First-Time Homebuyers Get More for Their Money!

It’s a fact; it is a buyer’s market out there!  It’s  amazing what first-time homebuyers can get for their money compared to a few years ago!  Combining lower home prices and historically low interest rates adds up to more buying power for first-time buyers.  First-time buyers, or buyers that have owned before but are now renting, also have the luxury of not having to sell a home before buying another.  Check out Rachel Louise Ensign’s article for The Wall Street Journal, First-time homebuyers can dream bigger, for why it is a great idea for those considering purchasing their first home  to get busy!  She also gives advice on how to get started on your quest for home ownership, even if you have to improve your credit scores first.

To owning your own place~                                                                                            Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Just for Fun…Take a Look at Some of These Houses!

Different?  Imaginative?  Crazy?  Maybe a little of each of these things!  What some people can think of!  They certainly are conversation pieces!  Take a peek at Annie Hauser and Tabitha Sukhai’s slide show for This Old House online, World’s Wildest Houses V.  Would you live in any of these domiciles?  I think I’ll stick with something a little more traditional, but these sure would be fun to view.  Re-sale could be tough, however!

Enjoy~

Tips for Securing a Mortgage

No, getting a mortgage, or refinancing one, is not what it was five years ago!  Since the subprime-mortgage conflagration, the bar has been raised on qualifying for a mortgage…higher credit scores, lower debt-to-income ratios, etc.!  But, people are getting mortgages every day, so it certainly can be done!  Check out Holden Lewis’s slide show for Bankrate.com, 10 tips to snag a mortgage in 2011.  If there is a category in which you are not up to snuff, start working on it now, and before you know it, you will qualify for a mortgage! And remember, you don’t need a 740 credit score to get a mortgage…trust me!  If your biggest problem is your credit scores, check out our past blogs on how to raise yours.  A  loan officer is also a terrific source of advice on how to get where you want to be, and we can recommend numerous terrific, honest loan officers.

 

 

3 Ways to Save on Home Costs

CNN Money has a few tips on saving money on home repair costs.  There are some interesting tips on how contractors will come down on price! Check it out here.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

America’s Ugliest Homes

If you are thinking about selling your home and you are a little worried that it isn’t quite ready, these photos might make you feel a little better!!!  Look at more here.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Huge Price Drops on Amazing Homes!

We have two price drops to tell you about on amazing homes!!!

The first is a gorgeous ranch in Platte Woods.  It has 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths and more updates than this blog can hold!  We have just dropped the price $10,000 to $150,000.  This is a fabulous price for this beautiful home on a 1/2 acre lot…and no earnings tax!  Check it out here.

The other is also a $10,000 price reduction down to a SUPER LOW $65,000!  This 2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch is in the heart of Shawnee.  It is priced low to go!!!  See it here!

Please let me know if you would like to see either of these homes.

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Home Inspection Nightmares

Okay, one of the things I love about being a Realtor is hearing horror stories from home inspectors.  Most of them  deliver their stories very humorously, and you often need a good laugh in this business, especially when it comes to home inspections and subsequent negotiations!  I figured we could all use a good laugh on a Friday, and a reminder of WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HIRE A HOME INSPECTOR WHEN PURCHASING A HOME, so check out Home-inspection nightmares by This Old House.  Laugh…and learn why a home inspector is often your best friend when purchasing a home!

To  knowing what you are buying (or walking away from!)~                       Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group                               

Homemade Weed Killers…Save the Environment & Money!

“Tis the season…for weeds!  They invade your lawn, mulched beds, and every little crack in your concrete, stone, brick, and asphalt!  Amazing how resourceful weeds can be!  Of course, that is why they have survived for millenniums!  Are you like me, tired of resorting to toxic, tough-on-the-environment weed killers every week, walking the lawn and your garden beds, stalking those pesky weeds (and feeling a little guilty about what you are unleashing on the environment, including your kids and pets)?

Check out Jeff Yeager’s article for The Daily Green, 10 homemade weed killers, for some innovative ideas on ridding your yard, garden beds, patio, driveway, and walkways of those tiresome weeds without having to resort to commercial weed killers (although you can purchase some environmentally-friendly ones, but at a high price!).  I can attest to  the newspaper-under-the-mulch idea working!  Another benefit of homemade weed killers?  All of Jeff’s suggestions are cheap!    

To winning the weed battle…naturally~                                                                  Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

New Listing in Mission Village!

We have a  new listing in quaint Mission Village!  Get into a charming neighborhood at a very affordable  price!  Lots has been done to this house in the last six months, including the addition of a new 30-year Timberline roof!  Check it out!  At this price, with interest rates still so low, this is a terrific opportunity!

To owning your own home~                                                                                               Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Stay Safe This Summer!

My absolute favorite thing to do during the summer is go to the pool.  However, as you know, the pool can be a dangerous place in the summertime, especially for kids!  The Red Cross has some great tips to keep your kids safe at the pool and around any body of water this year. You can see their recommendations here.

If you own your own pool, you can take a course in pool safety through the Red Cross.  You can check that out here!

Stay safe this summer and enjoy the pool!

~Betsy, Atkinson-Thompson Group