The holidays are a joyous time to be at home with family and friends. If you celebrate Christmas, you may enjoy decorating a tree on your own or with your loved ones. However, it’s important to be mindful of safety with a real tree in your home. Consider the following tips.

Find a fresh tree. A fresh Christmas tree with bright green needles is less likely to catch fire. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles before you bring it home.

Light it right. Not all holiday lights are built the same. Before purchasing lights or stringing your tree, check the box to make sure all your Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA. If a string of lights is damaged, toss it out.

Safe setting. Of course, to avoid a fire, set your tree in a safe spot away from radiators, candles, fireplaces, vents or lights. Always keep the tree base filled with water to keep your tree healthy and a fire at bay.

Don’t over-decorate. While it can be tempting to load your tree with every decoration, an overloaded tree is more likely to come crashing down. Decorate lightly if possible, especially if you have small children or playful pets in the house.

Power down at night. Even though it can seem appealing to leave your tree lights on all night, power them down when you turn in for the night to ensure safety.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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When embarking on the purchase of a new home, you likely hear a lot of mortgage talk – what kind you should get, how long a term is ideal, and interest rates, interest rates, interest rates.

One unique mortgage option available in specific cases is the assumable mortgage, which allows a buyer to take over a seller’s loan.

It’s important to note that assumable mortgages are typically only available for certain loans, like FHA and VA loans. If your seller has one of these loans, this may be something to discuss with your real estate agent. But first, let’s break down how these mortgages work.

Taking on an assumable mortgage means that the buyer can have the seller’s loan transferred to them with lender approval, keeping the loan terms the same.

Advantages
Low interest. Assumable mortgages can be great for the buyer if the seller’s interest rates are much lower than rates being offered currently, or if the buyer’s credit history isn’t ideal.

Decreased closing costs. Taking on an assumable mortgage can mean decreased closing costs, depending on the details of the sale.

Marketing strategy. This is a pro for the seller, who can use their assumable mortgage to entice buyers in a saturated market.

Disadvantages
More mortgages. If the value of the home is greater than what’s left of the mortgage, and the buyer doesn’t have enough cash to meet the difference, the buyer could have to take on a second mortgage, which may not be ideal.

Seller obligations. Another note for sellers: Make sure you are fully released from loan obligations before signing anything over. If your name remains attached and your buyer defaults down the line, you could be held accountable.

As always, be sure to talk to your real estate agent, lender and financial advisor before making any major loan decisions.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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Jacksonville , NC   June 14, 2018

5 Early Summer Yard Projects

Early summer, when the weather is warm but the most intense heat has yet to descend, is often an ideal time to add a few yard projects to your weekend to-do list.

Below are five fun projects to tackle with your family. Bonus: most can be done during a single weekend if you have more than one set of hands on deck.

Build a firepit. There are a myriad of helpful tutorials online for building your own fire pit outside, and some are as simple as arranging attractive bricks or cinder blocks. Create a simple or intricate pit, assuring it’s a safe distance from the house and far from any foliage, and break out the marshmallows.

Install a (temporary) outdoor shower. Before you say, “but I’m not a plumber,” think about this fun, quick fix: Wrap a hose around a favorite tree, hanging the nozzle just above height level. Install a shower curtain around a hula hoop and hang it from the same tree, so that the nozzle of the hose hangs down the center. Attach a shower nozzle at the end of the hose and voila – a quick, fun shower for rinsing off in your suit after the beach.

Restain the deck. This may be more functional than fun, but if your deck is looking a little tired, a clear, rain-free weekend is the perfect time for re-staining. You can do this yourself. Just be sure to properly clean and sand the deck down before staining, and don’t forget to weather-seal it. Talk to a professional at your closest home improvement store to make sure you get the proper seals and stains, and follow directions accordingly.

Create an easy lounge area. Choose a corner of your deck, yard or patio that isn’t getting much use, ideally one with at least one side snug against the house. Purchase or find a few pallets, paint them fun colors, and secure them into the corner. Add a futon pad or bed topper, toss on a few comfy pillows, and you’ve got a luxurious lounge area for the whole family to enjoy.

Add a touch of whimsy. Parents with young children, this one’s for you. Create a fun playspace in your backyard to keep the kids entertained all season long. A few ideas: Spray paint twister dots on the grass for family fun; string a sheet from the trees, grab a projector, and have movie nights al fresco; repurpose that hula-hoop shower curtain idea without the hose for a fun fort for one. Or, drag that old bunk bed frame your child has outgrown into the yard, seal it with waterproof sealer, and transform it into a star gazing center.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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5 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Mood

If you feel like your home could use a personality makeover, there are many things you should consider. Below are a handful of things that can easily impact the mood of your space.

Colors. The easiest way to brighten or mellow the feeling of your home is with color. From the paint on the walls to the furniture and accents, you can ground your space with grays and deep blues, or make it pop with butter yellow walls and bright orange throw pillows.

Furniture. If you’re feeling stuffy in your space, the furniture (and its layout) may be to blame. Open things up by turning that wall-facing sofa out towards the room’s center, swap that beat-up old easy chair for a sleeker design, and remove any pieces that don’t get used enough to justify their presence.

Lighting. If your home feels dingy and dark, bad lighting is likely the culprit. Examine your space for the places you spend the most time in, as well as your entrance and main focal points, and ensure they are well-lit. This may take a few sconces along stairwells, tracking lights in the kitchen, or under-mount lights in the bathroom.

Art. Your home will reflect your personality if you add art that speaks to you. Remember when it comes to artwork in the home, less is often more. Choose a few bold pieces and place them in areas where they will get a lot of eyeballs.

Plants. Well-groomed houseplants have a calming impact on your space. Potted palms in corners or sweet little succulents lined on a shelf can do wonders.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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5 Things to Check When Viewing a Home

If you’re shopping for a home right now, you’re likely seeing dozens of properties. While this is great news for prospective buyers, there are a handful of essential things you should be looking for when doing a walk-through.

Roof. When entering or exiting the property, take a moment to look up. While you can’t always tell if the roof is well-maintained by looks alone, missing or warped shingles are a sign that the roof has been neglected.

Rust. Check any major appliances that will be coming with the house for signs of rust or neglect. Think the HVAC system and water heater.

Warping. Examine the corners of rooms and the angles of doors. Are things tilted or warped? This could point to issues with the foundation.

Moisture. If the home smells musty, or the wood around the windows is soft or rotted, it’s likely that there’s some sort of moisture leak, be it from a pipe, an improperly fitted or warped window, or a funky foundation.

Lots of listings. If there are numerous listings on any given street, there might be a reason why. Do your research before purchasing a property in an area that others are running from.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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4 Steps to Prep Your Home for Sale in Jacksonville NC

Thinking about selling your home soon? The following four steps can help you prep your space for the market.

1. Determine its worth. Before you start making repairs, find out your home’s value. Contact a real estate agent for a comparative market analysis, which is an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties. You can also get a certified appraiser to provide an appraisal.

2. Beautify. Next, get busy working on the home’s appearance. You want to make sure it is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers so that you can get top dollar. This means fixing or sprucing up any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, such as squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpets and walls, and broken windows.

3. Up the curb appeal. The ‘curb appeal’ of your home is extremely important. It is the first impression that buyers form of your property as they drive or walk up. So make sure the lawn is pristine—the grass cut, debris removed, garden beds free of weeds, and hedges trimmed.

4. Don’t overdo it. Make repairs, but make sure you’re considering your return on investment as you do. The trick is not to overspend on pre-sale repairs and fix-ups, especially if there are few homes on the market but many buyers competing for them. On the other hand, making such repairs may be the only way to sell your home in a down market.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and homeownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

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