Now that Spring is in full effect and Summer is quickly approaching, you might be considering taking the leap from renting to buying your first home!  This is a very exciting step to take, but it also comes with a lot of questions.  Before you decide on whether or not you want to purchase a home, take a look at these frequently asked questions by first-time buyers! Why should I buy instead of rent? A home is an investment. When you rent, you write your monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home, you can deduct the cost of your mortgage loan interest from your federal income taxes, and usually from your state taxes. This will save you a lot each year because the interest you pay will make up most of your monthly payments for most of the years of your mortgage. You can also deduct the property taxes you pay as a homeowner. How much of my income should go towards a mortgage?When you own a home, the ideal percentage of your gross monthly income that should go toward your mortgage is 20 percent. That means if you make $1,000 per month, no more than $200 should go toward your monthly mortgage payment and related expenses, such as taxes and homeowners’ insurance. How much money should I save before purchasing a house?Saving for a down payment is a big part of purchasing your first home. Although it is common to put 20% down on a house, if you are a first-time homebuyer, you may qualify to put down as little as 3%. But putting down less than 20% may mean higher costs and paying for mortgage insurance (PMI), and even a small down payment can still be hefty. For example, a 5% down payment on a $200,000 home is $10,000.  The good news is once you hit your 20% down payment, you no longer have to pay the PMI. There are programs and first-time homeowner loans you can look into that will allow you to put a smaller down payment and have the same monthly payments.   You will also want to make sure that you account for any closing costs and moving expenses when you are budgeting for your next move! While it might be tempting to put all of your savings into a down payment, don't forget that you may want to keep some to purchase items you’ll need to help maintain your new home. What other costs will I need to account for when buying a home? In addition to your mortgage, you will have your monthly utilities. If your utilities have been covered in your rent, this may be new for you. Your real estate agent will be able to help you get information from the seller on how much utilities normally cost. In addition, you might have homeowner association dues. You'll definitely have property taxes, and you also may have city or county taxes. Taxes normally are rolled into your mortgage payment. Another cost to consider is if you might need to be paying Homeowners Association fees. Your real estate agent can help you determine what these costs will be and help you determine your home’s price range accordingly.  While buying your first home can seem like a stressful and complicated process, we are here to make sure that every step runs smoothly.  Once you have made a decision to purchase your first home, it’s time to find a realtor.

Now that Summer is fast approaching, it's the perfect excuse to refresh and brighten your home. It’s time to put away the faux fur throws and plaid wool pillows and bring in some vibrant colors and light, airy fabrics, and textiles. To help you freshen your home this Summer, we provided you with a list of ideas to freshen up your space! Clean WindowsIt’s finally time to let some light in! Now that the sun is shining, it is important to clean and open your windows to let the fresh air in. Washing and dusting your windows will help decrease the dirt and debris blowing through your house when it comes time to open the windows. During this time, if you notice your window screens have holes or rips it may be time to purchase and install new screens. If you’re feeling extra fun, you can even purchase new summery curtains to make your window space pop with color! Check HVAC SystemWhat’s worse than a 90-degree day with no air conditioning? To ensure that nightmare doesn’t happen to you, check your home’s HVAC system to ensure it’s working well before temperatures get too hot. That way if you run into a problem, you should have more than enough time to have a professional check it out for you. Put Seasonal Stuff in StorageSimplify your life!  Store away items that aren't useful in the summer, such as blankets, thick Afghans, and heavy quilts, so that you can make space for things that are!  Lightweight throws are the perfect summer sofa or chair accessory because you can curl up in them comfortably, even when it's hot outside! Add Some Greenery/Fun AccessoriesFlowers and plants are your best friends when it comes to bringing charm, beauty, and fragrant smells into your home. Pull out your vases, and stock fresh flowers of all kinds and colors in every room that you can! You can even get faux plants if you don’t want to buy the real thing! Additionally, you can brighten up your space with fun summer accessories. Beachy wall art, summer scented candles and fresh fruit arrangements are all great ways to decorate for the summer months.   New BeddingBulky, heavy, warm bedspreads in the summer are bad news. Thick bedding ends up on the floor anyway because it's too hot to try to sleep with.  Put it away for the next few months and use a thin down comforter for a cooler night's sleep. And by the way, if you have access to simple white bedding, use it!  It's the perfect peaceful bedroom color for the summer months. The best way to celebrate the season change is revamping your space. Hopefully these tips will help you brighten your space for summer!

Spring is the time for many major home remodeling projects. From installing new flooring to upgrading your porch or patio to any other number of home upgrades, warmer weather seems to signal the perfect timing for making renovations. We also know that spring is a prime time for selling a home. While many buyers love a few upgrades, it pays to choose carefully when it comes to your renovations. Why? The design choices you make might not align with every buyer’s taste, which could hurt your potential for selling in a competitive market. Here are 10 trendy renovation choices to avoid if you’re planning to sell your home in the future: 1. Overdoing it in the kitchen. Yes, granite countertops are appealing to many buyers. However, high-end appliances might not increase your resale value as you would hope. Sure, they are great if you’re planning to use them for the long term, but they probably won’t give your home an edge over others on the market. 2. Being overly bold with your paint choices. Who doesn’t want to follow current trends when it comes to paint colors? But if you’re going bold in a lot of parts in your home, you could be creating more work for yourself when it comes time to sell. Loud paint colors can be covered up, but it can be a time-consuming and costly process. 3. Forgetting about your curb appeal. Don’t get so caught up in renovating the interior or exterior of your home that you forget about your lawn and landscaping. Remember, your curb appeal is one of the first things that buyers notice about your home. Give it proper attention when you’re making renovations too. 4. Leaving out lighting. Like finely pruned landscaping, great lighting can be an awesome selling point in a home. So, if you’re doing a major design overhaul in any room, don’t forget about upgrading your lighting. Whether it is a new fixture or adding energy-saving bulbs, good lighting can increase your home’s appeal when it comes time to sell. 5. Buying on impulse alone. Typically, there are many parts to a remodeling project. Think about a kitchen renovation. You might choose new flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, and hardware. Be sure to coordinate your choices so that you’re creating a fluid look throughout the project. Otherwise, your result could be disjointed and even unappealing to buyers. 6. Only focusing on appearance. Together with coordinating design choices is making sure that your stylistic upgrades are supported by structural renovations too. It is one thing for your home renovation to look good, but if it negatively affects your home’s structure, it could cost you far more money – and a potential home sale – in the future. 7. Skimping on good materials. During a home renovation, you want to get the most for your money. But that doesn’t mean you should buy cheap materials simply to achieve a certain look. While they might be appealing at first, lower quality materials probably won’t last, which could cost you more in the long run. 8. Choosing the cheapest contractor. Like good materials, a good contractor can make your home renovation project last. When you’re ready to renovate, be sure to choose a reputable contractor. Otherwise, you could be paying for repairs – or a total redo – when it comes time to sell. 9. Thinking you don’t need a permit. This is especially true if you’re completing your spring home renovation projects by yourself. Be sure to check local regulations before demo day. If you make renovations without a needed permit, you could be fined or even asked to tear down your work! 10. Being the biggest home in the neighborhood. Finally, remember that while your renovations are meant to add beauty and value to your home, they do not need to make it the showiest home in your neighborhood. In fact, if your home is the biggest or most expensive in your neighborhood, you might not recoup your investments when you go to sell. The bottom line when it comes to your spring home renovations: be sensible if you’re planning to sell in the future.