Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving!!

So…..I hope we all had a fun day of friends, family and food!

Did you have enough room to seat everyone?  We didn't!  So do we need a bigger house so we can seat 15 people for dinner once a year?  My wife says we do….I say we don't!!

The empty nester house today often goes without a formal dining room and instead opts for a large "eating area", an over sized eating nook and seating at a kitchen island.  That works great for me! (364 days a year).

My wife did a great job making our large eating area a formal dining room for all!  A little creativity can allow everyone to sit together and enjoy a meal together.  Just because you don't have a conventional formal dining room does not mean you have to sacrifice all the fun of sitting together and enjoying the real meaning of sharing a meal together.  

Remember, the time spent together on holidays or with friends is not in the size of the room, but in the size of the heart and time together!

So ... Don't go buy a dining room with a house attached!!

Hope your Thanksgiving was the best ever!

DWS

Was That Today?

Ok…Do you buy now because rates are low?  Quite honestly, they’re so low it is nuts!  Do you buy now because home values are at a twenty+ year low?  If you are thinking you want to buy low and sell high … let me know how that works out for ya!

Boats have sailed away without me many times before, and I’m no worse for the wear. In 20/20 hindsight, I do wish I had gotten on a couple of them.  In the 80’s the word “Condo” was like a disease.  I didn’t want to list them, sell them, see them or buy them!  Unfortunately, that boat sailed away without me …. I should have bought all the “Condos” I could find. There were many I could have purchased for $7,500.00!!  Knowing what I know now, I should have been on that boat; but no, I thought it was safer on dry land and found myself left on the dock. 

My son just bought a house and has elected not to sell his current residence … he and his wife want to buy low, but do not want to sell low, so they have elected to rent their current house since the rental market is strong, allowing them to take advantage of buying low today. They just locked in an FHA loan at 4.25% and only had to put 2.5% down (the seller/bank is paying up to 1% of their closing costs!). That is one, and very creative way, to skin the cat!

Let’s face it, we all have to live somewhere, and odds are we are going to have to pay money to do so!  (Haven’t figured out how to avoid that one.)  So, if you want to be in the fortunate group of those who bought low, when rates were at a 50-year low, and had the opportunity to pay 40% to 60% less than replacement cost, now is the time.

But, let’s not buy just because there is a “SALE”.  My wife does that all the time!!  (Sorry honey, I’m sure you aren’t alone!)  In addition to being a major investment, Real Estate has always had emotion attached - and still does.  If you’re thinking of buying, now is the time to act. 

Don’t miss your boat!

-DWS

Why Blog?

Because real estate is FUN. It’s fun to own, it’s fun to sell, it’s fun to look at, it’s fun to fix-up, it’s fun to remodel, fun to decorate, fun to enjoy family times ... it’s everything except fun to clean.

So, we want to bring you a host of information, details, how-to’s, how-not-to’s, why’s, when’s and where’s about our favorite favorite subject: Real Estate.

Our blog entries will contain a ton of valuable information, as well as, crazy out of the ordinary situations that we have had to navigate throughout our career. We look forward to sharing with you things like: 

• When to buy?
• How to approach a remodel? 
• Dale - the King of analogies
• How to analyze costs of building vs. remodeling
• What is value?
• No risk-it, no biscuit
• What is agency representation? Do you really need it?
• Do it yourself or hire-out?
• Is that a snake in the basement? Really? 
• Home Inspections 101
• How to manage your real estate as an investment
• Property Tax Questions
• The not-so-glamorous reality of real estate
• Looking for your first home ... or your last home
• Buy or build?
• What can happen when you choose not to get a survey ... 
• What to plant in your flower beds?
• How to search online?
• Hmmm ... locked out on the top of a roof .... hmmmm
• What colors to avoid?
• How many houses do you really want to see? Really?
• How to stage your home for a quick sale
• Yes, we really do want you to read the entire contract
• And ... many other subjects ...

Dale and I are just sitting here in our office right now, reminiscing and laughing over all the situations we have been in - good, bad, funny, scary, smelly and glamorous. We’ve got stories to share and tales to tell! More than anything, we want this blog to be informative and fun for you! 

Enjoy!

Dale & April