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

Selling Your Home In the Fall

Late spring is commonly known as the best time of year to sell your home, but it’s not the only time to successfully sell your home. In fact, autumn is a close second with benefits all its own. While late spring and early summer are popular because kids are just leaving school, fall is the season of coming back from summer vacation, kids preparing to return to school. It’s a period of transition, but there are still a few months before the hectic holidays roll in.

In College Station, the somewhat cooling temperatures can also be a benefit, as no one likes to move in the worst of summer heat. So let’s talk about tips to help you sell your home in the fall.

Spruce Up the Yard

Staging your home is important when selling, no matter what time of year. And staging your home isn’t just reorganizing the living room. It’s an inside-and-out process. In fact, your yard is one of the most important elements of your home staging. If your yard is a mess, it sets the impression for your entire home. Fall is a tricky season for lawns as well. Summer vines are still clinging to the walls, and weeds are beginning to wilt as leaves fall from the trees. You’ll want to rake your yard thoroughly, pull up any lingering weeds and vines so that it looks neat and clean when prospective buyers see it. Then you can plant autumn flowers like crocuses and dahlias to give your front yard more of a thematic WOW factor.

Updates and Maintenance

Autumn is often a good time to do preventative HVAC maintenance, making sure nothing got clogged in your system over the summer. When was the last time you replaced your air or furnace filters? What does the house smell like when you turn the furnace on after resting for a while. No prospective buyer wants to walk into a home and immediately take in dusty air. Keep your HVAC system up to date and your air quality clear before opening house. Additionally, now might be a good time to clean or even replace your home windows, clean out your roof gutters, and see if your roof needs any repairs.

Lighten Up

With autumn comes shorter days, and cloudier days at that. With the darker lighting outside, it’s all the more important to keep the house well-lit inside. If you’re relying on lamps for the most part because that’s what suits you, now might be a good time to install another light fixture, or use brighter bulbs. It’s always hard to sell a home that looks dim and gloomy, but when the outside weather is also dim and gloomy, it can be that much harder. A well-lit house looks inviting and warm and your buyers will easily fall in love.

No matter what time of year you choose to sell your home, don’t forget to enlist the help of an experienced College Station realtor. They’ll have the expertise you need about market trends and what sets autumn — or any other season — apart from the rest when it comes to selling your home.

Home 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

How to Close on a Home Quickly

Closing on your dream home can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. After all, if you’re looking for a new home, chances are you need to move — sooner, rather than later. In some cases, there’s even a timeline. So it can be nerve wracking to have to volley offers back and forth, unable to be completely certain that the house you want is the house you’ll end up with.

An experienced realtor can help make the process smoother and more efficient, so you can stress less. Here are a few other steps to help the closing process along:

Get a Pre-Approval Letter

Many homebuyers get pre-qualified and later qualified for a loan from a mortgage lender, but assume they’ll need to worry about approval after the closing. As we’ve discussed before, that’s not always the case. Sometimes the loans you qualify for and the loan for which you’re approved are very different, so it’s better to get the pre-approval letter early in order to have a better sense of your budget. It also helps the seller to feel more confident in your offer, seeing that the bank has always approved it. And the better the seller feels about your offer, the faster you’ll be able to close.

Check With the Lender

So the seller approved your offer. That’s a big relief, but it isn’t the same as closing. Next, you’ll need to go to the mortgage lender and turn that pre-approval into an approval. Go to the lender and tell them that the offer was accepted. Ask if they need any additional financial documents from you before approving the loan. It helps to have all of your financial documents organized and ready in case they do need it. If not, it’s a matter of the mortgage closing on the loan so you can close on your home.

Do What You Can

There are some parts of home closing that are simply out of your control. The time it takes the homeowner to accept your offer, the time it takes the bank to approve your loan, all of these elements are in someone else’s court and sitting around waiting for them will only make you more anxious. Instead, focus on what you can do to help the process along. Home inspections should be scheduled the first week the offer is accepted by the seller. Home appraisals take about 1-2 weeks, so order the appraisal as soon as possible. While you’re waiting on those things, you can take care of selling your own home or preparing for the big move.

Let Your Realtor Do What They Do Best

Closing on a home can be stressful, but that’s why you have a real estate agent. They’re ready and qualified to help, whether it’s negotiating with the seller to make sure you get the best deal, offer guidance about appraisal and mortgages, and finding ways to help speed up the closing so you can move into your new home as soon as possible. So don’t sweat. If you have any questions, just ask your expert College Station realtor.

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

Best Parks and Playgrounds in Bryan-College Station

As temperatures begin to drop and the leaves on the trees start to change colors and fall, it’s the perfect time of year to visit the parks of Bryan-College Station. Whether you like to go to the park yourself to read a book or feed the birds or whether you prefer to take the whole family, there are beautiful parks to choose from. These parks can be ideal for weekend plans or even a place to stop after school.

Bee Creek Park

Bee Creek Park is great for any age. If you’re a single professional and you like a place to jog or hike, Bee Creek Park has paved walking paths as well as more natural trails following a peaceful stream. There’s a playground for kids, as well as a water fountain that runs during the summer. Here you can bike or sit on a bench and catch up on homework. You may even spy rabbits and birds while you’re there. Bee Creek Park is easy to reach, and their walking trails stretch all the way to Lemontree Park.

Veterans Park and Athletic Complex

Looking for something a little more athletic? At Veterans Park, you’ll find a baseball or softball field as well as a soccer field. It’s a great place to watch amateur soccer or find a little league team for your kid. There are also walking trails for those who like to get in their workout while exploring nature. But that’s not all Veterans Park has to offer. There’s also a pavilion to stop and eat lunch and a playground for the kids. As the name indicates, you’ll find many veteran memorials scattered throughout the park, including World War II memorials and Vietnam War memorials.

Lemontree Park

Lemontree park is an ideal friendly, neighborhood sort of park. It’s calm and quiet, full of greenery, and connects easily to Bee Creek Park. However, you can be sure the kids won’t be bored, either. There’s a baseball diamond and a basketball court for sports enthusiasts young and old. There’s a small playground for little ones, as well. With so much nature around, Lemontree Park looks especially beautiful as the leaves start to change in the fall.

Lick Creek Park

This park is a jogger’s ideal. There are over 4.5 miles of trails, going through wooded areas and over bridges as well as through the main green of the park. You’ll get a mixture of elevation changes, hills and valleys, running through Lick Creek Park, as well as passing by quiet neighborhoods in College Station. You can also see wildlife like rabbits, birds, deer, and even frogs. Birders in particular love this park because of the wide variety of species that gather here.

These are just a few of the parks that Bryan-College Station has to offer. If you’re moving here for the first time, talk to your College Station realtor about neighborhoods and homes close to the right parks, whether for the family or simply for a morning run.

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