In some ways you feel like things are slowing down. In other ways, however, you feel as if you are at the beginning of a very big adventure.
After working with a local real estate agent to complete the sale of your home of 30 years you will close on the deal and move out within the next month. Half way across the country, however, a new life awaits you in a house in Heron Bay, Florida. Although you have always talked about moving somewhere warm once both of the girls were done with high school and in college, you were never certain that these plans would actually materialize. The house in Heron Bay, however, tipped the scales. Although you had considered a couple of other purchases in the past, this Florida property had literally everything that you wanted. Easy and quick access to the beaches, golf courses only a walk from your backyard, and the great weather helped, but the house itself was the real draw.
Both you and your wife have been anxious to get into a home that did not have stairs and to live in a place that did not require any snow shoveling. This last winter has been a long one and is actually what prompted you to take another extended trip to Florida. While enjoying the weather, you got in the habit of looking for homes for sale at least once a weekend. When your wife found a place that still had plenty of space so that the kids and their friends could come visit she was ready. The fact that this particular home was near both fishing and golf was an added bonus.
Buying a Home Remains an Important Investment
In a time when the economy has not always produced the best results when it comes to stocks and bonds, most financial experts contend that a home is still an important investment. As property values in many parts of the country continue to increase, buying a house continues to make good sense. Whether you are buying your first home or your fourth, working with a realtor is always an advantage. If you are making a move across the country, the decision to contact a realtor is essential to a having a positive experience.
Showing the largest jump since January 1992, new-home sales surged in November of 2017 to the highest level in a decade. And while there are many popular locations. Trailing behind both California Texas, thanks to decades of migration by residents of northern states, Florida is now the third most populous state although it is only the 22nd largest in land size. Whether you are looking at a house in Heron Bay, Florida, or another warm weather location, it is important to make sure that you work with a trusted and knowledgeable local realtor.
Monthly Archives: March 2018
The Three Most Common Types of Water Issues In Residential Homes
Are you concerned about the safety of the drinking water in your home? If so, you are not alone. The average American household uses 350 gallons per day so it is not hard to understand why thousands of Americans are finding ways every single day to make sure that the water in their home that is used to drink, bathe, and even water plants, is safe. So what is the best way to do that? The good news is that there are plenty of options for you to choose from depending on what your specific problem is. Below are three of the most common water problems and how to treat with them:
Hard Water – Perhaps the most common type of water problem that American households face today is hard water. Put simply, hard water is water with high concentrations of calcium and magnesium. The hardness of water is measured in grains per gallon as calcium carbonate. Having hard water can cause health concerns and also damage to your pipes. Nearly 90 percent of American households deal with hard water, and if you fall into that category then you will want to look into purchasing a water softener if you haven’t already. Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium from the water coming into the home and sends only the soft water through for your family to use.
Acidity – Typical drinking water has a pH of somewhere between 6 and 8.5, which in scientific terms means that it is neutral – not basic or acidic. If you have acidic water in your home then the pH would be lower than 7 and when this happens there is risk to your metal pipes. Not only can this type of water fully corrode pipes, but it can also leave unsightly stains on the plumbing fixtures throughout your home.
Chemicals and Toxins – Another common type of water issue in residential homes is the presence of chemicals or toxins. Some of the most common chemicals and toxins found in water are: chlorine, lead, mercury and dioxins. It is not uncommon for municipal water treatment facilities to use things like fluoride and chlorine, but sometimes the percentage of those chemicals that makes it into your home is too high and can make you sick. That is where having a whole house filtration system is incredibly beneficial. Even in cities where you absolutely trust the cleanliness of your water, having a whole house filtration system will give you the peace of mind if something were to ever go wrong.
Water is not only a huge part of our world, but it is a huge part of all of us. Water makes up over 65 percent of who we are, and has an influence on every single one of the the processes in our body. Whether you need a water softener or a whole house filtration system, the choices are out there for you to make sure that your household gets the highest quality water possible.
How To Look For An Apartment
For people who rent instead of own a home, good property management is key to having a good renting experience. In fact, over 30% of all renters move from year to year and don’t typically renew their leases. This can be for a number of reasons (as many renters, particularly in college towns, are students), but can be, in part, due to poor property management. For the 25% of people who are renters by choice (meaning that they purposefully choose to rent instead of buying property to own), finding good property management can be somewhat of a skill, and spotting bad property management something of an art form. But good property management can make renting a wholly pleasurable experience, something that is important for the one out of every four people in the United States who have moved at least once in the last five years.
When looking at apartments for rent, while it is important to consider the quality of property management (which can often be assessed by talking to the current renters), there are also a number of other considerations to make. First, it’s important to consider what you need out of a dwelling – what size requirements you have are particularly important. For a larger family looking to rent, townhouses for rent can be the perfect fit. A townhouse for rent will typically have considerably more space than a typical apartment, but will most likely be more expensive. A townhome can provide the perfect mix of low commitment with suburban living, which can be ideal for families moving with children.
If you have pets, it is also important to find a pet friendly apartment. For the 70% of all Americans that have a pet, it’s important to read the apartment’s restrictions before seriously considering it. For instance, most apartments will be okay with smaller contained pets, like fish and lizards, but some will not allow animals like dogs – and some will allow both dogs and cats, but only those of a certain size or breed.
Many people are also looking for fitness centers and swimming pools in the apartments that they are looking to live in, and others want a close proximity to nature, such as access to walking trails. Over 50% of prospective tenants consider mobile connectivity when touring an apartment, taking out their phones to check the cell phone service and people with children are often looking for easy access to the neighborhood playground, if not a playground on the apartment complex itself.
Living in an apartment can be a great way to live in a cost effective manner (and this is why half of all renters choose to rent), but it is key to know what you want out of an apartment or other rental property. From good property management to pet friendly living to an accessible playground, the ideal apartment is out there for everyone – but it’s important to know what specifications you require.
Want to Buy a Home Quickly? Don’t Make These Mistakes!
Only about 32% of people browsing for a new house are actually first-time home buyers. This means that 68% of home buyers should know how to get the best deal on a house, but experience is no guarantee of success. Many people have purchased a home and had a story to tell afterwards of what went wrong during the process.
A real estate agent is usually considered a helpful addition in the search for a new home. One obvious benefit is that they can help you understand terms used in the industry that might confuse you, such as closing costs, escrow, and the like. But whether you intend to hire a realtor to find your new home for sale or to go at it alone, here are a few tips to help you navigate the recently listed homes for sale in your area.
The Key to Buying a Great House Is Understanding Your Situation.
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A great house is no guarantee of being happy, but tell that to a person who has to cook a meal for four in a tiny kitchen. In other words, there are some guidelines that can steer homebuyers in the right direction. The best way to get a good deal is to know what you want, when you need to have it, and how much you can spend to get it.
Don’t Be Fooled By Clever Staging.
A beautifully decorated home can be enticing to anyone. It’s easy to forget your own family’s living requirements when you’re walking through cleverly arranged furniture. Good staging doesn’t mean your own furniture will evoke the exact same atmosphere if you move in. This is why it’s important to look at the whole picture when shopping for a home.
It can be helpful to think back and remember what you dislike about your current house, or current apartment. Are the bedrooms too small? Do you prefer a much larger kitchen, or conversely, a very small kitchen? Consider what features would best suit your family when looking at recently listed homes for sale. For example, don’t fall in love with a home that only has one bathroom if you are a family with five older children who are prone to fighting.
Understand Your Timeline.
One survey found that about 78% of those home buyers who used a realtor found them to be a good source of information. An area in which they might offer guidance is timing. Some people begin to look for a new home a full year ahead of when they plan to move. Other people give themselves two months to find a new home.
If the home you want to buy has been on the market for a long time, there is a chance of a quick move-in. However, if the goal is a quick closing process, then the best bet is to specifically look at the recently listed homes for sale that feature this option. If you are using a realtor, they might be able to select the homes that meet your requests.
Know What You’re Comfortable Paying.
This may seem obvious, but it is incredible helpful to know at the start some numbers. These numbers include the total budget for the new home, but also the down payment you can afford, as well as the money for closing costs. Closing costs can be rolled into the mortgage payment in some instances, or it can be paid by the seller as an incentive. Don’t get too attached to the recently listed homes for sale unless they are within your budget.
Buying a home can be stressful, but it can also be a fun opportunity to readjust your family’s home life. To make the process easier, know how soon you want to move, how much you can spend, and what features you need versus those you want in this new home. Also, consider if a real estate agent could be helpful if you have any unusual needs surrounding the purchase.