Merrick Real Estate Partners

The secret to buying a house successfully is to plan in advance. 👌

Buying a house is not a small task. If it’s your goal to buy a house next year, you should start preparing for it right now. It’s best to be knowledgeable about real estate – pre-approval, different types of loans, the current state of the local market, and the home buying process. It will help you a lot if you already know what to do once you are ready to buy a house.

Here are 6 tips to help you prepare:

1. Talk to a loan officer — even if you're not ready to buy – shop for mortgages. Now is the time to look for a reputable lender and to compare different lenders and rates.

2. Start a savings plan and save for more than just a down payment. Aside from a down payment, you should also save up for closing costs, funding for repair, renovations, and maintenance, and of course, for your new furniture and appliances.

3. Pay down existing debts. One of the best things you can do to prepare for buying a home is to manage your debts and pay them off on time so that you can improve your debt-to-income ratio.

4. Understand credit score requirements. Different types of loan will have different credit score requirements. Make sure that you know the credit score requirements for the loan you will apply to so that you can prepare for it a year in advance.

5. Take steps to improve your credit and your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Now that you know the credit score you need to achieve, you can now work on improving your credit such as making sure to pay your bills on time and avoiding closing or opening new accounts.

6. Interview and choose an agent who knows your future neighborhood. You will have no worries if you choose to work with me!

Need help in buying a home soon? That’s why I’m here! Feel free to chat with me anytime if you have any questions about home buying.

📞 678-393-0705
📩 [email protected]
📱
💻 http://www.merrickrealestatepartners.com/

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Can I share a secret with you?

It’s always been frustrating to unpack your Christmas ornaments and to find that they’re broken, flattened, and just not in great shape.

Believe it or not, there are better ways to store them that won’t cause any damage!

First, use a fabric bin to store wrapping paper and a hook to hang paper gift bags.

Next, use a tree storage bag or a large duffel bag to store your Christmas tree.

Third, create a cardboard divider for Christmas ornaments before storing them into a box so that they won’t knock into each other.

Fourth, store your Christmas wreaths in a plastic container and them hang them so that they will stay in perfect shape.

Fifth, make sure to label your containers properly and keep them in a dry place so that you can easily see them next Christmas!

Next, wrap Christmas lights around cardboard to prevent them from getting tangled. Lastly, use clear containers for smaller decorations so that you can see them without needing to open them.

Double tap if you think these tips are helpful!

Kwanzaa is a festival of unity, faith, love, and creativity. I hope it fills your life with all these wonderful things.

Sending warm wishes to all for a joyful Kwanzaa!

Wishing you hope, peace, and love this holiday season! 🎄

From my family to yours - Merry Christmas!

Let me save you time by sharing what we learned about taking listing photos 📸

When taking photos, you need to eliminate any and all distractions. So it’s important to clean and declutter prior to taking the photos. Don’t forget to also take care of your home’s exterior. Clean windows to show off views and emphasize natural light.

Then you need to stage the home for photos. It’s a great idea to depersonalize your home and remove personal touches such as family photos and collectibles. You’ll also want to stage the beds, rearrange some furniture, add neutral decor throughout the home, and set the dining table.

Consider hiring a professional photographer to do the job. It can help your listing stand out and sell faster than taking the photos on your own.

Make sure to photograph the home's best features and to select the best photos for your listing!

Double tap if this was helpful and don’t forget to follow for more!

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Today is the darkest day of the year. 🌑

Winter solstice is the day that marks changing seasons and the promise of brand new days ahead.

May this Solstice bring you love, peace, and good fortune in the upcoming year.

Happy Solstice!

Here’s what the experts won’t tell you: when buying a vacation home: You’ll need a higher credit score and a higher down payment. 💸

Credit score – For vacation properties, you'll need a credit score higher than if you would be purchasing a home for yourself.

Down payment – Generally, you only need to put a lower down payment for primary residence, but with a vacation home, you'll need at least [insert interest rate %] or more.

Debt-to-income ratio – For a primary residence, you’ll need a debt-to-income ratio of 50% while for vacation properties you’ll need it to be 43% or higher.

Mortgage rates can sometimes be 0.5% to 1% higher when buying vacation properties, among other limitations. But then again, you’ll also get tax deductions for owning a second home!

Make sure that you contact an expert real estate agent that knows the area well before buying a vacation home. If it's not me I can put you in touch with your desired area.

Looking to buy a property soon? You know how to reach me!

📞 678-393-0705
📩 [email protected]
📱
💻 http://www.merrickrealestatepartners.com/

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Did you know that there are plenty of ways to make money with your new house?!

Yes, we know how hard it can be to pay off that mortgage along with all your bills. But if you’re creative enough, you can definitely earn money with these side hustles right at home ⬇️

1. Get a roommate. If you have a spare room, you can rent it out to others. Not only will this help cover your mortgage, but you can also split utility bills with them.

2. Rent out your yard. If you have a big yard, a backyard pool, or a guest house, renting it out to neighbors and friends can help you pay your bills.

3. Grow fruits or vegetables. If you like gardening, you can grow crops and sell them!

4. Rent out storage space. If you have an extra storage space like a garage or shed, you can rent it out monthly for around $100 per month.

5. Create or sell a product. If you have time to launch a small business such as baking goods or refurbishing furniture, you can definitely earn extra income from home.

6. Share your parking space. If you live in a highly urbanized area where parking is scarce, renting out your parking space can give you a steady passive income.

7. Offer services. You can also have a tutoring, babysitting, or a mowing service at home.

8. Rent it out as an Airbnb. If you are living somewhere else or have a multi-family home unit, your home can be the perfect AirBnB.

9. Do a yard sale. Are you looking to get rid of your old furniture to make way for new ones? The best way to get rid of them is to have a yard sale!

10. Host events. Why waste the space? Many people are looking for the perfect wedding, birthday, or neighborhood barbecue venue. Maybe it’s time rent out your space and host an event!

Are any of these tips helpful to you? Share which side hustle is perfect for your home! 🏠

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"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."
—James Keller

Let us rejoice and celebrate in the light and love of Hanukkah. Sending love your way during the Festival of Lights! 🕯

If you’re looking to buy a home ASAP, read this ⬇️

Finding a motivated seller isn’t that hard. You just need to know how to look for them!

The first thing you can do is drive around neighborhoods to look for signs of motivated sellers. Look for empty lots, newspapers piling on the driveway, rundown properties, a neglected front lawn, or FSBO signs.

Next, contact local attorneys. They are always working with people looking to sell their homes quickly due to different reasons such as probate, divorce, or bankruptcy.

Third, you’ll want to browse through public records to check for recent foreclosures. Other signs to look for would be extensive days on market, absentee owners, or death of joint tenant.

Another thing you want to do is visit For Sale By Owner sites. Narrow down your search by property type, price, location, and whether the home is being sold by a broker or the owner.

Lastly, you’ll want to get in touch with a real estate agent who knows the area well. And of course that would be me! Or make sure you find someone with a wide network and a lot of experience. They’ll surely find motivated sellers in no time.

Need help in buying a house ASAP? DM me for more!

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You can only pick one!

Are you more of an email person or a card person? How do you prefer receiving your greeting cards this Christmas? 🎄

Would you rather get a 📧 holiday email or a 💌 traditional card?

We're dying to know. Drop your answer in the comments!

Do these if you want to decorate your rental for the holidays without causing damage! 👇🏻

If you are renting and the possible damages are what’s stopping you from decorating your home for Christmas, check out these tips:

🎄Use removable hooks.
🎄Hang things from existing railings.
🎄Use fake candles.
🎄Swap out light bulbs for holiday colors and effects.
🎄Get an over-the-door wreath hanger.

Share this post with someone whom you think will find this helpful!