The Dos and Don’ts of Moving Long Distance

Moving to a different home within your city is one thing. Moving to an all new city, or even a new state or country, is a different challenge altogether. It can be an exciting adventure but also a taxing journey. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you’re moving long distance — both things to do an things not to do. Here are a few of our tips:

DO Start Packing Early

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The earlier you start to pack, the less trouble it will be. Give yourself plenty of time to pack your things and organize them in the right boxes. You can get boxes from a local liquor store, a friend, or even from work. The cost of the move will be expensive enough. If you can take care of your packing yourself, you’ll be grateful for the savings. And if you can do most of your packing before the big day, you’ll save yourself pounds of stress.

DON’T Take Everything With You

Again, moving is expensive enough, and the more you move with you, the more time and money the trip will cost. And the truth is, you probably don’t need to take everything with you. Now is a great time to start decluttering. Host a yard sale to get rid of old or unwanted items. Decide what furniture you want to take with you and what you can replace when you get to the new location.

DO Take an Inventory of Your Home

The longer the move, the more chance that things could get lost along the way. That’s why it’s important to take an inventory of everything you’re taking with you. In fact, your inventory helps not just in terms of security but also organization while you’re unpacking. Label each box with a number and keep a list that says what exactly is in which box. Once you get to your new place, you’ll be relieved to be able to know exactly where everything is.

DON’T Do it Alone

This is true for every step of the process, not just the actual move. Often homebuyers or sellers think that it will be easier to buy or sell a home solo rather than hiring a real estate agent. But if you want to really get the best deal and have your interests be truly represented, you need the help of an expert realtor. The same goes for moving. Moving is always a hassle done alone, but if you’re moving cross country, it’s nearly impossible. Whether you accept the help of friends or a long distance mover, it’s better if you rely on others to help you get everything settled into your new home.

If you’re moving to Bryan-College Station from far away, welcome. You’ll love the friendly, laid back atmosphere, enthusiastic sporting events and excellent schools and parks. Talk to a Bryan-College Station realtor about finding the perfect home in your new location.

House for Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065

Home Buying With Student Loan Debt: What You Need to Know

It’s an issue that haunts millennials and often keeps them from buying homes of their own. Between the mortgage application, credit checks, and the sheer cost of the new home, is it possible to buy a new home while you’re still paying off student loans? The truth is, of the more than 44 million student loan borrowers in this country, most under the age of 40, many managed to buy houses of their own even with their student loan. Student loans do present a challenge, but not an insurmountable challenge. Here’s what you need to know about buying a home with student loan debt and how to make it work for you:

Yes, You Can Get a Mortgage

The biggest concern is mortgage loans. There’s a popular misconception that those with student loan debts won’t be able to get approved for a mortgage loan, and that leads to many with student loan debts settling to rent a home instead of buying. However, the truth is that people with student loan debts get mortgage loans all the time. Mortgage lenders look at monthly debt commitments to see if you can afford to take on another monthly payment. The overall size of your debt is less likely to be taken into account.

Get Rid of Other Debts Where You Can

It is possible to get a mortgage while you have student loan debts, but you may want to cut back on other debts. For instance, if you can pay off your hospital bills or car payments before applying for your mortgage, that will only help you to look better to the lender. One of the biggest offenders when it comes to unnecessary debts is a credit card. It might seem convenient in the moment, but often it can become more expensive than it’s worth. If you want to really get yourself in financial shape before applying for your mortgage, pay off your credit card debts and then cancel it.

It’s About Timely Payments

Sometimes it’s not the size of your debt that stands out to mortgage lenders, but rather how often you make payments on time. After all, in today’s economy, almost everyone is in debt in some way or another. What’s important is how you handle that debt. If you pay your student loans on time every month, that tells mortgage lenders that you’re more likely to make your mortgage payments online. Making payments on time boosts your credit score, and that looks great to potential mortgage lenders.

Consider Adjusting Your Payments

If you’re struggling to make timely student loan payments, or you think adding monthly mortgage payments to the mix will tip you over, you’re probably paying too much per month for your student loans. Consider contacting your federal student lender about switching to an income driven repayment plan. These repayment plans are adjusted every year, based on the previous year’s taxes. They allow you to pay a manageable amount based on your income, so you have more room for, say, a mortgage.

Your College Station realtor can discuss different options with you when it comes to buying a home while paying off your student loans. The prospect might seem daunting, but with the right financial choices and timely payments, you can find a great starter home, even with student debt.

House For Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065

4 Ways to Cut Costs When Moving

It’s a hard fact to avoid: moving is expensive. Even if your realtor helps you get your new home for something below the asking price, even after you sell your old home, you still have movers to consider, as well as possibly remodeling, redecorating, or new furnishings. You have to think about finances carefully when moving, which is why so many homeowners look for ways to cut costs during their move.

Some have help, like a friend who owns a truck or a free couch from an aunt or uncle. Friends and family can be great resources, but what if you don’t have that? Here are a few other ways you can cut costs when moving.

Move in the Fall

...Or winter or early spring, for that matter. Peak moving season for most moving companies is May through August. Demand is high so scheduling can be tricky and costs tend to be high. Alternatively, moving in a time when demand is much lower will allow you more freedom of scheduling and the benefit of potential savings and sales. If you want to optimize your moving savings, you should try moving in the middle of the week, as well, and particularly in the middle of the month. It’s the least likely time to move, so you’re most likely to save.

Get Multiple Quotes

Some homeowners choose to simply go with the first mover that they get a quote from, but if you’re interested in saving money, don’t rush into a decision. It’s best to get multiple quotes from movers. Find out how much they’ll charge, and what else they offer. Take notes so you can compare the best value for the best cost. It can be easy to fall into the trap of hiring the cheapest mover, but the cheapest mover is not always the best, so make sure you’re looking at reviews and overall value.

Pack By Yourself And Hire a Driver

Most moving companies outsource drivers to transport your belongings from your old place to your new home. But you can save some of the costs by hiring a U-haul driver directly. Of course, you may lose out on some of the benefits that come with moving companies, particularly packing. Some moving companies provide packing boxes and even help you pack, but you pay for that. Instead, consider grabbing spare boxes from a local liquor store or from friends and coworkers. You can pack on your own for free and hire a driver to take you the rest of the way.

Save Your Receipts

Did you know you might be able to deduct moving expenses from your taxes? If you move because of a new job or a new location for your job, or any other work related expense, you can claim the cost of moving on your federal taxes. So it’s important to make sure you save your paperwork and present it to your accountant at the end of the year. You can learn more about moving deductions from TurboTax or by talking to your accountant.

Moving doesn’t have to be as stressful and expensive as it seams if you know the right resources. When buying or selling your home, an experienced College Station realtor can be an invaluable resource.

House For Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065

3 Ways to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse

When homebuyers go on the house hunt for the first time without knowing what to expect, they may find that a year or so later they’re left to face their buyer remorse. Often, first time homebuyers are eager to find the perfect home, the one they have in their heads, and when they find it, they’ll bend over backwards to secure it. When you do so, you may find that you end up paying more than you can afford or missing glaring issues with the home. This buyer’s remorse can be avoided, however, if you’re careful to know what to expect and what’s important beforehand.

Make a Wants and Needs List

When you’re searching for your first home, there’s probably a whole host of things you would love to have in your home. But chances are, there’s a much smaller list of things you need in your first home. Do you need that fireplace, or do you need an extra bedroom for a growing family? Do you need a gas stove or do you need a laundry hook-up? There’s nothing wrong with seeking out your wants, but make sure your needs take priority and that you don’t settle for a home that has plenty of wants — but few of your needs.

Be Prepared to Wait

The housing market is always precarious and competitive. If you have a picture in your head of starting your house hunt and closing on the home of your dream within a week or two, you’re going to have to adjust your expectations. It’s great to see a house and click with it, but be prepared that you may have to take part in a bidding war — or even multiple bidding wars — before you finally find a home you can close on. And even when your offer is accepted, then you have to wait on the bank.That doesn’t mean your dream home isn’t out there or that you can’t close on it, but it’s always better to be prepared for the long haul.

Hire a Realtor

As you’re starting out on the house hunt, you may be tempted to skip hiring a realtor. You may have heard misconceptions from friends and family about realtors that paint them as someone only out for a commission, trying to get you to pay as much as you can for a home. In reality, realtors are very careful to represent their clients well, because word-of-mouth greatly impacts their livelihood. In actuality, not having a realtor can put you at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing the community and negotiating the price. Without a realtor, it’s easy to be taken advantage of.

That doesn’t mean you should hire just any realtor. Make sure you interview more than one. You want someone experienced, with a successful track record, as well as someone who knows and loves the area of Bryan-College Station.

If you have more questions about avoiding buyer’s remorse, talk to your College Station realtor. They can make sure you buy a home that you don’t just love now, but continue to love as time goes on.

House For Sale In College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley! Sarah Miller, Associate RE/MAX BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 3030 University Dr East Ste 100, College Station, TX 77845 License #: 500065