While the Davie real estate market isn’t as active during the holidays, there are people looking to buy for any number of reasons. For example, they may want to avoid signing a new lease if they’re first-time home buyers, or they may be relocating their family for a new work opportunity.
If your Davie home is on the market, keep in mind that the rules about home staging apply, regardless of the time of year.
- Declutter your home before adding holiday decorations. Clutter in a home is always an issue when it’s on the market. Your coin collection that covers one of the living room walls is enough to make a buyer unable to picture their family living in your home. If you add holiday decorations to the mix, you’re headed for trouble. Follow good home staging principles before adding seasonal decorations.
- Minimize outdoor decorations. If you just love the inflatable Santa you traditionally put in the yard, or the life-size manger scene, or the multi-colored menorah, don’t give in to temptation. A wreath on the door, and lights that hang from the gutters to enhance the silhouette of the house, will serve you much better.
- Use seasonal decorations where possible. This year, try creating a centerpiece with colorful squash, nuts and holly branches. Leave the blinking reindeer for your new home next year.
- Rethink religious displays. When a buyer visits your home, your main goal is to help them visualize living in your home themselves. People who don’t share your religious beliefs or cultural heritage may have a difficult time seeing past unfamiliar holiday decorations.
- Reduce the size of your Christmas tree. Buyers will be more impressed with the wide open living space your home offers as opposed to your Christmas tree. Instead of your traditional 10-foot tree, consider a smaller tree or even a table-top version. While the big tree may warm your heart, the space it takes up in your home will make your living areas look smaller.
- Decorate using your home’s color scheme. If your home is decorated in warm colors, use red, forest green and gold decorations. If your home décor includes more cool colors, look for decorations that include icy blue, white and mint green colors.
- Plan for next year. If you don’t think you’ll survive the holidays without your usual decorations, think about how much fun you’ll have decorating your new home next year.
Your goal for the holidays should be to make your home warm and inviting, not glowing with family tradition. Contact us if you are considering putting your home on the market during the holidays, we can help you find that holiday decoration middle ground.
For All of Us Here at Teri’s Real Estate Team, We Wish You Peace and Happiness during the Holiday Season and Throughout the New Year!
If you’re looking at Davie real estate, it’s possible that you will finance your next purchase. The mortgage rate and terms you are offered will depend on a number of factors. Mortgage lenders are looking for the best buyers just as you are looking for the best lender.
Mortgage rates can vary by several percentage points, so it’s important to be as well-qualified as you can. Here are some of the most important factors lenders will look at, so the more you know about them, the better off you’ll be.
- Your Credit Score. This is one of the main criteria a lender will use to determine the rate they will offer to you. According to BankRate, if your score is 740 or over, you’ll usually qualify for the best rates. If your score is 620 or lower, you may have a difficult time getting a mortgage at all. Find out what your credit score is and how to increase and protect it while you’re house hunting.
- Your Employment History. Lenders would like to see a stable employment record, especially in the two years before you apply for a mortgage loan. If you haven’t been employed steadily, consider the timing for your home purchase. If you are strong in a number of other categories, you may be able to overcome this issue. If you think it will be a problem, it may be better to wait until you can establish a solid resume.
- Your Debt-to-Income Ratio. If you have $1,000 in monthly payments debt, including a mortgage payment, and you make $4,000 per month, your debt ratio is 25 percent. Lenders view the ratio in different ways. As an example, for an FHA loan, a ratio of 43 percent or less is critical. Keep in mind that the lower yours is, the more likely it is that you’ll get good rates.
- Your Down Payment. Since the real estate bubble a few years ago, lenders are very careful about making sure that their loans don’t fall into a high-risk category. One factor that can help or hurt you is the amount you will put down on a house purchase. Twenty percent or more may help you to balance out some negative factors you’re facing and get you a good rate. If you’re planning on a 5 percent down payment, keep in mind that you will probably pay a higher interest rate.
- Your Cash Reserves. The standard requirement for cash reserves is usually enough cash to pay the mortgage on your Davie home for two months. If other factors put you in a higher-risk category, you may be required to have more of your reserves in cash.
As you can see, all of these factors impact and are impacted by all the other factors. If you have questions about how qualified you are, call us at 954-242-8030 or drop us an email. The key is to choose the mortgage lender that is best for your situation. We can help by referring you to lenders who will work hard to help you get a home mortgage. We can also help you by identifying Davie real estate that meets your needs and budget.
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