Author: Julia

Needing a New Paint Color?

Julia

green
Why Green Never Goes Out of Style

Against the browns of the earth, green grasses and trees glitter like gems, reflecting the refractive glints of the sun. Beyond to the blues of the seas, green represents the point of return, to home.

With such a dominant role in nature, green represents youth, growth and ultimately maturity. Green is often chosen as the color of money and signifies wealth and elegance, and in some cultures, it has deeply religious significance.

No wonder green is among the most relaxing and soothing of colors, with the ability to calm and refresh our minds and our souls. Studies show that green helps alleviate depression and anxiety, and promotes harmony and well-being.

Green comes in a rich spectrum of shades and tints, serving well as the main color for any décor, or as an accent to other color schemes. With tones of yellow, green grows sunnier and sharper, and with blue tones, it goes cooler, more alpine. Light greens are youthful and springlike, while deep greens are solid and sophisticated.

Many shades of green can go well together in home decor, just as they do in nature, which makes green a terrific go-to color when you’re not sure what to choose.

Greens are welcome in kitchens and dining rooms, as many of the most popular vegetables like lettuce, limes, and many beans and peas are soft to deep green. Pale greens are calming in bedrooms and work well with blues and whites in bathrooms.

A fresh new look will waken up your senses and set a fun mood!

 

7 Kids – No Debt?

Julia

The Gee Family: 7 kids, 7 missions, 7 college graduates and no debt! How did they do it?

When each child was born they received a bank account. They alone were expected to fill it, and they did, from the time they were very young. They did enormous paper routes. The older kids delivered the Salt Lake Tribune in the morning, while the younger kids delivered the afternoon Deseret News. They picked up odd jobs from neighbors and worked concessions at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City, Utah. One collected and saved his coins like they were gold doubloons. Read more →

Six Tips for First-time Home Buyers

Julia

First_Time_HomeOwner_Image_1344110563383Are you a first-time home buyer eager to get into the market? Here are some tips:

1. You may check the selling prices of comparable homes in your area of interest by speaking with your real estate agent. Your agent can give you a general idea of what you should expect to pay and may also direct you to websites where you can do a search of the Multiple Listing Service for homes that meet your criteria. LDSAgents.com has over 3,000 realtors across the USA and Canada who can help.

2. Your real estate agent will be able to recommend reliable lenders to speak to regarding a home loan.

3. There are many variables that can affect your interest rate. Your lender will be your ultimate source in helping you decide what kind of loan is best for you and what you can afford.

4. Know that your house payment may well include items like homeowner’s insurance, mortgage insurance (PMI), property taxes, and homeowners association fees. These costs can vary widely from state to state and location to location.

5. If you obtain a home loan, there will be closing costs associated with it. These upfront costs shouldn’t be overlooked. Closing costs include origination fees charged by the lender, title and settlement fees, taxes and prepaid items such as homeowners insurance and homeowners association fees. Again, your lender will be your valuable guide to these matters.

6. Last, but not least, consider a payment plan that enables you to pay off your home as quickly as possible. Paying off a home over 15 years rather than 30 can save you tens of thousands of dollars. One way to do this is to take out a 30 year loan (to guarantee lower monthly payments) and then make additional payments along the way as you are able. Talk to your lender about it.

6 Tips For Selling Your Home In Winter

Julia

winter house
Winter can be a harsh, unappealing time of year to sell your home.

With January just around the corner, it’s especially important to make your home stand out if you want to sell in the New Year. LDS people know it is important to be prepared and that is true also when it comes to selling your home. Here are some essential tips for making your house #1 on the market as the year begins:

Read more →

Buy or Rent in Retirement?

Julia

retired-couple_2748906k

Is it better to rent or own your home in retirement? It depends on your goals and financial situation.

Weigh the pros and cons of each housing option as you head into retirement.

“There is no one correct answer,” says Doug Heddings, founder of Heddings Property Group. “Each individual retiree must evaluate their financial portfolio to determine the cash that they will need to live on a monthly basis,” he says. Most retirees grew up with the idea that owning a home is always the best choice. The U.S. Census reports that 81 percent of Americans age 65 and older are homeowners. But that attitude may be changing. Experts agree it’s unwise for retirees to carry over large debts into their retirement years. In 2009, half of retirees carried mortgage debt, a figure that doubled from 2007 when only one in four had mortgage debt. And a recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University projects more than 2 million Baby Boomers now entering retirement will opt to rent.
So how do you decide?

Read more →

Basic Steps for Buying a Home

Julia

home-for-sale-sign

Note: Your agent and lender will help you through all these steps!

Step 1: Start Searching Early—Homes frequently appear very different in person than they do on line.

Step 2:  Find the right real estate agent and lender: We can help at LDSAgents.com

Step 3: Determine how much you can afford by getting “Prequalified” for a home loan. See our video on “Prequalification”

Step 4: Shop for your home with your agent – This is the fun part!

Step 5: Get an Inspection – Your agent will help select a local inspector.

Step 6: Work with your lender to select the best loan for you. See our video on “Conventional, FHA, and VA loans”

Step 7: Have the Home Appraised—Your lender will normally take care of this (the appraised value must exceed the loan amount by certain criteria).

Step 8: Wait for funding to be approved by the “underwriter”.

Step 9: Meet with the title company or with the closing agent (depending on your state) to close the loan and the purchase. We recommend that you watch our video on “Closing Costs”

 

 

Mistakes Parents Make With Financial Aid

Julia

The Timing of Certain Financial Decisions Can Hurt Students’ Eligibility for Assistance

Most families know the basics of college financial aid: Several months before school starts, students apply for assistance, parents detail their financial situations, and then everybody waits for the powers that be to tab the bill.

What many don’t know—or at least, don’t realize until it’s too late—is that the timing of certain financial decisions made well before and even during college can significantly alter a student’s eligibility for aid from both the federal government and the university itself. This has been quite an eye opener for several families. Read more →

Seniors Struggling With Student Debt

Julia

How old will you be when you finally pay off your student debts?

Rosemary Anderson, from Watsonville, California, took out two student loans in her thirties when she earned her bachelor’s degree, and her master’s, totalling $64,000. She has worked at least one job most of her life, in addition to raising her two children.

But after health complications from lupus, and expenses from a divorce, Anderson, 57, fell behind on her payments eight years ago. With compound interest, the loans have ballooned to $126,000. With payments of $526 a month, she will be 81, she estimates, when she pays it down.

A growing percentage of aging Americans struggle to pay back their student debt. Tens of thousands of them even see their Social Security benefits garnished when they cannot do so. Read more →