Ben Craver

1. Mortgage interest rates are at all time lows! Average rates are at 4.25% but won’t be there forever. 10 years ago they were 7.81%, 20 years ago they were 9.70% and 30 years ago they were 12%! Don’t expect rates this low to stay that way too much longer.

2. Deals can be had right now! Not all sellers are desperate for a buyer to come save them by buying their home for a price well below the list price but there are good deals out there. If you do your homework (or have a good Realtor who can help do it for you), there are outstanding deals to be had out there!

Thinking of selling your home in the near future? Maybe even already have it on the market? Here are a few quick, easy tips for preparing your home to be sold that will cost you (almost) nothing but time if you choose to do them yourself. But if you would rather, you can always hire professionals to do them for you and save yourself the time and effort.

1. De-clutter your house! Removing all clutter from your house makes it look larger and also allows potential buyers to see the potential your home has for them. Rather than see the knick-knacks and family photos you have on the fireplace mantle, they can envision their own items there. Box up those items and move them to the garage until it’s time for you to move.

2. Fresh paint makes walls look like new! You don’t need to paint every room in your house, just the rooms that need a fresh coat. Be sure to choose a color that brightens the room and is fairly neutral. Bold, dark tones tend to turn-off most buyers.

3. Make it sparkle! Everything should be cleaned to look like new. Polish anything metal (light fixtures), scrub baseboards, deep clean carpets, shine those wood and tile floors. Buyers will know your house isn’t new but it sure will make a difference to them if it looks like it is.

4. Arrange furniture for style (and space), not comfort! You may want your couch to be directly in front of your TV but if it makes the room look smaller, move it somewhere that opens up the room.

5. Landscaping is important too! Of course any potential buyers for your home will be looking at the outside of your home as well. You do not need to hire professional landscapers just ensure the hedges are trimmed, the grass is cut, the siding is power-washed and everything has a nice clean look to it.

Buying your first home this year? With interest rates as low as 4.35% now is a great time to be making a home purchase. Buying is certainly cheaper than renting a comparable house right now and you get the piece of mind know it is YOUR house. You are not paying someone else's mortgage and you are creating equity for yourself. Buying your first home can be confusing though and there are some things you need to be aware of before you begin. Here’s a short list of a few things a first-time home buyer should know;

1. Get pre-qualified for a mortgage at the beginning of your search. This should always be step 1 because it will let you know what your ceiling price is and your mortgage specialist will be able to tell you what your monthly payments will be for the price range you desire to be in. Being pre-qualified will also let sellers know they are not wasting their time accepting your offer to purchase their home, thereby strengthening your offer.

2. Get a REALTOR. On the buyer's side the fees for a Realtor are very minimal, you do not pay a commission but there is usually a small broker's service fee that is charged to you as a closing cost. For that you get someone who can (among other things); Search for homes that fit the exact criteria you want, show you the homes you are most interested in, find comps on a house you want to make an offer on, write the offer to purchase, negotiate an offer to purchase, coordinate with mortgage and title company to close the purchase of the home. Using a realtor for any home transaction is always a no-brainer, but especially for a buyer who is paying little-to-nothing for the experience and expertise you get to guide you through your home buying process.

3. Things to think of when you begin your search; What area of town do you want to live in? What price range are you looking for? If you have kids, what school system would you like them to be in? How many bedrooms do you need? How many bathrooms? What size of yard? Is it important to be a ranch or two-story?

4. Once you have done your search through your Realtor or online, pick the 4-6 best ones to go see in person. Your Realtor can set these up for you. Take notes about what you liked or disliked about each home to review later after you've seen all the homes that day. Also feel free to bring a camera or to take pictures with your phone to help you remember specifics of what you liked/disliked about the home.

5. Relax and enjoy the process of searching for a home, it should be a fun, enjoyable time, not stressful. When you find the right home you’ll know it. So if you’re not sure, keep looking. You’ll find the right one for you soon enough.