1. Get clarity on your dream home

What does your dream home look like? Is it 2,000 or 3,000 square feet? How many bedrooms does it have? Does it have a giant island or a big pool? Maybe it has both! Picture your dream home and envision all the details. It’s important to know exactly what you consider to be a “perfect home”.

2. Know your “deal makers” and “deal breakers”

The law of attraction would tell you that anything is possible, which is 100% true! But if you are looking to purchase a new home in a timely manner (in the next 1-3 years), you need to find that fine line between looking for perfection and settling for less than you deserve. What are some things you can’t live without, and what are some of the things you could be okay with? It’s important to find a good balance between being realistic and dreaming big!

3. Visualize your life in your dream home

Visualize walking into your home, the exterior, the rooms inside, the backyard, the colors, the furniture, etc. What does your life look like in your dream home? Are you cooking dinner in your farmhouse style kitchen while watching your kids play in the pool outside? Visualization is key to manifesting your dream home.

4. Stay positive

It’s important to stay positive and patient through the home buying process. Reciting affirmations and shifting your mindset is a great way to remove negative thoughts and replace them with positive thinking! A few examples of this would be:

Replace “we are never going to find the right house” with “the right house will appear to us in the right place, at the right time”.

Replace “the market is too competitive to purchase a home” with “I’m in the process of attracting my ideal new home”.

Replace “we won’t ever be able to afford the home we desire” with “I am thankful that our new home came to us easily and effortlessly and at a great price”.

If you are looking for a real estate agent to guide you through the home buying process, I’d love to connect! Send me a DM and let’s chat!

Whether you’re planning a family vacation to or you live in the area and are looking for new recommendations, I’ve put together a weekend itinerary with all of my favorite things in (**INSERT CITY**) that you just can’t miss!

Here is my three day guide to (**INSERT CITY, INSERT STATE**), including where to stay, what to do, what to eat, and more!

DAY 1: (**INSERT LOCAL FARMERS MARKET, LOCAL PARK OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, YOUR FAVORITE SPOT FOR LUNCH OR APPETIZERS, A LOCAL EVENING ACTIVITY, YOUR FAVORITE DINNER SPOT, AND A POPULAR LOCAL ICE CREAM SHOP**)

DAY 2: (**INSERT YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH SPOT, A LOCAL ALCOHOL TASTING SPOT, A MUESUM/TOUR, AND ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE DINNER SPOTS**)

DAY 3: (**INSERT LOCAL SPOT TO WATCH THE SUNRISE, FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE SHOP/DONUT SHOP, ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH SPOTS, A SHOW/CONCERT/ACTIVITY, AND ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE DINNER SPOTS**)

WHERE TO STAY: (**INSERT YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL IN YOUR AREA**)

Did I miss one of your (**INSERT CITY**) favorites? Share below!

#localfavorites #citystate #city #state #cityrealtor #staterealtor #thingstodoincity #shoplocal #discovercity #discoverstate #statehomes #cityhomes #movingtocity #movingtostate #guidetocity #guidetocitystate #guidetocitystate #weekendincity #weekendinstate #cityactivities #stateactivities

Did you know that over 40% of households in the United States are dog owners? With some of these pet-friendly home upgrades, not only will you be enhancing your pets lifestyle, but you might even be able to boost your ROI (return on investment)!

Here are 3 home upgrades to make for your beloved pup:

1. Built-in dog bowls

No need to keep tripping over dog bowls! If you are planning on remodeling your kitchen, you MUST consider building a little doggy cafe into one of your cabinets. This is a great way to minimize stress on your dogs joints as they get older, since you can customize the height of their bowls. You could even add countertop, backsplash, and a water spout for refilling your pups water!

2. A dog washing station

A laundry room or mudroom is the perfect spot for a dog washing station. If you want to prevent dirty paws from walking all over your expensive rugs and hardwood floors, a built-in dog shower is a must. You can also save a lot of money by bathing and grooming your dog at home!

3. Built-in dog gates

Say goodbye to ugly, plastic baby gates! Add a built-in, retractable gate to any door or swinging gate to your staircase to keep your pets out of the way. It’s aesthetically pleasing, chic, and incredibly functional!

What are 3 non-negotiable features/items you would like in your next home (that your current house doesn’t have)? Share your top three below!

As a real estate agent, one of my least favorite calls to make is when I have to tell my buyers that their offer has been rejected by the sellers and that they lost out on the home of their dreams.

It’s so frustrating and discouraging when your offer gets rejected, and it makes you start to question: Why? What went wrong wrong? What could have gone differently?

Here are 7 common reasons why your purchase offer was rejected.

1. Offer price

Your offer was lower than the asking price and the sellers wanted more for their home (there’s also a chance they felt offended or insulted by your low ball offer)

2. No pre-approval or pre-qualification

A pre-approval or pre-qualification shows the sellers you are serious about purchasing a home. Without a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter, the seller has no idea if you can qualify for a mortgage or not.

3. Too many contingencies

If your offer had too many contingencies, the seller may have been worried about the transaction closing smoothly and on time.

4. A better offer was accepted

The sellers may have received a stronger, better offer, and accepted that one instead of yours.

5. Financing

A cash buyer is often a strong buyer, and some loan types are easier to deal with than others.

6. Timeframe

The more flexible you can be with your timeline, the more power to you! The sellers may have had a different timeline than you (maybe they needed a 60 day close instead of a 30 day close).

7. Earnest money

An earnest money deposit is made to a seller with your purchase agreement, representing a buyers good faith to buy a home. An earnest money deposit is generally 1-3% of the purchase price. If you back out of the deal due to change of heart, the seller will get to keep your earnest money. An offer without earnest money is more likely to be rejected by seller, as they may feel you aren’t serious about purchasing.

1. Kitchen remodel

The kitchen is the heart of every home, and a kitchen remodel is known to be one of the home improvements with the highest ROI! If you don’t want to do a full remodel, painting the cabinets or changing out your hardware can completely transform your kitchen without breaking the bank!

2. Bathroom remodel

Along with kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels are also known to have a great return on investment! For a cost-friendly option, simply change out your builder-grade mirrors and light fixtures or upgrade the faucets and shower heads.

3. A fresh coat of paint

An easy way to give your home a new look and boost your ROI is to add a fresh coat of paint! Light, neutral colors (like a light beige, white, or grey) can create the feeling of a larger, warmer space. This is a cost-effective, simple way to breathe new life into your home!

4. Curb appeal

First impressions are everything! Upgrading the landscaping, taking care of your lawn, and giving your garage door a refresh is a great way to update the look of your home. Even something as simple as pressure washing your driveway can help to spruce up your curb appeal and give your home a facelift!

5. Finishing your basement

Adding drywall, paint, and flooring to your basement can offer you more living space in your home and is highly valued by homebuyers. This home upgrade is something you can enjoy now and reap the benefits from later when you someday sell your home!

If you could only choose three items from the graphic, which ones would you pick? Comment your favs below!

Something you’ll want to consider (before you purchase a home) is how long you plan on staying in your new home.

Sure, you could buy your home one month and sell it the next, but selling your home too soon after buying can lead to some major disadvantages. Closing costs can get expensive, moving is stressful, you’ll have to pay more in taxes, and you may end up losing money in the process,

To avoid capital gains taxes and maximize the odds of making a profit, you’ll need to live in your home (meaning it must be a primary residence) for at least two consecutive years before selling.

Waiting to sell your home for (at least) two years will hopefully give you some time to build equity to balance out your closing cost expenses. It’s often recommended that you live in your home for 2-5 years before selling your property.

Looking for a real estate agent to walk you through the selling process? I’d love to connect with you to see if we'd be a good fit — DM me!

Step 1: the cheeses

Charcuterie boards often have a variety of cheeses, including firm cheese (Swiss, cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan), soft cheese (Brie, goat cheese, burrata), blue cheese, and aged cheese (Gouda, white cheddar)

Step 2: the meat

Popular meat choices typically include salami, prosciutto, Italian salami, chorizo, and sausage.

Step 3: the carbs

A charcuterie board isn’t complete without something crunchy! Some great carb options for your board include crackers, French Baguette, fig and olive crisps, and pretzels.

Step 4: the nuts & fruits

Add dried fruits (like apricot, mango, figs), fresh fruit (grapes, pears, sliced berries), and nuts of your choice (cashews, salted almonds, walnuts).

Step 5: the sweets

The perfect charcuterie board always has some sweet touches to balance the savory! Some great ideas to add some sweetness to your board include spreads (quality honey and an apricot or raspberry jam) and tasty treats (like chocolate covered raisins, yogurt pretzels, a dessert dip, chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate truffles)

Picnic weather is just around the corner, and a charcuterie board is the perfect picnic food! If you are looking for a place to picnic in (**INSERT CITY**) with great trails and a beautiful view, (**INSERT PICNIC SPOT**) is the perfect spot!

1. BRAINSTORM

Think about your current home — what you like, what you wish was different, and what you couldn’t live without. By asking yourself questions about your current home, you’ll start to get an idea of what features you want your next home to have. Here are some questions to get you started:

- Do you have enough space? Do you have too much space?

- Do you like your neighborhood/the area you live in?

- Do you have enough bedrooms? How about bathrooms?

- Do you like the style of your home?

- Do you have a nice backyard? Do you use it?

2. CATEGORIZE YOUR LIST

Once you start creating your home wishlist, it can be hard to stop. Before you know it, you’ll be touring homes that are triple your price range!😂 Separate your list into categories: most important, kind of important, not preferred, and big no-nos. Here’s a cheat sheet

1. NEEDS: non-negotiables

2. WANTS: features that would be great to have, but they are not a necessity

3. DON’T WANTS: things you would rather not have, but it wouldn’t automatically rule out a property

4. DEAL BREAKERS: features you wouldn’t be able to live without — you shouldn’t even look at a property if it has one of your deal breakers (unless it’s easily fixable)

3. DISCUSS YOUR LIST WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

You should have your realtor review your home-buying wishlist to give you their honest opinion on if they think you are being realistic (based on the current market trends and what you have on your list). Your real estate agent can also use this list to set you up on an MLS search to look for properties with your specific criteria!

1. Keep a first-aid kit in your car in case an accident happens during the move.

2. No one wants to feel “hangry” on moving day! Pack a cooler full of drinks and snacks for your family to keep everyone well fed and hydrated throughout the day!

3. Pack books, frames, and other heavy items in a suitcase to avoid breaking boxes.

4. Label your boxes with a sharpie and use post-its to label each room. This is great to avoid confusion and miscommunication issues with your movers.

5. Number your boxes and make a general list on your phone of what each box contains. Share the list with your family to keep track of all your belongings. This makes life SO much easier when you are trying to find that one specific item that has gone missing!

6. Put fitted sheets over your mattresses to keep them from getting dirty in the moving truck.

7. Use blankets, towels, and scarves to wrap delicate items.

8. Pack an “open first” box with all the things you’ll need when you first move into your place. This should include toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, paper plates, plastic silverware, toiletries, pajamas, a clean outfit, towels, and anything else you’ll need right away!

9. Instead of packing items from your dresser drawers into boxes, secure each drawer with plastic wrap or wrap the entire dresser.

10. Save space by stuffing your pots and pans with dish towels, spices, pantry items, or other kitchen tools!

Over the next few days, I’m going to walk you through the first 6 steps you should take to start investing in real estate.

Step one is to get educated! Before you do anything else, it’s important to learn the basics. Here are a few ways to start dipping your toes into real estate investing:

1. Grab coffee with a friend or family member who is already involved in investing! If you don’t know anyone personally, look on social media for successful investors in your area and offer to take them out to lunch. It helps to have a mentor or two to learn from and to bounce ideas off of.

2. Find podcasts, blogs, or Youtube videos online about real estate investing. Bigger Pockets is a great place to start!

3. Pick up some books about real estate investing at your local book store or library (some good ones include The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner and The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller)

4. Dedicate time each week to learning about and researching real estate investing.

5. Follow along for the next 6 days as I share the first 6 steps to investing in real estate!

Have questions about real estate investing or the real estate market? Send me a message and I’d love to chat further with you!

You’ll need to talk with your mortgage lender to see if you can qualify for an investment property. For a single-family investment property, it’s likely you’ll need to put at least 15%-25% down and have a minimum credit score of 680-700.

You’ll also need a six-month cash reserve to be able to make repairs and pay for rental property expenses that may unexpectedly pop up. As owner of the property, you are responsible for maintenance, utility, HOA management, insurance, property management, and repair fees needed for your home.

Investment properties require a much higher financial stability level than primary residences. Take some time to get your personal finances together, boost your credit score, and follow a savings plan before jumping into the world of real estate investing!

Got questions about real estate investing? Send me a DM!

Here are the three main types of investments to look into as a first time investor.

1. Residential investment - includes single-family homes, short-term rentals (vacation homes), townhouses, small multi-family homes (duplexes), and fix-and-flip homes!

2. Commercial investment - includes office and retail buildings, warehouses, and industrial spaces.

3. Land investment - includes investing in land for residential buildings, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, parks and open space, farmland, and public/semi public buildings (colleges, schools, libraries, museums, healthcare facilities, etc).

As a beginner real estate investor, I would recommend a single-family home or townhome as your first investment. A single-family home = long term renters and stable revenue stream. A townhome = more affordable than a single-family home and less maintenance!

REMEMBER: residential, commercial, and land investments all have pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh out your options, do your research, and figure out what will work best for you!

What makes a good investment property? Here are some things to consider:

1. Location, location, location!

Location is everything! An attractive location is key to getting a great return on your investment. A good rental property is located in a safe neighborhood and is close to good schools, shopping centers, restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, and public transit.

2. Numbers that make sense

Be sure to take property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, maintenance costs, and utilities into account + put some money aside for mortgage payments incase your property is vacant for a period of time.

3. The condition of the home

Unless you plan on doing a fix-and-flip, be sure to choose a home that is in good condition and doesn’t need too many repairs.

4. Accessibility

It helps to live near your rental property so you can keep a close eye on your tenants, collect rent, and take care of any maintenance issues yourself.

5. The potential to appreciate

One of the greatest perks of investing in real estate is home appreciation! Unlike assets like cars, boats, furniture, and electronics, the value of your home is likely to increase over time. By taking a chance on an up-and-coming neighborhood, you have the opportunity to set yourself up for great appreciation!

Have questions about real estate investing or the real estate market? Send me a message and I’d love to chat further with you!