Tips for Picking the Right Evansville WI Home

Tips for Picking the Right Evansville Wisconsin Home


Finding the home that meets your needs and makes you happy will usually take a little time and effort.  Here are some tips that should make the whole process easier for you and your Realtor.

Develop a List

What exactly are you looking for in a home?  If you are buying the home with another person then there are two sets of opinions and preferences to contend with.  For this reason it is a good idea to make a short list of the features that you cannot live without.  You also need to determine what features you CAN'T live with.  Having these items identified and discussed before looking at homes can save some frustration.  An easy way to develop the list is to look at your current living arrangements.  Decide what you would like to have different in your next place and put that on the list.

Location

Picking a good location is important to every purchase. You need to determine if the home is close enough to your job.  Some people don't mind a short drive everyday while other people prefer to be at work in just a minute or two.  If you have children, what is the reputation for the school district of the home you are considering? Do you like to shop or attend certain events like concerts or sports?  If so, how close are the available shopping and sporting venues?  Looking at the home's surroundings is also important.  Do you want to be in a well established community, next to a commercial development or out in the country with privacy?  The location is one of the prime indicators of a home's future value.  If you feel that you will sell the home in a few years then you need to take into account the home's potential for appreciation.

Mortgage Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved for the mortgage loan is one of the best things to do before you start hunting for a house.  The maximum amount you can qualify for is based upon your credit, your down payment, the amount of income you earn and the available interest rates at the time.  Once you have your pre-approval letter from a lender you will be able to tell your Realtor the price range of the homes that you would like to consider.

Take Along a List

If you plan to look at multiple homes it can be difficult to remember important features of each home.  Take some pictures when you look at homes and make notes about the features you like as well as the features that are displeasing to you.  Having good notes can help you narrow down your choices to the home that actually meets your needs.

Listen to Your Realtor

It is good to ask questions of you Realtor and listen to their input.  Realtors have lots of information about the home's neighborhood, facts such as appreciation rates and average time to sale, as well as property tax information.  Ask lots of questions, take solid notes and use the data from your Realtor to help you make your purchase decision.

      

Wisconsin Home Buyers, Sellers & Remodelers... Are you H.I.P.?

ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A HOME IN WISCONSIN?

INTERESTED IN BUILDING A HOME OR REMODELING YOUR OWN?

Rock Realty is now a member of H.I.P., a local WI discount program available to you!

From the HIP website
H.I.P. Is the Home Incentive Program for Buyers & Sellers. It is a program for everyone...first time, next time, last time... everyone! The HIP Program is here for you. We got together, and the ‘we' are participating member Realtors, Builders, Remodelers and Mortgage Bankers for anyone to take advantage of this new and exciting program.

What does ‘Advantage' mean?

Great question and here's our answer:

If you are a Seller

• You should get a pre-inspection of your home --- you get a discount




• You should get a complete top to bottom cleaning of your home --- you get a discount




• You might need new lighting fixtures --- you get a discount




• You might need a some plumbing done ---- you get a discount




• You might need storage --- you get a discount




• You might need --- call a Get HIP member, go through our web site, and Get It!

If you are a Buyer

• You get a special discount package from a Realtor!




• You get a special discount package from a Builder!




• You get a special discount package from a NARI Member!




• You get a special discount package from a Mortgage Banker!

Buyers & Sellers win! Everyone does. We're on our way to moving our market FORWARD. That's our stated motto and we're here, together, to make it happen. Join us and SAVE!

Are you looking for a discount on your home purchase now that the TAX CREDIT has expired? Rock Realty is now offering a 1% credit at closing. Click the above banner for details!

Your Small Home: 5 Big Reasons to Love It

Here is an article I wanted to pass along from houselogic.com

A small home packs plenty of perks, and generally means a lower asking price. But entry price is only one factor—they’re easier on the pocketbook in a host of ways.

1. Lower property taxes. Your small home will be charged at a lower tax rate than its larger neighbors because the assessed value generally is lower.

2. Lower property insurance. The smaller the house, generally the lower the insurance cost, although it also matters where you live and how your small house is constructed. A brick house in wildfire-prone southern California is likely to cost less to insure than a similar-size house with wood siding.

3. You’ll save on heating and cooling. That’s regardless of how energy efficient the house is. In fact, one study indicates that a poorly insulated, 1,500 sq. ft. house is at least $200 cheaper per year to heat and cool than a well-insulated house twice that size. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says homes of 2,000 sq. ft. to 2,500 sq. ft. use an average 102.3 million BTUs of fuel yearly—13% less than homes that are 1,000 square feet larger.

4. Save on major replacements. When you need to replace a major house component or system, you’ll be glad you’re living in a smaller home. For example: According to the Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, the national average for vinyl replacement siding is about $9 per sq. ft.

For a modest-size house (1,500 sq. ft. of living space) with 1,740 sq. ft. of exterior wall space, that’s $15,660. For a 2,500-sq.-ft. house, you’ll pay up to $10,000 more!

5. Easier maintenance. You’ll spend less time cutting those smaller lawns, cleaning gutters, washing windows, and the umpteen other chores that home ownership involves. Figure 16 windows and sliding glass doors on a home of 2,000 square feet or less would take about 10 hours to clean, inside and out, twice a year. Double the house size, and that’s roughly 20 hours spent with a squeegee and rag.

Terry Sheridan is an award-winning writer who has covered real estate and home ownership issues for more than 20 years. She’s owned homes ranging from 1,500 square feet to 3,000 square feet.



Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/your-small-home-5-big-reasons-love-it/#ixzz1GhTGV24b