Buying a Home | Stapleton Realty

New Home, New Year

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2021-01-19T15:37:02-05:00January 19th, 2021|Buying a Home, General, News, Selling a Home|

It is the new year we had all been looking forward to! New year, new start for so many hopes, dreams, and ideas. After being in your home so much more than usual over the past “Covid Months”, you are thinking you need a different scene, it would be hard to blame you. Interest rates are staying low as we head into the spring market which makes it a good time to buy. It also means that prices are up, so your home may be worth more than even a few months ago. Worth Exploring? Let us look closer. Selling your home today = more buyers because interest rates are low. More [...]

The Hub of the Home

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2020-12-15T14:53:12-05:00December 15th, 2020|Buying a Home, General, Lake Homes, Selling a Home|

The Hub of the Home The kitchen is the hub of any home, a space that needs to be functional yet esthetically pleasing. Now more than ever, we are staying home, cooking more, and spending more time in our kitchens. It is the room listing agents describe in great detail…stunning granite countertops, gleaming stainless steel appliances, oversized islands, and custom walk-in pantries. Because renovating a kitchen can be a substantial financial undertaking, some sellers will make small updates just to freshen up the space. Painting, changing out light fixtures, and adding a backsplash can breathe life into an outdated space. If your kitchen could have been featured in an episode of the Brady [...]

Life Transition Points and the Effect on the Housing Market

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2020-11-17T13:42:02-05:00November 17th, 2020|Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News, Selling a Home|

This year, 2020, has offered us so many different challenges, but the housing market has stayed hot. How could that be? Record layoffs, unprecedented unemployment, stock market volatility and so on. The housing market has been hot: a low inventory of for sale homes, many people in the market to buy motivated by low interest rates and ability to move where they want to live while working remotely. If you could live anywhere and work from home, you might choose to live in an area with outdoor attractions, closer to your family, or perhaps where you grew up. A lot of what was for years, attractive about living in big cities, has [...]

Why Inspect?

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2020-11-17T13:35:33-05:00September 11th, 2020|Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, News|

The process of buying a home is nerve racking for many reasons. It is a large investment; it is the beginning of a lot of work to move from your old home and it is change. Worrying about what shape the home we are buying is in, is important, but most of us do not know enough about home conditions to evaluate our new purchase. Most realtors would suggest you hire a home inspector. Their job is to go through the home you are buying and to look for things that may be an added expense for you or may be dangerous. They are not there to evaluate the cosmetics of the [...]

Surviving in a Seller’s Market

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2020-08-14T14:40:16-05:00August 14th, 2020|Buying a Home, News, Selling a Home|

What is the difference between a buyer’s and a seller’s market? As its name suggests, a buyer’s market is beneficial to the buyer and a seller’s market is beneficial to a seller. A buyer’s market is a market in which the supply is higher than the demand. A seller’s market exists when the demand for homes exceeds the supply, or there are more buyers looking to purchase a home than there are homes available. The outcome is multiple offers on a single property which leads to a bidding war. If you are lucky enough to be experiencing a seller's market in your area, it is indeed a fabulous time to sell. Not [...]

I am a buyer looking for the perfect home, where do I begin?

Bonnie Lewis-Tschannen2020-07-13T11:00:25-05:00July 13th, 2020|Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers|

I am a buyer looking for the perfect home, where do I begin? The process of buying a home is big and so is the financial investment. Choosing an agent is an important part of the process and should not happen by chance. Using the agent my cousin likes or who was at the open house may not end up being the right fit for you. When you need a new doctor, you go through the effort to take recommendations, look up reviews and hopefully conduct an interview appointment. The same attention to detail and need for a” good fit”, is true with a realtor. Here are some things you should know [...]

Myths About Homeownership
Myths About Homeownership

Myths About Homeownership

Andrea2020-04-10T15:52:32-05:00July 10th, 2018|Buying a Home|

Lenders evaluate mortgage applications a lot differently today than they did even ten years ago and even more has changed in the last twenty years. What used to close the door to homeownership may not be a factor today. Here are some common homeownership myths: Myth: You need excellent credit to become a homeowner. Fact: You may still be able to buy a home with less-than-perfect credit. And remember, you can improve your credit over time. Myth: You need to put 20% down to buy a home. Fact: There are many types of mortgage products and programs that allow low and no down payments. But remember to factor in other costs such as closing [...]

Benefits of Home Ownership
Benefits of Home Ownership

Benefits of Home Ownership

Andrea2020-04-10T15:52:27-05:00June 26th, 2018|Buying a Home|

Homeownership has many advantages - both financial and personal. But buying a home is an important decision. Look at the benefits and the differences between homeownership and renting to understand better if owning a home is right for you. What are the benefits of homeownership? Tax savings. You may earn significant tax savings because you can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from your federal income tax and many states' income tax if you itemize your deductions. A more stable monthly housing expense. Your monthly housing loan or mortgage expense can remain the same for the life of your mortgage, depending on the type of loan you choose. Equity. You may build [...]

What a Home Inspector Checks For – and What You Should Check Too
What a Home Inspector Checks For – and What You Should Check Too

What a Home Inspector Checks For – and What You Should Check Too

Andrea2020-04-10T15:52:19-05:00June 19th, 2018|Buying a Home|

Use this guide as a list of things that you should check for when buying a new home. Your home inspector may also review many of these items, but you should also do a check yourself.

How Much Can You Afford?
How Much Can You Afford?

How Much Can You Afford?

Andrea2020-04-10T15:51:58-05:00June 13th, 2018|Buying a Home|

To get a quick idea of what you can afford to spend, multiply your annual gross income (before taxes) by 2.5. For example, if your annual household income is $50,000, you might be able to qualify for a $125,000 home. This estimate is rough—the actual number will vary based on factors such as your debt and credit history. Mortgage lenders typically use the housing expense and debt-to-income ratios to more accurately determine how much you can afford to spend on your mortgage. Housing Expense Ratio Mortgage lenders recommend that your monthly mortgage payment should be less than or equal to a quarter of your monthly gross income. This percentage can change based [...]