Category: Homes for sale

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New and Existing Homes Both Have Their Pros, Cons

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When you are looking for a home, you have a couple of choices. You can buy and existing home that is already built or you can look at buying a brand new home. There are pros and cons to each choice, and you should examine them to make sure the choice you are making is the right one for you.

One of the big advantages of buying an existing home is price. In most communities, already built homes are cheaper than newer homes of the same size. That can be a big factor if you are on a budget and only have a certain amount of money to spend on a home.

Another advantage to buying an existing home is that it is likely to be in an area where there is mature infrastructure. This means all streets are built out and there are likely to be parks, schools and entertainment and shopping nearby. When people buy new homes, even ones that are in planned communities, much of the infrastructure may not yet exist. Such developments may be far from schools, public transit and other things that are common in the built environment.

For the more than 40% of people who would prefer new home over an existing one, there also are some advantages. For one thing, property taxes typically are lower on new homes for the first year or two, because it can take that long for an assessor or register of deeds to put a value on the home that matches the market value.

Another advantage that comes with buying new homes is that everything in the home is new. That means you don’t have to worry about the roof failing or your furnace going out, and even if they do, they will be under warranty for at least the first few years, which means you don’t have to worry about being hit with unexpected costs.

One further advantage of building a new home is the advantage to customize. Even in planned communities with lots of deed restrictions, you still have the ability to customize the inside of your home how you want it. This can include picking the paint colors, carpet, flooring, fixtures and other items. That means no need to do extensive remodeling to transform a house to make it the way you want it.

Whether you want to consider new homes in planned communities or you prefer the charm of an older home in a more established neighborhood, there are plenty of choices for you wherever you live. Because buying a home is a long-term commitment, it’s important to evaluate all your options and make sure you are making the best choice.

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The Road Map to a Successful Estate Sale: Part 1

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Planning an estate sale can be difficult. That is why most professionals recommend hiring someone to help organize everything except the smallest sales. If you are planning on organizing your own estate sale, it is important that you understand the steps required for your sale to be a success.

In this two-part series, we will look at the road map to successful estate sales by highlighting the six most important milestones you need to achieve: organizing, appraising, advertising, displaying, hosting, and cleaning.

In this post, we will look at the first three, all of which should occur before the day of the sale.

Organizing
The first step when hosting an estate sale is to organize your items. Go through the items to be sold and create a complete inventory. Take special care to note which items are damaged and if that damage is repairable. Also, keep an inventory of the items you don’t plan on selling.
These lists will become invaluable, allowing you the ultimate organizational resource later down the line. They will allow you to keep track of what needs mending, what’s been sold, and what might need to be repriced over the course of your sale.

Appraising
Estate appraisal services are an invaluable tool when it comes time to set the prices. While some items you will be able to determine the price of simply by visiting another estate sale, there are other items that can be more — or less — valuable than you realize.

Estate sales are prime spots for professional collectors, who often arrive hours before the scheduled start of a sale to stake out the best deals and rarest items. While you want to be pricing fairly, you should also ensure that your ignorance is not being exploited.

Professional appraisals will assist you in determining the full value of your products and help you determine a price that reflects your possessions’ value.

Advertising
After you have the appraisals, you can begin advertising. You can’t sell anything if no one shows up, after all. Taking high-quality photos and using the information for the appraisals to create top quality fliers, internet advertisements, and social media posts can really help your efforts towards a successful estate sale.
This concludes our first post in this series. To learn more about how to plan a successful estate sale, look for the second half in this series.

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Here’s Why Real Estate on the Lake is the Most Popular Option for Home Buyers

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Moving to a new home has gotten a reputation of being stressful, but the truth is, it should be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. If you know what to look for in a great community, finding quality real estate is both easy and enjoyable.

These days, millions of homeowners are investing in beautiful lake property, and for good reason. Real estate on the lake often features incredible modern home designs, and lakeside homes are known for being in a safe, vibrant community. Plus, it never hurts to have a glistening lake right in your backyard to enjoy whenever you please.

Living the lake lifestyle is one of the most relaxing things you could ever do, and these areas are ideal for starting and raising a family. Here are just three of the many reasons that real estate on the lake has become the go-to option for home buyers across the country:

  • Building a dream home. If modern home design is what you’re looking for in a new home, then you need to check out a lake community. Many private communities offer land to build custom homes on, and there is no limit to the ways you can personalize your new home. Members of Generation X account for 27% of all new home sales, and if you plan on starting a family in your new home, it is highly recommended to build your dream home on the lake.

  • Vibrant community. Real estate on the lake is so unique because lakefront communities are truly unlike any other type of town. They are often ingrained in a historic community with rich tradition and values that have been passed on for centuries. Simply put, there is no better place to raise a family or retire to than a lakefront community. The neighbors are always smiling, and it’s never hard to find something fun to do.

  • Fun on the water. Speaking of finding fun things to do, imagine waking up every day and walking to the backyard for a quick fishing session. Having this easy access to low-impact activities is particularly important for retirees, which is why so many people in their golden years are investing in real estate on the lake. Good health is crucial, and in a recent survey, about 81% of retirees cited it as the most important ingredient for a happy retirement. Retirees in lakeside homes are typically more healthy than those who live elsewhere, and the gorgeous weather in these communities makes it much easier to stay active.

The home buying process should be one of the most memorable times of your life, and finding the right home can make all the difference in your future. Check out quality real estate on the lake and enjoy the infinite benefits of lakeside living.

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Move In and Move On (Cut the Complications When Moving)

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If you’ve recently bought a new home, or are in the process of buying a home, congratulations! You’ve probably got a lot of stuff on your mind. Stuff like “Where am I gonna put all this stuff?” probably. But never fear! Here are some tips and tricks to help you move into a new home with as little clutter and chaos as possible.

A truly relaxed lifestyle is all about simplicity. That being said, it makes sense to keep things simple when you’re moving. Make a list of everything you know you want in your new home, and get specific! That painting of London, that copy of Bruce Almighty on Blu-Ray, that mug with all the cherries on it… But here’s the kicker. If it’s not on the list, you guessed it, get rid of it. There are plenty of donation centers that would distribute your non-essentials to people in need, and you’ll have considerably less stuff to worry about moving and organizing.

Another way you can save yourself additional stress during your move is to get label crazy. Keeping your things organized and easy to discern will help you to unpack faster, and get things in the right place on the first try. Make sure you don’t try to stuff everything from one room into one box though, especially the heavy stuff like dishes and books.

The best tip for moving into your new piece of real estate is a fairly simple one. Unpack immediately. I know I know, you’re tired from all those other moving antics. But I’ll let y’all in on a little secret. When you unpack things the second they’re in the house, you won’t have to do it later. Crazy, right!? Tackling the task of finding a place for everything is going to make your home feel like, well, a home. You’ll be less likely to live among the boxes and push the unpacking off indefinitely.

Real estate can be real stressful, but making your new house a home can help to take the edge off. So get labeling, get listing, and get back to living!