5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home
Nov 6, 2017
5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home
Title: 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home | Sadyna Reino Century 21 1st American
Buying a home can be so exciting that people may sometimes over-look some very important decisions. You find a home that looks beautiful and has everything you could have dreamed of and you put an offer in before getting all the information. Here are 5 things to consider before buying a home that will help you make an educated purchase.
1. Credit score- Your credit score does not need to be perfect but you should know what it is before you start looking for a home. It is estimated that people who have a low credit score could spend up to $250,000.00 more in their lifetime. Having a low score could cost you more on your mortgage. There is hope though! If you know ahead of time what your score is, there are ways you can boost it before it’s time to buy. The best way to do this is talk to a lender. They may have a credit counseling program you could go through to boost your score before you buy your home. This is definitely worth looking into because it could save you a ton of money in the end!
2. Affordability-Before you put an offer on a home, ask yourself, can I afford this home? Affordability is more than just your monthly payment. You should also be thinking about the costs associated with maintaining your new home. Does it have a pool, are there high ceilings, is it two stories? All of these factors and more could have an effect on your monthly bills. Make sure you know all the costs associated with your home before you make a purchase.
3. Choosing the right loan- You may not be aware that there are many different types of mortgage loans available to you. Before you get a loan make sure you ask questions. The amount you have for a down payment, your credit score and even your career help determine which mortgage is the best for you. Talk to a lender to find out what your options are. They will be able to find the best fit for your situation.
4. Finding the right price- Before you put an offer on a home, it’s a good idea to get comparatives of homes that have recently sold in that neighborhood. Don’t just assume it’s a good price because Zillow said it is. Do your homework and ask your agent for comps in the neighborhood. This is really the best way to help ensure that you don’t overpay for your home.
5.Upfront costs- Searching for your dream home is fun and exciting but make sure you are aware of the costs you need to pay before you close. Earnest money and your home inspection are two of the most common up-front costs that the buyer pays. Just be aware that when you purchase a home you will need more than just your down payment.
If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me at
Sadyna.Reino@century21.com
“Guiding You Home”
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Oct 19, 2017
5 Worst Home Renovations
Title: 5 Worst Home Renovations| Sadyna Reino Century 21 1st American
As a home owner, it can be exciting to think about all the upgrades and additions you want to do for your home. You want to replicate the feeling you had when you visited France, so you want to make a room dedicated to wineries or you love your dogs, so you have a built in dog house in your bedroom. Whatever the reason for the renovation, it’s always a good idea to investigate the return on investment before you start. Here are 5 Worst Home Renovations.
- Extravagant Remodeling- It is a good idea to update your home if it was built in the 50’s and bring it into the current century but going over the top may not be the best idea. Although you design the updates custom to your wants and style, someone else may not agree. That’s why when you sell your home with over the top upgrades, you may not always get your money back.
- Adding a Pool- If you bought your home without a pool and added one, thinking it could grossly increase the value of your home, think again. Pools tend to only add a few thousand dollars when selling your home and since it could cost anywhere from $20,000-$60,000 to put one in, you probably won’t get your money back. If you want a pool, the best thing to do is buy a home that already has one.
- Costly Landscaping- You can create a beautiful backyard oasis that looks amazing, however you won’t be able to add a whole lot to your listing price when it’s time to sell. This is a renovation that can be well worth it to your quality of life while you’re living in your home, just don’t expect to get your money back when it’s time to sell. Enhancing your curb appeal may be a better investment in your home.
- Adding a bathroom- Although it could be more comfortable to live in a home with an extra bathroom, it doesn’t necessarily add value when you sell your home. If you look at the cost per square foot to add a bathroom and compare it to the cost to add a kitchen pantry, the expense is much higher and you may not get your money back. The only time it would make financial sense to add a bathroom is if you have less bathrooms than other homes in your neighborhood. If this is the case, the addition may add value to your home.
- Custom Home Office- Not everyone who buys a home will need a home office, so often times you won’t make your money back on this remodel. Even if a potential buyer does need a home office, they may have something completely different in mind than what you designed for yourself. It’s safer to be less specific when remodeling a home office. The more general you can be with the addition, the more versatile the room will become and the better chance you have of getting your money back when the home sells.
In the end, it is your home and you get to decide how you want to live in it. Even though you may not get your money back on these renovations, they may still be worth it for you while you’re living in your home. Just make sure you know the return value before you start upgrading. You don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised.
If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me at
“Guiding You Home”
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Sep 29, 2017
Why You Shouldn't Wait To Buy
Title: Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Buy | Sadyna Reino Century 21 1st American
Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions of your life and should be made with caution. There are a lot of things to consider such as location, affordability and amenities however, waiting too long could end up costing you a lot more than you think. With the talk of raising interest rates and the housing market steadily increasing, if you wait just one year, your payments will be more each month and over the course of a 30 year loan it could cost you over $40,000.00. Not everyone is in a position to buy right now but if you are qualified to be a home buyer and you’re waiting to pull the trigger you may want to reconsider. Click on the link to find out exactly how much you could save if you buy a home while interest rates are still low and before the market really takes off! https://edge.mortgagecoach.com/report/edgereport.html#363488-0-0-339002
If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me at
Sadyna.Reino@century21.com
“Guiding You Home”
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Sep 28, 2017
6 Home Buying Myths
Title: 6 Home Buying Myths | Sadyna Reino Century 21 1st American
Buying a home can be a great investment and a lot of fun but there are common misconceptions out there that could detour you. It is a big milestone in your life and should not be taken lightly but you should know the facts so you can make an informed decision. Here are 6 Home Buying Myths.
- You need 20% for a down payment- Yes, you can buy a home even if you don’t have 20% for your down payment! There are so many loan options out there with varying amounts needed as a down payment, it can definitely be worth it to explore your options. Although it is true that you will have to pay private mortgage insurance if you put less than 20% down, you can still buy a home.
- All you need is your down payment- Although a huge part of your upfront costs will be your down payment, there are still other costs that should be considered when buying a home. Closing costs, home inspection and property taxes are just a few of the other upfront costs associated with buying a home. Some of these can be negotiated with the other party but you should still be prepared to pay some or all of these.
- You don’t need to work with an agent - Searching for a home can be a lot of fun and with all the new websites and online tools it can seem easy at first. However, working with a real estate agent can have some serious advantages! When it comes time to write an offer, negotiate and make sure everyone holds up their end of the deal, you’ll want someone who understands this process on your side.
- The asking price can’t be negotiated- The asking price is just that, the seller asking for a buyer to pay that amount but most times it can be negotiated. If you are a strong candidate in areas such as prompt closing date, preapproval letter or your down payment in hand, the sellers may be more willing to negotiate.
- It’s a 30 year commitment- This myth could not be further from the truth. While buying a home is a commitment, you are not locked into the same home for the next 30 years. It actually can create more opportunities for you. If or when you decide you have outgrown your current home you have serval options, such as the possibility of creating a steady income by renting your home or if you have built up equity, sell it!
- Renting is less expensive than owning- It is true that there are higher upfront costs to owning a home however, in the long run it may actually save you money. When you rent from someone else, they are in control of how much you pay but when you buy a home you’re locked into the same rate for the life of your loan. When you own, you can hopefully build equity with your monthly mortgage payments, which you may benefit from when the time comes to sell your home. With rent, someone else is benefitting from your monthly payments and you’ll never see that money again.
If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me at
Sadyna.Reino@century21.com
“Guiding You Home”
Follow me on social media to stay up to date with the latest information
Sep 19, 2017
10 Tips To Organize Your Home
It is hard to stay organized, especially when you have lived in the same home for several years. The clutter can start to build up before you even realize it. Follow these 10 Tips to Organize Your Home.
- Make attainable goals- Start small and work your way up. Start with a few hours dedicated to one room rather than trying to tackle your entire home in a day. If you work a little each day, you can have your whole house organized in almost no time. Just remember, accomplishing your smaller goals will keep you motivated to tackle larger goals.
- Finish each task you start- You should sort items into categories such as donate, toss, recycle etc. but remember to finish the job. If you’re donating items, take it to the person or organization right away, don’t let it pile up. If you’re are throwing out items, take them to the garbage as soon as you are done. If you don’t finish the job completely then you may end up with more piles of clutter.
- Make the most of your dresser- If you’re like me, you could always use more closet space. One trick for creating more space in your dresser is roll your t-shirts. You will be able to get more shirts in the same amount of space. If you want to take it a step further, you can also get dividers for your drawers.
- Organize your junk drawer- Don’t just throw everything that doesn’t have a place in a drawer and call it a junk drawer. Chances are when you need to find something from that drawer you won’t be able to. Instead, get drawer dividers so it stays organized. You can have one compartment for batteries and one for pens, pencils etc. This will help you find those odd items you need when you don’t have time to search the whole house.
- Fill up a donation bag- Everyone has items in their home that they just don’t use anymore. Those are probably the items that have been sitting in the closet for two plus years and have been forgotten. If you haven’t used it in a while, donate it. This will free up space in your home and can help get you on track to organizing your life!
- Keep like items together- As you look through the items in your home and divide them into categories, keep things that similar together and store them where it makes sense. Gather all the coffee cups and put them above the coffee pot, instead of having them staggered throughout the kitchen.
- Don’t overlook clutter- If something has been in the same place for too long it can often be forgotten about. Change your perspective on how you look at items in your home. If it helps, bring a friend in to help you identify your clutter. Sometimes we need an outside perspective to help us identify things we have grown accustom to in our lives.
- Start easy- Don’t try to tackle the biggest and messiest room in your house first. Start by conquering easier tasks and then move on to more complicated ones. This will help you gain and keep your motivation to organize your home.
- Start with what you have- Although shopping at the container store can be fun, look around your house first to see what you can use. You don’t want to start adding more items to the clutter. If you find you need specific organizational items, feel free to buy ONLY what you need.
- Good is good enough- Your home is not going to look like a magazine advertisement in a couple of hours. Be realistic and allow yourself to accept the progress you make. You don’t need perfection. Good IS good enough.
If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me at
Sadyna.Reino@century21.com
“Guiding You Home”
Follow me on all of my social media outlets to stay up to date with the latest information
Sep 15, 2017
5 Reasons To Buy Now| Sadyna Reino Century 21 1st American
The real estate market is hot right now and many will grow to regret not investing in it. With interest rates historically low and home prices beginning to rise, now is the time to buy! Here are 5 reason buying now could be one of the smartest things you do this year.
- Long Term Investment
Most people put money away in a retirement account to prepare for the future but they aren’t always thinking of other ways to be financially sound. If you buy a home before you’re forty, it could be paid off by the time you retire. That means you can live in your home after you retire for next to nothing!
- Diversify Your Income
Having a job to pay the bills is something almost everyone needs but wouldn’t it be great if you could have passive income too! If you purchase a rental property now, with interest rates being as low as they are, you could actually make a profit each month while someone else pays off your mortgage. It’s a win win!
- Tax Deduction
I think most of us can agree that when tax time comes around we all feel like we pay too much. As a home owner you can take you interest paid on your home loan for the year as a deduction on your taxes. Over the course of your thirty year loan it could save you beacoup bucks!
- Appreciation
Typically homes appreciate in value which means your investment can continue to grow over the years. It can be less risky as a long term investment with a generous pay out in the end.
- Stop Paying Someone Else’s Mortgage!
Most people think that buying a home means it will be more expensive for them. Although it’s true that as a home owner you are now responsible for all repairs and maintenance to the property but your mortgage may actually be cheaper than what you pay in rent. It is definitely worth talking to a lender to see if you qualify for a home and what your payments would look like. You just may be pleasantly surprised!
If you or someone you know is ready to buy, or sell their home in the greater Tucson area contact me now!
Sadyna.Reino@century21.com
“Guiding You Home”
Follow me on all of my social media outlets to stay up to date with the latest information
