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✒️ Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List

Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like your W-2, tax returns, credit score, and bank statements, to figure out what they’re willing to loan you. After that process, you’ll get a pre-approval letter to show what you can borrow. Here are two reasons why this is essential in today’s market.

Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List — West + Main Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like you...

☕🍁 Creating a Cozy Home: Tips for Transitioning from Summer to Fall

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures start to drop, our homes become the place where we find warmth and comfort from the chilly outdoors.

Transitioning your space from the light and airy vibes of summer to a warm and inviting ambiance can be done seamlessly. With just a few careful touches, you can create a cozy haven that is both comforting and embraces the seasonal beauty of autumn.

🍁 Incorporate Seasonal Scents
☕ Infuse Seasonal Warmth With Art
🍁 Dim the Lights
☕ Add Nature-Inspired Seasonal Decor

Get all the details at

Creating a Cozy Home: Tips for Transitioning from Summer to Fall — West + Main As the days grow shorter and the temperatures start to drop, our homes become the place where we find warmth and comfort from the chilly outdoors. Transitioning your space from the light and airy vibes of summer to a warm and inviting ambiance can be done seamlessly. With just a few careful touch

💰🏡 What To Know About Closing Costs

Now that you’ve decided to buy a home and are ready to make it happen, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the costs that are a typical part of the homebuying process.

And while your down payment is probably the number one expense on your mind, don’t forget about closing costs. Here’s what you need to know.

Simply put, your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you have to make at closing. And while they’ll vary based on the price of the home and how it’s being financed, every buyer has these, so they shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s just that some people forget to budget for them.

Read on at

What To Know About Closing Costs — West + Main Now that you’ve decided to buy a home and are ready to make it happen, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the costs that are a typical part of the homebuying process. And while your down payment is probably the number one expense on your mind, don’t forget about closing costs. Here’s what yo...

☀️ Real Estate’s Sluggish Summer Will Give Buyers a Jump in the Fall

High mortgage rates put the real estate market in a slump in the final month of summer—but, they could also provide a runway for buyers to jump into a less competitive market in the fall.
Homes spent 53 days on the market in August, the longest time for the month in five years, according to Realtor.com® data. There were also a staggering 19.3% of listings with price cuts, the highest level for the month in five years.

It’s not all bad news, though, and it means that buyers can now take their time shopping for a new home in the fall.

“This fall could be busier for the housing market than this season typically is, but it’s still likely to be a less competitive time, which makes it ideal for flexible buyers,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

And there might be a silver lining for sellers as well.

Learn more at https://www.westandmain.co/blog/real-estates-sluggish-summer-will-give-buyers-a-jump-in-the-fall

Real Estate’s Sluggish Summer Will Give Buyers a Jump in the Fall — West + Main High mortgage rates put the real estate market in a slump in the final month of summer—but, they could also provide a runway for buyers to jump into a less competitive market in the fall. Homes spent 53 days on the market in August, the longest time for the month in five years, according to Realt

🍂🛣️ 11 Colorful Autumn Drives in Colorado

Come September the aspens begin to glow!

Fall is one of the best times to tour the Rockies. The leaves usually begin changing in early September and last no longer than mid-October. It all depends on the weather, so be flexible and ready to travel.

The display begins high up in the mountains and works its way down in elevation as the temperature gets colder. Splashes of yellow, orange, and red all mingle along rolling alpine roads. Each year the timing of the fall colors changes by a little bit, either sooner or later, based on when the cold temperatures first strike. Learn more about when autumn foliage starts in Colorado.

11 Colorful Autumn Drives in Colorado — West + Main Come September the aspens begin to glow! Fall is one of the best times to tour the Rockies. The leaves usually begin changing in early September and last no longer than mid-October. It all depends on the weather, so be flexible and ready to travel. The display begins high up in the mountains and

🌱 4 ways to prepare your garden for autumn

As the sun-soaked days of summer begin to fade and the leaves on the trees begin to turn myriad autumnal hues, the cooler weather and shorter evenings tend to mean less time spent outside enjoying your garden, and more time cozied up indoors. But before you put away your trowel and cover your garden furniture for the new season ahead, there are some key things to do to prepare your outdoor space and ensure that it’s able to withstand the turbulent weather conditions of autumn and winter.

Whilst it might be tempting to leave all of your pruning and prepping until springtime, getting ahead will make your life a whole lot easier when March comes around and means you’ll have less to do to get your garden looking gorgeous again. Plus, with some extra tricks, you can extend the time you’re able to spend in nature and enjoying the outdoors each year, and all of it is easier than you think.

From tidying and trimming to adding some luxurious new all-weather features, here are four easy ways to prepare your garden for autumn, and you can get started now.

Learn more at

4 ways to prepare your garden for autumn — West + Main As the sun-soaked days of summer begin to fade and the leaves on the trees begin to turn myriad autumnal hues, the cooler weather and shorter evenings tend to mean less time spent outside enjoying your garden, and more time cozied up indoors. But before you put away your trowel and cover your gar

🏘️👀 How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing Market

Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed).

The overwhelming expectation is that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their upcoming meeting, driven primarily by recent signs that inflation is cooling, and the job market is slowing down.

But what does this mean for the housing market, and more importantly, for you as a potential homebuyer or seller?

Get all the details at

How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing Market — West + Main Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed). The overwhelming expectation is that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their upcoming meeting, driven primarily by recent signs that inflation is cooling, and the job market is slowing down. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist

🍂 I Asked an Organizer for the Best Way to Store Seasonal Decor, and She Had 3 Clever Ideas (Just in Time for Fall!)

As the last few months of the year near, I enter what I lovingly call my seasonal decor era.

As soon as September rolls in, I know that it’s time to transition my home from summer to fall, which then slowly turns from fall to holiday. It’s truly the most wonderful time of year in my opinion, but admittedly, I cringe a bit once it’s time to sift through my seasonal decor.

It resides in big plastic tubs, which works just fine, but it makes finding specific items challenging. Not to mention the seasonal decor I know I’ve outgrown but am not sure what to do with, gets all mixed in with the ones I want to keep.

Just like any other space, decluttering and organizing seasonal decor will make your life at home so much easier. I chatted with Natalie Ron of Swoon Spaces, who shared all of her seasonal decor organizing tips and hacks, so you can declutter just in time for fall.

Read on at

I Asked an Organizer for the Best Way to Store Seasonal Decor, and She Had 3 Clever Ideas (Just in Time for Fall!) — West + Main As the last few months of the year near, I enter what I lovingly call my seasonal decor era. As soon as Sept. 1st rolls in, I know that it’s time to transition my home from summer to fall , which then slowly turns from fall to holiday. It’s truly the most wonderful time of year in my opinion,

🤔⚖️ Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the Scale

Are you on the fence about whether to sell your house now or hold off?

It’s a common dilemma, but here’s a key point to consider: your lifestyle might be the biggest factor in your decision. While financial aspects are important, sometimes the personal motivations for moving are reason enough to make the leap sooner rather than later.

If you find yourself needing features, space, or amenities your current home just can’t provide, it may be time to consider talking to a real estate agent about selling your house. Your needs matter. That agent will walk you through your options and what you can expect from today’s market, so you can make a confident decision based on what matters most to you and your loved ones.

Learn more at

Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the Scale — West + Main Are you on the fence about whether to sell your house now or hold off? It’s a common dilemma, but here’s a key point to consider: your lifestyle might be the biggest factor in your decision. While financial aspects are important, sometimes the personal motivations for moving are reason enough to

⌛ Tired of Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? 4 Steps That Could Slash Your Rate Right Away

Homebuyers who are tired of waiting for lower mortgage rates can take concrete steps now to get a better deal on their own, according to a new report from the Realtor.com® economic research team.

Altogether, the four steps examined in the report can lower a borrower’s mortgage rate by nearly 150 basis points, or 1.5 percentage points. On a $500,000 home purchase with 20% down, that equates to a savings of $400 per month, or $4,800 annually.

Shopping around for the best rates yields the biggest average rate savings, of 86 basis points. Improving your credit score to at least Very Good (750-plus) can shave off an average of 39 basis points. And increasing your down payment to at least 20% of the purchase price, while keeping a debt-to-income ratio of less than 30%, reduces rates by a combined 22.5 basis points.

Get all the details at https://www.westandmain.co/blog/tired-of-waiting-for-lower-mortgage-rates-4-steps-that-could-slash-your-rate-right-away

Tired of Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? 4 Steps That Could Slash Your Rate Right Away — West + Main Homebuyers who are tired of waiting for lower mortgage rates can take concrete steps now to get a better deal on their own, according to a new report from the Realtor.com® economic research team. Altogether, the four steps examined in the report can lower a borrower’s mortgage rate by nearly

🔨🚿 How Much Does It Cost To Renovate a House? Average Home Renovation Costs for Bathrooms, Kitchens, and Beyond

Home renovations and remodeling costs may be a hard pill to swallow after shelling out the purchase price of a new home, but if you’re the proud homeowner of a fixer-upper (or even if you’re the proud owner of an older home that needs some work), you may be itching to make some updates.

And that will get you wondering: How much does it cost to renovate a house? Knowing your numbers ahead of time is crucial, lest you end up with plans that are bigger than your budget.

So, before you so much as take a peek at a tile sample, check out this detailed breakdown on how much your dream home renovation will set you back, plus average home renovation costs and your potential return on investment (ROI).

How Much Does It Cost To Renovate a House? Average Home Renovation Costs for Bathrooms, Kitchens, and Beyond — West + Main Home renovations and remodeling costs may be a hard pill to swallow after shelling out the purchase price of a new home, but if you’re the proud homeowner of a fixer-upper (or even if you’re the proud owner of an older home that needs some work), you may be itching to make some updates. And that...