Home Maintenance – August

As you enjoy the last month of summer, its time to take care of a few outdoor maintenance tasks before the cooler weather sets in.

Inspect your siding and make necessary repairs. This is a great time of year to inspect and make repairs on your siding since you will have still have plenty of daylight during the cooler hours of the day.

Clean your deck and apply sealant. Prepare your deck for the harsher winter weather by cleaning it and applying a sealant. Sealants come in either clear or a variety of colors.

Inspect your roof for any loose shingles, damaged flashing or rust. Repairing your shingles will prevent damage later on due to exposure from missing shingles. Damaged flashings or rust will also cause water seepage.

Clean your gutters and make sure your drain pipes are properly carrying water away from your home. Did you know that water that seeps straight into the ground against your foundation can cause hydrostatic pressure and weaken your walls.

Check your basement for cracks and water seepage. Water seepage can lead to foundation problems down the road. Installing a french drain and sump pump will correct or even prevent the problem. If water seepage has been an ongoing problem, you may need to hire an engineer to determine if the integrity of your walls have been compromised. If so, the good news is that they can be reinforced.

Have a question about the current real estate market? Contact me

Just Listed – 1002 Leonard Dr, Millville, NJ

If you are looking for a starter home or downsizing, I have the perfect home for you. This adorable 2 bedroom home just needs a little TLC and a new owner. Located in Millville, this home is within minutes to Route 55, the Glasstown Arts District and Wheaton Village.

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5 Ways to Save Money on Closing Costs

Closing costs are the fees associated with purchasing a home. If you are a cash buyer, then your closing costs are limited to title and recording fees, survey, if you choose to have one done, and possibly a small administrative fee from the real estate brokerage representing you in the transaction. However, most purchases involve some type of financing. With financing comes a whole other level of fees on top of the fees I already mentioned. So the question is “How can I cut down my closing costs?” Let’s explore a few options.

Grants and other programs – You want to research any available grants and programs that offer assistance with closing costs. Typically only select lenders can offer these programs. There are usually restrictions that come along with it as well, such as income limits, a lower allowable debt to income ratio or minimum credit score in order to participate. There may also be restrictions on property condition. If you are looking for a fixer-upper, than a grant most likely is not the way to go. Its best to talk to a lender about your qualifications and restrictions for any programs available.

Seller Concession can be a maximum of 3% or 6% of your purchase price and be put toward anything but your prepaid items, such as appraisal or escrow start up. Keep in mind when making your offer that the amount of concessions you are asking for lowers the sellers net. If you want an attractive offer, do the math and see what you feel is fair for the property you wish to purchase. If you are in an area of high demand, you are more then likely competing with other offers. If asking for seller concession is not conducive to finding a home there area a few other ways you can save on closing costs.

Not purchasing discount points is another way to lower your closing costs. The disadvantage is that you will have a higher interest rate. 1 point equals 1% of your loan. For example, on a $300,000 loan, 1point equals $3,000. Make sure you have a conversation with your lender about how that 1 point affects your proposed mortgage payment, before you go under contract. You may have the option to pay half of that point instead to keep your interest rate lower.

Shopping for homeowner’s insurance will not save you a ton of money, but every little bit helps. You are required to carry homeowner’s insurance therefore it has to be paid either before closing or at closing. The catch is that it needs to be paid for the year in full which I have found, a lot of 1st time buyers don’t know that until they are already under contract and get an estimate of the closing costs needed. Not only must this be paid in full for the year, there is also an amount taken at closing to start your escrow account. Typically 2 – 3 months of payments are taken. This is to ensure that by your renewal date, you will have enough funds allocated to pay for another year.

Choosing not to escrow your taxes and insurance is another way to cut down your closing costs since you will not have to set aside 3 – 4 months worth of taxes plus 2-3 months worth of insurance. This not an option for FHA loans, only conventional. It usually carries a higher interest rate since it is considered to be a higher risk loan since the mortgage holder is not collecting the funds and paying them out.

There are some other ways to cut down the costs, such as closing closer to the end of the month to cut down per diem interest or opting to not have a survey.

If you would like more information on the buying process contact me for a consultation.

5 Tips for Achieving a Timeless and Classic Look in Your Home

Every year there is a new trend in design, but for those of you that prefer a timeless, classic look for your home here are some design tips that I have come across to help you achieve just that.

Natural Elements such as wood, stone and marble, are great for not only floors and counters, but accent pieces as well. That brick fireplace you are thinking about updating to marble would also be beautiful in white.

Wall Shades – Neutral or Bold Most classic looks stay within neutrals. off-white, gray and beige shades look beautiful against white trim and crown moulding. If you prefer a more vibrant color, accent in neutral. For example, a dark blue shade accented with a white chair.

Crown Moulding gives your home an element of design that newer built homes are lacking. Its a beautiful transition between your walls and ceiling, creating a softer, polished look.

Artwork choose pieces that reflect the colors in your home. If you have neutral walls, choose a pieces that incorporate that shade. Same with bold colors. This will keep the color scheme and flow of the room.

Trendy Colors – Patterns as Accents. Just like you would change your flowers on your table to reflect the season, a throw pillow or vase in a trendy color or pattern will enhance your classic look without breaking the bank.

Create symmetry with clean lines and balance. Keep the space free of clutter as well. Remember less is more.

For more information on the real estate market, interior design and home tips, follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Thinking about selling? Did you you know I also offer homes staging services and professional photography? Contact me for details.

Can Cake be Healthy? This One Claims to be Just That.

I found this recipe while exploring a post shared on my Facebook page by homevalueplus. The thought of a healthy pound cake intrigued me so much that I had to share.

This one bowl recipe would be a great addition to a brunch or companion to your coffee or tea.

Although the carb content is a little high for my personal liking, it still beats a bagel any day and does have therefore, I just might give it a try.

If you do, post a comment and pic. I would love to know how it turned it out for you.

Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake

Photo compliments of EatingWell Magazine

Video of this delicious cake being made can be found here.

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Ingredients

• ¾ cup granulated sugar 
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature (see Tip) 
• ¾ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice plus 1 teaspoon, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups white whole-wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons packed confectioners’ sugar

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Directions

• Step 1 Gather all the ingredients.
• Step 2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Step 3 Beat 3/4 cup sugar and 5 tablespoons butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy.
• Step 4 Beat in 3 eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated.
• Step 5 Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and beat in 3/4 cup ricotta, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla until just combined.
• Step 6 Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups flour on top, then evenly sprinkle 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt over the flour. With the mixer on low speed, beat until almost combined.
• Step 7 Add 2 cups blueberries and gently fold into the batter. Transfer to the prepared pan.
• Step 8 Bake the cake until starting to brown around the edges and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Step 9 Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen the cake, then invert it onto the rack. Carefully turn it right-side up. Let cool completely.
• Step 10 Clean the bowl, add 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and whisk in the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice until smooth.
• Step 11Brush the glaze on the cake.

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Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Wrap cooled cake airtight and store at room temperature for up to 1 day; glaze shortly before serving.

Room-temperature eggs make cakes fluffier. Here’s a quick trick–place them (in the shell) in a bowl of lukewarm water for about 5 minutes.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 

one 1-inch-thick slice

Per Serving:

303 calories; protein 8.4g; carbohydrates 44.9g; dietary fiber 3.3g; sugars 24.8g; fat 11g; saturated fat 6.3g; cholesterol 96mg; vitamin a iu 433.3IU; vitamin c 7.3mg; folate 15.4mcg; calcium 148.3mg; iron 3.7mg; magnesium 9mg; potassium 124mg; sodium 318.6mg; added sugar 21g.

Exchanges: 

1 starch, 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1/2 fruit, 1/2 medium-fat meat, 1 1/2 fat

January Home Tips

The holidays are over and you may have a little extra time on your hands now to get your home back into shape before spring.

I am sure we all have a few projects we didn’t want to start during the holidays. Now is a great time to figure out which ones we want to get done and when. For example, if you are like me and live in an area with a colder climate in January, washing the exterior of your home isn’t the best idea right now, however, reorganizing your pantry is. So get out your calendar or planner, whichever works for you and let’s get scheduling those projects.

I do have want to recommend some smaller projects you can fit in this month before you tackle the big ones, like painting or installing new floors.

Storage Areas Whether it be a basement, attic, crawl space or shed, wherever you store your belongings in totes and boxes is a good place to start. I am sure there is a treasure trove of items that you no longer have a use for. You can either put it aside for a yard sale in the spring or donate it. This is also a great time to re organize your items and make them more accessible such as holiday decorations, party supplies, serve ware, ect.

Kitchen Clean out your cabinets and drawers, wipe them down and organize. If you use liners clean or replace them as well. Wipe down your refrigerator, take out the drawers, wash them and vacuum the coils to keep your refrigerator running at peak performance. Also clean out your pantry and reorganize.

Bathrooms Caulk where needed and inspect for mildew staining. Check your pipes for cracks and small leaks. Clean the screens in your faucets. You should be able to remove the screens by twisting them off of the faucet. Also clean your exhaust fan. A build up of dust will prevent it from working properly which can lead to mildew or mold on your bathroom ceiling. If you find yourself with this problem, a soft sponge, simple green and a step ladder will do the trick to clean it.

Walls and Trim Having guests for the holidays may have left you with less time to dust your trim. You may also have little finger and handprints left on your walls. I grew up cleaning these with a solution of water and Murphy’s Oil Soap. I have found that Dawn dish soap works just as well. Tackle one room at a time. Make sure to get the baseboard trim on your stairways also. It will give your home a clean fresh look to start the new year with.

Take Inventory Now is also a perfect time to retake inventory of your home. Update your list for your insurance company and take pictures. Utilize cloud storage so it can accessed from anywhere. Hopefully disaster will NOT strike, but if in the event it does, at least you will have information to supply to your insurance company.

Hosting a Friendsgiving?

Getting together with friends for the holidays can be difficult. That is why I always loved the concept of a Friendsgiving. Its a time to celebrate not only family, but friends as well.

Contemplating hosting myself, I did a little research and came up with some ideas and added a few of my own to get the festivities off to a great start…

1. Plan it out, enlist a friend. As the host, you have plenty on your plate. Why not reach out to a friend or two help you coordinate invites, food and drinks and stay organized.

3. Don’t sweat the menu. As the host, you have the sole duty of the turkey. If a guest wants to help out, say great and ask what time they are coming to help, but this is something you do NOT want to leave for one of your guests to juggle. You want that turkey hot out of the oven.

2. This leads me to my next point. Instead of having a set menu where everyone picks an item, ask you guests to bring their signature dishes and give them a chance to show off culinary skills. Know who is bringing what. In case someone asks for a suggestion you will have a category such as dessert, side dish, main dish (not everyone likes turkey), drinks and so on to choose from.

4. Wine anyone? Mocktails are also a crowd favorite. You also want to have kid friendly drinks and other non alcoholic beverages on hand as well.

5. Having enough to go around. Make sure you let your guests know who is coming so there is plenty for everyone. Refer to the list of items everyone is bringing

6. Make room for the crock pots/slow cookers. Keep your food warm with these great little inventions until dinner is ready.

7. Plan out your buffet space. Make sure you have enough room to place everyone’s dishes out on display. If you run short, a fold out table is a great way to go.

8. Keep your deco simple. You don’t go overboard with decorations. Afterall, you are in charge of the turkey. I am a huge fan of plastic table clothes for easy cleanup, battery operated lights, led candles and little fall/harvest accents.

9. Make sure you are stocked and guest ready. Besides plates, cups, napkins and silverware, don’t forget hand towels, hand soap, paper towels, dish soap, brillo pads, tp, you get the picture.

10. And lastly, to-go containers. You don’t want to have all the left overs do you? Make sure you have enough containers for everyone to take some home. It helps with the clean up too.

Radon: What you need to know

Whether you’re preparing to buy or sell a home, it’s important to be sure there are no hidden hazards. And one of your biggest concerns should be Radon! Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that rises from the ground and is a leading cause of lung cancer.  It’s not a major concern outdoors. However, if it makes its way through the basement floor of a home, the gas can be concentrated and deadly.

The good news: The presence of Radon in a home doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. It can be mitigated to an acceptable level, at an average cost of about $978.*

Who should test for Radon?

Homeowners: It’s wise to test for Radon before listing your home because if Radon is found, you can have it mitigated before it becomes an obstacle to a smooth home sale.

Homebuyers: Ask about the results of previous Radon tests and request a new test during the inspection period. If the home tests positive for high levels of radon, ask for remediation as a term of the purchase agreement. Once a radon reduction system is in place, the home should be safe.

If you’re concerned about a neighboring home having Radon or wondering how Radon may affect home values, please reach out. I’m always happy to share my local real estate knowledge and help ease your concerns.

Contact Me

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Add value to any home…

The workforce has seen an astronomical rise in work-from-home arrangements. As a result, the home office is one of the most requested features of today’s homebuyers. In fact, 63% of today’s buyers want a home office and homes with offices sell for 3.4% more than homes without them!*

Whether there’s a spare room, an empty nook or an unused closet in a home, outfitting it as an office increases the property’s value and functionality! To make any home office a comfortable, productive space, consider these top tips and trends:

KEEP IT QUIET:
It’s vital that you’re able to control the noise level in your workspace. When planning a home office, avoid areas where family and/or visitors congregate or pass through.

CALM THE COLOR:
When choosing a paint color, avoid stress-inducing bold, bright hues like red or orange. According to color research, blues, greens and neutrals are the most soothing options.**

DECORATE TO MOTIVATE:
Plants, inspirational art, task lighting and a few framed photos make any office space come to life.

CUT THE CLUTTER
To maximize your productivity and minimize distractions, keep all surfaces neat and organized. Furnish with plenty of decorative containers, shelving and furniture for storage space.

As a local area expert, I provide information like this to my clients every day. If you’re considering a move, I’d be happy to connect with you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

Contact Me

Compliments of  Website: https://cara-castrataro.weichert.com   *Yale, Aly, Homebuyers Are Baffling Real Estate Agents with High-Tech Home Office Wishlists. Money. October 13, 2021. Money.com/work-from-home-tech-pandemic-housing-trend **Ebert, Jennifer. Home Office Paint Colors-The 10 Best Color Schemes for an Inspiring Space. Homes & Gardens. August 29, 2021.Homesandgardens.com/ideas/home-office-paint-colors

2022 Weichert, Realtors®. Each Weichert® franchised office is independently owned and operated. Weichert® is a federally registered trademark owned by Weichert Co. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, this is not intended to be a solicitation of the listing. Information herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. To unsubscribe from all future emails, click here.

Mortgage Rates Fell This Week

As a result of the war in Ukraine, mortgage rates have fallen below 4% from an average of 4.8% last week, however the Fed has indicated that rates will rise again before the end of the month.

Click the link below for the interactive infographic

hsrc=embedhttps://e.infogram.com/225e65fd-e436-4d79-b99a-aa60c4f6e2f2?src=embed

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What does this mean for you if you buying a home or looking to sell or refinance?

Refinances

If you are a homeowner looking to refinance, mortgage applications have slowed with the recent rate increases that began mid-December of 2021. However, you should still be able to take advantage of the current rate which is still considered to be at an all time low.

Sellers

If you are thinking about selling, the demand for housing is still strong. With rent prices increasing, it is still more advantageous for potential buyers to purchase a home. Despite the recent increase in rates, home values are still holding. With an imminent rate hike in the foreseeable future, the affordability of homes will be affected, however there are still more qualified buyers than homes for sale, thus a sellers’ market will continue.

Buyers

As for buyers, the recent drop can equate to that home purchase being a little easier on the wallet, however if rates are expected to rise by the end of the month, prepare yourself for rate lock fees for contract extensions and the anticipated payment being slightly higher than what you expected. Keep in mind, this is an investment and still will be less than what you would be paying in rent therefore, still a great time to purchase. If you look back 2 years ago, home prices were lower, yet interest rates were higher.

Food for thought: The house you purchase today will cost you close to the same thing over 30 years as it would have cost you 2 years ago.

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Click here for current rates and news from bankrate.com https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/analysis/

If you would like more information or guidance, contact me for a consultation.

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