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8 Tips for New Homeowners Moving to a New State

December 13, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

We all have reasons for relocating. Sometimes, it is simply getting a new job in a state. We move to be closer to family. I know some folks that have moved on average once every two years and they weren’t military. However, they saw a lot of the United States and Europe as well.

Carol Evenson passes on some tips for moving to a new state to help make a move smoother and less stressful.

1. Do plenty of research.

Before you actually start the moving process, you should start by researching the city to which you plan to relocate. From local shops to schools and food chains, you should know exactly what your new city has to offer. We highly suggest doing a thorough internet search or, if possible, even driving through the city to get a better understanding of the area.

2. Search for your new home.

Before you take the plunge and move to a new city, you should spend at least a couple months beforehand finding a new home. Reach out to a local realtor. They can provide invaluable help as you look for a new place to live Whether you plan to rent or buy, a realtor can not only show you around the city but also recommend a great property to settle down in. They will be familiar with the different neighborhoods and can help you to find a home that is within your budget and provides the things you need.

3. Develop a budget.

Money can be tight while moving, which is why it’s so important to create a budget. It’s very easy to overspend or even run out of money with so many expenses coming at you. Developing a moving budget can help you monitor how much money you are spending and keep track of how much you have left to spend.

One of the biggest expenses that you should base your budget around is the moving company costs, but don’t spend everything in that one area. There are still plenty of large costs that you need to be aware of, such as plane tickets, utility connection fees, and more.

4. Hire a moving company.

The best, and sometimes only, way to move all your belongings from one state to another is to hire a moving company. However, before you hire one you should do plenty of research to make sure you are getting the best service possible. Some different moving companies have specialties they offer, so look for the best. Some movers refuse to move pianos while others specialize in that area. Some movers specialize in long-distance moves, while some bill themselves exclusively as Phoenix, Los Angeles, or Dallas movers. Make sure that the moving company you hire can handle exactly what you need them for.

Ask for recommendations from your friends and family. From there we suggest asking for testimonials from past customers. Ideally, the more positive reviews they have from customers, the more you can trust them. However, you should also check out their licensing info at the US Department of Transportation to make sure they are legally allowed to be moving your belongings.

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Finding Down Payment Money for Your Home

August 6, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

For my family, down payment and closing costs were the toughest part of owning our next home. Making the mortgage payment was not an issue. Having the money to get started and be able to look for homes with confidence and loan in hand were a challenge. We found our help through family. That was a good day.

David Reed helps us out with more ways to find a down payment for your home. It may be time for you to stop renting. Take a read and see.

One of the biggest challenges, if not the biggest challenge, is coming up with the money for a down payment on a home. Even if someone is taking advantage of the new conventional 3.0 percent down program or the FHA mortgage, most every loan requires some sort of a down payment. While 3.0 percent doesn’t sound like a whole lot, if you’re buying your first home it usually is. On a $250,000 home, that comes out to $7,500. That’s not even mentioning closing costs. But there are sources for down payment funds that might sometimes be overlooked.

The Bank.

Okay, this is the obvious source. From a checking or a savings account, accessing readily available cash from a bank account is the most common. Consumers can save up a little each month until the minimum amount of funds needed have accrued. The lender will ask for copies of the most recent bank statements showing available funds as well as documenting the source of those funds. Most often the deposits are from an employer via direct deposit. Self-employed borrowers who do not receive a regular paycheck on the 1st and 15th will be asked to provide business bank statements as well.

A Gift.

There are those fortunate few who do receive a financial gift from a family member. Gift funds must also be tracked to make sure the funds are coming from an acceptable source. Gift funds can come from a family member, relative, or someone in a committed relationship. Lenders want to make sure the gift funds aren’t a loan that must be paid back at some point in the future. There needs to be a signed “gift letter” included with the loan file stating the amount of the gift, the donor’s name and where the funds are coming from. Lenders won’t ask for bank statements from the donor but do want to know the funds came from an account in the donor’s name.

A Retirement Account.

If someone has a retirement account with an employer such as a 401(k), that person can take out a loan against the fund. This is allowable per lending guidelines but is also subject to the employer’s approval. Most retirement funds allow for someone to borrow up to one-half of the employee’s vested balance in the account. With an IRA, first time buyers can withdraw up to $10,000 without penalty. The withdrawal will still be subject to any income tax due.

An Appraisable Asset.

If someone owns something that can be appraised by an independent third party, the proceeds when selling that asset are an acceptable source. Selling an automobile is acceptable, for instance, because it has an appraised value. Even a highly prized baseball card is an appraisable asset. It’s important to document the transaction from the initial sale to the deposit in the account.

A Down Payment Assistance Program.

Down payment assistance programs are typically overseen and/or issued by a county or state agency. Such programs typically require the borrowers’ gross monthly income to not exceed certain limits and are often available to first-time buyers. These programs can also be geographically targeted to help low to moderate-income communities flourish. Down payment assistance can come in the form of a grant, which means there is no repayment required or a loan which can be forgiven after living in the property for a certain period of time, typically three years or more.

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8 New Tricks for Keeping Mosquitos Away

July 28, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

There is something about mosquitoes. When you see just one, you feel that you just have to start scratching an imaginary itch. If a mosquito gets in your car, you spend more time trying to kill it than driving.

Jaymi Naciri has eight good summer tips to help keep the mosquitoes away.

Mosquitos. They’re universally despised, and there’s not much we wouldn’t do to keep them away, right? Personally, we’re always on the hunt for a new serum or device or prayer that will help keep them away of the yard so we can actually enjoy our time out there without coming back inside covered in itchy welts.

So, behold the latest list tricks and tools to keep them at bay.

Repel them

This Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller is said to provide 12 Hours of DEET-free repellent and is also scent-free and cordless. Reviews are mixed on Amazon, but, at under $25, we’re willing to give it a shot!

Wipe them away

Actually, these Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes with 30% DEET keeps them away, and, they’re much easier to use (and less messy) than bug spray. If you’d prefer DEET-free wipes, you can find them, too.

Dab on the essential oils

This was the winning strategy during a recent trip to a very humid, very mosquito-prone land. Liberal amounts of peppermint and rosemary with reapplication about every 30 minutes did the trick.

Burn your coffee grounds

“Reusing coffee grounds offers benefits from fertilizing plants to repelling mosquitoes,” said Hunker. “Coffee grounds have a smoldering effect after you light them that keeps insects at bay. Mosquitoes, like other insects, are repelled by the odor created from the coffee grounds burning.”

Plant some lavender

It smells lovely to humans (and is beautiful to look at, too), but mosquitos hate it. Lemongrass, lemon balm, and marigolds are a few more plants you can add to your garden to keep the mosquitos out.

Grow some herbs

Add basil, garlic, and rosemary to your garden for another potent anti-mosquito punch. One of the best is something you might want to grow for other, tastier, reasons as well.

“Basil is so effective at repelling mosquitos (and adding a delicious flavor to Italian fare!) that you’ll want to grow it all around your house,” said POPSUGAR. “Windowsills, porches, the garden…the possibilities are endless!”

Plug in the fan

In a Consumer Reports test, a standing fan proved more successful at keeping away mosquitos than several other “tried-and-true” methods. “CR has tested three methods for controlling mosquito activity in a large area: citronella candles, an oscillati

ng pedestal fan, and a battery-powered area diffuser that emitted geraniol, a natural repellent derived from plants,” they said. “We found that the fan was far more effective than citronella candles or the geraniol diffuser. In fact, our tests showed that the fan reduced mosquito landings by 45 to 65 percent for folks sitting nearby.”

Grab a dryer sheet

These little wonders have more uses than eliminating static cling. “Turns out, there’s actually science behind this age-old myth,” said Buzzfeed. “Dryer sheets contain two chemicals that keep gnats and mosquitoes away: linalool, which is toxic to some types of insects, and beta-citronellol, which is found in citronella, the ultimate mosquito repellent. So, yeah, keep one in your pocket, or if you’re really committed, rub one on your arms and any other exposed skin.”

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2019’s Housing Market Is Likely to Be Stronger Than We Thought

May 10, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Clare Trepasso writing for Realtor.com has insight on what will be a great housing market for the rest of 2019.

Despite a real estate slowdown gripping the nation, this year’s housing market is expected to be busier than realtor.com® economists originally predicted late last year. That means more home sales—and higher prices—are on the way.

The anticipated uptick in activity is due to lower mortgage rates, which make homes more affordable for buyers. The economic team expected rates to climb to 5.5% in 2019, but instead, they have hovered around 4%. (They were 4.17% on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages as of April 18, according to Freddie Mac data.) Economists say rates are now likely to rise a little to 4.5%, still well below what buyers were dreading.

However, it’ll be nothing like the feeding frenzy of recent years.

“It’s still going to be a lukewarm year for the housing market,” says Chief Economist Danielle Hale of realtor.com. “We’re going to see higher prices and slightly higher home sales than we expected. But home sales are still going to decline slightly as a result of the housing slowdown. There’s a gap between what sellers are looking for and buyers are hoping to pay.”

The downside for buyers—and upside for sellers—is that prices are expected to rise more than Hale’s team originally forecast, going up 2.9% in 2019 instead of 2.2%. That’s because the swelling ranks of buyers motivated by those lower mortgage rates will increase demand—and therefore prices.

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How to Keep Your Home Clean When you Have Pets

May 3, 2019 by cdiez 1 Comment

Jaymi Naciri writing for Realty Times gives us the tips we need to keep our home clean with pets.

Hairballs, tracked-in mud, and accidents, oh my! Picking up after a pet (or three if you live in our house!) is no joke. So how do you enjoy your place and keep it looking spiffy when you have pets, during this and every other season?

Unless you want to live in something resembling a pig sty, you have to be smart about your pet-cleaning tools and techniques.

Spring for the good vacuum

If you have pets that shed, you know the value of a good vacuum. But if you’ve been getting by on less, and dealing with vacuums that don’t have enough suction or just aren’t intended for pet hair removal, it’s time to trade up.

Pet Life Today likes the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum, which it calls a “versatile upright vacuum easily converts into a canister unit to provide a powerful clean for your entire home.” This one came out on top after their study of dozens of vacuums thanks to its “power, versatility and efficient removal of pet hair. The ability to convert this vacuum from an upright to a canister or handheld makes it the perfect all-round choice for cleaning every area of your home. The reasonable price and high amount of positive feedback from Amazon users is another reason this vacuum takes our top position.” This vacuum is available for $263.99.

Personally, we’re partial to the Dyson V8 Animal vacuum. It gets up all the hair, it has tons of attachments and do-dads, and is also cordless, which makes it super versatile. The potential downsides: it’s pricey, at $399, and it has a small canister, which means you have to dump it out more often.

Stock up on lint rollers

We can’t decide if this giant-size, pet-themed lint roller is genius or ridiculous, but we’re definitely intrigued. We have regular-sized lint rollers stashed all over our house because they’re the greatest for removing dog hair from upholstery, rugs, bedding, and clothes. The 10-inch width of this one is enticing, and the pole sounds like a back-saver, frankly.

But the price seems a bit steep. At $21.99, we predict the 25 sheets will last us a day or two. Refills are as low as $10.49 and come with 50 sheets, but that still doesn’t compare to the five-roll (95 sheets each) combo pack for $10.79. So the real question is: How much is a pole worth?

Go for indoor-outdoor rugs

“They’ve come a long way since you last saw them in your grandparents’ basement. There are lots of stylish versions out there, and they’re available in a variety of color schemes,” said Architectural Digest. “Put a small one in front of each door—sort of like an indoor doormat—to catch any dirt and water your pet may drag in. I also recommend placing one under the sofa, dining room table, and any other place your pet likes to lounge. These rugs don’t let anything soak in, and they wipe clean with a damp rag.

If you don’t like the look or feel of indoor-outdoor rugs, look for something with a short weave. Hair will be much easier to get up if it can’t get stuck in the fibers.

Get a black light

If your pet does have an accident here and there (or even more often), a black light can help you pinpoint the urine so so you eliminate the stain and odor. “There could be urine or other waste stains your pet could be leaving around the house that you do not know about,” said Of Life + Lisa. “Once every week, conduct a sweep through of your rooms with a black light to find and eliminate these hidden stains.”

So why does this work? “Urine glows under a black light primarily because it contains the element phosphorus,” said ThoughtCo. “Cat urine, in particular, glows very brightly under ultraviolet light.”

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Is It Time for a Laundry Room Makeover?

April 12, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Adam Beasley of Lazy Guy DIY poses the answers to improving your laundry room look.

Basements are out of sight and out of mind a lot of times. It’s easy to let the space get away from you. There’s not enough light, little organization and a whole lot of monsters hiding in the deep, dark corners. We let our basement get the best of us. So, we decided to partner with The Home Depot to take back our neglected space and turn it into a place that we enjoyed spending time in with a laundry room renovation.

We had water damage from old gutters and an overall bad habit of piling stuff in corners that had to be addressed. (Check out how we fixed the water damage and prepped the space prior to the update) When our decades old washing machine started to smell like it was burning, we knew it was time for a change. We wanted to go with something with high efficiency and high capacity since we just increased to a family of four.

Our old laundry set up did not have a single surface to fold laundry on. We addressed it a few ways. First, we added a butcher block workbench top by Edsal over the top of our new washer and dryer. It’s a perfect fit, durable and gives us a designated folding space that would combat the all too common “lost a sock between the washer & dryer” epidemic. Plus we added these great teal Macklin metal baskets to capture the rest.

Next we brought in two Gladiator workbenches and the Gladiator free standing garage cabinet (with wheel kit) in white. The hardwood top and the white metal legs flowed perfectly with our lighter colored theme. Most importantly, it would hold up to the water we’d inevitably get in the basement.

Lastly, to make our lives a little easier, we picked up two of these bottomless Seville canvas laundry hampers. Now we can shuttle our laundry from washer to dryer without losing a sock or two along the way!

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