Tag Archives: house

Home Buyers, Mortgage-Credit

Grow a down payment

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Buying a home is within everyone’s reach. Attitude and discipline will assist in reaching your goal. First time home buyers are creative people. You can grow a down payment within the means you are living with now. Home ownership will benefit your financial bottom line. You may be paying higher rent than a future mortgage payment calculates.Grow a down payment

Review your expenditures. For one week, write down every cent you spend including gum, candy, coffee, soft drinks, movies, drive-thru and impulse purchases. If you are buying $5.00 per day, for on- the- go coffee or soft drinks during a work week, it totals to $1,300.00 per year.

Toll road fees appear to be incidental to save 15 minutes of commute time. If the toll is $3.00 each way to work, five days a week – a one year total is $1,560.00.

How bad do you really want your own home?

Quit eating out. For the cost of a chef salad in your local restaurant, you can purchase salad ingredients at your local market for a few days of salad at home. Salads do not require a lot of “cooking” expertise. Learn how to cook your favorite eateries’ entree. Your down payment fund will grow exponentially. Create events such as picnics for a new view instead of the golden arches. Barbecuing in your new back yard can be a dream come true.

Do you own a boat, motorcycle, ski-doo, snowmobile, RV or classic car being stored? How often do you utilize these fabulous grown-up indulgences? Sell these items. Add up how much you will save in insurance, maintenance, storage fees and running costs. Grow your down payment. Buy your home. Buy another fancy schmancy fun extravagance to store in your new garage.

Eliminate debt, starting with the smallest balance first. Observe the amount of monthly interest you are being charged on the account. Paying off each bill will allow that dollar amount to be saved toward your goal of home ownership.

One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Consider a garage sale or selling unused items on Ebay, Craigslist or other auction sites. If the motivation is to own your own home, think of getting rid of “things” as less to move when you switch to your new house. Less stuff to move will also lessen the moving expense. Your down payment will grow with each deposit from the sale of possessions you no longer want or need. Do not buy anything you do not actually need until your down payment goal is met. Weigh the difference between “want” and “need”.

Each of these suggestions will take fortitude, tenacity and the extreme desire to reach your down payment goal. Increasing your income with a second job can expedite the process. It is still possible to make the dream of home ownership a reality in your near future.

Share your success- add a comment of any additional ideas you may have for growing your down payment.

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Home Sellers

Processes for an inherited home

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This is the first in a series of articles in an effort to assist people with the sad situation of liquidating an inherited property and estate.  Death brings overwhelming emotion with unexpected responsibilities.

Our culture already includes limited schedules. The last thing you need is an extremely time consuming project thrown in the middle of your life. There are few individuals waking up and proclaiming they really want to maintain, repair, clean, clear out, and sell a relative’s home. If the estate includes rental or commercial properties, the task multiplies in terms of time and account management. The emotional baggage is part of this package, also.

Processes for an inherited home

Immediate actions include securing the property:

  1. Locate keys for –
  • Doors and windows
  • Safe deposit boxes
  • Padlocks
  • Outbuildings, sheds, pool gates, storage units,etc.
  • Vehicles
  • Riding lawn mowers, ATV’s, boats and recreational vehicles
  • Safes and firearms

2. Locate garage door remotes

3. Locate security system info

4. Remove pets

5. Make arrangements  or forward mail & deliveries

6. Evaluate services conducted -landscaping, exterminators, etc.

7. Locate legal instruments, documents and utility bills.

The relationship with the deceased will dictate whether detailed plans were shared or you’re driving blind in the dark. Directives in the form of wills, trusts, life estates and other legal documents will provide a course to follow. An appointment with an attorney is strongly advised. Executor/executrix or trustee authorization will be required to transfer title/deed to another party or yourself.  A reputable Realtor® can only advise you with the documents/authorizations required required to contract the home for sale or lease.

The location of the house is a factor in planning execution and disposition. If the home is not local, a schedule for travel and expenses associated, must be made. It is easy to acquire an “out of sight, out of mind” approach during stressful events and grief. Empty houses appear to deteriorate at a quicker pace than homes with life within.

This is stage 1 of an estate inheritance and liquidation. It is common to be dealing with an upset family/kinship. The routine deeds and responsibilities still need tended to. In all likelihood, you have a full time career or commitments in your life. Strong individuals can begin to bend when life changing experiences occur. Your BFF/spouse/significant other/life partner can assist in talking through timelines, delegation of duties, returning calls during this difficult time.

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