Why Homeownership Matters Now More Than Ever

Why Homeownership Matters Now More Than Ever

Study after study shows that no matter what generation Americans belong to, the vast majority believe that homeownership is an important part of their American Dream. The benefits of homeownership can be broken into two main categories: financial and non-financial (often referred to as emotional or social reasons.)

For Americans approaching retirement age, one of the greatest benefits to homeownership is the added net worth they have been able to achieve simply by paying their mortgage!

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University focused on homeowners and renters over the age of 65. Their study revealed that the difference in net worth between homeowners and renters at this age group was actually 47.5 times greater, with nearly half their net worth coming from home equity!

Homeowners over the age of 65 are much more financially prepared for retirement and often own their homes outright if they were fortunate enough to purchase their homes before the age of 36.

Their 30 years of mortgage payments have paid off as they gained equity through their monthly payments and as home values appreciated.

It is no surprise that lifelong renters have had a hard time accruing net worth as the latest Census report shows that the Median Asking Rent has been climbing consistently over the last 30 years.

Bottom Line

Your monthly mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ building your net worth with every payment!

Contact Stacey Guzanick 262.490.3696  RE/MAX Service First.  Stacey@soldwisconsin.com if you have questions about buying or selling a house.

I can guide you toward your next home.

See you at closing

MyWisconsinDreamHome.com

Fed Puts Brakes on Rate Increases

Fed Puts Brakes on Rate Increases: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used words like “patient” to describe the Fed’s latest approach to increases. His change in tone follows four rate hikes last year.

The Best Time to List your House? TODAY!

The Best Time to List Your House? TODAY!

You may have heard that the housing market is softening. There is no doubt that buyer traffic has decreased. There are fewer purchasers in the market than there were last month and at this time last year. What you may not have heard, however, is that there is still a severe shortage of listing inventory in many regions of the country.

In a recent interview discussing the housing market, First American’s Chief Economist Mark Fleming put it simply:

“The biggest challenge is really the availability of supply.”

When we look at available inventory numbers released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), we see that the actual number of homes for sale has decreased in each of the last five months.

What does this mean to you as a seller?

The best time to sell is when there is less competition. That guarantees you a better price and fewer hassles in the transaction.

Bottom Line

If you are thinking of selling your house this year, the best time to put it on the market might be right now. Let’s get together to evaluate the demand for your house in our market!

Source: Keeping Current Matters

Contact Stacey Guzanick 262-490-3696

RE/MAX Service First

 If you have questions about Buying or Selling.
I can  guide you toward your next home.

www.MyWisconsinDreamHome.com

 Guzanick@gmail.com

Keep your Home Smelling Fresh with these quick tips

I hope you find some of these tips helpful...

Freshen up the Fridge

If your fridge starts to smell bad after a while. Try slicing a lemon and placing a piece on every shelf.  You should be getting that lemon scent every time you open your fridge!

Washing Machine Odors

Have you tried adding a little vinegar and baking soda in the washer?  Add them right into the washer and run a cycle.  Not only should your washer smell better, your close will too.

                

How about the Dishwasher….

Take 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and place on top rack.  Run the dishwasher on a regular cycle. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom and run another cycle.  That should do it!

If you have a garbage disposal, I am sure you find it convenient, however it can have a funny odor.  I have found this to be helpful to eliminate that smell.

o  Pour 2 cups of baking soda into the garbage disposal drain.

o  Slowly pour in ½ cup (11 ml) of vinegar.

o  Let the cleaner sit for an hour.

o  After an hour, turn on the water and the disposal and run it for a minute.

   You can keep the blades sharp while freshening up too. Freeze a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and water in an ice cube tray freeze and toss a couple in every once in a while.  I hear orange or lemon peels can do the trick too.

If you're in the market for buying a home in the near future, or are considering selling your home, I'm glad to say that I'm completely at your service.  With years of experience in both purchasing and selling homes, I'm qualified to answer any questions you have.  Give me a call today and I'll be more than happy to discuss all of your options with absolutely no obligation.

Contact Stacey Guzanick 262-490-3696

RE/MAX Service First

 If you have questions about Buying or Selling.
I can  guide you toward your next home.
www.MyWisconsinDreamHome.com

 Guzanick@gmail.com

Cleaning up the outside of your home to sell

Homes that have a good curb appeal command higher prices. I’m not talking about replacing vinyl siding with redwood siding, I’m talking about maintenance and tasks you’d like to live with anyway. The way your house looks from the street says a lot about your home and goes a long way.

Wash the general dirt off the outside of your house. Washing your house can make a huge difference.  A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush can remove the dust and dirt that have splashed onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and fiber cement. Don’t forget garage door and wash the windows inside and out.. 


Replace overgrown bushes with leafy plants and colorful annuals. Surround bushes and trees with dark or reddish-brown bark mulch, which gives a rich feel to the yard. Put a crisp edge on garden beds, pull weeds and invasive vines, and plant a few geraniums in pots. Green up your grass with lawn food and water. Cover bare spots with seeds and sod, get rid of crab grass, and mow regularly

A splash of color goes a long way.  Plant some flowers, add some hanging baskets.

Nothing looks worse from the curb — and sets off subconscious alarms — like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or peeling paint. Not only can these deferred maintenance items damage your home, but they can decrease the value of your house by 10%.

Here are some maintenance chores that will dramatically help the look of your house:

Refasten sagging gutters.

Repoint bricks that have lost their mortar.

Reseal cracked asphalt.

Straighten shutters.

Replace cracked windows.

 

Contact Stacey Guzanick 262.490.3696,   RE/MAX Service First  Guzanick@gmail.com,  if you have questions about buying a house or selling one.

I can  guide you  toward your next home.

www.MyWisconsinDreamHome.com

See you at the closing!

Quick Tips for Selling Your Home

Focus on the Foyer

Most prospective buyers enter your home through the front door, so that's a prime spot to make some improvements. Apply a fresh coat of paint if it's looking dingy, eliminate or hide all clutter, and clean out the coat closet so that it looks more spacious. Then pick one thing that you could upgrade in this area. Add a new hanging light fixture or replace that painting or picture with a large mirror. Maybe it's time to replace that old bowl of potpourri with a simple, fresh floral arrangement or a stack of design books with an ornamental accessory on top. The look should be simple and sophisticated.

Go for the Odd Number

After you've edited your accessories, show them off the right way. Most interior decorators will tell you that odd-numbered groupings can be very effective. When organizing vignettes of accessories, vary the shape, color, and size and don't line them up. For example: Hang a large landscape above a table where there's a lamp and a plant, or groups of three. Less really is more.

 Expand Spaces Visually

Dark wall color can make a room look smaller, focus on lighter neutral tones. Float furniture (pushing it against the walls actually makes the room feel smaller) in logical conversational groupings, with enough space for people to move between pieces easily. Make sure large pieces of furniture don't block sight lines to a great view or a pretty focal point, such as a fireplace. Stagers suggest that rugs stop a foot or two from walls. A rug that's too big shrinks a room; if it's too small it just looks awkward. If your dining room is modest in size, take extra leaves out of your table and limit chairs to four.

 Dress the Set

What are those last-minute things you can do that make a difference? Make sure your fridge is clean and kitchen cupboards are organized. Throw away kitchen sponges and put away dirty dishtowels, mops and brooms. Place a floral arrangement on your dining room or kitchen table. Empty all wastebaskets and take out all garbage. Replace bar soap with liquid soap dispensers bathrooms, and put out clean, pretty towels. Make sure your doormats are clean and presentable. Sweep your front porch and sidewalk.

Contact Stacey Guzanick 262.490.3696,   RE/MAX Realty Center  Guzanick@gmail.com,  if you have questions about buying a house or selling one.

I can  guide you  toward your next home.

www.HomesWithStacey.com

See you at the closing!