Tips To Raise Your Credit Score

TIPS TO RAISING YOUR CREDIT SCORE

We are coming into a new year and a new year bring new Dreams! To achieve those dreams you first need to have steps to achieve it. If that dream this year is purchasing a new home? Then setting goals early on can help you achieve your dream, even if you are not planning on hitting the mark until later in the new year. 

It is important to remember when it comes to your credit score it can be said it is often like losing weight; it takes time and there is no easy quick fix to correct it. It is always best to manage your credit score responsibly over time. 

Buying a new home is an exciting time. It can also be stressful if you are unsure about your credit or know that your credit is not as high as you’d like it to be. Your credit score is one of the biggest factors in how much of a home loan you can qualify for and the interest rate you’ll pay. The good news is there are easy ways to increase your credit score.

 By following a few tips, you can make sure your report accurately reflects your use of credit and create a plan to improve your scores if necessary.

• Check for Errors - Errors on a credit report is very common. Make sure that everything is current and accurate. A report from the Federal Trade Commission stated in 2012 that one in five consumers had at least one error on one of their credit reports. You are entitled to one free credit report a year, start off the new year getting the report and checking over it to make sure there isn't anything that is a mistake. 

 • Pay Down Credit Card Debt – One of the easiest ways to boost your score is to lower your credit card balances. Aim to have no more than 50% of available credit in use.

 • Remove Negative Accounts – If you have old collections or bad debt, negotiate with the creditor to pay some/all of the debt in exchange for removing the record. Remember though that by paying off a collection debt doesn't mean it will automatically be taken off your credit score. It can remain on your report for up to 7 years. 

 • Keep Old Accounts Open – About 15% of your score has to do with how long you’ve had credit accounts. Do not close any accounts trying to find a quick fix way to correct debt. Doing so may backfire and hurt your credit score. 


It is easy to get started but as our busy lives begin it can easily be put in the back of our minds when life and bills begin to come in. There are some helpful tools available to help you stay on task with your New Years Goal! 

By setting up payment reminders - Making your payment on time is crucial step in maintaining the perfect correct history. Often banks can set up alerts for you to remind you of upcoming payment due dates. You could set up auto pay monthly with your payments being automatically taken out of your budget each month at a set time. 

With these steps it can be a starting point to achieve the credit score you are wanting to get the best rate and mortgage payment on your new home. 

Create a budget plan and stick to it. With out a plan in place achieving a goal can get hard. Don't give up! Like I mentioned earlier it takes time and anything worth while can. So create a plan this new year and picture yourself achieving home ownership.
 Contact me or your local mortgage lender to help you achieve this goal in 2019. We are here to help and give you the right tools to make purchasing a home easy. 

Happy New Year! 

What Are Contingencies On A Contract?

What are Contingencies on a Contract? 

Contingencies are commonplace in contracts of all kinds. A contingency allows for one party or another to legally back out of a contract in the event of some specific condition occurring. They are protection against the unknown. In real estate, there can be contingencies inserted for either buyer or seller or both. These take many different forms and until removed in writing, either party may change their minds based on the result of the contingent event or issue. While the seller contingencies are less common, there are a few that you can use to your advantage, should you need them. Keep Reading to find out what they are and how you can use them to protect your interests.

Some examples of home buyer contingencies:

 • Home inspections – condition of the home there are various inspection-related contingencies with specified due dates and requirements. These allow the buyer to demand new terms or repairs should the inspection uncover certain issues with the property – and to walk away from the deal if they aren't met. The seller can then either accept or reject those terms; rejecting them would also terminate the contract.

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 • Specialty inspections – mold, geological, roof inspections

• Code Violations – an investigation into improvements made without permits

• Lender appraisal – ensures the offered price is not too high. Should the appraisal come in lower, another negotiation might become necessary to see if the seller will lower the price to make up the difference. If not, this circumstance could void the contract

• Sale of current home – allows the buyer to back out if they cannot sell their current home in specific time frame. Sometimes the buyer is only able to close if he can get funds from the sale of his current home, which is usually under contract at the time he enters into the deal for the new home. So he makes the new deal contingent upon successful completion of his old place. A seller accepting this clause may depend on how confident she is of receiving other offers for her property.

• Final loan approval – loan is ready for signature and close

• HOA CC&Rs – review of documents to ensure rules and regulations do not infringe on enjoyment of property

• Insurability – home owner’s insurance available at a reasonable rate Home sellers can also have contingencies included as well, such as one which states the sale is contingent on finding a replacement home. Contingencies are a fact of contract law. In real estate, they ensure that the offer is concluded as expected.

It is important to know your personal interest in such a large financial transaction. The more you ask the better you will become with the process. It is important to have someone on your side looking out for your interests. Contact your Mortgage Lender or Me to find out more. 

Down Payment-How Much Will You Need?

DOWN PAYMENT-HOW MUCH WILL YOU NEED?

    Gone are the days when anyone could buy a home with just a promise and signature. No documentation loans allowed virtually anyone to buy a house with no money down with just a simple credit check. After the mortgage meltdown, this all changed. Lenders tightened guidelines and down payments were back. 

But how much do you actually need? Must you always find 20% down? The answer might surprise you; there are many ways to buy a home with less than 20% down payment.

  

 0% Down – There are still two loan programs which allow one to buy a home for no down payment; the VA loan and the USDA loan.

 -The VA loan requires the borrower to be a qualified service person or veteran and the USDA loan is for certain areas under the Department of Agriculture.  

 5% Down – Conventional loans with loan limits can allow one to buy a home with as little as 5% down. These loans do have PMI (Private mortgage insurance) which can be eliminated when the loan amount falls below the 20% threshold.  

3 ½ % Down – FHA offers first time home buyers a good home loan for only 3.5% down payment. Again these loans have loan limits and PMI but offer a faster entry into the housing market.  

It's important to know that if you are buying a home with less money down, know that your mortgage payment will be higher than if you put more money down. The three drivers that inflate a mortgage payment are:

1.Interest Rate

2.Larger Loan Size

3.Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Buying a home doesn’t always mean 20% loan. Although many lenders like 20% down payments but most first-time buyers put down much less. Just keep your eye on the fees. The down payment is not the only upfront money you have to deal with. There are loan closing costs and earnest money to consider as well. (we will get into more detail about earnest money in next weeks blog post)

It is tempting to go with the lowest all-in upfront charges when trying to buy a home. But the key to building net worth is to buy smart, especially when it comes to such a large purchase as a house. 

Lenders are required to disclose all fees and it's always a good idea to shop around with multiple mortgage providers in your area to get your best deal. Plus, the more you explore your options, the more you'll learn about the process. 

 If you’re considering buying a new home, talk to myself or your lender about your options.

Fireplace Design Trends

Fireplace Design Trends

 The long evenings of the winter months invites families to stay home and enjoy the warmth of their own home. Naturally, attention turns to the fireplace as both providing extra heat and as the focal point of the room. New technology and environmentally friendly design has brought contemporary updates that are sleek, fashionable and playful.

  Finishing – Fireplace finishes have changed. New products such as the Cool Wall Series open a wide variety of design options by allowing a cool surface as a backdrop for finishes. 


 Wood – Wood burning fireplaces are back in style. Decorative spaces for wood storage are adding architectural interest.

  Larger Openings – One of the leading trends in fireplace design is enlarging the viewing window of the fireplace. A simple retrofit of an existing fireplace can make a huge difference in the look of any room. 

 Corner Fireplaces – This popular feature of the 1990's is back with modern updates. Two or three sided fireplaces with sleek styling and elegant accents, such as wood or metal, are providing a centerpiece for rooms. 

 Fireplace Walls – Linear fireplaces that stretch the length of the wall is one trend showing up in model homes across the country. Monotone colors and clean lines finish this modern trend. 

Advantages of Selling A Home This Winter

Advantages of Selling a Home This Winter

Home sellers and real estate agents often fear the winter months because it seems like a poor time to list. The truth is that winter can be a great time to list your home for sale. The Internet has no season meaning that serious buyers are always on the look out, checking out the latest listing online. It is especially true when the weather outside is cold. It means your online listing is getting viewed more then before. 


 Less Inventory 
Conventional wisdom tries to say that taking your home off the market in winter, or waiting to list, until the spring selling season starts is the best way to sell your home. The truth is that if you are trying to sell your home, wouldn’t you rather list while the competition is less? 
Come spring, sellers will flood the market and your home will be just another fish in a big pond. 

Higher Prices 
With the end of the summer season, often homes are removed from the market, either because the sellers mistakenly believe they need to wait for the spring. But when listings flood the market in April, prices can go down as a “buyers’ market” takes hold and inventory increases. 

 Serious Buyers 
Buyers in the winter also tend to be more serious about a home purchase. The holidays are a time to relax and enjoy family and friends. In real estate, studies show that if a buyer is out looking for a new home during these months, they have a reason to move, which tend to create better offers.  Home sellers can enhance their ability to capitalize on the slower pace and smaller inventory by listing their homes for sale now. Winter is the perfect time to get the highest possible sales price while the competition is drinking pumpkin spiced latte and waiting for the spring.  

Getting Tax Breaks
Winter home buyers may also be motivated to grab the tax benefits of buying a home before the years end. Many home buyers can write off some of the expenses of their home purchase on their taxes. There are many tax deductible items a home owner can count on, such as: 

• Mortgage interest
• Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Premiums
• Real Estate Taxes

Always, check with your tax expert to make sure you are getting all the deductions and credit you've earned. 

So why wait? Existing home sales have increased since November coming into December an average of 4.5% in the past three winters. That means even though there are less homes on the market, buyers are out there buying at a steady, if not increased pace. That is great news for you winter sellers!

If you are wanting your home to be in the spotlight then contact me today! 

It's Time To Winterize

1. Doors and Windows- Is cold air sneaking into your home through your doors and windows? You can make sure that all the weatherstripping is in place and you could even help by purchasing draft stoppers. Caulking your windows or purchase a plastic window insulation kit to keep out the cold chill.

2. Gutters-Cleaning your gutters before winter sets in helps by having a combined build up of leaves, heavy ice/snow causing unwanted damage. It is always a good idea to routinely check the build up in your gutters on your home so the water can flow quickly.

3. Flip Ceiling Fan Blades-YES! This helps! By simply switching your ceiling fan blades to run clockwise will push the warmer air down to the ground, saving you a little bit of extra money on that heating bill. 

4. Change Furnace Filters-During the heating season it's important to change out your dirty filters. If they are not changed out regularly it can restrict airflow and increase your energy demand.

5.Protecting your Pipes-To minimize the possibility of water freezing in your plumbing pipes, wrap each pipe in a blanket of foam insulation.

6.Turn off Exterior Faucets- Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice expands, start by disconnecting garden hoses and draining the water that remains in faucet. An added protection is purchasing a Faucet Cover.

Almost two thirds of American Adults live in a home that needs weatherization. Among the people who do weatherize their home 54% do it to save money on their energy bills. 44% do it to make the temperature in their home more comfortable and 22% do it to be energy efficient. Whatever your reasoning is it's best to be prepared for a cold winter and prepare your home before the snow and ice begin to fall. Your home will thank you and so will your wallet. 

Thanksgiving Home Decor Ideas

Thanksgiving Home Decor Ideas

 Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. While the standard pumpkins and scented candles are a nice touch, there are so many other options for decorating a home for Thanksgiving. Consider these interesting and unusual touches to bring a fall feel to your home. 

 Colorful Leaves – In most parts of the country, there are piles of fall leaves in the front yard. There are a huge variety of uses for these bright leaves. Gather some to use on the dining room table, inside candle hurricanes or scatter along the mantle. 

 Natural Elements – Decorations don’t need to be so obvious. Consider using driftwood, acorns and pine cones to add a fall flavor to your home decor.

 Fall Fruit – Lemons placed in a bowl have long been a staple in spring and summertime staging. In fall and winter, change the lemons to a variety of colors of apples. Everything from red to green and everything in between adds a seasonal tone to the kitchen.

 Pillows and Throws – There’s no rule that says that one needs to keep the same pillows and throws throughout the home all year around. Consider fall/winter colors and themes to add interest to living rooms, bedrooms and dens.

Creative Candle Holders- Use repurposed candle holders for easy fall displays of small pumpkins and gourds. Look for inexpensive candle holders in varying heights at a garage sale or antiques store, then spray-paint black for a unified look. 

Bottle Display- Show off bittersweet berries in gold, green and clear bottles on a windowsill or shelf. Tiny gourds between the bottles add another shape to the seasonal mix. 

Pen Your Thanks- The holiday meal more meaningful by giving each guest a personal note of appreciation. Present the notes in envelopes as place cards or turn them into keepsakes: Print each message on colorful paper and wrap it around a candle holder. (but don't leave lit candles unattended)

Home Holiday Decorating doesn't have to be expensive, adding simple touches can bring about an uplifting spirit in your home. Ones that your family and friends would love to sit around and give thanks. 

When you are in the midst of selling your home over the holidays welcoming potential buyers into a space where they can see their holidays together is a nice touch. You want to present your home as their home when you are trying to sell. 

TOP 5 ROOMS TO REMODEL

Top 5 Rooms to Remodel 

With the popularity of the home remodeling shows, home owners across the country are anxious to take out their tool box and remodel their home too. Most often, remodels are better suited to professionals however, and this can cost significantly more. Regardless of the method, remodeling projects are not inexpensive, so making the best impact for the cost is important. 

Here are the top 5 rooms to remodel in 2018.

 1. Kitchen – Always a great return on investment. From functional spaces to bona find living areas, add extra seating, lighting and entertaining spaces such as a bar or counter. 

2. Backyard Kitchen/Family Room – The backyard is an extension of the interior. Section off areas for an outdoor kitchen and family room. Add a fireplace or even a TV. 

 3. Master Bedroom – Always a place to retreat and refresh. Master bedrooms are getting makeovers with calm soothing paint colors, large picture windows and balconies or patios.  

4. Guest Bathroom – While not often the first thought, a powder room is easy to remodel and gives a great impression. Make the space look larger with a monotone color scheme.  

5. Bonus Room/Media Room – Create a unique family space with a media room or bonus room. Extra space which will bring more than its share of cost when selling. 

Whether you are ready to sell your home or just update a room, any of these areas of  your home are great places to concentrate. You are sure to get a return on your investment in these areas. If you or someone you know is ready to sell their home contact me to learn more about your home value and where you can get started to placing the for sale sign in your yard.  

Tips For Buying A House In The Fall

Tips for Buying a House in the Fall 

Surprisingly, fall is a great time to buy a home. There are still homes on the market which did not sell during the summer months, some at deep discounts. There are also homes newly listed by sellers trying to beat the slower winter months. At the same time, there are fewer buyers out searching, which makes it the perfect time to buy a home. 

 • Fall home buyers should be ready to move when they find the right home and at the right price. Get pre-qualified so that you can jump at the right opportunity. You don't want to lose the home you just fell in love with to another buyer who was pre-qualified first.

 • Notice the imperfections. With windy or rainy weather, homes can show their scars. Look for evidence of water intrusion and evaluate the yard debris with the falling leaves. Look at gutters and ceilings for both. 

 • Visit the local school. With school in session, this is a good time to visit and ask questions from teachers and administrators. 

 • Wait for winter if necessary. Buyers all but evaporate in the winter months, so while the competition seems low in the fall, wait for the right home to come along, even if it’s in January.  Buying a home this fall is exciting. By using the season to its advantage, home buyers can get a great deal. 

6 Reasons Your Home Won't Sell

Are you ready to sell your home and want it to have a great first impression on the market? Or maybe your home has been listed for a few weeks or months, and you can't figure out why it won't sell, and you know your agent is working hard to market it. I’ve listed below the top 6 reasons your home may not make a good impression and end up stagnant on the market.

1. IT'S OVERPRICED

To be clear, an overpriced home is the #1 reason a home won't sell. We often times want our homes to be worth a lot more than we may see based on the data, but if you put your home on the market for the number you wish it will bring instead of the price it actually needs to be, your home can sit on the market for months without getting a single showing. If you're thinking you need to price high to leave room for negotiations, statistics show that views for your property, for buyers in your price range, can drop a whopping 90% if it's priced too high. Discuss with your broker or me what the market says the value of your home is, then price it competitively to potentially get a bidding frenzy instead of low offers or having it expire.

2. LOW SHOWING AVAILABILITY

Making sure the house is clean and having to leave on a daily basis for buyers to tour the home may get a little overwhelming, but it is crucial to have open availability to have your home shown. You could end up missing out on the perfect buyer if you decline too many showings. The longer it sits on the market, the less value buyers will see in it. Talk with me or your broker about having a 24-hour notice period if the extra time is needed, but make sure your home is available to be shown as often as possible.

3. CLUTTERED SPACE

Buyers want to walk into a house and envision their lives in that home. This is difficult to do if your home is cluttered with personal belongings. They are instantly given the feeling of invading someone else's personal space, instead of the satisfaction of being able to see a future in your home. Make sure your property is clutter free before putting it on the market; and store away any family photos.

4. UNPLEASANT ODORS

If you smoke or have pets, it's easy to get used to the smell to the point that you don't even notice it anymore. But it's important to understand that the scent can be picked up by new people visiting your home, and it can really turn them off from making an offer. Before a showing, make sure to dispose of any garbage, don't cook fish or other strong-smelling food, and ensure the home is freshened up so there are no pet or smoke odors.

5. UNWILLING TO MAKE REPAIRS

Selling your home as-is may sound appealing at first but being unwilling to make repairs could cost another mortgage payment that far exceeds the cost of repairs if you refuse to work with the buyer on their requests and the home goes back on the market again. It's wise to be open to repair requests, and simply go over with your agent what you can afford to do and make a reasonable counter offer during the repair negotiations.

6. UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH BUYERS

It's important to have an open mind about requests that will come from buyers when it comes to purchasing your home. These requests can come in the form of price negotiations, repair requests, or even requests to cover closing costs or home warranties. With your agent on your side advising you of the best steps to take, it's best to be open to working with the buyers on some of their requests to ensure a successful closing.

SIMPLE SPRUCING TIPS FOR YOUR HOME

Simple Sprucing Tips For Your Home You don't need thousands of dollars to fully refurbish your home to make it feel like new again. Instead, you can DIY a lot of features in your house to help spruce it up for the upcoming season. Whether you plan to sell your home, have guests over, or are just tired of how drab it's been feeling lately, here are a few tips and tricks you can use to refresh your space:

CLEAN + DECLUTTER
Throw out all of the junk taking up space! You'd be surprised by how much more you'll fall back in love with your home when you take out the collection of accumulated stuff that has piled up over the years and finally get to see your home's features for what they are. Store what you don't need/use in either the attic, basement, or in a storage unit. After you've decluttered, be sure to finish it off by cleaning your home. Clean windows, walls, and the floors for the best results. 

BRING IN NATURAL LIGHT
Do you have heavy curtains covering your windows? Bring them down! Not only will this make your space feel bigger by removing stuff off the walls, it'll also feel alive again with all of the natural light that pours in. 

ADD FRESH PAINT
Nothing refreshes a home like a new coat of paint. If you have dark dull colors, opt for lighter tones. Covering up stains on the walls, or drab old paint, can help your house feel brand new all over again. 

ADD TILE
Consider adding a tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get beautiful results. Be sure you get tiles that compliment the colors in the space, so it doesn't clash and look unappealing.

ADD COLOR
Although neutral colors are always recommended as the base of any home decor, don't be afraid to compliment your neutrals with a pop of color. You can add it throughout the home by using flowers, pillows, decor, or even light curtains that are staged on the sides of your windows. 

CHANGE OUT FIXTURES + HARDWARE
You'd be surprised by how much more a kitchen can look different just by replacing the hardware on the cabinets. A bathroom or living room can come alive again by installing a brand new light fixture. If you moved into a place that still has the same stock hardware or fixtures, replace them and add a little creativity with the new pieces you have installed. 

REARRANGE FURNITURE
Head to Pinterest and get inspired for new living room, bedroom, or dining room arrangements. Most homeowners decorate "incorrectly" when it comes to standard staging rules. View a variety of furniture set-ups on social media and let it motivate you to rearrange your space. You don't have to buy a bunch of new furniture to make a drastic change. Whether your are ready to list your home or just get ready for company for the holidays these tips are a great starting point to freshen up your space. If you are ready to list your home but not quite sure where to even begin? Use these steps to get started and remember you are listing your home to move into that new home you've been wanting. Start packing your things away for the move, it helps to get that energy out and keep you motivated to have your home ready. Especially, for those potential buyers who come through wanting to make your house their new home. Call me to help you with the process of getting started.

Tips To Get Settled In A New Home

Tips To Get Settled In A New Home

CHECK MAJOR APPLIANCES

Be sure to check all the appliances to ensure everything is still in working order after the move. You want to make sure nothing was broken in the move or stopped working suddenly. Look at things such as your stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, refrigerator, and microwave. If you brought any appliances yourself and you used movers, you’ll want to make sure everything still works with them, since mover’s insurance companies give a limited timeframe for when you can make a claim.

CHECK ALL OF YOUR BOXES & FURNITURE

Be sure to go over all your boxes and furniture to make sure nothing got damaged during the move. Be sure that everyone has arrived and didn’t get lost in the process. If you notice something is missing a month later, it may be too late to file a claim with the moving company. Even if you don’t plan on unpacking everything as soon as you move in, just do a quick review and inventory everything you brought to protect yourself and your belongings.

SET UP UTILITIES

Did you remember to set up your utilities before moving in? There’s nothing more frustrating than moving into your home to realize the lights don’t work. Make sure you’ve gotten with all of the necessary utility companies to have everything turned on in time for your move.

REGISTER INTO A GOOD SCHOOL

You may have already known to look for a school for your kids prior to your move, but if you haven’t yet found one, be sure to research all the schools local to you to find the right fit for your family. The sooner you can find the right school and register, the easier and less stressful it will be to get them in and settle.

REGISTER YOUR CAR

If you’ve moved to a new state or country, you’ll want to make sure to register your car in your new hometown and update your driver’s license, tags, and plates.

CONNECT TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Join sites like Nextdoor.com or get a subscription to your local magazine/newspaper to stay in touch with what’s going on in your neighborhood. Be sure to also join local community Facebook groups. You can find out about events or concerns relating to your community.

GETTING YOUR MAIL

Have you updated your address from all the people you’ll be expecting to get mail from? Like your bank, friends, family, and services you still pay for after your move. Check with the post office to have things redirected to your new address while you work to update your info with everyone else.

FIND THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS

If you’re moving far from your last home, you’ll want to have the right connections. Find a new doctor, dentist, vet, handyman, plumber, etc. Add them into a contact book that’s easily accessible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST

If you’re moving to a new country, 911 won’t be the local emergency number. Make sure you have all the correct numbers in the case of an emergency. This can also include doctors, the local police station, a vet, etc.

INSURANCE COMPANIES

More than likely, you handled home insurance and home warranty during the purchasing process. If you haven’t, be sure to get those taken care of right away. You’ll also want to get your auto, health, and any other necessary household insurances sort for your move.