Kitsap County Real Estate News
There are pros and cons to buying a home during the holiday season, but there’s nothing like coming HOME for the holidays.
“While many people associate the holidays with family gatherings and time off from work, for homebuyers, the holiday season can be an ideal time to buy a property,” says Alex Shekhtman, CEO and founder of LBC Mortgage in Beverly Hills, California.
Are you considering a home purchase as we close out the year? Here’s what to expect – and how to do it successfully.
No matter what side of the Puget Sound, it’s my pleasure to help my buyers find themselves home.
“Karen was fantastic! She spent a lot of time working with us long distance in the beginning and then when we moved to the area she showed us houses on 3 occasions, including December 23rd.
She is a very professional lady and cares about being transparent with her clients. MONTHS AFTER THE SALE and amidst the chaos that is COVID 19, Karen checked on my wife while I was away for work and offered to go grocery shopping because my wife was 6 months pregnant. That says it all right there.
Highly recommend that you use her!
Karen, we will use you again if we sell this house : ) Hope all is well.”
Recent headlines appearing in publications across the U.S. have been calling to the rising prices of real estate, the rates at which the housing market is finally bouncing back after the recession, and steady mortgage rates continuing into the home-buying season. So, if someone asked me if now was the time to invest in real estate? I would have to answer with a resounding “yes!” And Forbes agrees. In a recent feature, the company made a list of the best places to invest in housing in 2017.
According to a recent article on LifeHacker, it seems that there are a lot of financial “facts” out there that actually aren’t facts at all. No wonder there’s so much confusion regarding personal finance!
It's the season of college graduation and many millennials are turning toward their futures, asking questions about careers and likely looking long-term goals that include purchasing a home. In "Dear College Grads: Start Saving for Your Dream House Now (and Other Unsolicited Advice for Your Future," Jamie Wiebe says people often make the process sound easy: "Make money, save money, have good credit. Ta-da, a house!" But she says, "not so much: Getting your finances in order for home ownership can be a challenge, even if your goal isn't a luxury mansion." Luckily, she provides some useful ways to prepare for a future home purchase.
1. Build a solid credit history by opening a credit card and paying your student loans on time because you'll want a score above 700.
2. Think about homeownership when you contemplate careers, considering factors such as income and locale.
3. Cut a significant chunk of your student loans to ease balancing student debt and a mortgage easier.
4. Establish a general idea of your goals for a home, which will help you work toward a financial plan to meet your needs.
5. Save as much money as you can, not only for your down payment, but also for the additional 5% that closing costs, home inspections, and taxes may add to your home's purchase price.
6. If you're thinking about investing, don't gamble -- utilize a financial adviser or a high-interest savings account, which provide less risk.
7. The income bump that a new job brings shouldn't mean an increase in your lifestyle spending. If you save your extra money, you'll be far better off in the future than if you attend that extra happy hour.
8. Finally, don't be afraid of beginning in a simple home or small apartment as a starter property, knowing that you can always upgrade in the future.
