Thanksgiving Special, to Home Owners Everywhere, Part 2



November 26, 2010When we arrived, we bumped into Home Depot Santa Clause.  We told him that we were looking to buy a nail gun to complete our project, and he took us to the right place.  He showed us the different air compressor options (air compressor???!!! Yikes, can’t I just use some Double A batteries for this thing??)  And he very frankly, without making any judgments of our ignorance, or trying to make...

Thanksgiving Special, to Home Owners Everywhere Part One



November 24, 2010A few weekends ago my husband and I decided to finish The Molding.  The Molding is a home improvement project that we started a good 3 months ago.  When we decided to redo the kitchen floor, which we finished in about 3 days, we did not realize that redoing the kitchen floor would also require redoing the molding.  So, The Molding is that little bonus project that I am learning is a part of...

Home Buying Basics: Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval



November 15, 2010What is pre-qualification? Pre-qualification is the first step towards securing a loan.  Typically, the pre-qualification process is a phone interview with a lender, but some lenders allow you to submit information online.  The lender is gathering information about your financial status to make a tentative decision about whether or not they will loan you money.  They will ask about your...

Confessions of a First Time Home Buyer



October 27, 2010I have experienced two surprise benefits of home ownership in the 4 months since we became owners .  The first:  I no longer have a Property Manager.  The second:  I am becoming handier and handier. Good Bye Scrooge, Hello Better Business Bureau. When weighing the pros and the cons of Renting versus Buying, our loving consultants (friends, family, neighbors, exclusive buyer’s agents)...

First Time Home Buyers Tip: Optimize Your Credit



October 11, 2010In the process of getting ready to buy, it is very important to do some soul searching to determine what you are looking for in a home, if renting or owning is better for you, and the time frame you intend to live in your house. For many of us, what we are looking for in a home is largely determined by our budget.  Or, maybe for all of us ;)  Yes, I’d love a brand new home with walk in...

Manage your home buying fears: Three things every home buyer should know.



September 22, 2010People fear responsibilities of all types.  Getting married and having a baby are classic examples.  What about buying a house?  It is a large, life changing responsibility too.  And, people can be afraid of taking this step. Home Buyers biggest fear is being unable to afford their mortgage payment. Unlike changes like having a child or getting married, people are afraid of the financial...

Buying the Right Home: First Time Home Buyers Tip



September 3, 2010How long do you want to live in your house? You are just thinking about buying a house.  Do you really need to start thinking about selling the home you haven’t even bought yet?  Well, probably.   In order to buy the right home for you, you need to answer the question “how long do I want to live here?”  This is just one  important home buying motives you will need to consider. As a...