As Black History Month begins this February, I want to take a moment to honor and celebrate the countless Black individuals who have shaped our community  And recently, I was curious about how Black History Month originated, so I did some reading, and want to share what I learned with you! According to the website for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Black History Month began in Chicago during the summer of 1915 when Carter G. Woodson traveled from Washington, D.C. to participate in a national celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation. For several weeks, thousands of Black Americans traveled from across the country to see exhibits highlighting the progress their people had made since the destruction of slavery. Following the event’s success, Woodson and several others formed an association that eventually led to the creation of Black History Month, recognized by every American president since the mid-1970’s. Or course, this is only the shortened version! The full story is fascinating and you can read it all on the @asalh_bhm website, too. How do you plan to celebrate Black History Month?     Love where you live! Winter can be hard on your home. So, let’s show it a little love this month! Here’s your February home to-do list: - Make sure your snowblower is in good shape, and stock up on gasoline and motor oil.- Buy extra firewood for cozy nights at home.- Inspect the exterior of your home regularly for signs of ice dams and consider purchasing a roof rake.- Check and change filters on your heating system.- Keep the cabinets below sinks open to prevent frozen pipes.- Celebrate Black History Month.- Clean range hood filters with degreaser mixed with hot water.- Leave a review for a small business you love.- Clean the garbage disposal by grinding ice cubes, then flushing with hot water and baking soda.- Invest in a good humidifier or air purifier.- Check your basement for leaks during thaws. Have you ever had a home emergency in the winter? Tell me about it!   You don’t have to wait until spring to put up your “for sale” sign! Even though interest rates have increased and post-pandemic demand has steadied, you don’t need to wait to sell if your home no longer meets your needs. Here’s why now *might* be the right time for you to start the process: 1) Inventory is still low compared to historical data. If we price your home right, there’s no reason to think it won’t sell quickly, at (or even over!) asking price. 2) With inventory increasing, you may have more options when you’re searching for your next home. For the past couple of years, home sellers have been faced with the question of: “if we sell, where will we go?” Now, prospective sellers may have more choices and flexibility. 3) You marry the house and date the rate. Even though interest rates aren’t as low they were last year, you can lock in a rate today and refinance if/when rates do drop in the future. The bottom line? The best time to sell is when the time is right for you/your family. And if you’re on the fence, I’m happy to run an equity analysis and comps to help guide you toward the right decision.

This is where the rubber meets the road!  Today, I’m spilling the beans on all things home inspections.  After the seller accepts your offer on a home, it’s time to schedule the inspection.  This involves a certified home inspector thoroughly reviewing the property to identify potential problems (structural, electrical, plumbing, safety and more).  Your inspector should be experienced and reputable, but the good news is that I have a trusted list of inspectors to choose from.  Inspections can take a minimum of 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the home, and buyers are typically in charge of the bill. The cost usually ranges from around $250-$375. After the inspection, the inspector will provide the seller with a detailed report, which usually includes recommendations, photo and sometimes video. Once you receive the report, we’ll chat about it and decide how to proceed. A home can’t “pass” or “fail” an inspection, but if the inspector finds major issues, we’ll need to negotiate repairs (or a price reduction) with the seller. Do you have any other questions about home inspections? If so, drop them below or shoot me a DM! The magic words: “clear to close.”  One of the last steps in your home purchase before closing day is to finalize your loan. But before we do that, let’s back up and review what you can expect from your lender.  The mortgage process is different for every buyer, but can usually be broken down into the following steps:  -Pre-Approval  -Home Shopping -Mortgage Application  -Loan Processing  -Underwriting  -Closing Once you’ve been pre-approved, and have an accepted offer, the process generally takes anywhere from 30-45 days and involves a thorough evaluation of your credit history, income, assets and documentation.  Once everything is in order and your application has been processed, the mortgage underwriter will approve the loan and your lender will issue a “clear to close.” Now, it’s time to schedule your closing date.  In just a few more days, you’re going to be a homeowner! In most cases, there’s just one more step: stay tuned for what to expect at your final walk-through. I’ll just come right out and say it: your final walk through might be the most important thing you do before you close on your next home! It’s a simple step, but it’s a big one!  When you’re buying a home, the final walk-through is your last chance to see a house before closing day.  The way a walk-through typically works is that you’ll go room-to-room with your agent, and possibly the seller’s agent, to ensure that the home is in the agreed-upon condition.  Here’s what to look for at a final walkthrough: -All household items included in the purchase are still present (i.e. major appliances, window treatments).  -Any agreed-upon repairs have been completed, as negotiated after the inspection. -All major systems are in working order (plumbing, electric, HVAC). -Condition of the home is the consistent with the last time you saw it. -Any new damage, stains or problems.  -Exterior damage, such as new cracks or pest issues. If you find an issue during the walk-through, call it out immediately. While most issues aren’t dealbreakers, we might need to renegotiate the terms of the purchase agreement with the seller. Questions about this step in the process? Message me anytime!  We finally made it…closing day is here!  Closing day is definitely an occasion to celebrate…but first, you need to get through the actual closing and paperwork involved.  On closing day, you’ll become the official, legal owner of the property that you’re purchasing.  The closing involves transferring funds from escrow, paying the mortgage and title fees, and updating the deed of the house to your name.  Basically, come closing day, you and the seller sign all the necessary papers to officially seal the deal.  Yes, it’s a LOT of paperwork. Here’s what you should bring to your closing:  -Closing paperwork -Cashier’s or certified check for closing costs -Photo identification  -Proof of homeowner’s insurance -A pen — you’ll be signing your name a lot! Once you’ve signed the papers, paid the seller and paid your closing costs, it’s time to pick up the keys and pop the bubbly!  Whew! We have covered a lot of ground over the past few days, but hopefully now you’re feeling ready to tackle the home-buying process head-on.  If you’re thinking about making a move this year, it’s a great time to start your search (before the spring rush!). Drop me a message anytime and we can schedule an initial chat. Don’t do these 5 things during the home buying process!  There’s nothing worse than having to tell a prospective home buyer that the purchase fell through in the 11th hour.  It’s downright heartbreaking!  So, in an effort to save you a lot of heartache (and time …and money …) here are 3 things NOT to do when buying a home.  1. Don’t…buy a car Taking on new debt (such as an auto loan) will lower your credit score since there won’t be any payment history associated with the purchase. This rule also applies to opening new lines of credit! So, until you close, just say “no!” 2. Don’t…change jobs Mortgage lenders will verify your employment before they approve your loan, and they look for stability–*at least* 6 months of employment is preferred.  3. Don’t…miss bills Paying your bills on time improves your credit score. If you can’t consistently pay your bills in a timely manner, consider waiting to buy a home. 4. Don’t…loan money (or cosign a loan) It’s awesome that you want to help a friend or family member who has fallen on hard times, but if you’re in the market for a new home, wait until closing day to loan them a significant amount of money or cosigning a loan. 5. Don’t…ghost your realtor Things can change really quickly during the home buying process, so stay in touch with your Realtor to ensure you don’t miss important information that could affect your purchase.  My last piece of advice? Hire a Realtor (and mortgage lender!) you can trust to help you through the process. So much goes into buying a home, so you shouldn’t go it alone!  If you’ve purchased a home before, what advice would you give to a new homebuyer? Share it in the comments!  3 ways to make a small space feel larger  If you’re struggling to make your small space feel light, bright and more open, let me help!  These simple tips can help any space feel instantly larger: 1. Clear out the clutter  You’d be surprised how open and airy your space will feel after you eliminate unnecessary items and clutter.  2. Choose lighter paint colors  A lighter paint color instantly opens up a smaller room. But that doesn’t mean you have to use white or gray? A beautiful, creamy neutral works well, too!  3. Utilize mirrors  This trick has been used for decades because it works! Mirrors make any room feel larger and more open – just don’t go overboard (yes, we’re talking about mirrored closet doors – let’s leave those in the ’80s).  There are definite advantages to living in a smaller space–there’s less to clean and less to furnish! But that doesn’t mean you have to feel cramped and cluttered. So follow these tips to help make your home look and feel larger.  And tell me: are you making any home improvements this winter? Share them with me in the comments!

Let’s talk about home buying. I’m going to tell you what I always tell my buyers: be prepared for the process to take longer than you expect, but be ready to move quickly anyway! Here’s what the typical steps in a home purchase look like: 1) Find a real estate agent2) Get pre-approved for a mortgage3) Determine your wish list and outline “wants” vs “needs”4) Tour homes that interest you5) Make an offer on “The One”6) Schedule a home inspection7) Set up the home appraisal8) Finalize your loan9) Closing Day  On the quick end of things buying a home could be your reality in as little as 10 weeks. I’m ready if you are — DM me and let’s get started! Don’t skip this crucial step! Today, we’re talking all about the pre-approval process, which determines what homes you can afford. What does it mean to be pre-approved? It means that a certified mortgage lender has checked your credit, employment, and verified assets. Once they’ve reviewed these things, they can tell you how much money the bank can loan you for your mortgage. Also, most sellers require a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before negotiating with a buyer. In order to get pre-approved, you’ll need to provide proof of:  Employment verification  Proof of assets (cash on hand; the money in your checking or savings accounts, money market accounts, etc.) Proof of income (income tax returns)  A qualifying credit score (usually above 620)  Personal documentation (government-issued identification) Once you’re pre-approved, we can begin the home-buying search in earnest! Drop a “YES!” in the comments if you found today’s lesson helpful. I think I covered the basics, but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a DM if you have questions. Okay, friend. It’s time for some tough love: let’s chat about *wants* vs. *needs.* In a perfect world (and in a perfect market) you’d be able to get everything on your home wish list. But the reality is, that rarely happens. That’s why it’s important to determine your wants and needs *before* you begin your home search. This way, you don’t waste your time viewing homes that don’t work for you or your family. But what’s the difference between the two? *Needs* are your must-haves. Your non-negotiables. Your can’t-live-withouts. Examples include air conditioning, enough bedrooms for each member of your family, and location (think: within a certain school district or within a certain radius of your job) *Wants* are more like things you can live without, but would prefer to have, such as quartz countertops, hardwood flooring, or a separate shower and bathtub. The thing about your list is that it’s personal to *you.* Your best friend might need a big backyard for her Great Dane, while you might want a smaller yard that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance So, let’s practice. Share some of your home wants and needs in the comments below! I want to take a moment to be honest with you… Home buying can be really overwhelming! You’re making the biggest financial decision of your life and sometimes, you have to make it within the 15-minute window of a showing or open house. That’s why when I accompany my clients to showings, I encourage you to spend time getting to know the property and deciding if it checks enough of your boxes, while I focus on making sure we ask the important questions: Logistical:  -Why is the homeowner selling? -When does the seller want to move? -How long has the property been on the market? -Are there any other offers on the property? Property-Related: -Has the seller made any major updates to the property? -How old are the appliances, roof and heating/cooling systems? Are they in good condition? -Have there been any foundational issues? -Has the sewer ever backed up? -Have there been any leaks or water damage in the property? Local: -What are the property taxes? ​-How much do utilities typically cost? -What is the school district? (even if you don’t have kids in the schools, this impacts resale!) Bonus Tip: Don’t let yourself get distracted by the seller’s home decor! You’re not buying that Pottery Barn sofa, you’re buying the foundation, the floor plan and the structure.  Save this post in case you find yourself spontaneously popping into an open house this spring and remember, I’m always just a phone call or text away! This step is a big one!  Once you’ve found “the one,” it’s time to write a killer offer.  Because you’ve followed all of my previous steps, writing a great offer won’t be hard!  You have a pre-approval letter in hand, you’re represented by an agent who is dedicated to help you succeed, and you have thought carefully about your needs and wants.  Once you find a home that checks all of your boxes, we’re ready! Even though the market has shifted and conditions aren’t as competitive for buyers as they were a year ago, sellers still have room to negotiate and it’s possible that your offer won’t be accepted right away.  So here three tips I give my home buyers when it comes time to write a great offer: 1) Be prepared to be flexible. Buyers do have some negotiating power back, but it’s still important to consider what the seller might be looking in terms of earnest money requirements, timeline, and closing date. I’ll always do my best to glean as much information as possible from the listing agent, but flexibility is often key! 2) Partner with your lender. The reason that cash offers are usually more appealing to a seller is because without a financing contingency, it’s a lot less likely that the deal will fall apart. Sometimes an enthusiastic endorsement from a loan officer (via email or even in a video message to the seller’s agent) can reassure the seller that your financing is secure. 3) Consider an escalation clause. If there are multiple offers (and yes, that does still happen, despite what you might hear in the news!) an escalation clause tells the seller that you will pay $X above the highest bid to have your offer accepted.  Questions about submitting a winning offer? I’ve got the answers and my inbox is always open. Raise your hand if you know the difference between a home valuation and a home appraisal  (And, it’s OK if you don’t! Because I’m here to help you).  First, let’s talk about appraisals.  If you’re financing your home with a mortgage (as opposed to paying cash), you’ll want to be sure to negotiate a home appraisal contingency into the sales contract.  A home appraisal is a process through which a real estate appraiser determines the fair market value of a home.  It can assure you and your lender that the price you’ve agreed to pay for a home is fair.  (Appraisals are also often used to determine property taxes, which makes them a requirement in most counties).  The appraisal contingency protects you because if the appraisal comes in too low to justify the agreed-upon purchase price, then you can walk away from the deal without penalty or renegotiate the terms of the deal with the seller. The market value of a property is decided by the buyer of a property, based on what they think the price of a property should be and, most importantly, what they are willing to pay for it.  Oh — and here’s a bonus tip! A home appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. Yes, the appraiser does assess the home’s condition, but only for the purposes of arriving at a valuation. Questions about market value. vs. appraised value? Drop me a message anytime and I’d be glad to answer them!