Before You Look for Your Dream Home: Know What You Want vs. What You Need!

In this day and age of being able to shop for anything anywhere, it is really important to know what you’re looking for when you start your home search.


If you’ve been thinking about buying a home of your own for some time now, you’ve probably come up with a list of things that you’d LOVE to have in your new home. Many new homebuyers fantasize about the amenities that they see on television or Pinterest, and start looking at the countless homes listed for sale through rose-colored glasses.


Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the “man cave” of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now?
The first step in your home buying process should be getting pre-approved for your mortgage. This allows you to know your budget before you fall in love with a home that is way outside of it.

The next step is to list all the features of a home that you would like, and to qualify them as follows:

• “Must-Haves” – if this property does not have these items, then it shouldn’t even be considered (ex: distance from work or family, number of bedrooms/bathrooms).
• “Should-Haves” – if the property hits all of the ‘must-haves’ and some of the ‘should-haves,’ it stays in contention but does not need to have all of these features.
• “Absolute-Wish List” – if we find a property in our budget that has all of the ‘must-haves,’ most of the ‘should-haves,’ and ANY of these, it’s the winner!

Bottom Line

Having this list fleshed out before starting your search will save you time and frustration. It also lets your agent know what features are most important to you before they start showing you houses in your desired area.

2019 Colors of the Year

It’s that fun time of the year where us paint color geeks look forward to the paint manufacturers announcing their annual “Colors of the Year”.  Most of the manufacturers have announced their colors in the last couple of weeks and today I’m excited to share the 2019 Colors of the Year with you from Sherwin Williams, BEHR, Ace’s Clark + Kensington, PPG and Dutch Boy.

The Ten Commandments of Mortgage Lending

The Ten Commandments of Buying a Home (when getting a loan) #ChapmanHallRealtors #Atlanta #RealEstate

The Home Buyer's Road Map

The Home Buyer's Road Map. I will guide you through this daunting journey, step by step. www.timgrissett.com

Documents Needed For Mortgage

Here are all the documents needed for mortgage applications, so that you're fully prepared before you even see a lender!

Smart Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

It's a goal as cherished as early retirement. Everyone who buys a home for keeps dreams of the day they make their last house payment. Sadly, the majority of homeowners in the U.S. never even get close. However, there are some smart ways, some tried and true, some you may not have thought about, that will allow you to pay off your mortgage early.

Old-fashioned methods can work. The difficulty is disciplining yourself to actually follow through. Step one to paying off your mortgage early is to make a plan. Keep in mind that Rome wasn't built in a day and you are not going to pay off your mortgage in a few months, maybe not even in a couple of years. But here are some smart ways to go about paying off early.

Make Savings Automatic. Saying you are setting aside $200 per month for your payoff amount (above and beyond your regular monthly payments) sounds good, but it only works if you actually do it. Open up a savings account just for your remaining balance, and make that monthly percentage automatic.

Put Extra Away. Saving every month is a great start. But when you get that income tax refund, instead of going on a shopping spree, put it in your payoff savings account. Any extra money — a bonus, a lottery ticket win, a small inheritance — should all largely go to your payoff savings account.

Ditch the Waste. All work and no play makes you a very dull boy or girl, so ditching the waste doesn't mean cutting off your cable, although that could add up to a couple thousand dollars a year. It means buy some Folgers instead of stopping at Starbucks every morning for a cup of Joe.

Think about it; $4 a day, five days a week, for 52 weeks each year. That's over a thousand dollars a year just for a cup of coffee you could make at home for a few cents a week. Here are some other wasteful expenses you can ditch and how much you could save each year.

• Your Unused Gym Membership – or even your used one — is $40 or $50 dollars a month. That adds up over time. You can exercise at home for free, and modest home equipment will pay for itself.
• The Latest Gadgets – Changing your cell phone plan alone can save you around $100 per month.
• Cook a Meal – Fast food, the movies, sit-down restaurants — they all eat up $100 a week out of your budget. That's right, you're talking potentially over $5,000 per year you could be saving just by eating in and streaming a movie instead of paying $15 per ticket at the box office.
• Carpool and Walk – If your corner store is literally down the street, walk or ride a bike, don't drive. When you go to work, find a carpool. You'll be surprised how much money you can save on transportation with just those two ideas.

RESALE ROI

How to get the biggest resale bang for your buck! If you're considering listing your home or condo for sale, give me a call for a market analysis. timgrissett.com

Get Ready to Buy A House

Still a ways away from buying, but want to be responsible? No matter your timeline, these tips will help every aspiring homeowner get ready…

Top 10 Overlooked Questions To Ask When Buying A Home

Buying a home can be overwhelming. So many things to know and so many questions to ask. Check out our list of Top 10 Overlooked Questions to Ask When Buying a Home-- they might come in handy! Call me if you still have questions!

Benefits of Downsizing

Benefits of downsizing! timgrissett.com

Lower Property Taxes

The most likely case for lower property taxes is that you bought your house at a time when the economy was doing much better. At that time, you would have paid more for your home than it would be valued at now. Because of the higher price tag, you naturally paid more in taxes. Lowering your property taxes isn’t a particularly difficult process, but it is a process nonetheless. And with upfront expenses like a potential assessment of your property, it may be a case of “you need money to save money.” But if the market was more inflated at the time of your home purchase than it is now, lowering your property tax will be beneficial in the long run!

Home Improvement Projects to Avoid

If you know you're going to stay in your home until you retire, you can pretty much improve to your heart's content. But the average home owner moves once every seven years. Many make the mistake of undertaking expensive improvements they can't recoup when it comes time to sell. In terms of market value, you will benefit more from having a home that is comparable in price or slightly below the other homes in your neighborhood. This leaves room for appreciation to strengthen your investment over time and you won't be dropping money into pricey renovations that buyers will ignore when it comes time for you to sell. This is especially true if the value of homes in your neighborhood is dropping.

Winter Tips for Your Home

Tips for Preparing Your House For Sale

When listing your house for sale your top goal will be to get the home sold for the best price possible! There are many small projects that you can do to ensure this happens! I will have a list of specific suggestions for getting your house ready for market and will help you with finding local contractors who can help! 

Moving With Kids

Pros & Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Is a tankless hot water heater the best choice for your home? Get the info you need to make the right decision.

Atlanta City Design

Join us at the Atlanta Central Library on February 2nd at 6:00pm for an Atlanta City Design discussion focused on "Our Future City".

Why You Should Never Skip A Home Inspection

Before you buy a home, one of the things you should do is to have the home checked out by a professional home inspector. When you are purchasing a home, you want to know every strength and weakness your new home has. Having this information before you close is paramount for negotiations as well as maintaining your new home for the long term. Comprehensive residential inspections cover moisture, mold, attic, termite, structural, roofing, insulation, plumbing systems, heating and cooling systems, electrical wiring and electrical systems inspections. Never skip a home inspection.

You Need a Professional on Your Team When Buying a Home

Many people wonder whether they should hire a real estate professional to assist them in buying their dream home or if they should first try to do it on their own. In today's market: you need an experienced professional!

You Need an Expert Guide if You Are Traveling a Dangerous Path

The field of real estate is loaded with land mines; you need a true expert to guide you through the dangerous pitfalls that currently exist. Finding a home that is priced appropriately and is ready for you to move into can be tricky. An agent listens to your wants and needs, and can sift through the homes that do not fit within the parameters of your "dream home." A great agent will also have relationships with mortgage professionals and other experts that you will need in securing your dream home.

You Need a Skilled Negotiator

In today's market, hiring a talented negotiator could save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. Each step of the way - from the original offer to the possible renegotiation of that offer after a home inspection, to the possible cancellation of the deal based on a troubled appraisal - you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes. Realize that when an agent is negotiating their commission with you, they are negotiating their own salary; the salary that keeps a roof over their family's head; the salary that puts food on their family's table. If they are quick to take less when negotiating for themselves and their families, what makes you think they will not act the same way when negotiating for you and your family? If they were Clark Kent when negotiating with you, they will not turn into Superman when negotiating with the buyer or seller in your deal.

Bottom Line

Famous sayings become famous because they are true. You get what you pay for. Just like a good accountant or a good attorney, a good agent will save you money...not cost you money.

First-Time Homeowner Checklist

First-Time Homeowner Checklist: What You Need to Do Before Moving In http://timgrissett.com