Nikki Buys Houses/NextHome Music City Realty

What to Know About Credit Scores Credit scores range between 200 and 850, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. The following factors affect your score: Your payment history. Did you pay your credit card bills on time? Bankruptcy filing, liens, and collection activity also affect your history. How much you owe and where.  If you owe a great deal of money on numerous accounts, it can indicate that you are overextended. However, spreading debt among several accounts can help you avoid approaching the maximum on any individual credit line. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer an account has been open, the better. How much new credit you have. New credit—whether in the form of installment plans or new credit cards—is considered more risky, even if you pay down the debt promptly. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—such as installment loans, credit cards,...

Checklist: Prepare for Your Move Update your mailing address  at usps.com or fill out a change-of-address form at your local post office. Change your address with important service providers,  such as your bank(s), credit companies, magazine subscriptions, and others. Create a list of people who will need your new address.  Whether you plan on sending formal change-of-address notices in the mail or just e-mailing the family members, friends, and colleagues who should be informed, a list will ensure no one gets left out. Contact utility companies.  Make sure they’re aware of your move date, and arrange for service at your new home if the service provider will remain the same. Check insurance coverage.  The insurance your moving company provides will generally only cover the items they transport for you. Ensure you have coverage for any items you’ll be moving yourself. Unplug, disassemble, and clean out appliances.  This will make them easier ...

                             5 Housing Trends to Watch for 2018 DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 Home shoppers may have it easier in 2018. Inventory constraints of for-sale homes and rising home prices may finally start to ease next year, according to realtor.com®’s 2018 National Housing Forecast. “Next year will set the stage for a significant inflection point in the housing shortage,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®. “Inventory increases will be felt in higher priced segments after spring home buying season, which we expect to take hold and begin to provide relief for buyers and drive sales growth in 2019 and beyond.” But the big wild card for 2018 will be any impact from the proposed tax reform legislation, which is currently being debated by Congress, realtor.com® adds. Here’s a closer look at realtor.com®’s five housing predict...

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter and earn a little extra cash before you move. But make sure you plan ahead; they can take on a life of their own. Don’t wait until the last minute. Depending on how long you’ve lived in your home and how much stuff you want to sell, planning a garage sale can take a lot of time and energy. And that’s on top of the effort of putting your home on the market! Contact your local government. Most municipalities will require you to obtain a permit in order to hold a garage sale. They’re often free or cheap, but the fines for neglecting to obtain one can be hefty. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start t...

How To Prepare for House-Hunting Know that there’s no “right” time to buy. If you find the perfect home now, don’t risk losing it because you’re trying to guess where the housing market and interest rates are going. Those factors usually don’t change fast enough to make a difference in an individual home’s price. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of the people who will actually be living in the home. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a list of your top priorities and focus in on things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go. Also, accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will most likely pass. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator....

Before Putting Your Home up for Sale Here are a few items to take care of before listing your home. This can make the sale process quicker and easier in the long run. Consider a pre-sale home inspection.  An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin. Organize and clean.  Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and seasonal items. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine. Get replacement estimates.  Do you have big-ticket items that will need to be replaced soon? Find out how much it will cost to repair an older roof or replace worn carpeting, even if you don’t plan to do so. The figures will help buyers determine i...

How to Prepare to Buy a Home Talk to mortgage brokers. Many first-time home buyers don’t take the time to get prequalified. They also often don’t take the time to shop around to find the best mortgage for their particular situation. It’s important to ask plenty of questions and make sure you understand the home loan process completely. Be ready to move. This is especially true in markets with a low inventory of homes for sale. It’s very common for home buyers to miss out on the first home they wish to purchase because they don’t act quickly enough. By the time they’ve made their decision, they may find that someone else has already purchased the house. Find a trusted partner. It’s absolutely vital that you find a real estate professional who understands your goals and who is ready and able to guide you through the home buying process. Make a good offer. Remember that your offer is very unlikely to be the only one on the table. Do what you can to ensure it’s appealin...