My website - Search for Properties, Open Houses or Set up your own search! Jennifer's RE/MAX Property Website - Access my realtor database of homes! MRIS Email - Instruction Manual (pdf) Webcast: What is a Market Snapshot? MRIS - (Video 2min) What is the 411 on my properties I get emailed daily? Ten Apps Every Homebuyer Should Have. When it comes to staying organize and efficient during the home-buying process your best tool might already be in your pocket: your smartphone.
Whether you are buying a house, getting a mortgage or doing some remodeling, here are 10 must-have real estate apps. HomeSnap If you’re checking out a potential neighborhood and stumble across a home for sale, this free app for the IPhone allows you to upload a picture of the home and it will display available interior pictures, selling price, and previous sale history.
The app culls data from Multiple Listing Service and allows users to schedule showings. House Hunter Continue Reading Below It’s hard to keep track of all the details when house hunting, but House Hunter does all the hard work for you by providing a scorecard that organizes notes and photos of potential homes. AroundMe When it comes to real estate, it’s all about location. The Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Home Value Pro Opens a New Window. Mortgage Calculator Mortgage Rates Houzz. First Time Home Buyer Tips. There are few things as exciting as purchasing your first home and beginning to build a life, whether you have chosen a bachelor pad in an up and coming area, a modern family home in a quiet suburb, or a period property that you want to restore to its former glory. Follow the first time home buyer tips below and you will be well on your way to living the dream.
While buying your first property is a hugely exciting step, it is risky by nature. While older more experienced buyers, who may have bought and sold a number of houses during their lifetime, will be able to spot a dud at 20 paces, those without this experience may find themselves blinded to the pitfalls of a home by the excitement of becoming a property owner. It is also easy to fall in love with every home you can afford the first time you buy a property (or none because you are unable to determine the wants from the needs). First Steps For New Home Buyers What Should I Look For In A Home? Research Each Property. 6 Stellar Reasons to Buy a Home in 2016 - Real Estate News and Advice. Is it really 2016 already? For those of you who happen to be planning on buying a home in the new year—or even just trying to—there’s a whole lot to celebrate.
Why? A variety of financial vectors have dovetailed to make this the perfect storm for home buyers to get out there and make an (winning) offer. Here are six home-buying reasons to be thankful while ringing in the new year: Reason No. 1: Interest rates are still at record lows Even though they may creep up at any moment, it’s nonetheless a fact that interest rates on home loans are at historic lows, with a 30-year fixed-rate home loan still hovering around 4%. “Remember 18.5% in the ’80s?” Reason No. 2: Rents have skyrocketed Another reason home buyers are lucky is that rents are going up, up, up!
“In most metropolitan cities, monthly rent is comparable to that of a monthly mortgage payment, sometimes more,” says Heather Garriock, mortgage agent for The Mortgage Group. Reason No. 3: Home prices are stabilizing Please, Mr. iPhone App Ranks Search For mortgage-- TopAppCharts.com. Washington DC homes, neighborhoods, architecture, and real estate | Curbed DC. The Home Buying Process. Things to Consider About a Neighborhood When Buying a Home. Moving to a new home belongs to the group of big decisions that you make only a handful of times in your life, regardless if you are going to be owning your own place or renting a property. While the moving experience can be made simple, I do not know anyone who wants to do it often!
That is why choosing the right neighborhood, to call home for a long period of time (perhaps the rest of your life), requires a lot of research before you reach the final verdict about the neighborhood you choose. Below are several things to consider about a neighborhood when buying a home…how many of these items are on your home buying list? Safety First, Always! Yours and your loved ones safety should always be top priority! The development of satellite towns, and the perceived safety being away from the masses provides, has pushed many consumers away from living near town centers into more rural settings. Pay Attention to Other Homes Public Transportation Schools and Education Walking and Cycling Areas Taxes. Clever Packing Tips for a Stress-Free Move. Moving can be a dreaded ordeal. You set your move-in date, get excited about your new home, and then fear begins to set in thinking of the myriad belongings you’ll have to take with you.
From furniture to electronics to all the little junk drawers — things pile up and can making moving seem overwhelming. One of the best ways to overcome the anxiety of moving is to start early. With some preparedness and these clever packing tips, you’ll realize moving isn’t so scary after all. Go to local stores and ask for any extra boxes. You'd be surprised at how expensive packing boxes can be! Plastic-wrap your liquids. You don’t want your cleaning supplies, cooking oils, or toiletries to spill as you’re moving them. Use towels, T-shirts, and blankets to wrap fragile belongings. Instead of buying bubble wrap or special packing boxes, multitask by packing some of your clothing or towels around glasses, vases, and picture frames.
Move an entire closet of clothes all together. Label your boxes. Common Issues Found During the Home Inspection. One of the many important steps when buying a home is having your new house inspected. After you have found a home you love but before you seal the deal, it is a must to hire a professional inspection company to go into the home and check for any large issues which could incur repair and replacement costs initially.
This will give you an idea of some repair costs to negotiate with the sellers of the home. The inspector will bring in a keen eye to find issues which you may not have seen on your walk-throughs of the home. Water damage or potential water damage Many things may contribute to your home’s water-stability and potential for damage. Defective plumbing No one likes weak water pressure or leaky faucets. Faulty or worn-out roofing materials Roofing problems are very common but can occur on a wide scale of severity. Damaged or over-worked electrical capacity This is another issue that should be solved not only for safety but also for efficiency. Cracked foundation.
Tax Deductions For Home Buyers. With what typically feels like a sieve, draining directly to the government, this guide on tax deductions for home buyers should help consumers plan for and perhaps net a future tax refund instead of filling Uncle Sam’s pockets. Each January we get the subtle reminders that our annual tax filings will be due soon which means employers will start sending W2’s, clients will send 1099’s, and banks will send dividend statements (hopefully) and interest and mortgage statements.
Since consumers do not have to file their annual taxes until April 15, the earlier you gain a better understanding of the tax deductions for home buyers, as well as how to calculate your homeowner tax benefits, the easier you will be able to understand both your costs and the tax implications. Regardless of the type of home you purchase, in most instances you will need to be able to itemize your taxes in order to qualify for the below home buyer tax deductions and credits. Breakdown of Home Ownership Costs Capital Gains. Buying A Fixer Upper | Fixer Upper Homes | Buying A Home. By: G. M. Filisko When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix.
Trying to decide whether to buy a fixer-upper house? Follow these seven steps, and you’ll know how much you can afford, how much to offer, and whether a fixer-upper house is right for you. 1. TV remodeling shows make home improvement work look like a snap. Do you really have the skills to do it? 2. Get your contractor into the house to do a walk-through, so he can give you a written cost estimate on the tasks he’s going to do.If you’re doing the work yourself, price the supplies.Either way, tack on 10% to 20% to cover unforeseen problems that often arise with a fixer-upper house. 3. Ask local officials if the work you’re going to do requires a permit and how much that permit costs. 4. Get written estimates for repairs before you commit to buying a home with structural issues.
Don’t purchase a home that needs major structural work unless: 5. 6. 7. Home inspection. G.M. What New Homeowners Need to Know | New Homeowners Checklist. 1. Not Knowing Where the Main Water Shutoff Valve Is Water from a burst or broken plumbing pipe can spew dozens of gallons into your home’s interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight — including drywall, flooring, and valuables. In fact, water damage is one of the most common of all household insurance claims. Quick-twitch reaction is needed to stave off a major bummer. 2. Ah, spring! This free service keeps you safe and helps avoid costly repairs. The ground around your foundation should slope away from your house at least 6 inches over 10 feet.
This kind of water damage doesn’t happen overnight — it’s accumulative — so the sooner you get after it, the better (and smarter) you’ll be. Related: How to Prevent Water Damage 4. This goes hand-in-hand with not knowing where your attic access is located, so let’s start there. The recommended insulation for most attics is about R-38 or 10 to 14 inches deep, depending on the type of insulation you choose. 6.
Related: How to Avoid Overpaying For a Mortgage. Get The Best Loan Terms When you go to buy a home, if you are like most people you are going to need to get a loan. Because you are borrowing money, you will naturally have to pay a certain amount of interest to the lender. But many home buyers do not realize that the amount of interest you pay, along with other fees, can vary substantially depending on which lender you use. Nobody wants to overpay on their mortgage. If you stop and take a look what what less desirable terms can cost you over the length of the loan it is considerable.
Things To Consider About Your Loan There are several aspects to getting a mortgage loan that you need to look at, including: Interest Rate The interest rate is what you will here about most, and for good reason. While getting a low interest rate is important, if the other costs involved with getting this low rate are exorbitant it can make the whole deal less desirable, especially if you will only be in the home for a short period of time. Fees Down Payment. DC Urban Turf - Neighborhoods in DC Metro.
Washington DC homes, neighborhoods, architecture, and real estate | Curbed DC. Where We Live.