Electronic Gopher Repellers and 4 Other Home Gizmos You Never Thought You Needed

As a homeowner, thinking outside the box, gadget-wise, can lead you to gizmos that solve your problems – even ones you didn’t know you had – in more humane, sustainable, energy-efficient ways than ever before. Read on to find out about five such inventions.

 

It’s Humane!: Solar-Powered Gopher Repellent

If you ever have a problem with rodents like gophers, moles, voles or shrews intruding on your lawn, look no further. This humane repellent doesn’t hurt anyone (people or animals), it simply emits a high-pitched sound at regular intervals to disrupt the animals’ sleeping patterns. It discourages them from moving in by making your lawn inhospitable – but without using traps or poison. The sound is too high for humans to hear it, and only travels underground so dogs aren’t disturbed, either.

 

It’s Tasty!: Outdoor Wine Glass Holders

They seem simple, but sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest to recognize. Like outdoor wine or champagne glass holders – removing the need to balance a full glass on uneven ground. Next time you’re on a picnic, take along these portable items, stick them in the grass (or the sand, if you’re at a beach) and hang your stemmed glass on the hook.

 

It’s Easy!: One Touch Jar Opener

Who hasn’t struggled with a jar opener for the pasta sauce while the noodles boil over and the onions burn? For any cook that doesn’t have a sous-chef handy, don’t worry – there’s now a one-touch jar opener for just that occasion. Conveniently sized and battery-operated, these little guys adjust to any jar size and have padded edges to protect the jars so you can reuse them.

 

It’s Handy!: iPad Fridge Mount

Increasingly, people these days are cooking with recipes from the Internet. With an iPad Fridge Mount, you don’t need to copy out the recipes, print them or worry about your device getting splashed or hit with dinner. The mount is easy to install – no tools needed – and easy to remove, so the iPad is as portable as ever. The mount can also go on walls or doors.

 

It’s Smart!: Automated Watering Controller

Unlike the other items on this list, which ranged from $10 to $30, the Blossom Smart Watering Controller sells on Amazon for just under $400. But it saves money, and conserves water, by monitoring the weather (so it can adjust its lawn/garden watering schedule for wetter or dryer days), and you control it through your smartphone. No new wiring, sprinklers or valves are needed.

If you need more info or want suggestions on neat home gizmos that work well in your neighborhood, reach out to your local real estate agent.

Sellers Checklist

Can You Use a Reverse Mortgage to Buy Your Next Home? Yes, and Here’s How

Most people who have been on the market for a home are familiar with what the term ‘mortgage’ means, but many have not heard of a reverse mortgage and aren’t aware of how this product can benefit them. If you’re nearing retirement and are contemplating a new home or even relocation to another community, here are the details on a reverse mortgage and how this option may benefit you.

 

What Is A Reverse Mortgage?

While many homeowners may not have the net worth to be able to buy another home without selling their current one, a reverse mortgage enables the buyer to borrow money against the value of their home. Created in 2009 as the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for Purchase (HECM), this type of mortgage can enable those older than 62 to relocate to a new house or move closer to their family without having to sacrifice the money they’ve saved or their fixed monthly income.

 

What Are The Requirements?

Beyond the minimum age requirement of 62 years of age, those who would like to utilize a reverse mortgage must either own the current property they are living in or have a high amount of equity in the property. They must be able to pay all of the costs associated with ownership of the home and the property they are purchasing must be able to pass the standards held by the Federal House Administration (FHA). In addition, applicants will have to go through a financial assessment to ensure they can make insurance and property tax payments.

 

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage can be a great benefit in that it enables those who are in their senior years to purchase a new home without having to utilize a portion of their fixed monthly income. However, because a reverse mortgage includes this benefit, it also comes in tandem with a higher loan balance and this higher balance means that interest will accrue more quickly. Dependent on this amount, this can actually diminish the equity in the home.

While the opportunity for a reverse mortgage has been around for a number of years, this alternative for purchasing a home has not been utilized by many homeowners since its inception in 2009. If you’re approaching your senior years and are considering the benefits of purchasing a new home, you may want to contact one of our local mortgage professionals for more information.

Buying Your First Home? Learn These 5 Essential Home Maintenance Skills as Soon as Possible

New homes can be scary. But when you take the time to think about it, and plan ahead, maintaining a home is easier than you think – a manageable mix of experience and common sense. Here are five skills that will help maintain your new home for years to come.

 

Fixing A Toilet

It’s not as daunting as it sounds. Just remember that toilets work with gravity – the water wants to flow freely. Don’t be afraid to open that tank up and adjust the floater and valves as needed. Occasionally run the water (flush the toilet, turn on the sink) in unused rooms, like the guest bathroom, to keep the pipes clear and functioning.

 

Dealing With Animals

Sometimes your animal neighbors invite themselves in. While it’s always better to use professionals if you have a large-scale or persistent pest problem, there are steps you can take to minimize animal visitors before it comes to that. Check for termites by looking for raised, hollow tubes along the wood (tubes filled with bugs). If you have mice, and know how they’re getting in, block their holes with steel wool and set friendly traps – ones that capture instead of kill. But make sure to release the captives far from your home.

 

Electricity and Water Awareness

Know how to shut off your electricity and water, just in case. Find the shut-offs when you first move in. And take the time then to test the breakers and label them, clearly, directly, with permanent marker. That way there is no confusion if one gets tripped.

 

A Regular Deep Clean

On a regular basis, give your house a deep clean. Scrub the bathrooms, clean the kitchen appliances and floors/walls. Doing this will not only prevent the accumulation of dirt and grime, which could lead to bigger problems later on, but will also give you a chance to do a run-down of your house and see what needs fixing/updating/replacing.

 

Be Prepared

Gather your home maintenance kit (Home Maintenance for Dummies has examples) before you need it, and keep it up – if you use all the nails, replace them. It’s also a good idea to make a maintenance calendar with notes on what needs to be done when – this makes it easy for the homeowner, and anyone they need to step in. Finally, in being prepared, don’t forget to maintain your fire and carbon monoxide detectors with regular checks and battery changes (suggested every six months, regardless of battery life).

Your first step in preparation is to contact your local real estate agent, who can help you get started on your road to home maintenance.

Buying a Home This Winter? Use These Four Tips to Uncover Hidden Flaws and Issues

In a hot market it’s easy to be blinded by the competition and succumb to the pressure to make an offer on a home before you’ve adequately assessed it.  If you’re looking to buy a home this winter, use these four tips to uncover hidden flaws before you put your offer in.

 

Hire A Pro

One of the most reliable ways to identify potential and existing problems within a property is to hire a professional home inspector to evaluate it.  Home inspectors are trained to find issues that the average person may overlook, which can save you from putting in an offer on a money pit.

 

Do It Yourself

If you can’t afford to hire a home inspector, conduct a thorough home evaluation yourself.  Ensure that the roof doesn’t have any significant damage or leaks, check window caulking for holes, and scan the basement thoroughly for asbestos and black mold.

Within the house, pay special attention to the bathrooms for leaks around the tubs, showers, and toilets, as this may indicate leaky pipes which can be a costly fix.  Likewise, check underneath the kitchen sink and around appliances for leaks, which may also be a sign of a more expensive fix.

Even if you’ve hired a home inspector, always inspect the home yourself to the best of your ability.  The more sets of eyes that look over the property the better, and you may find small problems that aren’t considered huge deficiencies to an inspector but may be deal breakers for you, such as peeling paint or cracked tile.

 

Seek Strata Minutes

If the home you are looking at is a condo, ask for copies of the strata minutes.  Strata minutes serve as a record of any past issues that the building has had and will include notes on any upcoming costs that are already identified.  Take these into consideration when estimating your condo fees and the value of the property.

 

Hire Help

Real estate agents can not only take a lot off of your plate when it comes to buying a home, but they also possess specialized knowledge and experience in uncovering flaws in homes.  They know what to look for!

A real estate agent will take care of the property research for you, sifting through past strata notes or pointing out any deficiencies that they can identify when you are considering a home.  With a trained professional on your team, you are more likely to find issues that could devalue the property.

 

Are You Ready to Refinance Your Mortgage? Learn How to Do a Quick Refinancing Self-Assessment

Whether you’ve decided to renovate your home or you would like to consolidate your debt, refinancing your mortgage can be an option in times of money trouble; however, it’s important to know whether or not this is the right step for you. If you’ve been considering refinancing recently and are wondering how to come to a decision, here are some questions you should ask yourself before wading into the water.

 

Do You Have The Extra Time?

It may sound silly, but looking into the details of financing your mortgage can take up a lot of time, and if it’s going to be stressful or tax your abilities too much, you may want to hold off until things change. Because there are so many details associated with refinancing, and the security of your largest investment hangs in the balance, it’s important to have the time to research and understand all the small stuff so you don’t fall victim to a bad loan or confusing mortgage terms.

 

What’s My Interest Rate?

It’s entirely possible that refinancing may not be worth it if you can’t get the interest rate you’re expecting, so don’t be taken in by low rates you may have come across. Because many unreliable lenders will offer the lowest rate to get your business, it’s a good idea to do the research and go with someone you can trust. Your credit score and financial standing will have a lot to do with the rate you qualify for, but if the interest isn’t as low as you’ve calculated, it may not be a beneficial financial decision in the end.

 

Will This Help My Financial Situation?

No one decides to move forward with a mortgage refinancing without thinking that it’s a good financial decision, and that’s why it’s so important to carefully weigh all of the variables before deciding refinancing is for you. From a job loss to a home relocation, there are many things that come up in life that we are not always financially prepared for, so make sure to consider as many possible pros and cons as you can before moving forward with this option.

Many people think that refinancing their mortgage will improve their financial situation and eliminate their debt, but it’s important to consider all of the outcomes of this choice before coming to any final decision. If you’re currently considering refinancing, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.

3 Tips That Will Help You Sell Your Home in 60 Days or Less

It doesn’t matter where you live, what kind of home you have or what time of year it is. If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, you’ll need to do a better job than other local homeowners who are competing against you. Try these top three tips to secure a sale within 60 days.

 

1) Enhance Its Appearance

When it comes to selling your home, looks are everything.  If the appearance of your home is impressive, it will be more inviting to potential buyers.  Remove any items that make the home distinctly yours, such as family photos, kids’ toys, or personal items.  Ensure that every space is meticulously clean and clutter free to demonstrate that it is a well-kept property.

It is also extremely beneficial to neutralize the design of your home.  Maybe you love the red walls in your living room or the fluffy pink area rug in your bedroom, but this doesn’t leave much room for others’ imagination.  Make your home a blank canvas upon which buyers can project their own idea of a dream home.

 

2) Price Wisely

While everyone would love to sell their property for more than market value, inflating your asking price could delay a sale.  Research the asking prices of comparable properties in your neighborhood and consult a reputable real estate professional for advice.

There are several other strategies you can use to price your home for a quick sell.  Psychologically, certain prices are more attractive to buyers even if there’s marginal difference; a home priced at $599,000 is more attractive than a home that’s priced at $600,000.  Although there’s marginal difference between these two prices, the home that’s priced just under the century mark will likely sell quicker.

 

3) Go The Extra Mile

One of the best ways to make your home stand out from the competition is to offer something that no one else is.  Whether it’s high quality photos or a video tour of your home, your listing can provide viewers with a unique look at your property that encourages them to become attached to it right away.

Several other incentives can be offered to help you close quickly, such as including home appliances and transferring your warranties over to the buyer.  You can also offer to cover their closing costs, either partially or fully, which is another financial perk that will set your home apart from the rest.  Everyone likes a gift-with-purchase, but few sellers offer them.

Need more advice on how to sell your home within 60 days?  Speak to a trusted real estate professional today to learn more about custom solutions for selling your home.

Saving To Buy A Home?

Understanding Appraisals and What to Do If Your Home Doesn’t Appraise for Its Purchase Price

It can be a bit of a surprise if your home turns out to be valued at less than the purchase price offered, but this is the type of thing that can occur in an appraisal situation. While this can change everything from your contract to the amount of your down payment, if your home has been appraised at less than you envisioned, here are some options you may want to consider.

 

Review The Appraisal Contingency Clause

If an appraisal contingency clause is built into the terms of your contract, this means that the terms of your contract can be re-evaluated and re-negotiated if an appraisal happens to come up short. While this is meant primarily to protect the home buyer against a lower appraisal, it doesn’t mean that the terms of a new deal can’t be met for the good of both parties.

 

Get A Second Appraisal

It’s entirely possible that the initial appraisal is accurate, but it doesn’t necessarily hurt to get a second opinion in the event that the first appraisal seems too low. While you can work in conjunction with your lender to get a second appraisal, you may need to pay for it the second time around in order to get your initial purchasing price. Whether it happens to be good news or bad news, it can be worth the peace of mind to know how to proceed.

 

Consider A Lower Price

It’s less than ideal when your home is appraised for less than the purchase price, but this doesn’t have to be a deal breaker when it comes to selling it. While you may be able to get away with a higher price for your home in a hot real estate market, if things have cooled off, this can be an important time to re-negotiate the deal you’ve got. If a potential buyer likes your home and has already made an offer, they may be happy to decide on new contract terms.

It can be quite disappointing if your home is appraised at a value that is less than the offer you’ve received, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to put your home back on the market. Whether you and the potential buyer decide to re-negotiate or get a second opinion, there are options that can be beneficial for both parties. If you’re currently going through the appraisal process, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.

The Pros and Cons of Using Your Savings to Make Your Full 20 Percent Down Payment

If you’ve been perusing the real estate market with the hope of purchasing a home, you may be aware that the often-touted amount you should put down is 20 percent. However, there are good things and bad things involved in investing so much money into your new home. If you’re wondering how to decide on your down payment amount, here are some things to consider before putting in 20 percent.

 

No Rainy Day Fund

 It might seem like the best option is to put down as much as you can, and use up your savings if needed, but putting all of your money into your home can be a mistake. While you may not foresee any financial issues arising in the next few years as you pay down your mortgage, not having any extra money can put you in a vulnerable position if the market shifts or other life issues appear. Investing in a home is a good choice, but you may want to protect some of your other assets.

 

Lowering Your Monthly Payment

While putting down the full 20 percent can seem like a huge chunk of change, it can be a boon for your monthly finances in the sense that your monthly mortgage payment will be automatically reduced. While this is a good thing and can make your monthly amount more manageable, it’s important to remember that your monthly payments should be affordable and you shouldn’t be stretching for extra house because you can. Make sure you’re buying a home you can afford, with or without 20 percent.

 

Avoiding Mortgage Insurance

Putting less than 20 percent may seem like a good decision if you’re ready to buy a home and don’t quite have the money saved, but putting less down can actually increase the cost of your home overall. Because you’ll have to pay mortgage insurance if you put down less, this will add to your monthly payment and will be money that you can’t get back. If you’re ready to dive into the market, you may want to move forward, but it can also be a better investment to wait and save a bit more.

20 percent is often the magic number when it comes to a down payment, but there are pros and cons associated with putting this much money down. If you’re currently on the market for a new home, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.