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Here we are in Hurricane season 2020, forecasters have predicted a higher than normal activity for the season. It’s important to have a plan in the event there is a need for evacuation. While living on the Jersey Shore is normally peaceful, we are aware …
WASHINGTON (October 3, 2019) – Homeowners who decide to undergo a home improvement project, whether it be interior or exterior modifications, often find that the task was worth the investment and time, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®, with insights …
Welcome to Part 2 of our First Time Home Buyer series! This part we will cover house hunting.
Note: If you didn’t get the chance to read Part 1 click here.
If you have worked through the steps laid out in the first segment, getting pre-qualified and you’re clear on what your budget is, let’s move on!
Now, the next step; to become clear on what you want to buy. There are so many options out there that it can make your head spin.
As a first time home buyer it’s important to talk about your home needs. ‘Needs’ are the things that you must have. They are critical for your family/you to be able to live day to day.
These are genuine must-haves that leave little room for compromise. For example, if you are a family of 4, a one bedroom residence is not going to work for you. You will ideally need at a minimum of 3 bedrooms.
Conversely, ‘wants’ are those items that would be nice to have, but are not critical for your day to day living or things that can be added or changed over time.
It’s important to be tough on yourself during this part of the process as quite often wants make their way onto the needs list causing frustration.
The best way to sort out your Wants Vs Needs is to get it on paper in front of you. After years of working with buyers both ‘First Timers’ and seasoned ones, I created a handout that can help you sort it all out. (download a copy of Home Buying Wish List)
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I also suggest looking at homes online in the neighborhoods you are interested in to see what typical features are offered.
This brings me to another important house hunting tip, knowing where you want to live. You may have to do some research to discover what’s out there. In this information super age I recommend hoping online to discover communities. Once you identify a few, spend some time driving around neighborhoods to get a feel for what you like and the areas you want to be in. Having this information ready, will help your Real Estate Agent locate properties that you will hopefully love!
Once you narrow down your needs vs wants and your neighborhoods, then you can begin working with your agent to start touring homes.
It’s important to take notes while touring homes so you can review them later. Don’t miss a house! Take notes on every single one. Trust me, after seeing a homes, they can all start to ‘blend together’. One trick I suggest is to give each home a cute name. For example, the ‘cat house’ or ‘purple palace’ something that will prompt your memory.
Following each home, make notes on what you liked, if something in the home was really outstanding. For example, maybe it had all your needs, but also had an in-ground pool which was on your ‘Wants list’. These notes will help you later when trying to decide to make an offer.
Important to also noted your ‘feelings’ about a home. A home may have everything you need, but not feel right. So if you walk through a home and you’re just not seeing yourself living there or something instinctively doesn’t feel right- note it! I always coach my buyers to go on instinct. Remember, you are paying a lot of money. You need to feel like you want to be there.
Attached to this blog post is an info sheet you can use while on your touring to keep notes on each house and to remind yourself when you are doing your pros and cons of what you liked, why you liked a particular home, etc.
Things to keep in mind while viewing existing homes, paint colors and flooring greatly impact initial appeal of a home. Both these elements can be changed.
If you find after looking at a couple of homes that you are feeling like a pre-owned home is not your style, then you may want to consider new construction. If this is the case, you will need to update your lender as you may need to qualify for a different loan product.
When you find those homes you like, be sure to check in with the town to ask basic questions and confirm information such as private water (well) and private septic vs public water/sewer, tax information, assessments, what schools kids go to from that home location, etc., etc. Ask if there any plans in the works which would impact you in the future. For example, maybe the town just Ok’d a builder to add an apartment complex one block away, or a commercial strip mall down the street that will impact your street, kids playing etc.
Happy home hunting!
Be sure to check out my next post about Rehab Loans. This loan product may become necessary if you are looking at homes that need repairs.
Congratulations! You are thinking about investing in home ownership. That is wonderful news! I’m sure you have a lot of questions. This series for the First Time Buyer (FTB) will talk about steps to take when buying a home. Taking the First Step The first …
Preparing your Jersey Shore home for the upcoming summer season
April Showers Bring May Flowers…
You know the rhyme! But let’s talk about what showers also bring… aside from the beautiful flowers following a rainy season, rain also brings runoff. Runoff of roadways and lawns. The chemicals we use to keep our yards looking great in season also cause damage to other areas of the environment. Living at the Jersey Shore on Barnegat Bay, this issue of stormwater runoff has become a major concern of wildlife preservationists. Groups like Barnegat Bay Partnership have created programs to combat these issues.
How can you do your part to combat that? Let’s explore some natural organic options to alleviate the chemical invasion of our environments.
First, there is always the first line of defense which is to have healthy soil. Healthy soil = healthy plants. A healthy plant will naturally defend itself against predators such as bugs and disease. In Ocean County, NJ, our local soil testing area is actually an extension of Rutgers called the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension of Ocean County. Here, you can have your garden soils tested, for a small fee. Then you can treat your soil based on its acidity or lack thereof.
Another option is to use organic methods for treating diseased plants. The Global Healing Center offers 10 Homemade Organic Pesticides that are much healthier alternatives for our environment and our immediate yard spaces which can affect not only the environment but children and pets. Amazon has many “organic” products available for use now such as Neem Oil, Organic Liquid Kelp, EcoSmart products for things like spider control.
With the increase of organic products on the market and natural oil concoctions, I think it is socially responsible to do what we can for our environment for future generations.
I remember as a young child just loving the opportunity to run barefoot in the yard through the grass. The soft grass under my feet… it just brings me back. Check out this study on the Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, called “Earthing”. Having a healthy lawn and pesticide free is so important to our bodies. Laying and rolling around in the grass on a healthy lawn is a great way to reconnect with the Earth and also ourselves.
So get out there and enjoy Mother Earth!
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Rutgers Cooperative: https://ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu/garden/
Global Healing Center: https://globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/organic-pesticides/
Earthing: Https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pic/articles/PMC3265077/
Additional “earthing” article: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9099/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-going-barefoot.html
Let’s be candid…. who doesn’t love a beautifully landscaped yard? Right? With all the goodies like a candy store. Lots of beautiful colors and textures. I mentioned it before, when April hits, it’s like the ‘Awakening’… lots of hustle and bustle of yard clean ups, …
Trees are a very important part of our environment. They provide shade, homes for animals and filters for our air. We make furniture out of trees, and paper, wood for heating purposes and the occasional campfire. When you think Jersey Shore, trees may not come …
As I write this blog, it is raining outside… again. It seems we have had a wet winter at the Jersey Shore. So I say “rain, rain go away… “ but wait, maybe it is not all that bad. We need the rain to water our trees and wash off the pollen on our cars, and fill up the reservoirs that we tap for drinking water. We need rain to play in and for ducks and birds to bathe in. Its soothing sound rocks us to sleep. Rain surely has it’s duty here. Without rain, we may not see the rainbow we all chase.
Rain also has it’s not so great side. Flooding, run off of chemicals from the roads and lawns. I think the benefits far outweigh the negatives though.
That being said, what can we do with lots of rainy days? Have you thought about researching how to gather the rain for other suitable opportunities on your property?
From rain barrels to rain gardens, there are definitely options to collect and reuse the rainwater that falls. With our ever-aging population, it’s important to consider working toward sustainable opportunities in our own spaces. Rutgers University in New Jersey has a great article about rain gardens and how they benefit our environment. Every step you take with your own personal spaces toward sustainability helps our future societies.
So I say… “Let it Rain!”
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Rutgers link: http://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/raingarden.html
St. Patrick’s Day brings out the green in everything. From green beer, to painting yourself green, the holiday has really escalated in the US. When I was a little girl, ST. Patrick’s day didn’t have as much hype and decorating as it does now. One …