Kids Ain't Cheap

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4 Steps to Make a Move Smoother for You and Your Kids

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Gone are the days when people lived all their lives in the same small community in which they grew up. Now, people move frequently and across vast distances. On average, Americans move 11 times in their lifetimes. I’ve moved many times, the most recent a 2000-mile move occurring nearly eight years ago. My husband and I are preparing to move our family again, but this time we’ll utilize four steps to make the move smoother for us and our kids.

Find a Realtor Before You Move

If you plan to buy a house in your new locale, find a realtor before you move. When we moved cross-country, we found a realtor and worked with her long-distance. She was essential in helping us understand the lay of the land and what suburbs would be the best fit for our family.

Visit Before You Move

I highly recommend visiting the new area before you move. My husband and I did this about two months before we moved. He was able to meet and talk with his new co-workers. We also were able to meet with the realtor and see potential houses. Though we didn’t buy a house at that time, the realtor had a much better idea of what house layout we were looking for, and we were able to narrow down the specific neighborhood we wanted to live in.

Once we moved, we bought a house and were able to move in within a month.

Research, Research, Research Before You Go

When we moved previously, I put a lot of time and energy into finding a house but nothing else. However, as we prepare to move again eight years later, I am still researching homes, but I’m also researching more.

Now, I’m researching potential dentists, orthodontists, doctors, and extracurricular activities for my kids. When we move, we want to be able to get started immediately with our new life in a new location. Last time we moved, finding these services took a few months. This time, because I’ve done the research ahead of time, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to jump right into our new life. I would like to have the kids enrolled in their extracurriculars within the first few weeks of relocating.

Join Local Facebook Groups

Steps to Make a Move Smoother for You and Your Kids

Finally, before you move, join local Facebook groups in the new area to ask questions and get a feel for the community.

We homeschool, so I’ve joined several homeschool groups. I ask about homeschool co-ops and available activities, what suburbs people prefer to live in, etc. When we move, the kids will already have groups they can join.

I’ve also joined some mom groups specific to the area.

Another fun group to join is a bucket list or scenic group for the area. You’ll learn about the best places to visit, hike, and explore in your new state.

Final Thoughts

Moving to a new location can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Reduce your nervousness by taking these steps to make a move smoother for you and your kids. In no time, you’ll fit into your new location, and it will feel like home.

Read More

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4 Tips for First Time Home Buyers

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first time home buyersBuying your first home is an exciting time. The thought of looking at houses and finding that one house that you love is an amazing feeling.

But soon after you start your home search you begin to realize that being a first time home buyer comes with many responsibilities. And since buying a house will probably be the biggest purchase of your life you need to do things right.

Here are four important tips for first time home buyers.

Save a Large Down Payment

Your number one goal in purchasing a house should be saving a large down payment. There are three reasons why:

  1. If you don’t put at least twenty percent down on a home you’ll be stuck paying PMI. PMI, or private mortgage insurance, is simply insurance covering the bank if you default on your loan. It’s an extra expense to you and you need to avoid it.
  2. Many banks won’t loan money unless you’re able to put a large down payment on the home.
  3.  The more you put down on the house the less you owe. That might seem like common sense but is often overlooked. In today’s economy where jobs are uncertain it’s important to be financially prepared.

Don’t skimp on saving. I know that you’re anxious to buy your first home but you need to be financially prepared first.

Get a Fixed Loan

When it comes to mortgages there are two common types: fixed loans and adjustable rate mortgages.

With an adjustable rate mortgage your interest rate, and therefore mortgage payment, will change. And since interest rates are currently at an all-time low, chances are your ARM will only go up.  Fixed rate home loans make planning payments easier and allow you to budget more effectively for the future by locking in a set interest rate for a specific period of time.

Check Insurance Rates as Soon as Possible

The property tax and home owner’s insurance need to be factored into the cost of your home. And I’ve found that first time home buyers are often shocked at the price of homeowner’s insurance.  For instance, if you are purchasing an older home that is not near a fire department your cost of insurance will most likely be high.

Check insurance rates as soon as possible. You don’t want to be surprised by the cost when you go to close on the home you chose.

Get a Home Inspection

Last, but certainly not least, you need to get a home inspection.

Just because a home looks sound doesn’t mean that it is. A home inspector can take a look at the house and find issues like electric, plumbing, or structure that you’re not going to catch.  Home inspections typically cost a couple hundred dollars but are worth every penny.

Conclusion

Buying a home is exciting. But if you want to make a smart purchase you need to be prepared. Start saving for your home well in advance and check on all the other costs like interest rates and insurance. The more prepared you are the higher your chances of being a successful first time home owner will be.

Why You Need an Emergency Fund Before Buying a House

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Emergency FundBecoming a homeowner is a dream for many. However, the dream of homeownership quickly turns into a nightmare for those who aren’t prepared for the unexpected costs that come with owning a home.

Switching from renting to owning a home comes with many changes. As a renter you were able to call your landlord any time something went wrong. As a homeowner you are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of your home like Water Heater Replacement – this can be very expensive.

As a homeowner there are many times when an emergency fund will come into play. Here are some of the surprises that come along with being a homeowner.

 

Unexpected Maintenance

As a homeowner you should save for routine maintenance issues like getting a regular Furnace Tune-up, sealing blacktop driveways, or getting your septic tank pumped. Then there are unexpected maintenance issues that pop up.

A prime example is waterproofing your basement. If your house has a basement then waterproofing it is extremely important.

Many new homeowners find out that they have flooding issues in their basements only after purchasing their house. To prevent flooding. the drain systems outside have to be fixed and waterproofing inside the basement needs to be performed by a professional to prevent mold and mildew. You can check out basement waterproofing in St Louis services, or services closer to your home, and discuss with them the best way to waterproof your basement for optimum protection.

 

Costly Repairs

Making repairs to your home has crossed your mind but you don’t understand just how much of a financial impact these repairs can have until one has occurred.

In some circumstances your homeowners insurance will cover repairs, such as wind blowing the roof off your house but you’ll still have to pay the deductible portion of the bill. However, if your roof is deteriorating you’ll have to cover the cost yourself. A new roof for a small house can easily cost in excess of five thousand dollars. So it’s worth picking a long-lasting option from someone like an otsego metal roof contractor who can help you with what you’re looking for.

Other common repairs include plumbing and electrical. In the winter your pipes could freeze and bust causing major plumbing issues that could call for an emergency plumber. Your hot water heater could go out, also requiring plumbers like Express Rooter to repair it for you.

Other costly repairs that might come up are:

  • Replacing appliances
  • New windows
  • Exterior siding
  • New garage door
  • Rewiring electric

You never know what can go wrong when you own your own home.

 

You Need to Be Prepared

Your refrigerator could stop working. Your lawnmower could break down. Your furnace could die. Your hot water heater could go bad. You just never know what will happen when you own a home.

It’s important to have savings for routine maintenance that will help prevent costly repairs and also enough money to cover those unexpected expenses. At the very least you need enough money to cover your homeowner’s insurance deductible. Although it’s wise to have a much larger buffer for all of the repairs that may arise.

Even though owning a home is a dream for many it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you aren’t prepared financially. When it comes to owning a home it’s better to be safe than sorry.

What are your thoughts on making sure you have enough savings before buying a house?

Strategies to Make Your Home Search Quicker and Easier

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home buyingIf you’re in the housing market, you may be daunted by the task of finding the perfect house and carrying out all the steps you need to in order to qualify for a mortgage.  However, the process doesn’t have to be as hard as you think.  There are several things you can do to make your house search quicker and easier.

Ask Family and Friends

One of the best things you can do is ask your family and friends what realtor they recommend and what bank they used for obtaining their mortgage.  If more than one person refers you to the same housing expert, consider investigating further.

Use the Internet

The Internet has made it easier than ever to search for a house.  Real estate agents like Dan Plowman as well as other places, have moved their listings online.  From the comfort of your home, you can take virtual tours and get specs on the property as well as determine how much the annual property tax will be.

In addition, you can check the crime rate in the area where your potential home is located.  You can see with one click if there have been any crimes committed and what type of crimes they were.

Finally, you can also see what comparable homes in the area sold for as well as the pricing history of the home you are considering.

Know What You Want

Before you even begin your home search, think of what qualities you want in your home.  How many bedrooms do you need?  How many bathrooms would you like?  How big do you want the kitchen to be?  What architectural style appeals to you?  Do you need a large yard?  How close do you want the neighbors to be?

You also need to decide things such as the best location for your new home, how close you need it to be to amenities like schools and essential shops, and whether you want to be within working or driving distance of other areas, such as national parks, golf courses, or beaches.

Knowing these variables beforehand can make the job search easier.  If you must have 3 bedrooms, you don’t need to waste your time checking out a 2 bedroom home, or if you want to live within a close distance of the best bethany beach things to do, there’s no point looking for a home outside of eastern Delaware, for instance.

Be Flexible

Having said that, make sure you’re also flexible.  If you think you must have a home with a large yard but you find your dream home and it only has a medium sized yard, be willing to compromise.  You’ll likely never find an absolutely perfect home that has every quality you’d like.  There are some qualities that you likely can’t compromise on, but for others, be willing to be flexible.  You’ll make the house search go much faster.

Searching for a home can be fun and frustrating.  However, if you use some of these strategies, hopefully the search will be more fun, and you’ll find your perfect home sooner.  After all, that means you’ll sooner be moved in and settled.

What other advice would you recommend for people embarking on their home search?