first-time homeowners? Let us know in the comments!