IS RENTING A RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?

It’s true that when you’re paying rent you’re not gaining any equity in that home so for some that means you’re just flushing your money down the toilet, BUT there can be an upside to this decision too.  Perhaps you’re new to an area and you’re not sure if your job is going to be permanent…or you’re not sure if this is the area your want to live in long term…or you aren’t financially in a position to put down a decent down payment that would give you a best mortgage rate….or perhaps you can only afford so much a month and by renting a property where the rent includes utilities, HOA fees and all maintenance you don’t have those added expenses. Plus, remember,  you’re not paying real estate taxes on top of your monthly payment. This may allow you to live in an area you desire but as a homeowner could not afford. Perhaps you’re downsizing or retiring and don’t want all the stress and upkeep of home ownership.

Perhaps, you have your own reasons for choosing to rent instead of own at this moment in time. Don’t let other’s shaming you for choosing to rent instead of own cause you to make the wrong decision

Twas the night before closing

And all through the house

Every creature was stirring

Even the notorious mouse

Boxes were piled as high as could be

Folks yelling to each other

Because none could be seen

Feelings of stress

Were compounded by tears

Walking room by room

Remembering the years

Kids measurements on the door trim

Will be a photo from here on out

And the laughter that was rampant

Fills the air all about

Memories come flooding

As you roam room to room

And again the tears flow

Knowing you’re leaving it all soon

But as strong as the memories

Fill your head and your heart

Step with joy and anticipation

Into your brand new start

The journey continues

As this last one began

And with blind excitement

In your new home you’ll soon stand

The tears may still fall

From time to time

But gatherings of laughter

Will help leave the sadness behind.

So go fill your truck

From bottom to top

Say your final goodbye

Then move on and don’t stop

When you reach your new home

Don’t just open the door

Open your heart and your mind

And enjoy what’s in store!!

(Mary Witkowski 12/18/20)

Moving can dredge up a lot of emotions. Allow yourself to feel them all so that your journey will never lack any chapters.

Copyrighted poem may not be used or duplicated without permission of author.

In the second half of this year, the housing market  surged with activity. Today, real estate experts are looking ahead to the winter season and the forecast is anything but chilly. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes:

“It will be one of the best winter sales years ever.”

The typical winter slowdown in the housing market is simply not on the radar. Here’s why.

While today’s historically low mortgage rates are expected to remain low, they won’t be this low for much longer. This could be the last chance for homebuyers to secure such low rates, and they’re ready to take action. In a recent article, Bankrate explained:

“If you’re looking to buy a home…expect mortgage rates to remain low into 2021. However, the possibility of rates falling to 2.5 percent or lower has faded as the U.S. economy has rebounded.”

As long as we continue to see low interest rates, we’ll see hopeful buyers on the hunt for their dream homes. Yun confirmed:

“The demand for home buying remains super strong…And we’re still likely to end the year with more homes sold overall in 2020 than in 2019…With persistent low mortgage rates and some degree of a continuing jobs recovery, more contract signings are expected in the near future.”

The challenge, however, is the lack of homes available for sale. With that in mind, all eyes are on homeowners to see if they’ll sell this winter or wait until spring. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, says it’s best for sellers to capitalize on this moment sooner rather than later:

“We currently see buyers sticking around in the housing market much later than we usually do this fall. If that trend continues, we will see more buyers in the market this winter, too. So, this winter is likely to be a good time to sell.”

With buyers ready to stay active this winter, sellers who want to close a deal on the best possible terms should not wait until spring to put their homes on the market.

Bottom Line

Experts agree the winter housing market could potentially be bigger than ever. Whether you’re ready to buy or sell, contact a local real estate professional today so you can be in your dream home by the new year.

With Covid-19 still being an issue in many areas, the fun and joy of hay rides to the pumpkin patch, laughing with strangers seeking the same perfect pumpkin and warming up with hot apple cider has been cancelled. But the season has not and the enjoyment of ringing in autumn is still in our hearts so here are a few ideas to help you create your own “waiting for the great pumpkin” event.

• If you have a few friends or neighbors who are in your ‘safe’ group, plan for the adults to each bring a few to several pumpkins (depending on the number of children) to your home (or one of the other’s homes). For extra fun, have all the kids wear their halloween costumes.
• Decorate your yard with scarecrows, gourds and scary spiders/skeletons/black cats. Set up a couple of decorated tables or picnic tables with bundles of markers or paints as a pumpkin decorating area.
• Create a few different piles of pumpkins around the yard and let the kids go on a pumpkin hunt….littlest children getting first dibs.
• Once all the pumpkins have been chosen, let the kids enjoy hot apple cider or hot chocolate (you can certainly enhance your own cider or chocolate with a bit of libations) while decorating their pumpkins. If there are older children let them go ahead and have their own carving station and provide safe pumpkin carving tools. They can even take on the role of helping to carve the little kids’ pumpkins if they want them to do so.
• If you feel so inclined you can also enjoy a fun version of dunking for apples by having a bucket full of apples in water and letting them “fish” for their apple. Then let them dunk them in melted caramel and walnut pieces to make perfect taffy apples.
• As the evening draws near and the darkness of dusk falls, light up the jack o lanterns so all the kids can see their fun creations together then they can take them home to create their own home pumpkin show.

No matter what is going on, it’s important to still create wonderful memories for ourselves and our children. This can be done with as big a group as you feel comfortable with having together. Kids and grownups alike will have a special memory to enjoy and remember! Happy Autumn!!

As we watch summer, in some places, move quickly out of the way and with a new chill in the air, welcome in the Fall season, it’s good to think about what you can do to refresh your listing with bright new curb appeal if you’re selling or increase the beauty you’ll enjoy yourself as fall flowers fill the air with crisp colors and aromas.

If you’re selling, by taking photos with fresh new autumn landscapes, your listing looks fresh and new instead of old and stale from sitting still all summer.

One of the best choices, beauty wise and for your pocketbook, are Mums! They come in many different colors, shades and sizes so you really can use these rich toned Autumn beauties for all home types including enhancing your condo balcony! You can plant them to fill your ground spaces or use potted mums just as effectively to add wonderful pops of the new season around your home. A key when you’re selling is to not just think about the views of the front of your home but to wrap your yard with color and the life that flowers provide.  If your home is a very neutral tone, an assortment of mums adds the perfect pop of color to make your home stand out in the crowd! As trees begin to change colors, your landscapes will blend beautifully to create a picturesque and inviting home experience for buyers or you!