Tips To Keep Cozy in Your Home This Winter

Nice landscaped yard and driveway leads you to this home.

We are already in the fall of 2023 and the weather will soon be a bit colder. Professionals in the industry have come up with some fall maintenance tips to help you ensure a cozy winter. 

1. HVAC Check-Up:

The colder months can be hard on your heating system, especially if you live farther north in the country. Before the cold weather hits, make sure to have a professional HVAC inspection on your unit. An inspection will include replacing filters, checking for leaks and making any necessary repairs.

2. Fireplace and Chimney Inspection:

Everyone enjoys a nice fire in the fireplace during those cold winter days and nights. In order to make sure you can enjoy them worry free, you will want to have your fireplace and chimney inspected. Do this by a certified technician who can ensure it is done correctly to make sure everything is safe and efficient.

3. Roof and Gutters:

During the winter, snow and ice are not your roof and gutters friend. Before winter, check your roof for damaged shingles. Also clean your gutters out to make sure they are clutter free to prevent ice dams and water damage.

4. Seal Gaps and Cracks:

Start by checking all your home’s windows, doors and the exterior. There should be no gaps or cracks for cold drafts to seep in. The object is to keep the warm in and the cold out by sealing any cracks and gaps with weatherstripping or caulk.

5. Insulate Pipes:

A frozen pipe can burst and leave a big mess. You want to make sure that any exposed pipe is insulated so that it will not freeze. Areas such as the basement, garage or crawl space are unheated and get very cold.

6. Yard Cleanup:

Once the leaves fall during the fall months, you will want to clean up your yard. When you are tidying up, trim back overhanging branches, remove leaves and cover all of your outdoor furniture.

7. Test Alarms and Detectors:

Every change of season it is a good idea to test your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they are working correctly and will work when the power is off. It is a good idea to go ahead and replace the batteries during this time.

Create a Winter Emergency Kit:

This can be a lifesaver! A winter emergency kit includes things such as blankets, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, and a first-aid kit. You always want to be prepared for the unexpected.

Remember when following these tips, you will ensure you have a cozy and safe winter!

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Six Musts Before You Buy a Home

This home has an open floorplan that is separated by the custom wood ceiling beams.

Purchasing a home is one of life’s biggest adventures and you want to make sure your decision is the best for the long run. This is why it is so important to do these six important things before you take the plunge into homeownership.

Figure out how much home you can afford

You do not want to be house poor, which means you purchased a home that you really cannot afford. A good rule of thumb is to never spend more than 30% of your take home pay on a home. This means that it not only includes the price of the home, but also things like mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance and renovations. Some professionals in the industry also advise not to spend over 28% of your gross monthly income on housing costs and no more than 36% on total debt. They call this the 28/36 rule.

When a mortgage lender wants to see how much you can afford, they usually use the 28/36 rule. You do not want to exceed more with your debt-to-income ratio. If this happens you will end up paying a higher interest rate if you even are qualified for a mortgage.

Budget for closing costs

Closing costs can be different for different areas of the country and the different loans that are available. If you purchase a home for $250,000, you will need to come up with around $5,000 to $17,500 for closing costs. Closing costs include a charge for obtaining your credit score, application fee, property taxes, appraisal fee, loan interest, homeowners insurance and title insurance.

“The biggest mistake that first time homeowners make is they forget that they need closing costs – not just the down payment of say 10% or 20%,” says Barbara Corcoran.

Save for a down payment

There are some loans out there that do not require a down payment, but these are far and few in between. Usually a down payment is the buyer’s choice of how much they want to put down. Just remember, that the less you put down up front, the more the mortgage loan will be which will make your payments higher. Most in the industry will suggest at least a 20% down payment which will clear you of any private mortgage insurance.

Check your credit score

Your credit score can be the ticket to a mortgage and good rates. “This is the number that mortgage lenders will look at to determine whether you are creditworthy, and thus dictates whether you’ll qualify for a home loan, and the rates you will get. Major lenders often require a minimum credit score of at least 620, if not more,” reports Realtor.com.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage

This is a must when it comes to making an offer. A pre-approval lets a seller know you can afford their home and you mean business. “In hot markets, mortgage pre-approval is almost required for a seller to take your offer seriously. That’s because it spells out exactly how much a lender has agreed to loan you, thus assuring the seller that you’r both willing and able,” says Realtor.com.

Make sure the neighborhood is a good fit

You want to be able to grow into your home and your neighborhood. Getting to know the area is a must. You would hate to move in and not be able to sleep the first night because of a street light outside your bedroom window. “You’re not just buying the property you’re looking at. You’re also buying into the whole neighborhood. That’s why you have to be certain that it has the vibe and amenities you want,” explains Realtor.com.

A Realtor can help you through the home buying process from start to finish. A real estate agent knows the ends and outs of the current market and will help your buying process be a huge success.

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A Perfect Facelift for Your Home’s Exterior

The kitchen island is the home to the kitchen sink and the dishwasher.

Everyone always thinks of updating their home’s interior, but what about the exterior? The exterior is your first layer of protection and the first thing people see. Here are several ways to enhance the exterior of the home from professionals in the industry.

A Safe Space

Hardie siding is the first big step to take when you are upgrading the exterior of your home. Good quality siding will help defend against storms, exterior fires, and pests. The siding will not do its job if it is not installed by a professional.

“A product that has withstood the test of time is important. But so is selecting a qualified contractor,” says Evan Crow, a custom homebuilder.

Minimal Upkeep

Protecting your home is not the only thing that siding is important for. You want the siding to also be easy to maintain. “To take care of your Hardie siding, inspect your gutters and downspouts regularly. Other than that, I encourage an annual soft wash with mild detergent, to prevent both aesthetic and integrity damage,” advises Crowe.

Personalized Curb Appeal

Any home renovation can be both fun and stressful all at the sametime. But it is nice when a visitor, or you drive up to a wonderful home with great curb appeal. Not only will Hardie siding give you protection, it will also give your home a great new look. “From trim boards to smooth lap siding to stucco-like panels, James Hardie has a number of authentic , cutting edge products,” says Crowe.

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Upgrades To Make a Home More Appealing

In today’s market, buyers seek energy-efficient and eco-friendly features when searching for a new home. According to the National Association of Realtors‘ 2023 Realtors and Sustainability Report, almost half of consumers in the current market are focusing on sustainability.

“Buyers often seek homes that either lessen their environmental footprint or reduce their monthly energy costs. There is value in promoting green features and energy information to future home buyers,” says Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research at NAR.

In the report, there are many green features that are most important. These include proximity to frequently visited places, a comfortable living space, utility bills plus operating costs, and a home’s windows, doors and siding. These all can be changed while the location of your home cannot.

ENERGY STAR also points out that there are other features that can be updated that will make your home not only more comfortable but energy efficient as well. Make sure your HVAC system is maintained and working properly. This also goes with your hot water heater which should ideally be upgraded to a heat pump water heater. Upgrade to a smart thermostat that can regulate temperature settings and reduce the cost of your energy bill. Proper sealing and insulation in your attic can also help with the heating and cooling of your home. Air can also seep out of windows, so upgrading to energy-efficient windows will reduce the transfer of heat.

Not only will an energy-efficient home sell for more money, but you can also benefit from tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient upgrades. Focusing on energy efficiency and eco-friendly features will make your home very appealing to buyers.

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And the Winner Is….. Homeownership

The living room has tons of natural lighting that seeps through all the windows.

The current housing market sees high mortgage rates, concerns about another recession and inflationary pressure. Even with these trends, it is a great time to buy a home because the long-term benefits are still worth it.

If you ask a homeowner who has had their home for 5, 10, or more years they will tell you they have no regrets. The main reason is due to the growth in a home’s value over time. According to Fannie Mae, seventy percent of those that were surveyed said that buying a home is a safe investment.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reveals how much homes have increased in price over the last five years. The highest overall increase was seen in the Mountain region at 68.9%. Next came South Atlantic with a 67.5% increase, then East South Central at 63%, New England came in with 57.5%, East North Central and West South Central at 51.8%, Middle Atlantic came in at 49.4%, West North Central with 48.8% and last is Pacific with 48%.

As far as the percent change in home prices was drastic. The highest was in the Mountain region at 457.5% and the lowest was in East North Central at 214.2%. The Pacific region had a 334.1% increase, South Atlantic by 320.4%, 302.4% in West South Central, West North Central 270.1%, and Middle Atlantic with 239.9%.

Talk to a Realtor who will help you with the options of purchasing a new home. They can also let you know the great long-term benefits of owning a home.

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June 2023 Sees a Positive Move When It Comes to Builder Confidence

For the first time in the past year or so, builder confidence has moved into the positive range. The confidence booster is due to the heavy buyer demand, low home inventory and the increase in productivity in the supply chain. The National Association of Home Builders had a lot of great data to share about the housing market.

As of June 2023, builders’ confidence in newly-built single-family homes rose to fifty-five points. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) this is the sixth straight month that there has been an increase in builder confidence.

“Builders are feeling cautiously optimistic about market conditions given low levels of existing home inventory and ongoing gradual improvements for supply chains,” said NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey, a custom home builder and developer from Birmingham, Ala. “However, access for builder and developer loans has become more difficult to obtain over the last year, which will ultimately result in lower lot supplies as the industry tries to expand off cycle lows.”

“A bottom is forming for single-family home building as builder sentiment continues to gradually rise from the beginning of the year,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “This month marks the first time in a year that both the current and future sales components of the HMI have exceeded 60, as some buyers adjust to a new normal in terms of interest rates. The Federal Reserve nearing the end of its tightening cycle is also good news for future market conditions in terms of mortgage rates and the cost of financing for builder and developer loans.”

A Healthy Lawn During the Hot Summer Months Can Be Accomplished

The hot summer can wreak havoc on your nice green lawn. A lawn can go dormant and turn brown which is not a nice look for your landscaping. Here are five steps to take to keep a healthy green lawn.

1. Mow at the right height

You want to make sure to mow your lawn at a good height so your grass stays nice and green. Cutting your grass at a taller height can shad the soil helping to keep in the moisture which allows for a robust root system. Shorter grass can dry out the roots causing ample opportunity for weeds to grow. A good rule of thumb is to cut off about 1/3 of the grass each time.

2. Let clippings lie

If you are OCD then this could be a hard task. Leaving the grass clippings can look untidy at times but if done the correct way this will not happen. Timing your cuts and cutting at the proper height will just give off enough clippings to be beneficial. The clippings will actually help your grass to stay healthy.  Sometimes called ‘grasscycling’, this will save you time and money – as the fine mulch clippings will act as a natural fertilizer to provide nutrients back to your lawn.

3. Clean up after your pets

Your four-legged family members can also be a bad thing for your yard. Their waste will leave dead spots in the lawn. When your pet goes potty, flush the area with water to dilute the urine.

4. Water properly

Too much or too little can be hazardous to a lawn. A deep soak every so often is the best. Continuously watering a lawn will cause mold issues but water too little will lead to brown dead grass.

5. Tackle tough lawn weeds

Weeds are the enemy when it comes to the lawn. When given the right environment, weeds will overtake the lawn. A lawn needs to be protected by using weed control on your lawn. There are many types on the market that will kill the weeds which include dandelion, chickweed, knotweed, plantain, henbit, spurge and many others commonly found in home lawns.

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Make Your New Custom Home Design Exceptional

At Ron Lee Homes, we specialize in semi-custom and fully custom-built homes for our many home buyers. Because of this, we have an extensive portfolio of house plans that include a mix and match of features that we have introduced throughout the years to our discerning custom home buyers. Through specialized requests and the new and unique custom features constantly being introduced throughout the real estate market, we have an incredible variety of specialty offerings we can propose for any floorplan design.

Whether it’s a specific type of wine cellar, butler’s pantry, mud room, custom closet, walk-through shower, etc., we have worked with our new home buyers to try to provide them with their dream home design. Our floorplans are constantly being evaluated for efficiency, as well. Making our designs not only built to an exceptional quality but making them as friendly to your budget as possible is all part of our custom home building process.

When building new, custom homes, we take into account much more than just the interior amenities and features. We are looking to design and build for you a complete plan, where the exterior can be just as important as the interior. We have created extensive outdoor spaces, such as custom, covered, screened-in porches with an outdoor patio area, covered and outdoor kitchens and catering areas, outdoor fireplaces, design for outdoor entertainment, including sound systems and televisions, pool and fountain designs, hot tubs, and so much more!

If you are ready to start your custom home building journey, get in touch with us to Schedule Your Consultation to discuss your new home floorplan and exterior design! Call 985-966-0086 or email [email protected].

Buying vs. Renting – Building Wealth Through Real Estate

It is sometimes said that real estate is a great investment. Sometimes people equate this fact to owning property and earning rental income, purchasing land and developing it for commercial and residential real estate ventures, or the value of land or property as it appreciates over time.

According to the a report released by the National Association of Realtors, on average, homeowners in the low, middle, and upper income levels nationally accumulated $98,900, $122,100, and $150,800 in wealth by owning their own home. Putting aside the equity earned while making mortgage payments on a home that you own, as well as the interest that can be written off for tax purposes, the benefits of owning vs. renting translates into actual accumulated wealth, according to this report.

The report by the National Association of Realtors focused on the “built-in” wealth of home appreciation. The amount of equity in a home that appreciates in value over time automatically adds money to a homeowner’s portfolio. Specifically, around the state of Louisiana, the low, middle, and upper income homeowners in the New Orleans-Metairie metro areas accumulated $41,110, $75,030, and $75,680 respectively. In Baton Rouge, low, middle, and upper income homeowners achieved an additional $60,020, $73,500, and $102,980 in additional personal wealth.

Owning a home has so many more benefits than renting because all of the money put into the home and the payments made on the homes is money working for you. In the West St. Tammany Parish area, rents and mortgage payments are now closer in price than ever. Consider purchasing a new home for sale or building a custom home. If you’re ready to begin, Contact Us for a Consultation Today!

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Financial Benefits of Downsizing

Wood ceiling beams and the brick accent archway help define the spaces in this open floor plan concept.

You do not have to wait to downsize just because you become an empty nester. Sometimes downsizing to a smaller home can have its advantages no matter what stage of life you are currently in. Here are some nice advantages for those who want to downsize.

1. More Financial Freedom

A smaller home will have a less expensive sale price than a larger home in the same area. If you have a good bit of equity in the home you are downsizing from, you might even be able to purchase a smaller home outright. If this is the case, you do not have to worry about a monthly mortgage payment. If you cannot purchase a smaller home without a mortgage, then you will more than likely get a good chunk out of the equity for a large down payment. The larger down payment will allow you to enjoy a smaller monthly payment, low-interest rates and more cash each month.

2. Greater Ability to Diversify Your Assets

The wise old saying, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” can apply to your assets as well. If you have all of your cash tied up into residential real estate and the housing market crashes, you could stand to lose a lot of money. If you buy a smaller house, you will have extra cash that you can invest in assets other than just real estate.

3. More Energy Efficient

A smaller home, equals less square footage to heat and cool and light. This not only helps you save money, but you also reduce your carbon footprint.

4. Less Time Spent Cleaning

A bigger home makes for a bigger space to have to clean. Even if you do not use all of your rooms on a daily basis, dust still gathers in the space. It takes less time to clean a smaller space, making way for other things to enjoy.

5. Cozy Atmosphere

You can feel lonely in a big space but a smaller home feels cozy and homey. Having one family room area is a great benefit because it gives you a lot of time to bond with loved ones. A smaller home encourages closer relationships with those you live with.

If you are looking to downsize, contact a local real estate agent who can help you find the right home for your needs. Remember you do not have to be an empty nester to downsize into a smaller home.

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