Marti's Minute
The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year – I love spending time with family and friends, holiday shopping for my grandbabies, and all the tasty treats that come along with the season. But I also love the holidays because I get to help clients find their dream homes. This month’s newsletter has some great tips on how to do just that including debunking down payment myths, an update on home inventory and rising prices nationwide, prepping your carpet for holiday guests, and how to survive holiday shopping!
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas from Team Marti! |
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Debunking Down-Payment Myths
 The National Association of Realtors (NAR) describes difficulties with down payments as "what many consider the greatest barrier to homeownership." And according to the NAR, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding down payments.
Perhaps the misconceptions shouldn't be all that surprising, though. Following the market crash of a decade ago, no down-payment home loans disappeared. They took plenty... Read More
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Low Inventory and Rising Prices Slow National Home Sales
 Existing-home sales improved slightly in September, rising month over month 0.7 percent to 5.39 million. However, year-over-year sales are down (1.5 percent) for the first time in the past year. According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, "Home sales in recent months remain at their lowest level of the year and are unable to break through despite considerable buyer interest in most parts of the country." Sales growth is being restricted... Read More |
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Spread This Season's Joy through a Simple Home-Cooked Meal
 It's a time to embrace all the simple and cozy pleasures the season has to offer: holiday parties, fuzzy socks, strings of lights that bring ambiance to those early evenings. Now is the perfect time to increase your contentment and spread the joy, by preparing and sharing some homemade food.
Fire Up the Oven: Staying in is always the perfect excuse to create a comforting meal from... Read More
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Survive the Holiday Shopping Season
 Shopping for the holidays can turn the most wonderful time of the year into the most stressful time. But a little planning and creativity can turn the season's most dreaded task into a bearable (even a pleasant) one.
Do Your Homework
Months before the start of the holiday season, compile a list of the people in your life you need to buy gifts for. When your loved ones start dropping hints about electronics they would love to own or start admiring a sweater in the store window, you can make note and start your shopping early.
Avoid Overspending
Decide how much money you want to spend this holiday season... Read More
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Get Ready for Guests by Cleaning the Carpet
If your carpet is looking a little dingy, it may be time for a cleaning. While spray foam can do the trick of removing surface dirt, many of today's home and business owners opt for professional cleaning. Although you can rent a machine and clean your rugs on your own, hiring a professional gives you access to a more powerful machine and more thorough results.
Can You Do It Yourself?
If your carpets are only slightly dirty, steam cleaning is the ideal choice. This type of cleaning successfully removes surface dirt... Read More |
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