Buying a house can be very exciting and at the same time terrifying. A big life decision always gives us butterflies. Many questions come to our mind: CanI find the perfect location? Does the house fit in my budget? Or even if my life changes, will this place fit a big family? We are going to give you some tips to help you realize when you have found the perfect house.
To start the decision-making process, you have to get a calculator and look at your budget — that is the most important part. You should look inside your life and check what you can afford, your lifestyle, and the stability you have. Then, when choosing the house, pay attention not just at the listing price, but the house characteristics as well.
For example, if the house has a pool or guest house, or if it is a house with vaulted ceilings, it will take longer to heat. All this has to be considered as well, since their costs add up to maintain the house.
Lifestyle is important to think about, whether you want to live in the city or in the suburbs. Also consider, if you want to have a garden, backyard, guest room for your loved ones, if you want to have pets, or how many kids you have or will have. If you stay at home during the day or more at night, think about if you want a giant window with a view or a beautiful view of the space inside the house. Our tip here is to write down a list and see what fits best in your current life.
While you are visiting the houses, pay attention to your feelings. This may sound like guru advice, but it’s really essential. The feelings you have inside the house are very important, so if you feel happy, calm, warm, and relaxed, maybe this is the house for you. However, if you feel stressed, agitated, or anxious this place definitely isn’t for you. So, make sure you are going to choose a house you feel your best in.
When you finally make the decision and find a house you love, should you make an offer? If you follow all our steps, have the items checked off on your list, and know it is your dream house, the answer is yes, just do it!
CoreLogic’s latest monthly Loan Performance Insights report for January 2021 shows 5.6% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 2.1-percentage point increase in the overall delinquency rates compared to January 2020. Nationally, the overall delinquency has been declining month to month since August 2020.
To gain an accurate view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency, including the share that transitions from current to 30 days past due. In January 2021, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates, and their year-over-year changes, were as follows:
Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.3%, down from 1.7% in January 2020.
Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.5%, down from 0.6% in January 2020.
Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 3.8%, up from 1.2% in January 2020 but 0.5 percentage points below the August 2020 peak.
Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.3%, down from 0.4% in January 2020.
Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.7%, up from 0.6% in January 2020.
For families experiencing financial distress, the year began on an encouraging note with delinquencies the lowest they’ve been since the onset of the pandemic. However, millions of homeowners remain in mortgage forbearance plans that were originally scheduled to begin expiring in March 2021. To provide additional time for owners to regain their financial footing and support during the recovery, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced a six-month extension of forbearance for Government-Sponsored Enterprise loans.
“While delinquency rates are higher than we would like to see, they continue to decline,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “At the same time, foreclosure rates remain at historic lows. This is a good sign, and considering the improving picture regarding the pandemic and climbing employment rates, we are looking at the potential for a strong year of recovery.”
“The transition rate from current to delinquent this January was the lowest in twelve months, which is another hopeful sign that family finances are beginning to improve,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. “Further, the transition from 30- to 60-day delinquency was the lowest since last March and is likely to decline further with strong job growth. The consensus view among economists is that the 2021 economy will expand at the fastest rate since 1984.”
State and Metro Takeaways:
All U.S. states and nearly all metro areas logged increases in annual overall delinquency rates in January.
Hawaii and Nevada (up 4.2 and 4.1 percentage points, respectively) logged the largest annual increase in overall delinquency rates, as these states are dependent on tourism, which has been slow to recover.
Among metros, Odessa, Texas, experienced the largest annual increase with 9.7 percentage points as the area is still recovering from significant job loss in the oil industry.
Other metro areas with significant overall delinquency increases included Midland, Texas (up 7.7 percentage points) and Kahului, Hawaii (up 7 percentage points).
Perched atop this week’s list of oldest homes on the market is an exquisitely preserved Colonial in Massachusetts dating to 1690. Right next to the waters of Gloucester Harbor, this beautiful old-timer has been updated in all the right places.
The rest of the week’s 10 oldest homes also have a claim to pre-Revolutionary War history, but thanks to strategic face-lifts, many are looking better than ever in 2021.
But if you’re in search of a renovation project, there are a couple of opportunities. A 14-acre estate with a farmhouse and stocked pond dating to 1750 is headed to the auction block with a low opening bid. There’s also a Colonial in Pennsylvania sitting on land that dates to the original William Penn land grant.
So take a stroll back in time and tour this week’s 10 oldest homes.
1. 1 Old Salem Rd, Gloucester, MA
Price: $699,000
Year built: 1690
New England treasure: This Colonial just up the road from Boston strikes a wonderful balance between smart preservation and modern updates.
Many of the home’s original features are still intact, including the floorboards and a parson’s cabinet. More recent updates to the three-bedroom residence include a modern kitchen and bathroom, central air conditioning, and fenced garden.
2. 719 Prince District St, Georgetown, SC
Price: $657,500
Year built: 1721
Thomas Bolem home: One of the oldest taverns still standing in South Carolina, this home has been extensively renovated and now boasts a modern kitchen and bath.
Additional highlights of the four-bedroom home include front porches on both levels, an outdoor piazza for gathering, and close proximity to shopping and dining. Currently used as a vacation rental, the home maintains a five-star rating among guests.
3. 313 Umpawaug Rd., Redding, CT
4. 161 Wallis Rd, Rye, NH
Price: $1,595,000
Year built: 1725
Rand family homestead: Minutes from downtown Portsmouth and beaches, this property includes a lovingly maintained four-bedroom home that has had only three owners over the past three centuries.
Period highlights include wide-plank pine floors, kings pine shiplap wainscoting, and a wood-burning fireplace. Updated areas are highlighted by a modern country kitchen, loft, and private yard with outdoor shower.
5. 521 Elsie St, Reading, PA
Price: $479,900
Year built: 1745
Picture-perfect: Situated on more than an acre—on part of the original William Penn land grant—this five-bedroom Colonial has been modernized with a new kitchen and bathrooms.
It also includes throwback touches like an original bake oven fireplace, workshop, as well as a root cellar converted into a wine cellar. There’s also a third-floor area that would make an excellent studio or guest accommodations.
6. 31 Old State Rd, Epping, NH
Price: $641,500
Year built: 1745
Rockingham County: This classic post-and-beam New England Colonial has been expanded twice: once in the 1800s, and again in 2006.
Today, the four-bedroom home offers a spacious 3,953 square feet of living space. Standout features include the beehive double-sided fireplace in the living room and a two-story attached barn.
7. 16541 Dolf Rd., Stewartstown, PA
Price: $175,000
Year built: 1750
Auction-ready: Get your paddle ready, and put in a bid on this three-bedroom antique sitting on just over 14 country acres. It boasts a covered front porch, wood stove, renovated kitchen, and walk-up attic. The acreage offers plenty of room to expand.
And there’s still time to get your finances together—the auction is scheduled for May 7, and the current list price is just a suggested opening bid.
8. 122 Walker Rd, Washington Crossing, PA
Price: $1,450,000
Year built: 1750
Pre-Revolutionary in Bucks County: The owner of this five-bedroom classic updated the interiors while maintaining timeless touchstones.
You’ll see original wide-plank floors, lovely high ceilings, exposed beams, and beveled-glass windows. The 3-acre property also includes a barn with a second-floor entertainment space equipped with air conditioning and heating.
9. 1369 Old Chapel Rd., Boyce, VA
Price: $480,000
Year built: 1750
Clarke County: One of the most historic homes in the area, this lovely Federal Georgian–style residence has a rich history, including service as a local tavern.
Nowadays, this three-bedroom home comes with a renovated kitchen, four wood-burning fireplaces, heart pine flooring, and original hardware. There’s also a lush lawn, fire pit, and two porches for outdoor living and entertaining on over a full acre
10. 6089 Lower York Rd, New Hope, PA
Price: $895,000
Year built: 1750
Mixed use: Zoned for commercial or residential use, this three-bedroom fieldstone home could be transformed into a gallery, office, or retail space. Or a buyer could simply opt to live here and forgo the commercial opportunities. A period restoration has preserved all of the home’s original warmth with modern necessities like high-speed internet and plenty of parking.
One of the major challenges that people have when they rent a house is how to make it look like their home without making many investments in the property. After all, it is a rented place, and moving out is always an option. So, here are some ideas of what to do in your home.
First of all, let’s talk about investments in decoration. A smart decision would be to buy beautiful, durable furniture like dining chairs, rugs, cushions, armchairs, center tables, or even big ones like a couch, a bed, and for sure, soft sheets. That is always a great idea, because you can choose based on your own taste and take it with you in case you decide to move out.
Little renovations are also reasonable. A valuable tip is to paint the walls and invest in lamps. These additions, which bring color and a sensation of warmth to your new home, are not an expensive investment to make in a rental house.
Without any doubt, your house is going to feel very comfortable after that. To finalize, plants and flowers are going to bring nature and life to the environment.
