Buying & Selling Homes with The Collura Team

8 Things First-Time Homeowners Never Realize You did it . You bought your first house and it’s yours and you can do whatever you want with it! Well...not so fast. Here, eight things that first-time homeowners often don’t realize before it’s too late. Related:  That you might need to make improvements stat. And that those improvements could require some permits.  But that other improvements could save you money. . That your neighbors might not be as jazzed about your 4th-floor addition as you are.  That you have to follow trash laws.  That lawns require attention during every season. That you might be liable for stuff that doesn’t seem like your problem. That you don’t have to do everything at once. 

      How to Tell If You Should Look for Your First House — Or Renew Your Lease       Consider 5 key questions in your quest to decide whether you’re ready to go for it. Tired of working so hard just to build your landlord’s equity instead of your own? Been dreaming about paint swatches and obsessing over Pinterest projects? Making that leap from renting to owning a home comes with many perks — both financial and emotional. And even though home ownership comes with great responsibility, you might be surprised how achievable it can be Certainly, the best time to trade security deposits for a down payment is different for everyone. If you’re thinking about switching from renting to owning, ask yourself these five questions to decide if you’re ready to embark on the home ownership adventure. 1.  Are You Financially Prepared?

Renting vs. Buying: What Does it Really Cost? Some Highlights: The percentage of income needed to afford a median priced home is almost half the percentage of income needed to afford median rent. Buying costs are significantly less than renting costs. The percentage of income needed to afford a median priced home is less than the historic norm. Call The Collura Team To find out if you can buy a home instead of Renting ! 352-279-0899

Mortgage Rates Remain at Historic Lows The latest report from Freddie Mac shows that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.61% last week, slightly down from the week before (3.66%), and nearly 20 points lower than a year ago (3.80%). This is great news for homebuyers who are dealing with rising prices due to a low inventory of homes for sale in many areas of the country. Freddie Mac expressed their optimism for the rates to remain low throughout the spring in a recent blog post : “We expect mortgage interest rates to stay well under 4% as we head into the heart of the spring homebuying season. We're predicting it to be the best one in 10 years, which should provide even greater opportunities for first-time homebuyers.” Below is a chart of the weekly average rates in 2016, according to Freddie Mac. Rates have again fallen to historic lows yet many experts still expect them to increase in 2016. One thing we know for sure is that, according to Freddie

    Warren Buffett: There is No Housing Bubble With home prices expected to appreciate by over 5% this year , some are beginning to worry about a new housing bubble forming. Warren Buffet addressed this issue last week in an article by Fortune Magazine . He simply explained: “I don’t see a nationwide bubble in real estate right now at all.” Later, when questioned whether real estate and/or mortgaging could present the same challenges for the economy as they did in 2008, Buffet said: “I don’t think we will have a repeat of that.” What factors are driving home prices up? It is easily explained by the theory of supply and demand. There is a lack of housing inventory for sale while demand for that inventory is very strong. According to a recent survey of agents by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyer traffic was seen as either “strong” or “very strong” in 44 of the 50 states (the exceptions being: Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia

collurateam.com     Ceiling fans cut energy bills by up to 30 percent. Using a ceiling fan with an air conditioner will allow you to set the thermostat higher without sacrificing comfort. A fan's breeze will make a 79-degree room feel like 72 degrees. In the winter, a ceiling fan on reverse will recirculate warm air that naturally rises, bringing warm air into the living space. Small tips can add value to your home and lower your energy bills. Thinking about buying or selling a home? Let me be your resource for local real estate information. The Collura Team Keller Williams Realty Joy: 352-585-0504 John: 352-279-0899 collurateam@gmail.com collurateam.com Copyright 2015 Keller Williams® Realty, Inc. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. Each office is independently owned and o