Month: October 2020

Embracing Hygge with Your Family This Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Motherhood.

I love different languages and the way some cultures have one word that is almost impossible to translate but can sum up a series of emotions perfectly. One of those is the Danish word “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-ga”).

This beautiful word is meant to express the feeling of a cozy winter centered around family and friends and enjoying each moment of life. If there’s one concept that I can get behind, it’s that.

So here are some ways that you and your family can embrace hygge this winter:

  • Enjoy a hot beverage together — On The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon was always offering someone who needed comfort a “hot beverage.” But this winter, embrace hygge by sharing a hot beverage with your loved ones. If you can, make it a family affair with your kids making real homemade hot chocolate (with a little dash of chili if you want an extra kick to yours). If hot chocolate isn’t to your taste, brew up a real pot of coffee or tea and skip the instant stuff.
  • Make a quilt — What is winter if you can’t curl up under a good blanket and snuggle down and get comfy? This year, you can break out the old comfortable blankets and snuggle with family underneath them as you read a book, watch tv, or just talk. But another bonding activity that can be really useful right now would be quilting. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate pattern. But a simple quilt can bond you with your loved ones and keep you warm—it’s a win-win situation!
  • Take a candle-lit bath — One of the important parts of hygge is that you should not only connect with others, but that you should also be present in the moment and spend some time for yourself. Draw yourself a hot bath complete with your favorite bath salts or foaming bubbles and just relax. Add some ambiance with soft candlelight and gentle, relaxing music. If you are so inclined, bring a good book with you or you can just lay back and luxuriate.
  • Share memories — Another great way to connect with family while you are stuck indoors this winter is by looking back at old pictures together. Digital photos have killed the practice of scrapbooking and photo albums. But this is the perfect time to print out those favorite pictures and assemble a photo album of cherished memories that you can share with your loved ones.

After the holidays are over and the decorations are all put away, we still have a few more months of cold weather as we wait for spring. This year, spend this time with loved ones embracing the Danish concept of “hygge.”

 

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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.

Denver in Winter Activity Guide

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Denver.

Locals all know that winter is when Denver really comes to life with lots of activities and outdoor fun. While it is very likely that this year’s winter activities will look totally different than in years past because of COVID-19, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy yourself.

Here are the top winter activities in Denver (and the surrounding areas) that you can enjoy with your friends and family:

  • Denver Christkindl Market – Every year for the past 20 years, Denver has been transformed into a German wonderland with this authentic replica of a Bavarian market. Here, you can sample a wide selection of German wines, beers, and food while shopping through an arts and crafts market. And, you can also visit with St. Nikolaus and his dark counterpart, Krampus!
  • Dillon Ice Castles – A little over an hour outside of Denver is the town of Dillon, which is home to some truly beautiful works of natural art. This year, the ice castles will be returning despite the pandemic and locals are hoping to see lots of visitors to help make up for lost revenue in the past few months. These castles take 10 million gallons of water to create! Visitors can tour the castle and see incredible ice sculptures including fountains, slides, thrones, and tunnels.
  • Blossoms of Light – This holiday event has been a Denver staple for over three decades and it will be back and open this year. The Denver Botanic Gardens is transformed into a winter wonderland complete with elaborate holiday light displays. And don’t forget to pick up a hot cocoa or coffee with some sweet treats to keep you warm during your visit.
  • Denver Winter Brew Fest  – Kick off 2021 the right way with the Denver Winter Brew Fest, a celebration of smaller craft beers in a festival setting. Tickets range from $35 to $60 VIP tickets at the door and gives you a sampling glass and an unlimited sampling of beers and hard ciders. Also, food trucks will be available to buy snacks and live music will keep you entertained.
  • Ruby Hill Rail Yard – If you want some outdoor activities in the snow without heading out to the ski resorts, check out this local fun spot. This is the only urban snow sports terrain park in the United States and allows you to try out snowboarding and other activities in a park location. Plus, it’s FREE!

Denver in the winter is a bustling mecca for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors. These are just some of the best activities that you can find this season that will be open despite the pandemic.

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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.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Your Next Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Real Estate.

Buying a new home is not something you do on a whim or the spur of the moment. It is something that takes meticulous planning and careful decision making.

Whether you are buying a first-time starter home, expanding your house with the size of your family, or downsizing in your later years, there are certain aspects you need to know before you sign on the dotted line.

Here are the big questions you need to ask before you buy your next home:

  • What is my total budget? Begin with a little soul-searching about just how much money you can spend each month on a mortgage. As a rule of thumb, calculate your average monthly income. A mortgage should never be more than 25% of that figure. If it is, then you are not going to be able to afford basic living expenses.
  • How much do I need to put down on the home? For many people, the problem isn’t being able to afford the monthly mortgage. Rather, it’s the difficulty of putting together the down payment all at once. Put down as much as you can afford.
  • What’s the neighborhood like? If you have your eyes on one particular house, you need to also look at the neighborhood. Talk with your local police department or check the local newspapers to see if it is a high crime area. You can also check with them to see if anyone in the neighborhood is a registered sex offender. If you’re a parent or hope to be soon, look at the quality of the schools to see if they can provide a good education to your children. Finally, look to see if the home is in a flood plain or is prone to any other potential disasters.
  • How long has the house been on the market? This answer can really impact how much you have to offer on the home. If the house is a brand-new listing and the price is right, you may find yourself in a bidding war as multiple buyers jump in. However, if the home has been listed for months (or even more than a year), you may want to ask yourself what is wrong with it that others are passing it by. If it still seems like a good home, then offer less than the asking price and see if the homeowner is desperate enough to bite.
  • What other costs are involved? Buying a home is never easy, so you need to be prepared for hidden costs. First, estimate how much you expect to pay at closing. Also, pay close attention to the appliances and HVAC system and determine if these will need any upgrades or outright replacements. Finally, find out how much the property taxes are each year so you can include that in your budget.

If you are buying a new home, it is imperative that you do your homework first and get all the details down before you make your purchase. This is a major commitment and not one you want to make without all the facts in front of you.

 

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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 Organize a Playroom

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

All of the time that kids have spent at home lately, thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, has probably left you with a disorganized and chaotic house.

This is especially true of your child’s playroom. With the holidays coming up, you might want to get this area under control before you add even more items to their play area.

Here are tips to get the chaos of your child’s room under control and organize their playroom:

  • Sweep through the room for trash — Before you try to do any organizing, you need to get rid of some of the items your child doesn’t need anymore. First, throw out any items that are broken. This includes toys that are falling apart, puzzles or games that are missing pieces, and anything else that is trash. Make sure you do this alone. Your kids may get a little sentimental and want to hold on to broken items and you don’t need that. Now is the time to absolutely get rid of whatever is broken.
  • Clear out items to donate — Now that you’ve gotten rid of the broken toys, go through with your child and help them pick out toys that they don’t play with anymore. Point out to them that it is especially nice to help those who are less fortunate by donating toys, games, and puzzles. Encourage them to practice charity and, at the same time, clean out the room as much as possible.
  • Get a system of bins — Playrooms don’t tend to be very big and you want to maximize as much floor space as possible so your child can actually play. To do this, get a bin system that is vertical and goes higher rather than taking up a lot of horizontal space in the room. Get multiple smaller bins instead of one large “toy box.” With the toy box, your child will throw everything out as he or she looks for that one toy they want to play with. With smaller bins, they have less things to go through to find what they want. Also, use clear plastic bins so you can see inside easily.
  • Sort by type — After you set up the bins, organize and label them by categories. If your child loves race cars, then you might want to create a bin to just hold these. If they are into board games, then separate those into an individual bin. Whatever system works best for you is ok, but it is essential to have some kind of system.
  • Only get down one bin at a time — Your child might have a couple of toys that they always gravitate towards. But if you want to get them to play with a variety of toys, you might want to consider only getting out one bin a day. This way, your child has fewer options and doesn’t feel overwhelmed. And, if the bins are stacked up, they won’t be able to get into the other toys that you haven’t put out for them. Plus, cleaning up one bin is a lot easier than five or six bins.

Getting your child’s room clean and organized isn’t just an important activity for keeping your home orderly. It’s also an important practice to help teach your child so that they can learn responsibility and how to keep themselves organized as they get older.

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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.