Starter Home Near Airport, Earthquake Park, desirable location for First Time Homebuyers

  Before finalizing your home purchase, one crucial step in the process is the home inspection, during which a licensed inspector looks at the structure, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more. Here are 5 common home issues inspectors keep an eye out for. 1. Faulty electrical systems. Out-of-date electrical systems, lack of adequate power supply, faulty circuit breakers, or exposed wiring can spell disaster for a home. Inspectors can sniff these issues out and recommend repairs to ensure the home is wired safely and properly. 2. Poor drainage. If the home has landscaping that causes water to drain towards the home, it can cause foundation shifts or cracks, wet crawl spaces, mold, and rot. This can be incredibly costly to correct, so it’s important to determine this before going through with the home purchase. 3. Leaks. Inspectors look for leaks in the roof to ensure there are no damaged shingles, gutters, flashing, or other issues. They also look for any possible causes of plumbing l...

  Purchasing a home comes with many tangible and intangible benefits. One that is commonly overlooked until the start of the year rolls around is the deductions you get on your taxes. As a homeowner, you’re likely able to deduct most, if not all, of your home mortgage interest resulting in a lower tax bill. Interest paid on a loan that was used to buy, build, or complete substantial renovations on your primary or secondary home falls into the deductible mortgage interest bucket. The property can be a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home, house trailer, or co-op. The amount of interest you can deduct does cap out at $750,000, although most homeowners do not reach that threshold. At the end of each tax year, your lender will provide you with a mortgage interest statement, or Form 1098, that states the total amount of interest paid for that year. You are responsible for reporting an accurate total of interest paid when you file. This requires you to itemize your taxes. If you ha...

  Here are the top 5 tips for when you're a first-time homebuyer. 1. Ignoring routine maintenance. Ignoring routine upkeep and maintenance, such as prepping your pipes for winter, clearing gutters,  and filling cracks near doors and walls, can cause big issues down the line. Make sure to budget both time and money for these tasks. 2. Hiring the cheapest option. If you have a job that requires a professional, don't always opt for the cheapest option. Make sure to get several estimates for the work and look for online reviews. Once you do your research, select the professional you think will do the best job. 3. Not knowing your property boundaries. During the closing, you may receive a survey of your home and property, however, it's crucial you know exactly where your property lines are. Outline this before you start planting or building fences or structures. 4. Neglecting the exterior of your home. Once you move in, it's easy to focus your energy on the interior. But don...

  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the real estate market continues to trend upward. According to analytics firm CoreLogic, in November, home prices were up 8.2% year over year. Interestingly, Idaho (15.7%), Maine (15.4%), and Indiana (13.6%) were the states with the highest increases. Plus, this past year saw record low interest rates, which is certainly a driving factor in the current hot real estate market. While this is great news for existing homeowners, it has posed some difficulties for lower income individuals to afford homes. One major challenge facing the industry is inventory for would-be buyers is at a 12-month low. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), inventory nationwide is down to a 2.1 month supply. This is a 30% decrease in available homes for sale from the same time period last year. Most real estate professionals consider a six-month supply of homes a healthy balance between a buyer and seller market. This low supply, or low inventory, generally...

  The process of moving can seem daunting, but with a little help from a reliable moving company, a lot of stress can be relieved. Here are some tips to make sure your belongings are in safe hands. 1. Get references from friends and family.  You should always do your research thoroughly, reading reviews and local articles or blogs, however, nothing is stronger than a good recommendation from a trusted friend, family member, neighbor or your realtor. 2. Require them to take inventory and do a walkthrough. A strong, reputable moving company will take steps to evaluate the job ahead of time, including taking inventory of your belonging that need to be moved and doing a walkthrough to note stairways, doorways etc. 3. Understand the contract you are signing. A contract with your moving company should include the following: description and scope of services, pricing whether it is fixed price or hourly rate, date/s of pickup, delivery date/s, liability and claims protection, and if t...

    Your home is your oasis. A place to kick back and relax from your day. So, why not invest in some items that can boost the zen in your home? Check out the tips below to help you achieve ultimate bliss!   Introduce calming scents. A calming scent, like lavender, valerian, camomile, and bergamot, can do wonders for easing stress or anxiety. Find candles that incorporate these scents or purchase essential oils and diffusers.   Drown out the noise. Having trouble sleeping due to distracting outside noises? A sound machine might be the solution. Most of them offer several sounds to choose from including natural noises, fan sound effects, and white noise   Wake up more naturally. Studies have shown that waking up to natural light can allow you to start your day with more energy and in a better mood. However, if you can’t wake to real sunlight, a wake-up light can also get the job done. In addition to simulating the sunrise and sunset, many incorporate natural wa...

  Here's the Alaska Residential Real Estate Market Update for November 2020.