The Biggest Changes Coming in 2020 Real Estate—and What Buyers and Sellers Need to Do
Ten years ago, many homeowners were desperately hoping to hang on to their homes. Others were doing everything they could just to scare up potential buyers. Meanwhile, said buyers were struggling to get financing from newly skittish lenders. Ah, memories. What a difference a decade makes!
Thank you to the Patriotic Americans who gave us the precious gift of their time Saturday 12/14/2019 to place wreaths on the graves of our hero’s at Arlington National Cemetery. We were truly inspired!
38,000 people participated to lay 254,000 wreaths
4 things I learned from reading ‘Your
Money or Your Life’ that everyone can do
This book isn’t about making us feel bad for all the ways we’re financially sabotaging our lives; it’s about getting us to daydream about the bigger picture in a world with few “job charmings.” By forcing us to question whether everything is worth it — our jobs, what we buy and how we spend our time — the authors are trying to help us live with enough to maximize our happiness.
……….” They even put a twist in the way they define frugality. “Waste lies not in the number of possessions but in the failure to enjoy them,” they write. “Your success at being frugal is measured not by your penny-pinching but by your degree of enjoyment of the material world.” Which, yeah, sounds lovely.”
https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/lessons-learned-your-money-or-your-life-book/
My Open
Houses
For the homes/neighborhoods/ price points scheduled each week.
We have 9
new Realtors for the start of 2020. Stop
by and meet them…
Jemimah Chuks Laverne Eberhart
Johnetta Worthy Matt McKenzie
Kimberly Page SerMae Scindian
Latoya Wright Ryan Hunsucker
Joanne Wingrove
These 10 Renovation Trends Will Be
Popular in 2020
When you own a home, it never seems to be quite finished. In the quest to make it as comfortable, functional, and up to date as possible, there's always something to be repaired, replaced, or improved. If you're busy dreaming up new projects for the new year,……………. 2020 Home Renovation Trends
- Surfaces will stay in Spotlight
- Home Wellness is on the rise
- Saving Money is the Focus
- Paint make everything Prettier
The First 15 Things You
Need to Do to Declutter Your Entire Life
It’s no secret that a home in disarray creates a less-than-ideal living environment.
The task of decluttering your closets (and therefore minimizing your wardrobe) can feel overwhelming, but taking time to create a peaceful, enjoyable living space improves more than just your aesthetic—it could also improve your overall sense of well-being. Not only is clutter linked to overall life dissatisfaction, but a disorganized household can also induce a cortisol response, negatively impacting mental and physical health.
But where’s the best place to start? Have no fear: We’re here with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to decluttering your life and improving your sense of well-being—one section at a time.
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/declutter-your-life-268462
The Psychology Of New
Year’s Resolutions
Research has shown that about half of all adults make New Year’s resolutions. However, fewer than 10% manage to keep them for more than a few months.
As a professor of behavioral addiction, I know how easy people can fall into bad habits and why on trying to give up those habits it is easy to relapse. Resolutions usually come in the form of lifestyle changes and changing behavior that has become routine and habitual (even if they are not problematic) can be hard to do.
For some people, it takes something radical for them to change their ways. It took a medical diagnosis to make me give up alcohol and caffeine and it took pregnancy for my partner to give up smoking.
To change your day-to-day behavior, you also have to change your thinking. But there are tried and tested ways that can help people stick to their resolutions
1. Be realistic.
2. Do one thing at a time.
3. Be SMART
4. Tell someone your resolution
5. Change your behavior with others.
6. Don’t Limit Yourself
https://www.iflscience.com/brain/psychology-new-year-s-resolutions/
These mortgages and loans pay for home renovations
Fannie Mae’s HomeStyle Loan
One of the best-known loans for home improvements, Fannie Mae’s HomeStyle Renovation loan, allows borrowers to either buy a place that needs repairs or refinance their existing home loan to pay for improvements.
https://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgages-pay-home-renovations-1.aspx35 Real Estate Facts That Will Blow Your Freaking Mind
https://retipster.com/35-real-estate-facts/
10 Daring Interior Design Trends You'll See Everywhere in 2019
We consulted with dozens of design experts from coast to coast to unveil the biggest decor trends we'll see in 2019. Some have been subtly sneaking into our homes for a while, ready to take center stage. Others are taken straight from the runways in Paris and New York—big, bold, and primed to be integrated in small doses into our spaces.Highest
These decor ideas promise to do just that. Striking and memorable—with a bombshell or two in the mix—these top trends are a great place to start your redesign wish list.
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/2019-hottest-interior-design-trends/Appreciating
Buying a short-sale house: A guide to the process
When a lender agrees to accept a mortgage payoff amount less than what is owed in order to facilitate a sale of the property by a financially distressed owner, it’s called a short sale. The lender forgives the remaining balance of the loan. Buying a home through a short sale is different from buying a property at a foreclosure auction, or one that is actually owned by the bank, known as an REO, or real-estate owned property.
https://www.bankrate.com/mortgage/short-sale/
Are You Ready to Buy Your First Home?
So, how does the traditional process of buying a home jive with this technologically savvy generation that is used to relying on data derived from computers? More importantly, how do you know when you're ready to buy, and how do you know what to buy? There's no right or wrong way to answer any of these questions, and how you move toward homeownership is based on a variety of factors, both deeply personal and connected to the real estate industry overall.
Here are five important things to consider and questions this generation can ask themselves to figure it out:
- Money matters.
- How long you plan to live there.
- Timing.
- The online marketplace.
- Expert advice.
The joy derived from homeownership has a price that is worth more than a simple mathematical, scientific analysis. Though this decision must make financial sense, there is without a doubt a happiness factor that comes from owning a home that one cannot put a price on. From their growing representation in the homebuyer market, millennials want a piece of this American dream as well.
First Class Properties Home Solutions April 27, 2019
10:00 thru 12:00
Mortgage Consultants, Landscaping ideas, Flag Etiquette, Decluttering and Staging your home…..just to mention some of information available to you!
Why Paying Down Debt Faster is Not Always Better
Now on its face, I have nothing against being debt-free or paying down debt, especially if it is credit card debt. Being debt-free can be psychologically satisfying and allows individuals sleep better at night. What I do take issue with is focusing on debt reduction at the expense of everything else, like savings and investing. In my mind, financial well-being (goal achievement) is more about asset collection, creation, and growth.
https://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/affinity-wealth-debt/
The 20 best (and real) work-from-home jobs
https://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/10-best-and-real-work-at-home-jobs-1.aspx
Mortgage Terms Explained, From ARMs to Points
Mortgage terms are like most industry terms: confusing as heck if you're not in the biz. If you are like most Americans, you'll need to get a home loan—also known as a mortgage—when you want to buy a home. Paying for a home is a bit more complicated than slapping down a credit card or a pile of cash. OK, a lot more complicated. But that's why we're here—to guide you through those murky financial waters!
https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/decoding-the-listings-mortgages-explained/
In MARCH…………March 10, 2019 (12-3)
72 Black Oak Drive, Felton ……$270,000
202 Lake Cove Lane, Felton …….$325,000
178 Rockwood Drive, Felton……..$285,000
10321 Greentop Rd, Lincoln……..$298,000
659 Sedgewick Drive, Magnolia….$
My Open Houses
In April……………..
Spring
in Delaware
As the bright colors of the spring season bloom across Delaware’s stunning scenery, embark on a rejuvenating getaway to gorgeous gardens, fun outdoor adventures and exciting festivals
https://www.visitdelaware.com/things-to-do/seasons/spring/
Common
Plumbing Challenges in Old Buildings
Behind the walls, the infrastructure (e.g., plumbing and electrical) gets difficult to maintain and must eventually be replaced. If you’re planning to buy or live in an older building, you need to be prepared for some or all of the following plumbing challenges.
- Aging, Corroded Pipes
- Sewer Problems
- Piecemeal or Inadequate Repairs
Older plumbing should not necessarily dissuade you from buying an older home. It just pays to be aware of the potential challenges so you can be prepared to deal with them if and when they arise.
https://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/budget-rooter-old-building-challenges/
35 Real Estate Facts That Will Blow Your Freaking Mind
https://retipster.com/35-real-estate-facts/
Delaware high school students
test their cooking, management skills
Caesar Rodney High School won first place for the culinary competition, and St. George’s Vocational-Technical School won first place in the management competition.
- 1 tablespoon minced chives
- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (drained)
- 1 (6 1/2-ounce) can lump crabmeat, undrained
- 1 (1-ounce) slice white bread
- 1 teaspoon butter, melted
- 12 shucked oysters
- Lemon wedges (optional)
- Fresh minced chives (optional)
Combine first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl; stir gently.
· Pl Place bread in a food processor; process until coarse crumbs measure 1/2 cup. Combine breadcrumbs and butter in a small bowl.
· AaArrange Oysters on a broiler pan. Spoon about 1 tablespoon crab mixture over each oyster; sprinkle each with about 1 teaspoon breadcrumb mixture. Broil 7 minutes or until tops are browned and oysters are done. Serve with lemon wedges and garnish with chives, if desired.
“Owners make up 60.7% of housing units. 32.2% of the housing units are occupied by renters.” They house singles, retirees, young couples, and families from many cultures and backgrounds. Some are locals and some are transplants. Many 55+ communities are new to this area and really speak to the need for us to redefine our “neighborly” obligations.
The 7 steps to obtaining a mortgage for your dream home
Deciding to buy a house is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do. After all, there's nothing like being able to sit back and relax in your very own living space.
ü Get your financial and personal information in order.
ü Find a realtor with whom you feel comfortable.
ü Get pre-qualified, and then pre-approved, for a mortgage loan.
90 Ideas in 90 Minutes – 2019
https://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/90in90-2019/
What the new House bill to expand Social
Security could mean for you
“We have a deficit in Social Security, and it’s a pretty simple program: It brings in money through payroll taxes, and then it pays out benefits,” Munnell says. “So you have the choice, raising taxes to pay promised benefits or reducing promised benefits to come down to the level of current taxes. What this bill does, it says, ‘Let’s keep the benefits that we have on the book. Let’s enhance them a little. Let’s raise the money to pay for them.'”
https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/new-social-security-bill/
Help Wanted: The Skills Employers are Looking For
Companies have fewer people on staff, and they are doing more things. They expect the individuals they hire to meet challenges. When they encounter a problem on a line, are they going to shut the line down, or are they going to go a step further and ask, ‘Why did this happen, and what can I do to fix it?’”
https://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/stuff-help-wanted/
2019 HOME
DESIGN TRENDS: 10 THAT ARE HOT AND 10 THAT ARE DEFINITELY NOT!
- Nautical motifs - Seashells, sailor’s rope and (especially) anchors, should be cast away.
- Edison light bulbs - This design shines for a while but it’s burned out now.
- Tufted headboards - They were once “glam” but now design “spam.”
- Tuscan kitchens - They were everywhere in the early 2000’s, but it’s time to say Arrivederci!
- Damask - Once hot for wallpaper and curtains, but it now looks extremely dated.
- Matching window valances - It’s no longer cool to have curtains, valances and furniture that matches.
- Mason jar mania - Put a lid on it and bring on the hand-crafted vases instead.
- Wicker furniture - It’s so 80’s and 90’s. Time for a bright sofa instead.
- Hollywood mirror lights - The popularity of these bright lights have dimmed.
- Vertical blinds - RIP to this annoying relic. Invest is
https://brick.com/2019-home-design-trends-10-are-hot-and-10-are-definitely-not
In residential real estate, boomers still own the home market
Older boomers don’t face the same retirement housing factors their parents did. They are healthier and wealthier than previous generations at retirement age. They often don’t have to downsize to sustain their current standards of living. Many have the money to renovate their homes to allow them to age in place.
https://www.stereogum.com/2025750/firefly-2019-lineup/news/
More homebuyers consider pets’ needs in purchases
Seven out of 10 Americans own pets, and 90 percent of them say their pets’ needs figure in their home-buying decisions. The two largest generations — millennials and boomers — are so devoted to their pets that they are causing a minor shift in the real estate market.
Ninety-nine percent of pet owners feel pets are part of their family, according to a National Association of Realtors report, and 89 percent say they would not give up their pets to buy a house.
More than one-third of National Association of Realtors members said animal owners often refuse to make an offer on a home that is not ideal for their animal.
http://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/more-homebuyers-consider-pets-needs-in-purchases/
5
Home Improvement Trends to Watch in 2019
1. DIYers Are More Likely to Be Millennials.
2. Over-inspiration Is a Key Factor in Home Improvement Regret
3. The Rental Housing Market Is on the Rise
4. Remodeling Activity Isn't Slowing Down Anytime Soon
5. With Home Wellness on the Rise, the Lighting Industry Is Leading the Way
https://www.remodeling.hw.net/business/5-home-improvement-trends-to-watch-in-2019_c
Renting vs. buying a
home: Which is right for you?
Weighing the rent-versus-buy decision? Both have upsides and drawbacks. Ultimately, the answer depends on multiple factors, including your finances, your long-term plans and the real estate market in your area. Here are five questions to ask when deciding to rent or buy a home.
- What can you afford and how much savings do you have?
- How long do you plan to stay in the home?
- Do you want stability or flexibility to move around?
- Do you want to be responsible for repairs/maintenance?
- What are your financial, career and family goals?
https://www.bankrate.com/mortgage/renting-vs-buying-a-home/
