Home Ownership – The American Dream

Jun 6, 2022 7:29 am
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History of National Home Ownership Month

June is National Home Ownership Month.  Do you know the history of the American Dream of home ownership?

In the 1800s, most Americans had no way of really owning a home.  Mortgages became common only after the U.S. banking system came into being after the 1860s National Bank Acts.

During the time of the Great Depression, the banks did not have any money to lend and the average borrower didn’t have any cash.  As a result, people couldn’t afford to buy homes, while existing homeowners often failed to pay their debt.  To stabilize the housing market, the U.S. government created the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in 1933, the Federal Housing Administration in 1934, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (now known as Fannie Mae) in 1938.  All these institutions took homeownership to new heights and helped prevent a crash in the housing market.

What changed the face of the housing industry, along with that of the American economy, was the G.I. Bill of 1944.  This bill provided subsidized mortgages for the veterans of World War II.  Another milestone in the history of American housing came when Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968.  The Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and banned discrimination in housing based on religion, race, gender, and national origin.  It came into being only a few days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In its 87 years of existence, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has saved America an almost $4 trillion loss of household wealth.  It has helped more than 44 million citizens to become homeowners.

National Homeownership Week began in 1995, which was a strategy of the administration under President Bill Clinton to increase homeownership across America.  Later, in 2002, President George W. Bush expanded the period of observance from a week to the entire month of June.  National Homeownership Month reinforces the belief that owning a home is one of the steps toward achieving the American dream.

My passion is helping people home ownership and finding their dream home.

Information derived from NationalToday.com

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Fetching Top Dollar for Your Home

Apr 12, 2022 8:33 am
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Perhaps you have bought and sold a home before, regardless with this crazy market you want to do the things that will help you get top dollar.  This list adds some elements that you may not have considered.

  • Make Your Mailbox look Amazing – First Impressions are key, and your mailbox is definitely part of that first impression. Curb appeal always needs to be a consideration.  In addition to the mailbox, is the driveway cracked?  Does it need pressure washed? Is the yard well kept?
  • Make the right use of your rooms. Maybe you use your dining room as your kid’s playroom or an office.  You might want to stage it before having potential buyers visit.  Buyers want to see the room the traditional way.
  • Update your bathrooms. Reglaze especially if you have an outdated color like green or pink.  Reglazing a bathroom to white can make is look 20 to 30 years younger.  Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses so the smallest of improvements can make a world of difference.
  • What is your neighborhood like? Include in the listing description.  What is nearby? i.e. coffee shops, shopping, walking trails, etc.  What’s the culture like?  More than just what school district the house is located.
  • What extras are included? e., motion-sensitive outdoor lighting, smart home technology, security system, camera doorbell, etc. These little things make seem trivial to you but may sway a buyer.
  • In addition to great photos, do a video tour pointing out all the unique selling points.
  • Get a home pre-inspection – Your buyer will have an idea of the property’s condition before making an offer.

We are here to help you every step of the way whether buying or selling.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Circle of Excellence 2021

Feb 21, 2022 7:38 am
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2021 was another challenging year both personally and for real estate.  With the pandemic still looming and low inventory of homes, etc., we were still able to help many clients with their real estate needs. We feel very grateful and blessed to be honored again and to be among those achieving the Circle of Excellence Award from the 400 North Board of Realtors for 2021.

While it’s an honor and I’m very grateful to receive these awards, it’s not necessarily my goal. My goal is to give my clients the best possible service possible, whether it is to help them sell their home or to find them their perfect new home. My passion is helping people. That is why I strive for a high level of service and as a result, I have many repeat clients as well as referrals of friends and family over my 20-year real estate career. For this, I am truly grateful for my client’s trust and confidence.

One of the other ways I service my clients is my knowledge of the market. I continue to make sure I am well versed in all matters of real estate. As a REALTOR, we are tasked each year to accomplish additional education units. I typically go beyond what is required. I am certified in negotiating, probate, distressed property, luxury home market, iRep Pro, etc. So, please know whatever someone’s real estate needs are, I will always do my very best to deliver the ultimate service experience.

For a list of certifications and awards, please see our ‘About’ page.

In Appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

RE/MAX Around Atlanta

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Tips for Selling Your Home in 2022

Jan 17, 2022 7:07 am
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Thinking about putting your house on the market?  There are a few things that should be at the top of your to-do list before you even consider contacting the realtor and listing your property. You might think your home is perfect, but that’s because you live in it. You need to take an outsider’s perspective. Let’s have a look at some top tips to sell your home.

Four things that many people need to consider before putting their house on the market are to declutter, deep clean, make vital repairs and consider the exterior. If you follow these simple steps before selling your property, you’re likely to sell your home much quicker. So, let’s get started.

Declutter

Decluttering is a very important task you must do or should we say endure to sell your home. The reason behind decluttering is to get rid of all your stuff that is laying around and find a home for it. This is done for two reasons.

First, when prospective buyers come and take a look around your home they don’t want to see your belongings cluttering up the place. They need to be able to envision their own items filling the spaces. Second, if you spend some time decluttering then you are opening up the rooms and making them seem more spacious. Bigger homes command bigger places. Decluttering increases the size of your home in the minds of potential buyers. It’s like magic.

One major tip for decluttering is to go through each room and sort your belongings into three different piles. First, you should look at the items you want to keep. Second, stuff you want to throw away. Finally, a third pile should consist of the items you want to sell. Holding a yard or garage sale is a great way to make a little extra cash on the stuff you no longer want.

Although this task can appear a daunting one, there are a few ways to make it easier. Don’t try and do everything at once, start with 5 minutes stints throughout the day. Give items away, choose one to two and give them away daily. Donate things you don’t use or wear. Envision your home as a potential buyer, or ask a friend to. This will help you get rid of those items you’re unsure of letting go. Make, and refer to a decluttering checklist. Again, when you find it difficult to let go, this list will remind you of why you’re doing this.

Deep Clean

After you have spent time decluttering you must deep clean your home from top to bottom. This is to ensure that there is no dust or debris leftover from the time you have spent there. If you have pets it is a great way of getting rid of pet fur and dander that has gathered in hard-to-clean or reach places.

Notorious places that gather excess dust seem to be the extractor fans and oven hoods. You should make sure these aren’t missed when you thoroughly clean your property.

Worried that you won’t do a good enough job? Or perhaps you simply don’t have the time. Why not call in the professionals? There are cleaning companies out there who are used to doing major house cleaning. They will ensure your home is sparkling and looks brand new. Especially important for when the photographer comes to take pictures of your home.

Make Repairs

Decluttered and cleaned your property? Next, you should make sure you mend any repairs that need doing. You may have been putting these off for some time, but they need to be done. This is one of the top tips to sell your home that many forget. You can claim on your home warranty if you have any general wear and tear problems within the home. You may notice your roof has been leaking, this is covered under your home warranty.

Repairs do need to be done, even if it seems easier to leave them to the next owner. When you sell your home, the buyers will send in a home inspector to report on the house. If they find any damage this will be in the report and some buyers could pull out of the sale. Buyers don’t generally want to carry out repairs on a property they move into.

If the leaky roof has caused damage to the walls then you will need to fix these. Give them a fresh coat of paint to repair the damage to make them look brand new. This is a sure-fire winner.

Consider the Exterior

One final thing to mention before you list your home on the market is to make sure your exterior matches the interior. The outside of your property is the first thing buyers will see when they drive up to view. It is important this looks appealing and welcoming. Make sure the grass has been mowed and any weeds are gone. You could add some flowers to bring a bit more color to the property.

Make sure windows and doors are not looking worn and tired. If they are you could paint them to bring them back to life. Another thing to mention is once you have revived the doors be sure to give the door handles a lick of shine.

One way to check what the house looks like from the outside is to take a view as if you were the buyer or get a family member to do it. They will give you an honest opinion on how your home looks and how you could improve it to make it seem more welcoming.

We hope these top tips to sell your home help you understand what you need to do before you get your house listed on the market. Fingers crossed you get a speedy sale at a great price. And if you’re moving on to somewhere new. Good luck with that too.

We are always here to help.  Give us a call.

Marie Dinsmore

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion and Commitment to Excellence!

Fall Maintenance Check List

Oct 4, 2021 6:56 pm
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With the changing of the seasons comes the checklist of maintenance chores around the house to keep everything in tip-top shape and prevent costly repairs in the future.  Below is a list of suggested maintenance projects to get and keep your home in working order.

  1. Check Smoke Detectors and carbon monoxide alarms – Make sure safety inside of the home is covered. Check the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms and change the batteries. Check that a ready-to-use fire extinguisher is in a safe, known location within the home along with a first aid kit in the case of emergency.
  2. Inspect Heating System and change the filters and contact a professional to inspect the systems for carbon monoxide leaks and other issues that could cause house fires.
  3. Have the Roof Inspected – At least once or twice a year it’s important to inspect your roof. Inspect to ensure there are no loose shingles that may cause leaks.
  4. Clean Out the Gutters – Remove fallen leaves and debris from the gutters and flush them out with water to prevent ice from accumulating and causing damage. Check for any tilting in the gutters as well and make adjustments as needed.
  5. Clean the Chimney and Fireplace – Check the chimney and have it swept to remove the soot build-up that is present if over 1/8’ thick. It’s important to have the soot removed because the burning build-up is a health hazard, emitting toxic chemicals into the air and lungs.
  6. Check Windows and Doors – Check the windows and doors for any damage or noticeable drafts. Sealing up any openings can save up to 20% on heating costs by keeping the cold air out of the home and the heat in.
  7. Seal Cracks in the Sidewalk and Drivewalk – Untreated cracks will continue to grow and cause greater damage to the property. Sealing up driveway and sidewalk cracks in the winter also helps prevent water from pooling up and freezing.
  8. Prep the Lawn – It’s important to rake the leaves regularly as leaves can kill your grass if left on the ground for long periods of time. Keep your soil healthy by mulching with the mower every four days. Cut down any dead branches to prevent them from crashing down when frozen.
  9. Protect Outside Faucets and Irrigation Systems from Freezing – Disconnect the garden hose from outdoor faucets and store them coiled in a flat dry area. To freezeproof an in-ground irrigation system, follow the manufacturer’s procedure for draining it and protecting it from winter damage.
  10. Touch Up Exterior Paint – A touch-up can help prolong the life of your siding and trim.

If you are a first-time homeowner and not sure what to do when it’s a good idea to have a reputable home inspector come out and give you some tips and what to look for and what to do when.

If you’re not a DIY person, give me a call, I have a preferred list of vendors I trust and depend on.  You can also check my preferred list of vendors at https://www.dinsmoreteam.com/welcome-services/

Happy Fall,

Marie Dinsmore

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

How to Finance Your Home Renovations

Sep 7, 2021 11:27 am
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Have you ever watched the TV show ‘Love It or List It?’  Perhaps you’re thinking of staying put until the market gets a little calmer, but you would like to do some home renovations.  Outdated kitchen. Overrun backyard. Unusable basement space. If you have a home renovation project on your mind, the first thing you must consider is how are you going to finance it. Here are some of the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.

Cash. Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option, just save until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.

Mortgage Refinance. If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than the current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and freeing up some money.

Cash-Out Refinance. You can tap into your home equity and borrow up to 80 percent of your home’s value to pay off your current mortgage plus take out more cash to cover the renovations. This option is encouraged only when you’re making improvements that will increase the value of

your home, as it can add a lot of interest and fees.

Home Equity. Getting a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home. You receive usually up to 80 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount of your loan.

Retirement Funds. Homeowners can consider pulling money from a 401K or IRA account, even though they aren’t specifically meant to cover a home renovation. This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments but may be worth it when making improvements that will benefit them financially in the long run.

Whichever option you choose, consider the renovations carefully in regards to resale.  You want to make sure the renovations will increase the value of your home but not overprice it for the neighborhood.  And of course, after you do the renovations and you decide you want to list, give me a call.

Hope you found these tips helpful.

Sincerely,

Marie

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence