Month: May 2020

Top 10 Must-Do’s for Buying Your Next Home

Top 10 Must-Do’s for Buying Your Next Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner, Real Estate.

Buying a new home is one of the most important (and daunting) processes that many of us will go through. If you are new to homeownership, it can seem even more challenging as you may not know what to do to get the ball rolling on making a purchase.

Here are ten actions you need to complete before you buy your next home:

  1. Determine your budget — When you go to a mortgage lender, they will tell you exactly how much “house” you qualify for. However, just because you qualify, it does not mean you need to jump into a mortgage of that size. Instead, sit down and do a tight budget that shows you exactly how much you can plan on spending each month. Then, use a budget calculator to “reverse engineer” how much you can afford to take on with your loan.

 

  1. Get pre-approved for your loan — Now that you know how much you want to take out in your home loan, go to different lenders, and get pre-approved for the loan. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with these lenders. If one offers a low interest rate, then see if others are willing to get your business by beating that rate. But do this before you start shopping for a house as this will save a lot of time later on.

 

  1. Read your loan paperwork CAREFULLY — One of the problems with the “housing bubble” was that people were buying homes they really couldn’t afford. The terms looked great, but they missed hidden costs such as balloon payments that made them go under. Be sure that you know all of the details of the loan and you agree with all of those terms before you sign anything.

 

  1. Save all of your money — One of the biggest obstacles to buying a home is paying so much money upfront. However, the more money you can put down on the house, the less you will be financing and paying interest on. So, it’s important to use as much of your savings as possible to get the total down.

 

  1. Make a list of must-haves — Once you know what your budget is, talk to a real estate agent about finding a house in your price range. Create a list of items you absolutely must have so that your agent won’t waste your time looking at other options.

 

  1. Do more than one visit — Although the current situation may not allow for large visits such as open houses, you still need to do a walk-through of the home. If you think it’s one that you could be interested in, ask for another walk-through at a different time of day. Traffic patterns or neighborhood noise may be a problem that you didn’t notice on your first trip.

 

  1. Don’t get pressured — If you’re unsure of a property, some real estate agents will push you with the “I’ve had lots of people looking at this property” line. This may be true. But don’t let yourself be pressured into making a decision. This is something you will be living with for years.

 

  1. Negotiate the price — Don’t offer them their exact asking price. Go a little lower and see if there is any wiggle room in the price. All they can do is say no and you can still make a counteroffer.

 

  1. Get an inspection — Before you sign anything, it is imperative that you get a thorough home inspection to check everything from the plumbing and electrical systems to the foundation. If something is wrong here, don’t be afraid to walk away from the deal.

 

  1. Get a good mover — Once you’ve made your purchase, it’s time to move in. Be sure to look for a reputable moving company that is licensed and bonded. Hire them right away so that you can move in when you want without a hassle.

Buying a home is a big step but it doesn’t have to be a scary one. Make sure to follow these steps and you will be able to get the best deal so you can move quickly into the home of your dreams.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.
Backyard Summer Camp for Kids

Backyard Summer Camp for Kids

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

Summer is coming and for those of us who have been tucked away in quarantine, it may seem like we’ve already been on one continuous break with the kids. But, now that distance learning is taking a break, there may be fewer activities for you to keep the kids active. But you don’t want to let them become couch potatoes and video game zombies.

Here are ways to recreate the summer camp experience in your own backyard.

These activities are guaranteed to help you keep the kids from being bored and help you maintain your sanity this summer.

  1. Sprinkler Fun — Let’s start with a tried-and-true favorite from everyone’s childhood: playing in the water sprinkler. This is the perfect way to get cool on a hot summer day.

A DIY idea for this is to make your own sprinkler. Get a 2-liter soda bottle (empty) and poke holes in the plastic with a knife or scissors. Then, attach the garden hose to the bottle and affix it with duct tape. Once you crank up the water, it will come shooting out of the holes and your kids can have fun jumping through the stream.

  1. Soda Bottle Rocket — While you’ve got those empty soda bottles, try this little science project. First, tape pencils to the sides of the bottle so that the bottle can be placed opening down without covering the neck of the bottle.

Then, fill the bottle with vinegar, add baking soda, and then quickly cover the bottle opening with a cork. Flip the rocket upside down so it rests on the pencils and wait for the chemical reaction to shoot the rocket into the air.

  1. Make a Shaving Cream Painting — This one may sound bizarre but hold on a minute. It’s actually a great way to get artistic expression and fun sensory play combined. 

Get several cans of shaving cream from your local dollar store. Then, use food coloring to dye the shaving cream into different colors. Set up a tarp in the backyard and let your kids use the colored shaving cream to create pictures from rainbows to sky scenes to whatever their imagination can conjure up.

It’s messy fun, and the tarp can be easily hosed down and reused later if the kids want to try this again.

  1. Tightrope Walking — If you want to help your kids train for a career in the circus (or at least work with their motor skills), do a tightrope play area. If you have two sturdy trees, run two soft ropes between them. It doesn’t have to be high—just a couple of inches.

Then place the second rope high enough for your child to use as a handhold as they walk across the lower rope. If you don’t have a pair of trees, you can also use fence posts or poles in a pinch.

This year, we may still be dealing with a quarantine lockdown in our homes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t let your child explore their backyard and turn it into a home summer camp with these activities.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Home Improvement.

Summer is nearing and if you are a new homeowner, then you may not be used to this time of year when it becomes necessary to do a little home maintenance.

You have made an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars for your new home and it only makes sense to take care of this investment. By doing regular maintenance each quarter, you can help to save yourself money in the long run.

Here are some of the most common areas to take care of now that the weather is getting warmer:

  1. Cooling Systems—Before the summer kicks in and you really need your air conditioning system, now is the time to get it checked out. Have your HVAC system serviced so that your unit doesn’t die on you when you need it most. This is also the best time to consider putting in new ceiling fans in rooms that don’t already have them and to clean the existing fans.

 

  1. Check Your Roof—Now that the winter and spring storms are done, it’s a good idea to check your roof to see if you have any loose or missing shingles. If you can, get up on the roof with a ladder. Or, if you prefer going high-tech, you can use a drone to fly over and take pictures so you can see if there are any problems.

 

  1. Outdoor Entertaining—If you have a pool, outdoor patio or deck, or grill, now is the time to get them ready for summer entertaining. Have your pool’s chemicals checked. Also, go through your deck and look for loose boards or any cracks that show that the boards need to be replaced. This is also a good time to pressure wash your deck and see if you need to add sealant to your deck. Finally, check the gas lines for your gas grill. If you use propane tanks, be sure to get a fresh one before you start grilling.

 

  1. Check Your Alarms—Every quarter of the year is the proper time to check your home’s alarms and detectors. Change the batteries out in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to help keep you and your family safe.

Now that weather is getting warmer and drier, it’s time to do some maintenance checks on your home. If you do this now and keep up with it regularly, then your house will take care of you for years to come.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Find the Best Walkable Neighborhood

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

Many of us are now realizing how sedentary our lifestyles are. Because of the problems of urban sprawl, we literally live miles away from almost everything and have to drive somewhere in order to get the things that we need on a daily basis.

But, what if you could find a neighborhood where you could park the car and forget about it for days at a time as you walk around to do your shopping and dining? That’s the mentality behind the recent move to smaller, more self-contained neighborhoods.

Here are some ways to find the best walkable neighborhoods in your area:

Main Components—First, there are a few main components that you need to look for when it comes to a walkable neighborhood. You want to find a place that has a centralized location that everything else is built around, such as a town square or a main thoroughfare or street. You should also look for a neighborhood with a relatively dense population. Businesses and restaurants will not be able to survive without a lot of traffic, so you will need people who live in the immediate area. Besides businesses, you should also look for other types of active spaces such as parks and public space which will attract people to gather.

Look at the Layout—Another thing that makes a neighborhood more walkable is going to be the geographic layout of the neighborhood. It should, first, be relatively compact. If you are talking about ten to twenty miles of walking, then this isn’t going to be practical. Also, it should be relatively flat. A few hills are fine, but if you have to climb three miles uphill both ways then it gets to be a bit much. The area should also be laid out with walking paths and sidewalks. But it should also have benches and other amenities that will help when you need to take a break from your travels. And, most importantly, these features should be well maintained.

Businesses—The third component is the idea that you can get what you need in the neighborhood. Is there, for instance, a grocery store or specialty food shops like a bakery or butcher shop? You will probably be buying groceries every couple of days instead of stocking up all at once like you are used to. Are there restaurants nearby that you want to frequent? What about other things like clothing boutiques, bookstores, and the like? All of these will help add to the walkability of your neighborhood and if it is going to be a good fit for you.

Ultimately, the best way to find a walkable neighborhood in your area is to simply get out and explore. By doing this, you can take the neighborhood for a “test walk” and see if it might be an area that you could consider relocating to.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Where to Get Delivery for Brunch for Mother’s Day in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

COVID-19 has already changed so many things in our lives that it’s nice to hold on to some bits of normalcy. This Mother’s Day, it’s not going to be possible to go out for brunch at a nice restaurant or café.

But it is going to be possible to have the brunch brought to you. Most restaurants are staying afloat right now by either offering their own delivery options or partnering with delivery services such as DoorDash and UberEats.

So, this year for Mother’s Day, check out these great delivery brunches in Denver…you can even get them to supply the mimosas!

Snooze Eatery – Snooze has multiple locations that all offer great options for brunch deliveries. We highly recommend the Sweet Potato Bacon Smashup (a mixture of two griddled smashed sweet potatoes with poached egg, avocado, pickled onions, and paprika topped with black pepper maple syrup and bacon). If you decide to go for the flight of pancakes, be sure to try the Blueberry Danish Pancakes or Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes.

Bacon Social House – For now, they are calling themselves the Bacon Social Distancing House and for good reason. This location is offering great bacon options with deliveries straight to you. You can get a bacon flight with an assortment of options including applewood, BBQ, candied, or habanero bacon. Another great option is their Bacon Shrimp and Grits or the Boozy French Toast (made with Grand Marnier and Bourbon Bacon Caramel).

Jelly Café – Jelly café’s motto is “Eat More Jelly” and with the great menu options, it’s easy to see why. One of the more unusual options is the Lavender Blueberry, a serving of blueberry pancakes topped with lavender blueberry preserves. Or if that isn’t different enough for you, how about French toast coated in corn flakes with seasonal berries? One of the perennial Jelly Café favorites is the donut bites that can be ordered in batches of 4, 8, or 12.

Denver Biscuit Company – Our last option is a great choice for those who like homemade biscuits. The Denver Biscuit company has a dozen biscuit sandwich options including the Winona (fried chicken and pimento cheese) or the Colfax A (ham, collard greens, fried eggs, and hot sauce). For something really decadent, try the Shrimp and Grits in a homemade biscuit bowl or the Biscuit Pot Pie.

These are just four restaurants that are offering delivery specials every day including brunch options on Mother’s Day. The quarantine doesn’t have to ruin your special day with your mom and kids.

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.