Displaying blog entries 51-60 of 63
New Castle County DE listings decreased from 818 new listings in August 2016 down to 774 in August 2017. The average sales price increased to $256,570, while days on market dropped by 8 days.
.png)
(2).png)
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
If you are in the market for a new home, you may have already begun to ponder whether you should build your new home or buy your new home. There are many good reasons to go either way. Below is a list of pros and cons of building vs. buying a home for your consideration.
1. One pro of building a home instead of buying is that you can customize the home to be exactly what you are looking for. There will be no need to go in and change things once you move in because the home will already be build to your liking. A con of building a home to get everything you wish for is that the price may be out of your comfort zone.
2. A con to building your home instead of buying your home is that picking every little thing out can quickly become a daunting task. When you build your own home you will be picking out things you never thought much about such as door knobs and ceiling fans. If you like to pick things out and you don’t mind spending time doing so then this may not be a problem for you.
3. If you want things done quickly and you like instant gratification then buying a home may be better for you than building one. Typically when you set out to build a home you have a time frame you plan to finish it in that doesn’t work out quite like you planned. If you are an impatient person you may want to just buy a home and fix it to your liking or better yet just buy a home that is everything you’re looking for.
4. A con to buying a home can sometimes be location. If you love the home but you don’t like the neighborhood then buying may not be right for you. When you build you will be able to build on land that you purchase and love.
These are a few pros and cons to building vs. buying a home that can get you starting thinking a little bit deeper about what you want to do. Buying or building a home is a big decision no matter which you choose, so be sure to think about every possibility before you begin.
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
Buying or selling a home is scary, happy, sad, exciting and the list goes on. The emotions we all go through can be from one end of the spectrum to the other. Homes tend to be our castles, our places to get away from the rest of the world, to just be us with no questions asked and nothing expected. For this reason buying or selling your home is a pretty big deal. Perhaps one of the biggest you may be involved with in your lifetime. Let’s take a look at a bit of home buying/selling psychology to see what all might be involved and how to get through it all.
1. Some times people get their mind set on that particular house, without giving much thought as to just how many hours they may have to work to keep it. Think about your priorities when you are planning to buy a new home, then figure out which is more important to you….the house being exactly as you have planned in your mind or the amount of quality time you will be able to spend there with your family.
2. If you want to purchase a large home, you may have to come up with a pretty big down payment. Think about whether or not you will have enough cash left over to decorate your place to fit your vision. Perhaps buying a smaller home with a smaller down payment might work better for you desire a larger decorating budget.
3. When selling your place, consider if you really want to give up all the wonderful things you have done while there. For instance if you have built a nice grill area in the backyard or a water feature or even put in a pool, spend some time thinking about if you really want to leave all of that behind.
4. Keep in mind that your children may have become quite fond of their home and may or may not be so easy to uproot from the place they have known all their life. Is it worth it to move out from under the roof that sheltered precious memories?
There are many different emotions that you may experience whether you plan to sell your home or buy another one. Now that you have become more aware of a few of them you may be better able to cope with what may come your way.
We have all heard of the man cave and many of us have them in our homes. Did you know that there is something called the she shed that is starting to take over the popularity of the man cave? That’s right! Women now have their own special place they can go to get some alone time and it is called the she shed! Below is a little bit of information about this new phenomenon.
1. She sheds came about as a shed that was used for gardening but in the last decade they have quickly become nice outbuildings decorated in tasteful feminine décor that are used by women to get away from it all! How exciting is that?!
2. She sheds can be used for whatever you want to use them for. For example if you like to read, create a she shed filled with books and comfy furniture. If you like sewing and crafts make a she shed centered around that. The world is your oyster when it comes to what kind of she shed you can create.
3. She sheds can be created on a budget scaled to fit your vision. They do not have to break the bank and they have endless potential. Again, you can make what you want out of your she shed.
4. If you want to build your own she shed there are plenty of DIY helps online to help you get the job done . There are even she shed starter kits at local, well known hardware stores.
5. She sheds can even be used as beauty salons if you have a license and you want to have a shop at your home. All you would need to do to make this a reality is to add the necessary plumbing to a she shed. You can make them quite beautiful if you have the time and money that is required to do so.
6. As far as the “look” of a she shed, you can do it up or make it blend in. Decorative lighting, artsy paint schemes, big windows, there are no limits. Plan your she shed to be whatever suits your fancy.
Now that you know there is such a thing as a she shed, it’s likely you will want to go online to find out more. All you need to do is Google she shed and you will be well on your way to finding out about all there is to know in the world of the she shed!
Perhaps you are currently on the market for a new home. You may have grand plans to buy the biggest and newest one you can find. Have you ever given any thought to perhaps buying an older home instead? Below you will find a list of reasons why you may want to do just that.
1. If price is an issue for you when looking for a new place to live, going for one with some age on it instead of a new one may be something to consider. If you can find one that was built in or around the 1970’s you may find a diamond in the rough. Keep an open mind when looking for a house to purchase and you may just find the place of your dreams.
2. They just don’t build em’ like they use to. Likely you have heard this statement before. You may have wondered whether or not it is true and in fact it is. Houses built in years past typically were built with old hard wood trees. These trees were usually allowed to grow to an old age without being disturbed unlike trees today. These old hardwoods are much less likely to have any warping issues and resist rot. Instead of dry wood for walls, many older homes have been built with plaster and lathe. These materials are superior to dry wall because they provide better insulation as well as sound proofing.
3. Many times new houses are built in newly established neighborhoods. While this is not a bad thing in itself, it leaves unknown factors like crime rates, school districts and the general population of a certain area. Older homes tend to be in areas that are well established so you won’t have any questions left unanswered.
4. If character in a house is important to you then buying a home with some age on it is a great way to get what you are looking for. Crown moldings (which add a lot of character) are many times found in older homes.
5. If having a bit of a yard is something you wish to have then you may want to choose a place with some age on it. Newer homes come with less acreage.
These are just a few reasons why buying an older home might be appealing to you. Now that you have some facts on the subject you may find that you have changed your mind and your direction in your search for a “new” home.
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
New Castle County DE listings increased from 853 new listings in May 2016 up to 996 in May 2017. The average sales price climbed to $250,725, while days on market dropped by 2 days.
.png)
.png)
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
Let’s face it, there isn’t a better time of year to get some home maintenance taken care of in and around your house than now. The days are a little bit longer than they were and the temperatures are almost perfect, not too hot and not too cold, unless it’s raining of course. Below is a list of a few home maintenance tasks you might want to tackle along with a few shortcuts to help you get them done more quickly.
These few home maintenance shortcuts should help you get things done around your house a bit quicker this year than they may have taken you in years past. Sometimes by simply thinking a bit outside the box you can come up with ideas to get tasks done in a more efficient manner than you previously have. These shortcut ideas will get you started in the right direction.
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
New Castle County DE listings decreased from 1010 new listings in April 2016 down to 920 in April 2017. The average sales price climbed 0.57% to $237,012, while days on market dropped by 6 days.
.png)
.png)
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
So your life circumstances indicate that now is the time for you to buy real estate. Perhaps this will be your first home or you need a larger space to accommodate a growing family. You may be in search of a better school district or be forced to move because of your job. Whatever the reason for your housing search, there are four basic areas you need to investigate and specific questions you should ask before making a final decision on any house.
WISH LIST:
Before you actually tour any homes, you should determine exactly what you are looking for by asking yourself (and your family members) questions such as “What type of house do I want”? How much space will I need? What type of community and amenities are important to me? How much can I realistically afford to pay?
LOCATION:
Once you have narrowed down your neighborhood choices, do further exploration of these locations by asking about zoning, since apartments and commercial/industrial buildings lower the real estate value of homes. Is the appearance of the community appealing? Does the school district have a good reputation/rating? What about noise? Consider nuisance factors such as traffic sounds, barking dogs, railroad tracks, etc.--anything that will disturb or annoy you on a recurring basis. Ask, too, about property easements, commuting time to and from work, and demographics. Will you be the only family with young children or the sole 50+ resident in the neighborhood?
CONDITION OF Home:
In order to determine any structural or maintenance issues, ask about the age of the house, roof, and appliances. What kind of foundation and insulation does the home have? If you’re looking at an older property, ask if the plumbing and electrical systems have been updated. Has the house been inspected or appraised recently, and, if so, were any problems documented? Will the exterior of the residence require annual maintenance?
COST:
Asking the right questions in this area is extremely helpful in determining your offer on the Wilmington DE real estate. Inquiring about neighboring comps, what the seller paid, and how much he owes will give you an idea of the rise/fall of nearby prices and alert you to possible short sale or foreclosure status. Ask how long the house has been on the market and if there have been any offers; perhaps the seller will be willing to negotiate price or offer incentives. Additional inquiries should be made re: the cost of insurance and property taxes on the property and the amount of any homeowners’ association fees.
Arming yourself with answers to questions such as these should help you make an educated decision as to whether or not a particular piece of real estate is for you.
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
If you are currently in the market for buying a house, then you are likely already aware of just how difficult it can sometimes be. There are many stressors throughout the process that can make the home buying process seem anything but easy. Below are a few ways that home buying can be made a bit easier if you do your part to put them into action.
The first and most important thing you need to do before looking for a home to buy is to find an agent. The reason this part is the most important is because buying a home is a huge financial obligation and you want to choose the right person to help you with such a big decision in your life. A good way to find an excellent Realtor is to talk with your friends and family members that you trust to see whom they have used in the past. Once they give you a few suggestions, you can meet each one and see which one best matches your personality wishes. You will be spending quite a bit of time with this person so you want to make sure that you get along beautifully with them.
The next step in home buying made easy is to find a lender. Many times you can find out from your Realtor about what lenders they tend to use or who they think can be the best match for you and your particular situation. If your Realtor doesn’t lead you to the best match, again you can talk to your friends and family for suggestions.
You then need to make sure your credit is as clean as it can possibly be. Lenders can many times give you a bit of guidance in this area so that you can get approved for a loan.
It is important that you get pre approved for a loan before you go out searching for the home of your dreams. The lender that you choose will help you to know exactly how much of a house you can comfortably afford before you get your heart set on one.
Lastly, figure out exactly what you are looking for in a house. Make a list of your wants and desires in order of their importance. This will help to guide you in your home buying adventure and will help avoid wasting precious time.
These are just a few ideas on how to make the home buying process a bit easier. Once you do your part to put all of these in motion you will be well on your way to finding the home of your dreams.
Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.
Displaying blog entries 51-60 of 63
