Buying a Home that Fits Your Lifestyle

With the US economy beginning to come back from the hardships which began in 2008, there are a number of luxurious large homes now available for purchase at reduced prices.  However, just because there are bigger homes out there doesn’t necessarily mean that buying one is the right choice for you and your family.  The best way to go is to buy a home that fits your lifestyle and your budget in a comfortable way.

Bear in mind things like household maintenance.  Homes need to be repainted, carpets need to be cleaned, windows washed, and yards maintained.  It is all a matter of sizing up your budget and analyzing the costs/benefits of the home you choose to buy.  There are a number of people who enjoy DIY projects and gardening.  If that is the case, then a home with a larger yard or one which requires a certain degree of fixing up may be the right choice.  If you are a family who spends lots of time outside of the house, then a home with easier maintenance may be what works best for you.

Another consideration is the tax rate.  If you choose to live in a county which has adjusted its property tax values down to better match market values, then the tax base may be fine.  Just bear in mind that low prices do not last forever.  There will come a time when tax rates will begin to climb along with property values, so plan accordingly.

Buying a home that is ‘just right’ for you, your family, and your lifestyle is always an exciting endeavor.  By staying within your budget and finding a comfortable home, you may even find that you have some spare change in the family budget for something like a family vacation or some recreational toys.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone:  206-406-2710   

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Don’t Be In the Dark During the Next Blackout

Surviving a blackout with your sanity intact can be a challenge, but the more prepared you are, the easier it will be to endure. Knowing these tips will help make your life easier during and after a blackout. To prepare:

• Make sure each member of the household has a flashlight and that they know where it’s located. Remember to keep extra batteries in a central location. Candles can potentially be very dangerous so don’t use them.

• Make sure you have a telephone that works without a power supply as cordless phones won’t work during an outage.

• Have a portable, battery-operated radio on hand to keep informed about the blackout.

• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full, but remember that electric garage doors won’t operate without power so make sure you know how to manually work them. Avoid driving if you can as traffic lights will be down making congestion (and drivers’ tempers) worse.

• Have a supply of water and non-perishable food items available.

During the blackout:

• Turn off all lights and appliances (for example, computers, air conditioners, heat producing appliances) to prevent power surges and fire hazards when service is restored. Leave on one light so you know when the electricity is restored.

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage. Food in a closed freezer can stay frozen for up to two days.

So remember, properly preparing your home in the event of a blackout will help keep your family safer (and saner!), and ensure those hours you’re without electricity go more smoothly.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone:  206-406-2710   

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Cracking Up is No Laughing Matter

A serious foundation problem can quickly turn into an expensive nightmare.  Most buyers realize this and will simply walk away or at best, won't purchase the home until it's been properly repaired.

If you notice cracks, bowing or anything else that looks suspicious, you'll want to determine how serious it might be.  It's strongly recommended that you have the foundation inspected by a qualified professional.

Foundation cracks are caused by hydrostatic pressure as water soaks into the earth around the base of the house.  The foundation sinks as water from the gutters spills out and puddles around the house putting pressure against the foundation wall which causes cracks that make the house settle more than it should.

Indications of a house with possible foundation problems include unlevel floors, windows and doors that are hard to open/shut and diagonal cracks on the wall around the corners of doors and windows.  It's important to keep in mind though that most houses have cracks and defects which are purely cosmetic.

If you're selling a home with a foundation problem, it's best to get it fixed beforehand as a questionable foundation problem can often squash a sale.  If you don't plan on getting it fixed, at least get a quote so you're able to show potential buyers how much the repairs will cost.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone:  206-406-2710   

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Benefits of a 20 Percent Down Payment

While a 20 percent down payment was once the standard when purchasing real estate, it eventually fell out of favor. Because many new loans were available with minimal down payments, most homebuyers didn’t recognize a real need to save up that much. However, after the housing crisis, buyers are now reconsidering the appeal of a 20 percent down payment mortgage.

Many homebuyers can qualify for a conventional mortgage with as low as 5 percent to 10 percent down. However, if you put less than 20 percent down, you will usually have to pay for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). On FHA loans, mortgage insurance is required for five years.

FHA borrowers are required to put down 3.5 percent, and it can’t come as a gift from the seller (but can come from family/friends). VA loans are available with no down payment and no mortgage insurance. As mentioned earlier, there are conventional loans available with 5 percent to 10 percent down payments. These loans require mortgage insurance.

Whether you should put a full 20 percent down on your mortgage is up to you and dependent upon your financial situation. With home prices still low (extremely low in some areas), and with interest rates still at historic lows, it may not make sense for you to wait to save up 20 percent.

However, if you can make a 20 percent down payment, you may be able to afford a bigger house with the same total monthly payment than you might have had if you only put down 3.5 percent, for instance. This is because a 20 percent down payment eliminates the mortgage insurance requirement. You’re likely to score a better interest rate as well. (Depending on your credit scores and other requirements, of course.)

One could also make the argument that it would be financially beneficial to have money socked away in savings in case something untoward should happen, rather than using it all on a down payment. When the money is tied up in your house, it’s not easy to access it in case of an emergency. However, a 20 percent down payment yields that much more beginning equity in your home. If you need to sell, you’ll have more room to negotiate with potential buyers.

Some lenders still offer what are known as piggyback loans. This includes the 80-10-10 loan, where your first mortgage is 80 percent of the home’s price, then your next mortgage is 10 percent (to cover part of the down payment), and the remaining 10 percent is what you put in as cash to add up to a 20 percent down payment. With an 80-10-10, you don’t have any Private Mortgage Insurance, but you do have a second loan on the house. 

The bottom line: Discuss your down payment and mortgage options with your mortgage professional before you determine how much you need to save. 

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone:  206-406-2710   

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Why Men Should Stay Home.

 After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out.

 Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart.

 Dear Mrs. Snyder,
   Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Snyder, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

 1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

 
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

 
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on
layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

 
 8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying
and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were
called.

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a
mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he
asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly
humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look'
by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through,
yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

My wife has threaten me with my life if I start pulling pranks like this. lol

Have a good day.

www.CallSnyder.com