Southern Ave. Realty

New homeowners: this is an exciting time to be a homeowner now that we’re in a new season because you have the opportunity to create a fall tradition with your family!

What will be your family tradition? Apple picking 🍎, wreath making, pie making 🥧, pumpkin carving 🎃, or something else?

(If you have any other ideas or you want to share your family fall tradition, leave them below in the comments! ⬇️)

Thinking about buying a home soon? Don’t forget to practice home goal-setting so you can go into the process, confident about what you want! (It’s easy to get distracted by the glamour of real estate when you don’t have a focus!)

1️⃣ Write out your goals – what’s your long-term and short-term plan?

2️⃣ Create a needs list – what are some non-negotiables?

3️⃣ Create a budget – what is a price you can realistically pay?

4️⃣ Edit needs list – refine your needs list as you go — you may find some on your original list aren’t non-negotiables after all!

5️⃣ Research neighborhoods – location is SUPER important so make sure you’re looking at homes in a neighborhood you feel at home in!

The real estate market is never static, and the likelihood of success for buyers depends on the season they are buying in.

Wintertime is usually the cheapest time of the year to buy a home. (So yay for homebuyers!) Sellers are also motivated to get their houses off the market. What does this mean for all you soon-to-be homeowners? You can hopefully negotiate your contract to be more favorable for you

Forget the ghosts, skeletons, and haunted houses! Who is creeped out by small talk?!

Need some ideas on how to 𝘣𝘰𝘰-𝘴𝘵 your chances of selling your home? Check out some of these ideas for a 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 open house:

👻 Declutter
👻 Make minor repairs
👻 If your budget allows, make major repairs such as an entire kitchen renovation
👻 Stage your home
👻 Boost curb appeal (you can add holiday decor but keep them to a minimum and only as details)
👻 Depersonalize your home
👻 Deep clean

Hope this list helped and 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭 luck with your open house! 😉

Did you know there are different types of home loans? It’s important to know your options so you can find a mortgage loan that fits your lifestyle and requirements.

Here are the different types:

✅ 30-year fixed-rate mortgage – this is the most common and traditional one that lasts for 30 years with a fixed interest rate and monthly payments.

✅ Adjustable-rate mortgage – the interest rate on this mortgage periodically adjusts based on an index reflecting the cost to the lender of borrowing on the credit markets.

✅ VA mortgage – this is a type of military loan that mortgage lenders issue to qualified veterans, active service members, and spouses. They’re backed by the government body, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

✅ 15-year-fixed-rate mortgage – similar to the 30-year, a 15-year is a home loan that requires monthly payments and has a fixed interest rate.

✅ FHA mortgage – a US Federal Housing Administration mortgage that’s insurance-backed and provided by an FHA-approved lender. This mortgage insurance protects lenders against losses.

✅ USDA mortgage – this is from the USDA loan program, also known as the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Housing Loan Program. It’s a mortgage loan offered to rural property owners by the USDA.

Have any questions? Leave them below in the comments!

Hey, look at the clock. What time is it? It’s time to find your next home. 😉

Truth is, time is the only non-renewable resource we own, and so we need to make the most of it! If you’ve been thinking about buying a new home, right now is the perfect time to do so.

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

Is it too dramatic to define your blood type as pumpkin spice? There must be a pumpkin spice blood type, right? Asking for a friend, of course… 😅

“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” – Roy T. Bennett.

Change can be intimidating because it’s easy to stick with what’s comfortable. But change is also where transformation happens, and that is a beautiful thing!

What change is coming for you this season that’s a bit out of your comfort zone but you know it’s going to be amazing for you in the long run? ⬇️

Ok, people. It’s time for a VERY serious game of 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. Apple cider donuts or caramel apples? GO! ⬇️

Name a better pairing than warm fall colors: go ahead, we’re all waiting. 😉

It’s rare to see a kitchen with wood countertops, which can make it a beautiful addition to your home! Before you start installing wood in your kitchen, though, here are some pros and cons you want to consider:

PROS:
🪵 Their appearance – they give any room a certain warmth that can’t be achieved by many countertop materials.

🪵 Variety – there are many types of wood AND patterns to choose from! From cherry to birch to maple to grain planks to panels, you can choose one that best fits the vibe of your home.

🪵 Warmth – not only does wood give off a warm and inviting look to your home, but it is also literally warmer to the touch than most other materials.

🪵 Recyclable – wood countertops are slowly transitioning to be made out of reclaimed wood. Plus, most are recyclable. So if you’re an environmentalist, this can be an eco-friendly way to go!

CONS:
🪵 They need extra care, especially when sealing – if a wood countertop isn’t sealed, germs can hide and multiply.

🪵 Water damage – though you can prevent water damage from happening with mineral oil or some other similar protectant, it can still happen and damage your countertops.

🪵 Scratch and denting issues – wood is a soft material, so it can easily get damaged. Sometimes distress can give it character, but not always. Always use cutting boards on wood countertops to prevent this.

Now that you know some of the pros and cons, what do you think about wood countertops in your home? Is it something you’d consider or is it a hard pass for you?