Renting has its perks, but nothing compares to owning your own home. If you’re ready to leave renting behind, follow these 7 steps:

1. Know your why:

Are you outgrowing your space or are you tired of throwing money away? Before you start looking, make sure you’re committed to your why. 

2. Determine your budget and timeline:

You need to know how much you can spend. The best way to do that? Talk to a lender! They’ll take a look at your financial situation and help you understand your timeline.

3. Tackle your credit score:

If you’re not quite into “good” credit territory, don’t panic! Work on decreasing your credit card debt and making payments on time while you save up.

4. Decide what you need and want in a home:

This is the fun bit. But it can be HARD. You need to be clear on the difference between your need-to-haves and your nice-to-haves when it comes to home features.

5. Get pre-approved:

First, find a lender you like. Most agents have tried-and-true lenders, so they can be a great place to start! Your lender will look at your finances, tell you how much you can afford, and give you the pre-approved stamp of approval.

6. Find an agent:

Once you’re pre-approved and know exactly what you’re looking for, it’s time to bring in an agent. Your agent will be your real estate BFF.

7. Familiarize yourself with your agent's search tools:

Your agent has access to loads of tools to make your life easier! Use their MLS search tools and their resources to find listings you love.

If you’re ready to stop renting and start owning, Contact us to get started on your home ownership journey.

Not only can going green save on monthly energy costs, it can ultimately help a home stand out when the time comes to sell.

With a variety of products available on the market, it can be difficult to know which features are worth the investment before listing a home for sale or after buying a home.

Smart home technology can have a big impact on a homeowner’s carbon footprint, but it probably won’t increase the property value. Smart thermostats and lights are relatively low in price, starting at just a few hundred dollars, and can save money and energy by automatically adjusting features like temperature and lights when not in use.

Whether or not energy-saving upgrades move the needle on a home’s price ultimately comes down to how the property is marketed. An agent can help you really highlight the changes so buyers can see the value of what you’ve done to your home. Even in more competitive markets, green features can help a property stand out.

There’s really minimal downside to making your home green. It’s great for your wallet and great for the environment. And you can feel socially responsible about the way that you’re living.

If you have questions about which smart-home features may be best for you and the environment, feel free to connect with us. We’d love to hear from you.

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