We are hearing from more and more people who are purchasing a home without looking at it in person. Supply and demand is talking right now! We have also heard about a number of bidding wars on homes that are going on the market. If you are aggressively hunting for a home, purchasing a home without seeing it in person might be a good tactic.

Most people who buy a home in a sight unseen type of manner are definitely looking at photographs and videos before making their final decision. Some people will have friends or family look at the home for them in person as well.

Although the affairs of 2020 were not normal by any means, 63% of those who purchased a home did not view it in person. The pandemic is one of the main reasons people are purchasing sight unseen – but not the only reason. The current increase in supply and demand is another huge reason.

With todays technology, photographs, 360 degree video tours, and FaceTimes provide quality images of the home. Although you will not physically be in the home, you will be able to get a very reliable idea of what the home is like.

Having a home inspection is always recommended, but it is definitely recommended in these sight unseen purchases. The home inspections is also a type of protection for you on the off chance there are more issues with the home than you realized.

We would also recommend using your real estate agent as your representative. If there are certain parts of the home that may be questionable for you, be honest with the agent and have them look into the situations further for you.

No matter what your reason is for wanting to purchase a home sight unseen, you are not the only one!

According to a 2020 Gallup report, there are about 44 million Americans who are self-employed. This number includes freelancers and contract workers. It is quite possible that due to the state of the world in the past year, that this number increases for 2021. Since this number is so high, there are a number of special mortgage programs that exist to help these individuals purchase a home or refinance their current home.

In order to qualify for a home loan, you need proof of at least two years of income. For some individuals, this may be difficult – especially for someone who only has one year of income as a self-employed individual behind them. Bank statement loans are an option for these individuals as neither a W2, nor past year’s tax returns are required. For a bank statement loan options, an underwriter will verify your monthly income by looking at your deposits from your recent bank statements. They will need a minimum of 12-24 months of bank statements, along with other required documentation.

Besides bank statements, you will also need to provide a significant down payment, prove you have savings, a good credit score, a debt-to-income ratio below 55%, a profit and loss statement, and a business license. The business license is only required if it is something needed for your line of work. You will also need a letter for either your accountant or a licensed tax professional that confirms you have filed your taxes properly while being self-employed.

Keep in mind that just because you are self-employed, does not mean this is your only option for a mortgage loan. You can apply just like someone who has a W2. Many self employed individuals tend to write a lot of items off for tax purposes – which is not helpful when applying for a mortgage.

If you fall in this category, we would be happy to help you!

As you likely already know, there are a number of scams going on right now. You probably get daily phone calls from a number of different scam artists. Right now, there are a number of VA loan refinance scams happening. We want to make sure you are aware of them so you can pass it on to others – we do not want anyone falling for it.

Unfortunately, veteran homeowners are targeted frequently by refinancing scams. VA loan guidelines are typically more lenient – so it is easier for lenders to make money fairly quickly. If you are not looking for refinancing offers, be very careful of any offers that might come your way. Ones that are unsolicited need to be taken a closer look at.

If any offers come your way that indicate a low interest rate and no specific terms, something is likely missing from the equation. The monthly payments may be astronomical or the loan cost may be higher than what it should be.

There are many ways deception can find its way in these types of offers. If you get an offer and you are curious about it, be sure to find out: the annual percentage rate, the loan period, the type of mortgage, and any mortgage points that are included on the advertised rate. Keep in mind that you have to apply with the mortgage company to get a custom quote that is tailored to what you quality for. Just because a rate is advertised, it does not mean it applies to you.

Something else to keep your eyes open for is any offers to skip mortgage payments. The Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits lenders from advertising that mortgage payments can be skipped during refinancing. We recommend if you see a company advertising this, it is likely a company you want to avoid.

There are even more warnings that you should be aware of. We would be happy to discuss them further with you!

With the influx of the “skoolie,” tiny house, and RV trend, manufactured homes are starting to get all eyes on them, too. Some people cannot afford the manufactured home outright and need to look into some sort of financing. Before you decide to take the leap, we would suggest you take a look at the regulations where you live. The manufactured home may need to be converted from being personal property to being real property so you can obtain a mortgage. If you want to get a mortgage on a manufactured home, you need to treat it just like a regular home – in the sense of having to pay property taxes, etc. There are other requirements that may play a part, too. For example, the type, age, and location of the manufactured home.

Something else to keep in mind is that there is a difference between a mobile, modular, and manufactured home. It can be confusing to some people. But if you want to have a mortgage on it, it is very important to know the difference. A manufactured home is a home that is built on an off-site location and then permanently installed at your location of choice. Your location of choice can be piece of property that is owned by the buyer. This would make your manufactured home eligible for financing. If you put the home on a leased lot, the home would merely be personal property. If it is considered personal property, it would not be eligible for a mortgage.

There are a handful of other requirements to finance a manufactured home. A very important requirement is that all building standards and rules are up to code. The home must also be build after June 15, 1976 and not have any axles, wheels, or hitches on it. Depending where you live, there is usually a minimum size of the home. You would have to check with the local building department to find out what is acceptable.

If you are seriously considering the manufactured home route, we highly recommend you speaking with your local building department and other authorities in your area if you are looking to finance.

No matter what is going on in the world, the holiday time is always a very special and wonderful time of the year! You may or may not have house guests this year for the holidays. If you do, we have some ideas for you to help prepare your home to be extra cozy and comfortable for your house guests.

To begin with, this is incredibly obvious and you will likely roll your eyes that this is being mentioned, but, make sure you clean your home! A deep clean would be best and very much appreciated by your houseguest. Keep things clean throughout your guests stay would be nice, too. If you have a lot of items around your home that may seem like clutter, free the space up.

It would be nice to decorate a little bit as well. You do not have to go all out or do anything too much, but something little and tasteful will make the home very comfortable and inviting to your guests. You could even do little things like have flowers out around the house as well.

It is always a good idea to have a stocked pantry for your guests! Again, you do not have to go completely out of your way to stock it, but having a few snacks available for them would be very nice and thoughtful. This will make your guests feel welcome and like they are at home.

If you want to make the stay even extra special, you could have a welcome basket for them upon arrival. You could include specific items that your guest would like or warm slippers or a warm blanket for them to use during their stay. Even something little will make them feel very comfortable and mean a lot to them.

Do not forget what is the most important out of your house guests – spending time with them! Make your time special and meaningful.

There are many people who say that selling your home during winter is not a good idea. Do not take that to heart…you can sell your home during any season, even the winter time! Some people even say that people are more serious about purchasing a home during the winter time as they can leisurely look for homes and it not be as stressful as during the spring or summer. Not only the fact that it may be a leisurely search, but they may also have an actually reason for having to look for the home, whether it is due to a job relocation, expiring lease, or other personal reason. So if you live somewhere during the winter there it is incredibly cold (I’m talking snow here!) that means they are a serious buyer if they are battling snow and ice! The snow may work in your benefit too…if they like your home upon first look, they may not want to search all over town for a different home.

With the cold weather in the winter, you can also use the internet to your advantage! Especially since during the winter, it gets dark early, it can be difficult for people who work a 9am-5pm job. In saying this, make sure that your home is on as many listing websites as possible with a number of photographs and thorough description of the home. There are also options to add a virtual 3D walkthrough on the listings as well.

Something else that is helpful in getting a home sold (winter time or not!) is making sure that your home is prepped nicely and staged as well. If this is not something that you are good at, there are many companies that you can hire for this task. For in-person showings, make sure that the house is warm and comfortable. You could even have hot coffee or tea available for the potential buyers.

Do not be nervous to sell your home during the winter! It is possible to get it sold. If you need any more tips, we are here!

Mortgage rates are still at an all-time low! It is not normal and a lot of homeowners are thinking about refinancing so they can get a lower mortgage rate. There are a couple of perks in doing this: your monthly mortgage payment will be reduced and your total interest cost will be reduced as well. Even if you recently got your mortgage, it still might be something to think about if the current mortgage rate is lower than what you have.

If your current mortgage rate is more than 4%, it would definitely be recommended to see what refinancing would entail for you…weigh both the positives and the negatives and see which one wins in the long run! Depending on the mortgage rate difference, some people will save more money than others.

If your credit score is high (especially higher than when you originally got the mortgage you have now) your mortgage rate will likely be lower. This is why it is important to always be working on your credit score and doing all the things to keep your credit score high or increase it, if need-be.

Another option is also a cash out refinance if you have a lot of built up equity on the home. There are many things you can do with those funds. For example, home improvements, start a new business, pay for education, etc. We would not recommend you really think about this and weigh out the consequence. 

If you plan to stay in your home for for quite some time, refinancing can definitely save you a great deal of money. So if this is one of your reasons, really make sure you will be staying there for a long period of time. 

If you have any other questions as it pertains to refinancing, someone would be happy to answer your questions right away!

As you likely know, if you are in the scene, the housing market is very hot right now! It is a very unique time right now as there are more buyers looking to purchase homes than homes available. There is quite a lot of competition right now! There are many people who currently live in the city looking to move out of those areas. Due to the strong competition, there are many bidding wars occurring and homes even selling for more than the asking price. We have a few ideas for you as to how to deal be a part of the competition if you are looking to purchase a new home.

To start with, we would recommend you be proactive and be ready to act at a moments notice! Houses are going incredibly fast. Find out what neighborhood you want to buy a home in so you know what price range you are in store for. We would also recommend that you schedule a house tour as soon as a house in that neighborhood gets put on the market. This will give you a huge advantage as you will be one of the first to see the home.

If you have not gotten pre-qualified yet, we suggest that you do so. This way you are prepared and ready for your next move pretty quickly! Being pre-qualified when going on a home tour shows how serious you are about purchasing the home. This can give you an advantage as well, compared to others.

We would suggest that you make a strong offer so you will unlikely have to deal with a bidding war or a lot of negotiations back and forth. If your offer is very low, the seller may think you are not serious enough and take your offer off the table completely. This could wind up hurting you in the bidding process.

Another tidbit would be to be personal with the seller! This will help you stand out amongst other people and possibly put you on the top of their list or at least communicate with you when it comes to negotiations. 

These are just a few tips to helping you get on top of the curve!

Both of these alone can be very stressful on their own: hosting Thanksgiving and moving into a new home. Can you imagine hosting Thanksgiving in a home you just moved to? It can potentially be incredibly stressful if you have not had a chance to unpack fully yet. You may also be hosting for just your small family, but it can still be incredibly stressful! In an effort to help reduce your stress, we will share some tips and tricks we have learned over the years.

To start, make sure all of your kitchen appliances, dishes, cookware, and any other supplies (like your spices!) you might need are unpacked. If you are not fully unpacked, it is important to at least know where all of the items you will need are. We would suggest you unpack them before the holiday. If there are items you are missing or you may have purged when unpacking, add them to your next shopping trip.

If time allows, we would suggest you do some cooking before the big day so you can get a feel for how your new stove and stovetop work. As you likely know, every stove is a bit different. This also holds true for any other new kitchen appliances you might plan on using. If you are struggling with getting the temperatures right, we would recommend that maybe you let your guests help with some of the dishes or even order some dishes from a local restaurant or grocery store already made.

On Thanksgiving day, we want to remind you to be sure you relax and feel the love of everyone who is over! It is a special feeling, knowing you have loved ones who want to celebrate the special day with you. Try not to stress out (moving is stressful as it is!) and be in the moment as much as you can with your loved ones. Create new, wonderful memories in your new home!

Organizing certain areas in your home can make you feel incredibly accomplished. Not only feeling accomplished, but also getting rid of items that may be outdated or not longer working is always a good idea. There are many people who do not even use their garage as what it is intended for – a car – because there is simply no room for one. Homeownership is a blessing but it can also be full of tasks that are not fun!

Sometimes it is easier to tackle large projects like this by dedicating a couple of hours for a few days, instead of dedicating one full day of doing it. When starting this process, we would recommend organizing the items you are going through in four piles: items to keep, sell, donate, and throw in the garbage. Purging items is beneficial for your mental health as well!

When going through your items, keep in the back of your head that there are some items that should not be in the garage but are often stored there. Some of these items are: paint cans, propane, pet food, paper goods, etc. Paint cans, paper goods, and pet foods are safer in an indoor area where the temperature is controlled. Propane should be stored somewhere far away from your home to safety reasons.

Once you have your pile of items that you wish to keep, organize them in such a way that you can easily not only get to them, but find them when you want them. You can accomplish this task by labeling bins or storage shelves. For items that you see yourself using frequently, be sure to keep them somewhere that is easy access to you. Items that you do not plan to use frequently (like Christmas decorations) can be stored in your attic or high up on a shelf.

Some people forget to keep a fire extinguisher easily accessible in their garage. Be sure you have one in the case of emergency!

Are there any other tips or tricks you have for organizing your garage? We would love to share them with others!