Being a better real estate investor can be a very lucrative occupation. But the key word is can. Developing certain qualities is essential to make you a more successful real estate investor. This list is a great place to start on your journey to maximize your abilities as a real estate investor. Qualities That Will Make You a Better Real Estate Investor: Know How to Spot OpportunitiesReal estate investing is all about spotting good opportunities, and it is a skill to develop. What makes the difference between a high risk, low result investment and a lower risk, high result investment? There are many things to consider and research to hone your abilities to spot opportunities to invest. Know what investments are worth your time. Sometimes it may seem that a particular property will be a great investment, but don’t forget to consider the time it may take to profit off of it. If you are able to invest more time into the property, then move forward. Also look into details about the location. What improvements is the city council planning on making? Will that improve the property value? Keep up with other market trends to be especially attuned to opportunities. DIY SkillsWhy pay someone else for something that you can do yourself? Many repairs on a property can be pricey, and even small repairs begin to add up. You need DIY skills to keep the most return possible on your investment. DIY skills doesn’t always mean knowing inherently how to do things and being an expert. Sometimes it simply means having basic craft skills and knowing where to turn for guidance. When choosing what tasks to take on the property, know your limits. Sometimes roof DIY can lead to issues, so make sure you know what you are doing. In fact, DIY’s can be dangerous in the case of electrical wiring as well. It is always best to be safe rather than sorry. Qualities That Will Make You a Better Real Estate Investor: Constantly LearningThe key to having any skills in any career is to keep learning. It’s how you can develop DIY skills and keep up to date and be ready to see opportunities. You can find knowledge in books, the web, or other people. Stay in the know about what the market is doing or new ways to market. Also, to constantly learn you must continually network. There is a lot to learn about real estate investing from others. You can also learn what good electricians, plumbers, and other service providers are in the area. Going into real estate investing can be intimidating, and maybe you don’t know if it’s the right thing for you. But if you have or can develop the skills above, you will do a fantastic job. Keep learning and working—you’ve got this. Are you a real estate investor? Find your next real estate investment in our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Qualities That Will Make You a Better Real Estate Investor appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/29/qualities-that-will-make-you-a-better-real-estate-investor/
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Buying a home is a complicated process. With so many details to keep track of, it is already hard enough to figure out if you like a house or not. Once you’ve settled on a place, closing on the home can seem overwhelming. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to closing on your future home. What Every Buyer Should Do Before Closing on a Home: Title SearchOne of the most important things you need to do before you officially close on a home is to perform a title search. When you buy a home, you purchase the title, meaning the rights and ownership of the property. A title search is a search of title records to determine the stipulated rights that come with the purchase of the home in question as well as if the person from whom you are buying the home actually has the right to sell it. Performing this step allows you to know if the title is clean so that you can avoid any legal battles in the future. If one of the seller’s distant relatives surfaces years later claiming that the house belongs to him, having performed a title search before you bought the home will save you a huge hassle. Get an InspectionAnother essential step you should take before you buy a home is getting a home inspection. Basically, before you close, your realtor will commission a home inspector to look at all aspects of the house to find any previously unknown problems. Home inspections can reveal all kinds of issues, such as problems with the roofing. Something like the condition of the roof is hard to gauge without an expert’s opinion. But having that opinion can avert you to damage that may suggest that there is potentially more damage than that of which you had been previously made aware. Knowing that there is roof damage can suggest that there may be mold where water was able to seep in. it could even suggest deeper structural damage. What Every Buyer Should Do Before Closing on a Home: Complete All ContingenciesPractically all purchase agreements have contingencies—conditions that must be met by either or both sides before the purchase can be completed. Typically, these contingencies protect the buyer in the case of unforeseen problems that arise with either the buyer’s ability to pay or with the condition of the home. Common contingencies include a home inspection, an appraisal, and in some cases, a home sale contingency. Basically, before you can close on the home, you will need to meet these different contingencies—then, once you have met the contingencies and if you still feel good about going forward and purchasing the home, you can start the closing process. Lock in Closing Costs and Interest RateWhat does it mean to lock closing costs and interest rates? Basically, when you are planning on buying a home but need to get a mortgage from a lender like a bank to pay for it, the bank will draft up a bunch of fees that you are required to pay in order for them to process your mortgage. Of the fees, the lender typically charges you for attorney fees to draft the mortgage, insurance for the property for the bank, and a credit report fee. After they’ve given you an estimate of the cost of these fees, you can choose to “lock them in.” This means that you and the lender will agree on a fixed interest rate on the closing costs that will last a number of days while you finalize the sale. There are pros and cons to this. Pros—the market rate may go up and you won’t have to pay as much as you would have. Cons—if the market rate goes down, you still have to pay the agreed-upon rate. What Every Buyer Should Do Before Closing on a Home: Ask the Seller to Lower the PriceOnce you’ve decided on closing costs, you may want to turn around and see if the seller is willing to help offset some of the closing costs. Depending on how desperate the seller is to sell the home, they may be willing to lower the home price in order to help you cover those other costs. Review the Terms of Your MortgageOnce you’ve locked in your closing costs and have finalized the sale price of the home, it’s time to take a final look at the mortgage. Now that you have the full financial picture of what purchasing this home will cost upfront, scrutinize the terms of the mortgage. Do you feel good about the mortgage payment schedule? The interest rate? Making sure that you are truly ready to sign a mortgage is one of the most important steps in the closing process. Signing up for something that may be more than you can handle is ultimately a big mistake. What Every Buyer Should Do Before Closing on a Home: Do a Last Walk-ThroughNow that everything is lined up for the final closing, perform a final walk-through of the home before the actual closing day. You’ll typically want to do this 24 hours before you actually close. It’s a good opportunity to ensure that the previous owners are completely moved out to your satisfaction and that anything the seller had agreed to fix is completed to your satisfaction as well. Bring the Right Documentation to the ClosingThe big day has arrived. It’s time to finally close on your home. Even though you’ve already jumped through many hoops to actually get to this point, it’s important to know what documentation you need to have ready at closing. Being aware of this before the actual day arrives can help you have it ready to go when it’s time. Some of the documentation includes your own government ID, a copy of your contract with the seller, the reports from your home inspection report, and any documentation from the lender that demonstrates you were approved for your loan. Buying a house is quite the process. First, you spend hours on end walking through different houses deciding if there is one that fits you and your family’s needs. When you finally do find a house you love, figuring out the process of closing on it can seem complicated. Start with these steps to get an idea of how the closing process will work. Ready to buy a house? Find one in our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post What Every Buyer Should Do Before Closing on a Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/29/what-every-buyer-should-do-before-closing-on-a-home/ If you’re at the stage where you are finally retired, congratulations! You’ve made it to the next stage of life. This transition can bring new challenges and needs into your life. You might be looking for a new place that will be good for you in your retirement. Or, you might be a child or friend of someone looking for a retirement home. Regardless of your situation, here are some features you may want to look for in a retirement home. Features That Should Go Into Your Retirement Home: Wide HallwaysMobility is going to be an important aspect of your retirement home—you want enough space to grow old gracefully and have the space you need. Wide hallways are necessary for being able to navigate easily with a wheelchair or walker. Having wide hallways isn’t just a great idea to help your home feel more spacious and give you more space to move. It can also be a great area to decorate to give character to your home. Just remember to not decorate so much that mobility becomes an issue. An ElevatorAn elevator in your home, you may ask? Yes! As you get older, you’ll likely lose some mobility. It might get harder to go up and down stairs. Installing an elevator is a great way to get around your house if you have trouble with stairs. Even if you don’t lose much mobility, it is a great way to be prepared. An elevator is also a great choice for moving heavy objects between floors. This is especially helpful for moving. Features That Should Go Into Your Retirement Home: Specialized Fixtures and AppliancesSpecialized fixtures and appliances are important to consider as you are looking for a retirement home. Consider things that will make your later years more seamless. You’ll notice a trend in this article: mobility. Some fixtures you could consider in your home would be a walk-in shower with a bench, or a tall, walk-in bathtub. You can also add bars to hold onto as you enter or exit the shower or bathtub. These can help minimize the risk of slipping or falling as you get out. There are appliances specially built for ease of use and safety. Some of these appliances include oven doors that open to the side instead of down so that you don’t have to lean over a hot oven door. Others include raised appliances, such as washers, dishwashers, and ovens. As you look for your dream retirement home, don’t forget these important tips. Plan ahead for what modifications you may have to make in a potential home. They can help make the difference between growing old with grace and maybe growing old with less grace. Looking for the perfect home for your retirement years? Find one in our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Features That Should Go Into Your Retirement Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/29/features-that-should-go-into-your-retirement-home/ Maintaining your home exterior can be an involved job as there are a lot of big pieces. Your exterior includes your roof, siding, and all your windows and doors. It can be expensive and labor intensive, but you should make sure you know when it’s time to maintain the exterior of your home. How to Know Your Home Exterior is Overdue for Maintenance: Your Aesthetic Has DiminishedNo matter what, the elements of your home begin to age. It might be slow and steady, but eventually you’ll look at your house and realize it’s beginning to look old and unattractive. The windows might be dingy and dirty. The paint color may be fading or chipping and the roof might be in need of attention as well. When your home begins to look this way, it’s time to make some repairs. Some things could use touch ups like maybe power washing or a fresh coat of paint. Other elements might need to be replaced entirely if the damage of age has gone on too long. As you address these issues, make sure you continue to maintain your exterior. Water DamageDamage of any kind can ruin the integrity of your home, but watch out for water damage in particular. Water damage can weaken the materials of your home and lead to rot or even openings in your house. As you look for water damage, pay special attention to the roof and the gutters as this is where it is most common. Yard damage is a sign that your gutters are clogged with debris and need to be cleaned. Make sure you have your gutters cleaned regularly, but especially in the fall as this is when leaves commonly collect in gutters. Consider getting covers for your gutters if they are prone to clogging and make sure that your drain pipes are directing water away from the foundation. You definitely want to prevent any water damage there. How to Know Your Home Exterior is Overdue for Maintenance: No Longer Protecting the InteriorOne major way to determine if it’s time for exterior maintenance is if your exterior is no longer protecting your interior. This can mean many things. For one thing, you want to make sure your exterior prevents any pests or wild animals from getting in. If there is damage to your roof or openings in your foundation, animals can invite themselves in. Proper maintenance can help prevent this. Your exterior should also protect against the elements. You want to keep out water and, depending on the season, the heat and the cold. If your home is properly protecting you, it’s probably time for some updates. Proper maintenance is important. However, it can be difficult to stay on top of it when it comes to the exterior of your home. Make sure you’re aware of the signs for when it’s definitely time to address some maintenance. Looking for a new place to live? Take a look at our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post How to Know Your Home Exterior is Overdue for Maintenance appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/29/how-to-know-your-home-exterior-is-overdue-for-maintenance/ By becoming a homeowner, you’ve begun to acquire what could be a significant asset. Of course, a home isn’t an asset until it makes you money. To increase the chances of your new home making you money, focus on making smart investments. How to Make Smart Investments in Your New Home: Energy SavingsEveryone loves a bargain. You can invest in your home and create your own bargain by focusing some of your efforts on creating energy savings. Over time this can save you money on your monthly electricity bill. That might come in the form of energy efficient appliances, light bulbs, heating and cooling systems, alternative forms of energy, or a combination of the above. Solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular source of energy savings. Of course, it’s important to decide if solar is right for you before you go adding it to your house. It might be a good fit for you, but on the other hand, it might not. You don’t want to be paying for a system that isn’t working for you. WaterproofingA home is arguably the biggest purchase you’ll make during your lifetime. As such, it’s important to take steps to protect it from damage. One of the ways you can do this is by waterproofing your home. Standing water that isn’t quickly cleaned up can lead to expensive repairs later. Keep in mind that waterproofing is different from damp proofing. Damp proofing protects your home against soil moisture. If you need to protect your home against greater levels of water, you’ll need to go beyond damp proofing to waterproofing. How to Make Smart Investments in Your New Home: Upgrading Your KitchenKitchen upgrades are popular for a reason. Kitchens are often considered the heart of a home. It’s where cooking happens, casual dining takes place, and where people can simply bond over good food. There’s a good chance that you’ll spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so it’s important to make it one that works for you. Consider the layout. Does it make sense and create a good flow? Do you have enough light to work safely? Do you have the space you need? If the answer is no, you might want to invest some time and money into fixing that. Your home is an important investment in your life, and one that will hopefully pay off down the road. Make smart investments in this investment by prioritizing energy savings, protecting it through waterproofing it, and upgrading your kitchen. These improvements will make your home more enjoyable for you to live in and help you get the most out of your home. Looking for a new home to invest in? Find one in our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post How to Make Smart Investments in Your New Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/29/how-to-make-smart-investments-in-your-new-home/ One of the best things you can do for your home is to invest in value improvements. Value improvements are anything that you do to increase the quality and/or features of a space while maintaining or reducing the cost. Whether that be to upgrade the roofing or remodeling the basement, there are many things you can do to increase the value of your home. Here are some reasons why you should spend money on them. Value Improvements: Better Return for Your MoneyValue improvements are going to give you a better monetary return over time and will increase the resale value of your home. By improving what is already in your home and bringing out the details you might otherwise overlook, you’ll be able to update your home in a way that makes sense for your family and it will raise the resale value if you ever choose to find a new home. Spend Less Over TimeBy investing in your home and adding value improvements, you’ll be able to spend less money over time. Things like re-roofing your home are great ways to make it a safer and more beautiful place. Some roofing materials are built to last the entire time you’ll live in your home. Better quality things in your home means less replacing, which will save you a lot of money long term. Without having to pay maintenance costs as often, you’ll be able to start to save up for that dream cruise vacation your family has been talking about for years and come back to a beautiful house, too. Value Improvements: Personal EnjoymentNot only will home improvements add to your home’s value, but it will make your home a more beautiful and relaxing place. Whether it be remodeling the bathroom or upgrading the landscaping, any change can be a good change. One of the best ways to invest in your home is to make it a place that you love. Touching up the paint job, adding paintings, replacing the appliances, or completely redoing a room are all ways that you can improve on your home and make it into a place that you love. Value improvements can come in all different shapes and sizes. It’s important to pick which is best for your family and make a plan of how to complete it. Not only will it improve the space and the resale value of your home, but it will end up saving you money in the long run. Getting ready to sell your home? Contact us to learn more about how we can help! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Why You Should Spend Money on Value Improvements appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/05/why-you-should-spend-money-on-value-improvements/ For our snowbird friends, we thought we would share these Winterization Tips! With winter just around the corner, there are so many things you need to do to prepare yourself, your home, and your family for colder weather. With so many things to think about as the holiday season approaches, it can be difficult to know where to start. This article will help you make a plan to prepare your home for winter. Prevent Roof DamageWhen it comes to caring for your roof during the winter, you’ll want to consider the specific climate you live in. If you live somewhere with heavy snowfall, it’s often necessary to periodically clear the snow off your roof. This prevents the weight of the snow causing the roof to cave. It also prevents snow freezing and becomes even heavier as ice. Additionally, according to Sunshine Contracting, you should pay attention to your gutters. When snow begins melting, cleared gutters are the key to successful run-off. If your gutters are blocked with leaves and debris, the melting snow will run off on the walls which could cause damage. Winterization Tips: Protect Your PipesIn addition to caring for your roof, be particularly careful with your pipes. According to Jennings Plumbing, it is essential to both perform maintenance on your pipes before winter hits but also to continue to check on them throughout the season. Before winter comes around, perform the necessary precautionary steps to ensure that your pipes will not freeze when the temperature drops. There is a slightly different process for preparing indoor and outdoor pipes. But generally, you’ll need to turn off the pipe, drain excess water, and insulate the pipes with material found at most hardware stores. Once you’ve prepared your pipes for winter, your work isn’t completely done. You’ll need to make sure that your pipes are not being damaged throughout the season. When temperatures reach atypical lows, turn the water on until it is barely dripping out the faucet. Having a steady stream of water can go a long way in preventing your pipes from freezing over. Shut Down SprinklersIn addition to protecting your plumbing, you also need to take a look at your sprinkler system. According to The Sprinkler Guy, winterizing your sprinklers involves purging the water from the system and shutting down the systems controller. You may also need to add insulation around the exposed pipes to ensure they won’t crack in cold temperatures. Winterization Tips: Have Your Chimney ServicedWhen you’re preparing your home for winter, having your chimney serviced is one of the most important things to get done. Why? Because your chimney acts as another entrance to your home—if it’s not cared for effectively, you could inadvertently have gusts of wind come roaring down the chimney that bring with them little critters or that even blow your fire inward. According to Fluesbrothers, a dirty chimney could also negatively impact the air quality in your home. Hire a professional chimney sweep to come in and clear your chimney of debris. This will ensure that smoke doesn’t get backed up in the chimney. You should also make sure to inspect your chimney cap—the protective screen that goes on top of your chimney—so that your chimney is protected from uninvited guests. Test DetectorsWhile it’s always important to have working smoke detectors, it’s especially important to test these before winter comes around. Temperature can adversely affect the effectiveness of your batteries. You can buy a battery checker at the store to check and see how much juice is left in your batteries. It’s also important to clean away any dust that may have built up on your smoke detectors. This debris can prevent the smoke detector from functioning correctly. Use a vacuum to suck away the dust or you can use a cleaning wipe. Winterization Tips: Prevent Slips and FallsWhen winter rolls around, snow, slush, and ice can all pose challenges in daily life. But besides being somewhat annoying, these changes in weather can end up presenting you with particular risks if you don’t prepare well. Make a plan for snow removal and get all the necessary equipment before the first snow hits. You need to get snow boots for the kids, put the snow tires on the car, and winterize your house. When there are so many things to do to prepare for winter months, using these suggestions can help you get a leg up on preparing your home. Consider your home’s specific situation to know what other things you should do so that your home is ready for lower temperatures. Ready to buy a new home? Find one in our listings! Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.
The post Winterization Tips Every Homeowner Needs to Follow This Season appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC. from https://northfortmyersonline.com/2020/10/05/winterization-tips-every-homeowner-needs-to-follow-this-season/ |
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