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Category: Millenial

Feb

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Prices?

The recent changes in home prices are top of mind for many as the housing market begins gearing up for spring. It can be hard to navigate misleading headlines and confusing data, so here’s what you should know about today’s home prices.

Local price trends still vary by market. But looking at national data, Nataliya Polkovnichenko, Ph.D., Supervisory Economist at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), explains:

“U.S. house prices were largely unchanged in the last four months and remained near the peak levels reached over the summer of 2022. While higher mortgage rates have suppressed demand, low inventories of homes for sale have helped maintain relatively flat house prices.”

Month-over-month home price changes can be seen in the chart below. The data also shows that price depreciation peaked around August. Since then, any depreciation has been even milder. In other words, today’s home prices aren’t in a freefall.

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Prices? | Simplifying The Market

What Does This Mean for You?
If you currently own your house, you may be concerned about even the smallest decline in prices. But keep in mind how much home values grew over the last few years. Compared to that growth, any declines we’re seeing nationally are likely to be minimal. Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, shares:

“. . . while prices continued to fall from November, the rate of decline was lower than that seen in the summer and still adds up to only a 3% cumulative drop in prices since last spring’s peak.”

It’s also important to remember that every local market is different. That’s why it’s essential to lean on an expert for the latest information on the home prices in your area if you’re planning to make a move this spring.

Bottom Line
To understand what’s going on with home prices in your market and how they could impact your goals, contact us today!

Oct

Mistakes to Avoid During Your Home Inspection

Before buying a home, you need to make sure it’s not going to fall apart days after you move in. The first way to do this is to walk through a potential home. The most reliable method, however, is to have a home inspection. After all, a walkthrough can be quick and unreliable, while bringing in a professional is trustworthy. However, there are some mistakes you can make even when it comes to home inspections. And when it comes to making sure a potential home is safe, you need to be specific. So, to help you out, we’ve put together a list of mistakes to avoid during your home inspection, and we hope you find it helpful.

Not looking into the inspector

One of the mistakes to avoid during your home inspection is neglecting to research your inspector before hiring them. Just like with any profession, some inspectors are much worse than others. That can be due to a lack of experience or the wrong inspector. Either way, you shouldn’t take any chances regarding your and your home’s safety. Take the time to look into your inspector’s work experience; check if there were problems or complaints about their work. If you spot a few too many issues, you should probably consider a different home inspector. Remember, this is something you shouldn’t take any risks with, so be thorough. Additionally, when it comes to the home itself, you should look into how to know you’ve found your dream house. After all, that’s not something that happens often, so pay attention when looking.

One of the mistakes to avoid during your home inspection is not doing a background check on the inspector.

Refusing to get a presale inspection

On the flip side, if you’re selling the home, not getting an inspection before selling it can be a big mistake. That is because buyers usually get a home inspection done to ensure no issues are present. And if there are issues, buyers tend to give up on the property, which isn’t good for you. So, getting a presale inspection allows you to fix potential problems ahead of time, ensuring buyers don’t lose interest. Additionally, if you do this before listing the home, you could get away with listing the house for a higher price. All in all, getting a presale home inspection only benefits you as a seller. And if you’re buying and selling at the same time, consider some useful tips for buying and selling a house at the same time.

Not being present for the inspection

Being present for the home inspection has a lot of benefits for you. Firstly, you get to see the problems for yourself, if there are any. Second, you can ask your inspector as many questions about the home as you like. Home inspectors will often take the time to explain everything they’ve seen to homeowners if they’re present for the inspection. Also, reading the inspection report isn’t enough to give you a good idea of the situation. So, getting to see it in person is the best call, especially if you’re buying a home. That said, inspections can take quite a bit of time, so make sure to set aside the time. Additionally, make sure to plan for your move; experts from helixmoveva.com note that planning a move can take a lot of time, and you should be prepared for it ahead of time.

Being present during the home inspection has a lot of benefits.

Not preparing the home before the inspection

Another one of the mistakes to avoid during your home inspection which sellers make is not preparing the home ahead of time. The last thing you want is for your inspector to have to empty a closet to get into the attic. Ensure the home inspector has easy access to the house before arriving. Home inspections last a while anyway, so ensure you clear out everything so your home inspector doesn’t have to spend extra time just trying to get somewhere. Unlock the utility closet, shed, or basement, and make sure all access points are usable. Your home inspector will appreciate it, and you will save time. Also, when looking into buying a new home, consider the neighborhood amenities to look for when buying a home. You want to make sure your new home has everything you need.

Not reading the inspection report

Even if you’re present for the home inspection, you should take the time to read the inspection reports. Although your home inspector should verbally explain all the issues they find, reading through the report is still an excellent idea. There could be something they forgot to mention in the report, and you might as well read through it since you paid for it. Additionally, you can use the report when hiring experts to do repairs, as you can give them detailed descriptions of the problems. All in all, even if you’re sure you understood everything regarding the inspection, take the time to read the report anyway. As we already mentioned, the safety of your home isn’t something you should take chances with. So, ensuring nothing got glossed over is vital after any home inspection.

Once you receive the report, make sure to read through it.

Mistakes to avoid during your home inspection – wrap up

There are a lot of mistakes one can make when getting a home inspection. And this can be not nice since your home’s safety should always be taken seriously, and you can’t afford to take any chances with it. So, being there in person and asking specific questions is very important, as well as reading the report afterward. If you’re the one selling the home, remember that there are a lot of benefits to getting a home inspection done before listing the home. We hope this list of mistakes to avoid during your home inspection helps you, and we wish you a good day.

Photos used from Pexels

Jan

Downsizing as a Single Parent: General Tips and Tech to Help

After deciding to downsize to a smaller home, there is a lot to think about. You must get your home ready for a quick sale. You have to find the right home for your family to move to and make a smooth transition. This process requires many small tasks that can overwhelm even the most easygoing going of us. And when you’re a single parent, things can get even more intense!

Fear not—Bill White Homes is here with some tips and resources to help you plan for a fast, painless downsize!

Prep Your Home
First of all, you will want to diligently prep your home for a quick and profitable sale.

● Pare down your belongings, selling or donating any items you will not take with you to the new home.
● Stage your home to impress potential buyers, which might include rearranging furniture, upgrading the decor, and depersonalizing each space.
● Look into the various websites and mobile apps that provide design ideas for your upgrades.
● Consider hiring a professional interior designer or home stager to transform your home before you put it on the market.

Find a New Home
When it comes time to zero in on the ideal home for your family, keep these tips in mind:

● Assess the layout of any home you’re considering to ensure it will meet the needs of your family.
● Also, research the neighborhood to get a feel for the safety and convenience it can add to your life.
● Use real estate sites to browse the housing market, which will allow you to see the home prices and features available in the area.
● Work with an expert realty team like Bill White Homes to make your entire home selling and buying process less stressful!

Move Smoothly
On moving day, you’ll be glad you took the time to put the pieces in place for a smooth transition!

● Start packing up your old home as early as possible, and pack all of your items so that you can efficiently unpack them in your new home.
● Use software to merge PDF files to have fewer paper documents to take with you.
● Arrange for professional movers to transport your possessions from A to B.
● Consider hiring a babysitter if you need help keeping your children safe and occupied on moving day. There are lots of excellent apps for finding reputable local babysitters!

Who says that a single parent has to go through the downsizing process overwhelmed? By planning out your steps beforehand, you can set yourself and your family up for a smooth experience. Keep the tips above in mind as you get your home ready to sell, look for a new home, and arrange the moving day details. You and your kids will be settling comfortably into your new home and life together in no time!

Are you looking for an experienced realty team in Naperville? Contact Bill White Homes today!

May

4 Big Incentives for Homeowners to Sell Now

The housing market keeps sailing along. The only headwind that could take it off course is the lack of inventory for sale. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that there were 410,000 fewer single-family homes for sale this March than in March of 2020. The key to continued success in the residential housing market is for more listings to come on the market. However, many homeowners are concerned that selling their homes could be challenging for several reasons.

Recently, Homes.com released the findings of a survey that identified these concerns, as well as what it will take for homeowners to feel comfortable selling their houses. Here are the four major homeowner concerns and a quick explanation of what’s actually happening in the housing market today.

1. Homeowners don’t know if they’ll be able to secure their next home before selling.
In negotiations, leverage is the power that one side may have to influence the other side while moving closer to their negotiating position. A party’s leverage is based on the ability to award benefits or eliminate costs on the other side.

In today’s market, buyers have compelling reasons to purchase a home now:

To own a home of their own
To buy before prices continue to appreciate
To secure a mortgage at a historically low rate, while they last
These buyer needs give the seller tremendous leverage. Most already realize this leverage enables the homeowner to sell at a good price. However, this leverage may also be used to negotiate time to find their next home. The homeowner could sell their home to the buyer at today’s price, which will enable the purchaser to take advantage of current mortgage rates. In return, the buyer might lease the house back to the seller for a pre-determined length of time while the seller finds a new home or has one built.

This gives the buyer what they want while also giving the seller what they need. It’s a true win-win negotiation.

2. Homeowners don’t know if their current home will sell for the asking price or top market price.
This is the perfect time to maximize profits while selling a house. NAR just released a study showing that bidding wars are at an all-time high. The study reveals that when comparing the first quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year, the number of offers on homes for sale doubled from an average of 2.4 to 4.8 offers.

Whenever there’s a bidding war, the price of the item for sale escalates. Bloomberg recently reported:

“For the first time ever, the average U.S. home is selling for above its list price.”

If a seller is looking for a top-dollar sale, there’s no better time to sell than right now.

3. Homeowners don’t know if they will get an offer without their home requiring work or updates.
Again, leverage is the greatest strength a seller has in this market. Due to the lack of homes for sale, many buyers are more willing to take on home improvement projects themselves in order to get the home they’re after.

A recent post on whether or not to renovate before selling notes:

“It may be wise to let future homeowners remodel the bathroom or the kitchen to make design decisions that are best for their specific taste and lifestyle. As a seller, your dollars and time might be better spent working on small cosmetic updates, like refreshing some paint and power washing the exterior. Instead of over-investing in your home with upgrades that the buyers may change anyway, work with a real estate professional to determine the key projects that will maximize your listing, without overdoing it.”

If a seller is worried about doing work or updates on their home, they must realize that today’s historically low inventory likely renders these projects less critical to the sale of the house.

4. Homeowners don’t know if they can have a quick closing process.
When speed is important, there are two points sellers should look at:

The time it takes to find a buyer for the home
The time it takes to close the transaction
In the latest Existing Home Sales Report, NAR explains:

“Properties typically remained on the market for 18 days in March, down from 20 days in February and from 29 days in March 2020. Eighty-three percent of the homes sold in March 2021 were on the market for less than a month.”

Eighteen days is fast, and it’s a new record. Here are the days the average house is on the market in each state:
4 Big Incentives for Homeowners to Sell Now | Keeping Current Matters
Regarding the time it will take to close the transaction, all-cash sales accounted for 23% of all home purchase transactions in March. All-cash sales can usually be closed in thirty days.

If a mortgage is necessary, the most recent Origination Insight Report from Ellie Mae shows:

“Time to close all loans decreased in March. The average time to close a purchase fell to 51 days, down from 53 the month prior.”

If you’re looking for a quick closing process, there’s never been a market in which the two-step process (finding a buyer and closing the deal) has taken less time.

Bottom Line
Selling your house can be daunting, especially in a fast-paced market. However, the fact that we’re in such a strong sellers’ market clearly eliminates many common concerns. Contact a real estate professional today to learn more about the opportunities for homeowners who are ready to sell.

Jan

Why not to wait until spring to make a move

The housing market recovery coming into the new year has been nothing short of remarkable. Many experts agree the turnaround from the nation’s economic pause is playing out extremely well for real estate, and the current market conditions are truly making this winter an ideal time to make a move. Here’s a dive into some of the biggest wins for homebuyers this season.

1. Mortgage Rates Are Historically Low
In 2020, mortgage rates hit all-time lows 16 times. Continued low rates have set buyers up for significant long-term gains. In fact, realtor.com notes:

“Given this means homes could cost potentially tens of thousands less over the lifetime of the loan.”

Essentially, it’s less expensive to borrow money for a home loan today than it has been in years past. Although mortgage rates are expected to remain relatively low in 2021, even the slightest increase can make a big difference in your payments over the lifetime of a home loan. So, this is a huge opportunity to capitalize on right now before mortgage rates start to rise.

2. Equity Is Growing
According to John Burns Consulting, 58.7% of homes in the U.S. have at least 60% equity, and 42.1% of all homes in this country are mortgage-free, meaning they’re owned free and clear.

In addition, CoreLogic notes the average equity homeowners gained since last year is $17,000. That’s a tremendous amount of forced savings for homeowners, and an opportunity to use this increasing equity to make a move into a home that fits your changing needs this season.

3. Home Prices Are Appreciating
According to leading experts, home prices are forecasted to continue appreciating. Today, many experts are projecting more moderate home price growth than last year, but still moving in an upward direction through 2021.

Knowing home values are increasing while mortgage rates are so low should help you feel confident that buying a home before prices rise even higher is a strong long-term investment.

4. There Are Not Enough Homes for Sale
With today’s low inventory of homes on the market, which is contributing to this home price appreciation, sellers are in the driver’s seat. The competition is high among buyers, so homes are selling quickly.

Making a move while so many buyers are looking for homes to purchase may mean your house rises to the top of the buyer pool. Selling your house before more listings come to the market in the traditionally busy spring market might be your best chance to shine.

Bottom Line
If you’re considering making a move, this may be your moment, especially with today’s low mortgage rates and limited inventory. Reach out to us today to get set up for homebuying success in the new year.

May

5 Do’s and Don’ts for Settling into a New City and Meeting New People

Planning a major move that involves relocating to a new city? Being new in town can feel a little nerve-wracking at first, but there are actually some pretty simple ways to get settled fast. You can connect with new friends, make your home more comfortable, and maybe even find your new dream job just by paying attention to a few do’s and don’ts for your move, to help you make the most of this major life change.

Don’t Be in a Rush to Unpack Your Home

It may sound like the opposite of what you should do to feel at home, but when you move to a new town, you really should make getting out and exploring a priority over unpacking. Morning or evening strolls in different parts of the city can give you a great idea of what’s nearby. And you can stop by a local coffee shop for some caffeine and conversation with locals. While there, look for local newspapers or publications to get the scoop on your new town. So that unpacking doesn’t overwhelm you while you get to know your new home, use these packing tips before you move to make the task more manageable. This way you don’t feel trapped in your home for days and can spend more time getting to know your new city. (Read more about things to do in Naperville here.)

Do Update Your Auto Insurance Policy

The last thing you want when you move to a new state is to have a ticket spoil the experience. You can avoid the added cost and frustration by getting familiar with your new state’s insurance and registration laws. Certain policy minimums may apply and the rules around proof of coverage can be very different as well. So make sure your current policy matches state law so you don’t have to worry about a fine as you explore the local community.

(Read more about Illinois Auto Insurance Laws here.)

Don’t Forget to Help Your Dog Get Settled

Moving can be rough for dogs, which can lead to anxious behavior, like excessive barking. All that barking and nervousness can make a bad first impression on your new neighbors, so take some time to help your dog feel comfortable with your move. Take some time off work so you can spend the first few days helping your dog adjust and curb any unwanted behavior. When you both feel up to it, take your pup out on the town to help you meet new people.

(Read more about how to find local pet sitters here.)

Do Invite Neighbors Over for a Welcome Party

Making new friends with people in your new town is a great way to get settled, but you should also try to make connections with your neighbors too. You may luck out and get neighbors who introduce themselves to you, but often you will need to make the effort in order to get to know the people who live around you. A welcome party is a fun way to meet several neighbors at once, so consider hosting guests once you’re unpacked. If you have a party of the open house variety, this allows people to come and go at their leisure. Just keep the timeframe short and be sure to put out a variety of snacks and beverages.

(Find out more about Naperville grocery options here.)

Don’t Ignore Social Offers From Family and Friends

If you tell friends and loved ones you are moving to a new city, chances are they will have some connections there. So, if someone you know offers to connect you with a mutual friend or even a distant family member, take them up on it! This is an easy way to settle into a city without feeling alone and can help you make new friends faster. If you are still looking for a new job, you can also use your network to bolster your chances of snagging an interview and landing a job that you love. (Find out more about jobs in Naperville here.)

Moving to a new city can be an eye-opening experience, especially when you don’t know anyone there. You can use the tips above to make the most of your big move and quickly meet new people in the community. Before you know it, you will feel right at home!

Here are a few extra Naperville resources you may find helpful:

Naperville Area Schools

Family Doctors in Naperville

Naperville Dentists

Photo Credit: Pexels

May

How long will it take to save for your downpayment?

Saving for a down payment is often the biggest hurdle for a first-time homebuyer. Depending on where you live, median income, median rents, and home prices all vary. So, we set out to find out how long it would take to save for a down payment in each state.

Using data from HUD, Census and Apartment List, we determined how long it would take, nationwide, for a first-time buyer to save enough money for a down payment on their dream home. There is a long-standing ‘rule’ that a household should not pay more than 28% of their income on their monthly housing expense.

By determining the percentage of income spent renting in each state, and the amount needed for a 10% down payment, we were able to establish how long (in years) it would take for an average resident to save enough money to buy a home of their own.

According to the data, residents in Kansas can save for a down payment the quickest, doing so in just over 1 year (1.12). Below is a map that was created using the data for each state:

What if you only needed to save 3%?

What if you were able to take advantage of one of Freddie Mac’s or Fannie Mae’s 3%-down programs? Suddenly, saving for a down payment no longer takes 2 to 5 years, but becomes possible in less than a year in most states, as shown on the map below.

Bottom Line

Whether you have just begun to save for a down payment or have been saving for years, you may be closer to your dream home than you think! Meet with a local real estate professional who can help you evaluate your ability to buy today. Call us!

Mar

Springtime Repairs: How to Make DIY Home Maintenance Less Stressful

Springtime repairs around the house can be pretty big chores, eating up your spare time and cutting into your household budget, but they are an important part of keeping your home in great shape. Taking care of little maintenance issues now can help prevent big problems down the road, which can save you quite a bit of money and a lot of stress. However, the key with DIY projects is to ensure that you are prepared to call a professional if you need help with a big job so that it will be done safely and correctly.

It’s also crucial to have the right tools and a plan for the task at hand. Taking care of repairs around the home can include anything from plugging up holes in the drywall to replacing shingles or tiles on the roof, and these jobs vary greatly in cost and the amount of time it will take to complete them. Having a good idea of how you’ll get started will allow you to get the job done right the first time without any issues.

Here are a few things to consider when it’s time to do some maintenance around the house.

Start with the Right Tools

As with any task, it’s imperative to start with the right tools. After all, you wouldn’t start drawing a picture without a sharpened pencil and a good eraser, so it just makes sense that you would have specific tools at the ready when you’re tackling a home repair job. In general, most homeowners will want a hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, a drill, and a sharp utility knife to handle common repair jobs around the house. If you don’t have these, look online for tool buying guides, and read the reviews before making purchases.

Find the Right Help

No matter what tasks you need to complete, it’s important to make sure they can be done as a DIY job before you get started. Many big projects — such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical work — will require a professional’s touch, if for no other reason than the potential safety issues. Look online for contractors near you to get an idea of your choices and to compare prices, and make sure you read the reviews before making a final decision.

Think of the Cost of Winter

The thing about spring repairs is that they need to be focused on the things that took the most hit during a hard winter. Cold weather, excess water, and high winds can all do quite a bit of damage to various parts of the home, from the gutters to the pipes, so make a checklist of all the things you want to take a look at. Getting organized will help greatly when it comes to starting any repair project, and it will also help you stay motivated if you have a physical list in front of you.

Prioritize

If you have a tight budget and there aren’t any repairs that require your immediate attention, you can start with the smaller things first, such as cleaning out the gutters or investing in an insulation cover for the hot water heater. These little tasks won’t cost much, but they will allow you to take care of the small things first and get them out of the way. Just make sure there are no pressing jobs, such as leaky pipes or broken roof shingles.

Springtime repairs around the house don’t have to break your budget or your patience. With a little planning and some research online, you can figure out the best ways to tackle projects around the house when the weather warms up a bit and save money throughout the year.

Mar

How to Make Good Money Selling Your Unwanted Stuff in the Second-Hand Economy

There are always people with too much stuff looking to make some extra money by getting rid of it, and there are always people looking to save a little money by avoiding buying new products. This is the general principle that keeps the second-hand economy booming. If you’re looking to sell, here are some essential tips for turning your unwanted household items into cash (and doing a little healthy decluttering in the process).

Get the Things You Can’t Sell Out of the Way

This step will save you some time and some sanity — get rid of the stuff that you simply can’t sell. Whether it’s something that is broken, ugly, or in noticeably poor condition, you’ll do yourself a great service to just throw away the items on which you have no chance of turning a profit (or that even a donation center wouldn’t want).

Clearing this “junk” out of your house will make it easier for you to sell what you can. It may be smart to use a dumpster rental service or all-in-one junk removal service. Both are helpful, but dumpster rental allows you to fill up a dumpster over time (better for longer, larger removal projects), whereas a junk removal service will do everything for you.

Don’t Just Put It All on eBay or Craigslist

Yes, eBay and Craigslist are the two easiest online options for selling you stuff. That’s because they both have millions of users and you can sell basically anything on there. However, sometimes you need to value specificity of the second-hand marketplace, as well as understand which items are the most desired by shoppers. There are dozens upon dozens of other marketplaces that may allow you to fetch better prices for certain items. These include, but are not limited to, Swappa for cellphones and tablets, Poshmark for clothing, and Glyde for video games. The massive, well-known online marketplaces are awesome, of course, but don’t be afraid to experiment with where you list your items.

Don’t Assume That Online Is Always Better

No, you will not always get more for your stuff online. This is a common myth (especially among the younger crowd). It’s worth your time to try to sell your stuff in actual, physical, brick-and-mortar stores as well. Just make sure you know the right stores to hit for specific items. Second-hand electronics and clothing stores are always good bets for good cash.

Be Wary of Pawn Shops

The good thing about pawn shops is that they take a wide range of items and you get the money then and there — it’s instant gratification. The pros pretty much end there, however. You can almost always get more money on an online marketplace or a specialty second-hand store than you can at a pawn shop, and many pawn shops are skilled at paying low-dollar for top-dollar items. If you do plan to go this route, make sure to have a plan in place.

Embrace the Grind

While it’s nice to sell a big-ticket item for a few hundred dollars, the real key to successfully selling your old items and making a nice profit is to prepare for and then embrace the grind — selling many smaller items over time for less money a pop. You may not get excited about that $10 sale here and that $15 sale there, but soon enough you’ll have amassed hundreds.

The second-hand economy presents an amazing opportunity to people of all backgrounds with all different sorts of things to sell. Not only will you make good money if you follow these tips, but you’ll also get rid of clutter and make your living space more, well, livable. The former benefit is great, but the latter is priceless.

Photo via Unsplash

Jun

An Investment in Your Future: Tips for Buying a Fixer Upper for First-Time Homebuyers

Young people looking to purchase their first home are often put off by the cost involved, including the downpayment and the mortgage process. Fixer-uppers can be a perfectly viable option as long as you’re up to handling the extensive renovations that go along with buying a house in a state of disrepair. Bear in mind that buying a fixer-upper can end up being more of a financial burden than you’d anticipated. Some turn out to be the dreaded “money pit,” the house that always seems to have another problem. There are several things to consider carefully before choosing to take on a fixer upper project.

Location

You’ve probably heard that location is the most important factor when it comes to real estate. The same holds true for fixer uppers. Consider location first, since you’ll be fixing up the house. Once you’ve identified the area in which you want to live, begin searching for fixer uppers. There are real estate agents who specialize in these kinds of properties. Once you’ve talked to lenders and been pre-qualified for a home loan, spend some time on the internet looking for agents who specialize in fixer uppers. Homes for sale in Naperville, Illinois, have an average list price of $450,000.

Assess your handyman skills

Think carefully about what you’re proposing, and assess your skills honestly and objectively. Fixer uppers are almost always a challenge, and you could be facing a job that requires tools and experience that you may not possess. You’re going to need power drills, sanders, jigsaws and a host of other robust power tools. Crowbars, a mallet, joists and a full set of reliable hand tools are also essential. Then there’s the time commitment. Remember, this is more than two or three weekends of work. You could be renovating and fine tuning for years to come until you get it just right. There are many examples of eager, over-optimistic buyers who found out too late they’d bitten off more than they could chew. Don’t pursue such an opportunity until you’ve had a home inspection done and have a good idea of what fixes are necessary and whether they’re within your capabilities.

A big investment

Buying the house is only the first step. There’s a considerable ongoing investment involved in a fixer upper, which means you’ll need to have a considerable nest egg socked away for the work that’s yet to come. The home inspection should help you determine whether your finances are up to the challenge or not. Make a careful list of everything that needs to be repaired, get estimates for each, and then decide whether it’s within your reach.

What are your long-term plans?

People who purchase a fixer upper are usually committed to it for a period of years. If your job may require you to move at any given time, you’ll probably want to pass on a home that’ll need a lot of money and time to fix up. If for some reason you’re called on to relocate while you’re renovating, you could lose a lot of money if you find yourself having to sell.

Priorities

The first projects to tackle will depend largely on what the inspector has to say. Often, windows, flooring, electricity and roofing are priorities when moving into a project home. If there are serious structural, foundation or plumbing problems, you’re probably better off continuing your search. Once you’ve completed renovations, check out home values and prices in your area. You might consider selling if it’s a seller’s market and you can be pretty sure of getting maximum value for your investment and the sweat equity that went into it.

Purchasing a new home is always a big investment. Between the cost and the improvements you make, a fixer upper can be a tremendous investment if the market’s in your favor. Think of yours as a big investment in your financial future.

Courtesy of Pixabay.com.