62 DIY BACKYARD IDEAS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK:
By: MICHELLE PROFIS
I love the spring time, the shades of green all poking up through the last remaining parts of winter, trees in blossom, and ahh those long days! The only problem is that summer in Summit can be so short, so spending a ton of money on back yards ideas seems counter productive right? Well here are some quick revamps to make your summer beautiful and fun without breaking the bank!
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SUMMIT'S RECREATION PATH IS NOW OPEN!
With the weather being so amazing summer is starting early! the recreation paths are officially open so biking season has begun!!
or click the photo for the full article!
Chip Gaines on the 3 Things You Always Need to Ask Before Buying a Home
I dont know about all of ya'll but I love the Gaines. Their simple designs with open floor plans just make me so happy! So of course when I see that they have helpful hints for purchasing a home! You know we are putting it on the blog!
We love our pets, and we want to make sure that we are doing what is best for them right? So what happens we move, what kind of things can we do to reduce stress and bring down that worry for you? Take a look at this easy to follow guide for how to effectively move with your pet, with before, during, and after hints!
30 Small space hacks you have never seen before:
So you bought your dream ski in/ ski out condo, and now you need to decorate. So how do you make the most of the space that you have and make it the best it can be and most useful for rentals? Check out this great small space hack article from Pintrest.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO TO STAY AHEAD OF A FAST MARKET:
1. Make sure you have your financing started: Whether it be standard financing or a 1031 exchange, knowing how much you are qualified for will allow you to make your BEST offer quickly when that great match hits the market.
2. Know your big NO's: If you have specific items that are deal breakers these are valuable and important to know. This way you can specify your search so that ONLY relevant listings are sent to you immediately when they hit the market.
3. Have a valid phone number associated with your search profile: Many times listings are pre-released to Brokers prior to being placed on the Summit County MLS. If any of these match your specified search being able to call and see if it may be of interest can mean the difference between having it and just missing it.
4. Save favorites and set up notifications: this will also help to alert your realtor to the type of property you are most interested in for a better understanding of what they should be on the look out for!
5. GET ON THE SUMMIT COUNTY MLS SEARCH: ONLY THE MLS HAS IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETELY ACCURATE LISTINGS, INFORMATION, AND UPDATES. THE ONLY WAY TO BE PLACED ON A RELEVANT MLS SEARCH IS TO WORK AND SPEAK WITH A LICENSED SUMMIT COUNTY REALTOR.
39 Unique SmartThings Ideas You Can Try Right Now:
Posted by: REED KLEINMAN
With many people using their Summit County home as a second home or investment property it can mean many days where the house is unattended. Normally that would mean the fear and worry of, frozen pipes, overflowing toilets, leaking roofs, etc. So instead of stressing take a look at these 39 smart home ideas to help alleviate that fear and let you rest easy knowing your home is being monitored by you!
21 TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOUSE QUICKLY
posted by: Bless'er House
We are hot in the middle of a Sellers Market which means many people are looking to put their mountain home on the market. Even with properties going so quickly it is always helpful to know what you can do to make the presentation of your property help get you the top dollar!! Check out this great article with 21 simple suggestions to help make your house sell even quicker!
10 ways to increase your home value on a budget:
by: Whitney Bennett
There are so many small items that are so easily looked over until it is time to put your home on the market. But where does someone start and how do you know what is going to have the biggest impacts on your home? Take a look at this article written by a reliable home warranty company!
10 TIPS TO GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL THIS SPRING:
by Nathan Garrett
If you have not heard, spring is the time to start thinking about selling your home if it was on your mind! With longer days, green grass, and new beginnings all a bloom, spring makes a great time to display your home and get it sold on this hot market!
Take a look at these 10 tips to help get your home ready to show to those active buyers!
24 HOME IMPROVEMENTS:
by: Riley E. Carlson
Looking out at the beautiful sunshine and spring weather on this Monday morning made me want to post something about home improvements and renovations! Summer is of course a wonderful time to take on some of those home improvement projects you have been thinking about! Take a look at this article for 24 great ideas for the newer style of the American dream home!
SELLER'S MARKET SUICIDE:
By David and Sally Hanson Hanson Real Estate
So what consitutes Suicide in a sellers Market. As so many of us have seen over the past couple years, as the inventory of listed homes plummets and the amount of buyers increases substantially, there are certain big NO's, such as, offering less than the listing price, asking the seller to pay all closing costs, and more. Take a look at all the big N-O's from the blog. Click the photo or the title above to read the full blog!
INTEREST RATE FORECAST FOR 2018:
We never know how these things will work out and so many times we feel we are just making our best guess, but at least we have some resources that have a bit more understanding of what these trends may end up looking like! Take this article for example written by TIM LUCAS. Tim Lucas has helped thousands of families buy and refinance real estate. He has been featured in Time, Realtor.com, Scotsman Guide, MyMortgageInsider.com, and more.
Click the photo below or the title on top to read more!
When Comps Don't Really Matter:
Susan has some great thoughts on home buying, purchase price, and comparisons. Take a look at her blog from yesterday about how to know how much a home is worth to YOU!
Click on the photo below or the title above to read her full article!
HOW TO CHECK YOUR HOME FOR AIR LEAKS:
Living in a high alpine location can mean rapid changes in weather and intense winds. Keeping your home entirely sealed up in order to save on those heating bills!
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6 REASONS TO WORK WITH A REALTOR
Sometimes It is easy to think that we understand enough of how these things work to do it on our own! But what could you be missing out on? Or how much could you be missing out on is the better question! see what some other KW agents have to say about this topic!
SHORT TERM RENTALS VS LONG TERM RENTALS
Have you ever wanted an investment property but did not know if there was a significant difference between renting out your property to a long term more permanent resident vs a short term vacation rental? It seems that this Denver based research company can finally answer this long time question for us! To see the full article click the picture below or the title above!
SHORT SALE AND FORECLOSURES: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
Short Sale: A short sale comes into play when a homeowner needs to sell their home but the home is worth less than the remaining balance that they owe. The lender can allow the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed, freeing the homeowner from the financial predicament.
Foreclosure: a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their home so the bank begins the process of repossessing it. A foreclosure usually moves much faster than a short sale and is more financially damaging to the homeowner.
Full article: click the photo below or the title above!
PINTREST PREDICTIONS FOR TOP HOME TRENDS IN 2018
Some beautiful and unique ideas for what is going to be hot home ideas in 2018! Who better to make these predictions than the place so many of us go for decor ideas!
click the photo for the full article and ideas!
Five Money Saving Ideas
Going green is great for the environment, but that’s not the only benefit. When you make green upgrades in your home, it can also lead to some major savings.
- Solar panels: The upfront cost is big, but the long-term savings are huge. Solar panels will cost several thousand dollars to install, but ongoing maintenance costs are very low, and a typical system could save you hundreds of dollars per year. You can even sell your surplus electricity.
- Wood furnace: Wood-burning furnaces are relatively inexpensive, and though the yearly savings aren’t as dramatic (about 10% on heating bills), it adds up over the long run.
- Insulation: There’s a good chance your insulation isn’t very efficient, especially in older homes. Look into installing floor, cavity, wall, and loft insulation to reduce your heating bills.
- Rain barrels: Rain barrels are extremely inexpensive, and provide gallons of free water to use when you wash your car or water your garden.
- Geothermal system: OK, so the price tag is scary at first. A geothermal system uses the earth’s temperature to heat and cool your home, but can cost $30,000 to install. But tax credits allow you to get a lot of that money back, and the energy savings average about $1,900 per year. If you plan to be in your home for a decade or two, it’s a great investment.
Which Down Payment is Right for you?
You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders.
But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.
THE DOWNSIDE
The downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you’ll pay. You’ll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20-percent down payment, which will eliminate some homes from your search.
THE UPSIDE
The national average for home appreciation is about five percent. The appreciation is independent from your home payment, so whether you put down 20 percent or three percent, the increase in equity is the same. If you’re looking at your home as an investment, putting down a smaller amount can lead to a higher return on investment, while also leaving more of your savings free for home repairs, upgrades, or other investment opportunities.
THE HAPPY MEDIUM
Of course, your home payment options aren’t binary. Most borrowers can find some common ground between the security of a traditional 20 percent and an investment-focused, small down payment. Your trusted real estate professional can provide some answers as you explore your financing options.
ADVICE FOR BUYERS WHEN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS HOT
I cannot reccomend taking a look at this article. The Summit County Real Estate market is one of the hottest which means inventory is low and moves quickly!
So what are the items that are so crucial?
1. Have and set "proper expectations"
2. Make sure to get Pre-Approval
3. Offer your highest and best- remember that these are considered sellers markets
4. If you have a house to sell or are doing a 1031 exchange?
5. TRUST YOUR AGENT and use an experienced agent.
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