Considering buying a Louisville home? Three things to keep in mind.
Full disclosure: I'm a real estate agent who makes a living helping people like you buy and sell houses. So, of course it's in my interest for you to buy a home. But is it in your best interest? Here's a question to ask yourself and a couple things to think about.
1. Do you have a good credit score? If so, you'll likely be able to get a lower monthly mortgage payment than what you pay in rent. This is one of the benefits of living in Louisville - real estate is relatively cheap.
2. Interest rates are crazy-low. Seriously. When interest rates are low, you can save anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 over the life of your loan. This is a great time to buy and lock in a low rate.
3. Sellers are in the mood. Between March and May, you'll find the most houses on the market. You'll have a better chance of finding your dream home if there's plenty of inventory from which to choose.
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Spend a Saturday to give your exterior some TLC and reap the $$$ benefits.
Decided to sell your home? Now's a hot time to get it listed and here are three ways you can make the outside of your home look drive-by delightful.
1. Paint your front door. Give it several coats of a semi-gloss throughout the day. Voila, much improved!
2. Pot some plants. Add a splash of color to your front stoop with some in-season flowers. Welcome to your new home, potential buyer!
3. Power-wash siding. Clean is always eye-catching to buyers.
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Do you feel inspired or overwhelmed when watching HGTV?
"Million Dollar Listing" is about as far from my reality here in Louisville than setting up a multi-family residence on the moon.
These shows can inspire people to make changes to their homes, but one thing is certain. It ain't going to happen in a half-hour time slot.
If you spend your weekends watching HGTV and planning your next remodel, keep in mind all the work, money and sweat equity. None of these are bad. In fact, I think investing time and money in your home is important, but go into with a clear head.
Know there will be obstacles. It will take longer than planned. And, you'll be frequenting Home Depot on a regular basis.
Happy home improvement to you!
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Tackle these tips to get your home list-ready for spring.
If you're going to the trouble of listing your home, you probably want to get the most money out of your house as possible. After reading through the latest edition of Consumer Reports, they have five tips that are invaluable when it comes to getting top dollar.
1. Declutter. If your home is messy, disorganized or has a weird smell coming from the kitchen (or anywhere in the house), you need to clear it out. I can help point out the clutter that needs to disappear or even suggest a professional to help your home look and smell fantastic.
2. Update the kitchen. One of the easiest ways to create a coordinated look in the kitchen for less is new appliances. You can spend around $2,000 and that investment will easily recoup itself when buyers assess your home's worth. Other easy ways to spruce it up, new paint, better hardware and new curtains. Voila, you just earned about 3 to 7 percent in returns.
3. Better the bathroom. From updating the fixtures to replacing that builder mirror, buyers like a clean and well-maintained bathroom. Throw in some new grout and caulk, and buyers' eyes will light up.
4. Paint a couple rooms. Again, I'm not saying you need to paint every room in your house. But consider painting the kitchen and the bathroom in neutral colors. Then, if any of your rooms is painted a wild hot pink or dep red, spend a weekend dulling it down with a white, gray or beige paint.
5. Plant some flowers. Increase your curb appeal with decent landscaping a a nicely mowed lawn. If you can invest about $7,500 on things like a new roof, newly painted front door and full yard cleanup, you could possibly raise the asking price up to $10,000.
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