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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !!

It’s Time For Spring

It’s time to freshen up the outside of your home! Spring is a great time of year to give the outside of your home a once over to check for all the things that need to be updated from the winter weather. Sometimes all you need is a good pressure washing to make the whole place look brand new. Clean your gutters and your outdoor vents and check all caulking and weather stripping. It’s also time to clean your porch furniture, service your yard equipment and prep your grills for all the upcoming cookouts.

It’s a wonderful time to get out and move so, why not get some yard work done also. This is a great time to pamper your yard, seed bare patches and groom your shrubs and trees. If you are thinking of planting a garden, this is the perfect time to prepare your soil. The weather is warming and the days are getting longer so take advantage of some extra outdoor hours before the HOT weather comes. They say that planting and gardening relieve stress – who doesn’t need help with that. Right?

If you have a pool that has been covered. Now is the time to take the cover off, skim and vacuum your pool and adjust the water level. You will also need to check your chemical levels and adjust as needed. You might also want to see if that itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini still fits or guys you try on that speedo!

So, now that we have the outside looking good. I have a few recipes to share that might just make your house the hit of the block.

RASPBERRY LEMON COCKTAIL

1 PINT FRESH RASPBERRIES

2 LEMONS

2 TBSP SUGAR

4 OUNCES VODKA

ICE

16 OUNCES LEMON SPARKLING WATER

Muddle ¾ of the raspberries with the sugar and lemon juice until the berries are crushed. Add the vodka. Add a handful of ice cubes and shake vigorously. Using a strainer, pour about 4 ounces of the mixture into a glass and to with 4 ounces of sparkling water. Garnish with raspberries and lemons.

SPRING SALAD WITH STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Salad

1 Bag Salad Spring Mix

½ fennel bulb – thinly sliced

¼ red onion – thinly sliced

1 pint strawberries sliced

½ cup pecans

2-4 ounces feta cheese

Dressing

1 cup strawberries sliced

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

1 Tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 Tablespoon shallot - minced

1 clove garlic – minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Add salad ingredients to a bowl. Put dressing ingredients to a food processor and pulse. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Mix and serve.

Enjoy Spring !!!!

Fall, a time to be thankful, to reflect, to think about the coming year. It seems a calmness comes with Fall - Life slows down if only for a moment. Giving us all a moment to take a much needed breath. Are you thankful for where you are in your life? Would you be happier if you had different possessions, opportunities, situations or people in your life? Focusing on what you don't have won't make you happy. Focusing on what you want can and should drive your goals, but it's absolutely wrong to tell yourself that you will be happy when you get what you want. What happens when you get it? You are happy for sure, but that feeling only lasts a moment. There is always a NEXT THING to want and because there is always something more to be had, your happiness becomes more about chasing a dream and not living in the moment, being present and attentive. You can't let what you don't have stop you from appreciating what you do have. There is not a moment in life that goes by that we don't have something to be thankful for. Wake up each morning grateful, spread love and happiness, look for ways to add value to the lives of others. Count your blessings each day and be thankful for the present, today, the moment. 

How do I look for a rental home?

How do you know which rental home will be a good pick for you?

Set your priorities and budget – What do you NEED to have in a rental home - how many bedrooms, baths, what locations do you need to be close to and what do you WANT to have?

How much can you afford to pay? (30% of your income is what the experts say to use to calculate for monthly rent).

Use an agent or a Property Management Company. – Let them do the work for you!

Know your credit score.

Have your information ready – dates, past addresses, landlord names & #’s, jobs, pay stubs. Most companies will run a background and a credit check.

Be up front and honest.

Ask about the cost of utilities – know what is included in the rent. Parking? Storage?

Ask about maintenance and repairs – what does the landlord cover – how long does it typically take to get a response.

Renters insurance – is it required? (You should always have this-it is inexpensive)

Know any additional fee’s - Sec. Deposit, Application Fee, and other fee’s charges by utility companies.

Do you have pets? Pet deposits?

What amenities are offered? 

WHY WORK WITH A REALTOR?

Signs You Are Ready to Become a Homeowner

There is no denying the flexibility that renting offers—you can move relatively quickly when you want, and you do not have to carry a mortgage for decades to have a place to live. However, if you are like many renters, you are probably at least considering the idea of owning a home.

But how do you know if you are ready for homeownership? Here are some reasons why you might be prepared to become a homeowner. If some or all of these resonate with you, it’s probably time to talk to a real estate agent you trust to start looking for a place you can be happy owning and living in.

The opportunity to become a homeowner can be both emotionally and financially rewarding when you have a long-term horizon. By following some sound first-time buyer tips, you’ll ensure that your journey from renting to owner goes smoothly.

The following are some of the most common reasons why renters decide now is the time to own a home:

1. Your Rent Keeps Increasing.

In most areas of the country, rents are rising and rising. The increase in rental prices can be frustrating for numerous reasons. You cannot anticipate your housing costs over the long term, which makes it hard to plan your finances.

You also probably feel some frustration with landlords—after all, who likes being told that they need to fork over yet more rent money in the coming year? There is also the uncertainty of the whole situation that can get to you. Your income is probably not shooting up and up each year, so why should you be expected to pay more and more rent?

When rent is going up and mortgage rates are low, it can be a good sign that you should start shopping for a home. If you think about it – when you are renting, you’re probably helping to pay someone’s mortgage. Unfortunately, that person isn’t you!

Some folks aren’t quite ready to go right from renting into becoming a homeowner. Often the reasons are financial ones. It could be not enough of a down payment or high amounts of debt, possibly from student loans.

At times, if you can find the opportunity, renting to own a house might make sense. Of course, there are pros and cons associated with rent-to-own arrangements, so make sure you understand them.

2. Interest Rates Are Incredibly Attractive.

One of the better reasons to go from renting to owning a home is when money is unbelievably cheap. When interest rates on mortgages are desirable, it’s like a flashing sign that says “buy buy buy.” Interests rates won’t stay at record lows forever. History shows us that they can turn instead quickly.

3. You Have a History of Managing Your Debt Well.

Lenders look closely at the amount of debt you have and how you have managed that debt. Ideally, a lender wants you to have a 43% or less debt-to-income ratio, although some conventional loans will allow you to have a 50% DTI.

You can calculate your debt to income easily by adding up all of your monthly debt payments. Once you know what your monthly debts cost, you can divide that number by your gross monthly income.

If you have high balances on your credit cards, you can pay them down to look more appealing to lenders. You do not have to pay them off completely.

Instead, pay them down enough to hit the right DTI. Then, you can put that extra money into building an emergency fund for your home.

4. You Think It’s Time to Put Down Roots in a Specific Place.

Purchasing a home requires paying a lot of costs at the beginning that cannot be recouped in the first few years of ownership. In other words, for a home purchase to make financial sense, you need to be ready to stick around for a while. Over time, the investment can prove quite positive, but it does take time.

Real Estate has been shown over and over again to be an excellent long-term investment. Like other investments, it is not for someone who might need to move quickly because of a job relocation.

Lenders prefer you to have had the same job for a while as well, a job you are probably going to stay at for years after you purchase the home. They prefer you to have a steady, stable income so that you are less of a risk. Your regular income ensures you won’t miss mortgage payments.

5. You Are Sick of Pouring Money Into Someone Else’s Mortgage.

As a renter, your rent payments are paying the mortgage of the landlord or property owner. If you are ready to put all that money towards your future, buying a home makes sense. Each mortgage payment you make will increase the equity in your home, which is an investment for you.

A home purchase is not always a guaranteed home run—all investments carry risks. But, generally, you can expect that you will gain many financial benefits from putting money into the property over the life of your mortgage.

There are also tax advantages of owning a home as well. When it comes time to sell, you could have a sizable real estate capital gains exclusion. If you are single, the tax exclusions will be $250,000. If you’re married, the exclusion will jump to $500,000.

6. You Need Room For a Growing Family.

Having more room is another substantial reason for purchasing a home. If you are expecting to have a child shortly, it makes sense to start considering homeownership.

While renting is sometimes a necessity for growing families, if you are fortunate enough to be in a position where you can buy a home, doing so can offer many benefits for you and your growing family.

Your new home can give you room to expand, such as providing your family bedrooms, bathrooms, and all the other spaces that make life easier. The house can also serve as a stable location for peace of mind for you and all your loved ones.

By becoming a homeowner, you’ll be able to pick and choose the kind of property that will serve the needs of your lifestyle. Buying a home can not only be rewarding but fun as well. It is a chance to spread your wings and take another step towards becoming an adult.

7. You Are Ready to Pay a Down Payment and Closing Costs.

One of the most significant signs you are ready to move from renting to owning a home is having a down payment. Financial stability is a powerful indicator that you are prepared to buy a home—particularly when it comes to down payments and closing costs.

You want to be able to pay the down payment to get a mortgage, and you want to be able to pay the closing costs so you can finalize your purchase. And don’t worry if you don’t have 20% down—many loans do not require so much for a down payment.

There are numerous loan programs available for first-time buyers. It can be very confusing to a first-timer because of how many mortgage choices are out there. An experienced mortgage broker can come in handy to answer all of the questions you should be asking a lender. Remember, you should be interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

For first-time homebuyers, FHA mortgages have become really popular. Some FHA loans only require 3.5% down, while loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac only need 3% down.

If you can come up with 3% down and qualify for the right loan—and have your closing costs in order—you can likely become a homeowner.

When buying a fixer-upper, you may also want to consider an FHA 203k loan which allows for rolling the costs of improvements into one mortgage.

8. You Have Improved Your Credit Score.

The credit score you bring to lenders will play a significant role in the type of financing you can get. The worse your credit score, the fewer options you have available when buying a home. That is why it is essential to do what you can to improve your credit score before you go to try and buy a home.

The better your credit score, the more options you will have, and the more money you can save on your mortgage.

If you have improved your credit score, it may be time to talk to a lender about what you can do to get a mortgage. You can sometimes qualify for a mortgage with a credit score of 500—but that does not mean it will be a mortgage that you want.

The mortgage will have an undesirable rate and will require a higher down payment. But, if you have a higher credit score, the loan will have a better rate and require a lower down payment.

If you need to improve your credit score, get a free copy of your credit report, and address any issues that might be hurting your credit score.

Final thoughts

Going from a renter to a homeowner is not something that should be made as a snap judgment. There should be a lot of planning involved in buying a house for the first time. Those who are unprepared typically make buying mistakes they regret later on. Don’t be one of them!

Wow -  It’s Hot Outside!