Thursday, September 1, 2022 / by Ana Baldner
Is buying cheaper than renting? This depends mostly on the local market and its conditions. The Real Estate market has been heating up the past couple years and many Americans are making the transition from tenant to homeowner.
With rents skyrocketing all over the country, some may make the assumption that even in a heated market, buying may be the better option. But the truth is, there are different associated costs that create key Pro's and Con's to either choice.
Costs of buying
The biggest upfront cost of buying is your down payment. Typically between 3-20% of the home's purchase price. If you do put less down, your interest rate will typically increase, making your monthly payments increase as well. There are many monthly costs you will face, your mortgage payment being the biggest, including principal and interest for your loan. This number could also go up or down if you have a variable interest rate. HOA dues should also be factored in, generally covering lan2 ...
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Thursday, July 28, 2022 / by Ana Baldner
e are currently in the midst of hurricane season. Some of us may be first timers and others well-seasoned Floridians. It's important to prepare early. The worst thing you can do is put off your preparations until a storm hits.
Here are 4 steps to make sure your family is ready in case of an emergency:
Make a plan
Identify how you will receive the emergency warnings and updates.
Write down important phone numbers you may need in case your cell phone is not accessible, i.e. emergency numbers, family members, out of state contacts. Have multiple copies of this list and make sure every member of your home has a copy. At least one contact should be outside of the impact area.
Pet owners! Identify a plan of action in case your area is evacuated. This could mean a pet-friendly hotel or even an out of state friend who can take your pet.
Identify your families specific needs that your plan must tailor to during an emergency. This could mean disabilities, medica ...
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Thursday, July 14, 2022 / by Ana Baldner
Decluttering: a word that oftentimes is thought to be time consuming, stressful, and sometimes even unsuccessful, but it's something that needs to be done from time to time. We tend to hold onto more and more items that we think we need, and before we know it, our home is overwhelmed with clutter. Sorting through all your belongings can be very helpful if you're thinking about moving. Why pack up and move extra stuff that you don't even use? It's a great time to get rid of it!
Here are 7 rules to help declutter your space:
Everything Must Fit In Its Container
Think about your home as a bunch of containers. This could be a closet, drawer, shelf, or a room. The thing about containers is the items within it should fit comfortably inside. For example, let's say you have a drawer in your dresser dedicated to workout clothes. The drawer is your container and the clothes are its items. When it starts getting to the point where the drawer won't close, it means you might have t ...
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Thursday, June 23, 2022 / by Ana Baldner
I got my first house plant a year ago. It added color and brightness to my small, dark bedroom. Back then I was hesitant to add “water plant” to my daily to-do list. What if I forgot? What if I watered it too much, or too little? Or what if I gave it too little sun and it was too late? I didn't want to subject an innocent plant to my unskillful hands that definitely had no gardening skills.
When I realized that not all houseplants require constant attention or a meticulous watering schedule, it was easy to decide which plant to add to my home. Some just aren’t picky when it comes to watering and sun, and there are so many benefits to owning one! Adding greenery to a home adds color and breaks up traditional décor. They can clean up your air, relieve stress and even rid your space of toxins.
Here are 5 of the best houseplants for beginners:
Pothos
My personal favorite is the Pothos plant. You won’t have to worry about forgetting to water ; ...
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Monday, June 20, 2022 / by Ana Baldner
You'd do everything you could to get the home you want, right? If you've been searching for a home the last 2 years, you know that you've got competition. One strategy that isn't taken advantage of enough: Backup offers
If a Buyer submits an offer and the Seller chooses another one, I encourage my Buyers to submit a Backup offer. A Backup offer is a bona-fide written offer - terms, pre-approval or proof of funds and all. There is an additional form that notes how long you're willing to be in Backup position. If the seller accepts and signs off then that home is secured for you, should the 1st Buyer fall through. A lot of Buyers say to me, "That probably won't happen though. I'll just resubmit my offer if it comes back on the market." I tell them, DON'T. If you wait for the property to come back on the market, then you're competing with the entire market again. Buyers fall through all the time, especially in a market where ; ...
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