Great reasons to buy a home around the holidays
You might be wondering if buying a home during the holidays is a wise idea. Here are some good reasons to consider buying your home during the holiday months.
Here are five good reasons:
1. December and early January are usually slower for sales and sellers are motivated since they might not have sold the property in earlier months.
2. Rates are the lowest they have been in years and many options
are available, especially for buyers willing to put down 20% or more as a down
payment.
3. There is less competition to deal with which means less stress for you during the holidays.
4. Tax advantages: you may be eligible for deductions on points and mortgage interest if you close by the end of the year. Consult your tax advisor. deduction.
5. Lower prices & lower rates.
You should decide if this is a good time for you to buy. Keep in mind, homes that did not sell over the summer are also available are great deals. Furthermore, pricing might rise again after the New Year, so it might be a good time to find a bargain.
Good luck with your home search.
I hope you will find these tips helpful. Follow these tips to save on energy costs.
* Install these energy-efficient measures:
o Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase energy-efficient models. Units only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as a new ENERGY STAR® labeled model.
o Insulate ceilings to R-30 or higher if your attic has less than R-11 levels.
o Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater and furnace exhaust pipes.
o Weatherstrip around windows and doors.
o Wrap heating and cooling ducts with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.
o Install energy-saver showerheads.
* When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® labeled models.
* Set the furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, and the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 68 degrees and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 78 degrees.
* If your old air conditioner is on its way out replace it with ENERGY STAR® labeled energy-efficient model.
* Use compact fluorescent lamps. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient low-wattage compact fluorescent lighting and fixtures.
* Replace old windows with new high performance dual pane windows.
* Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer’s instructions.
* Set the water heater thermostat at 140 degrees or “normal.” If you have a dishwasher. Otherwise, set it at 120 degrees or “low.” Check your dishwasher to see if you can use 120 degree water. Follow the manufacturer’s direction on yearly maintenance to extend the life of your unit.
* Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets. A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills, but also increases the gas or electric bill for heating the water.
* Wash only full loads in a dishwasher and use the shortest cycle that will get your dishes clean. If operating instructions allow, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
* Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick.
* Install shades, awnings or sunscreens on windows facing south and/or west to block summer light. In winter, open shades on sunny days to help warm rooms.
* Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used. Try not to use the fireplace and central heating system at the same time.
You can do most of these items yourself, and save on labor cost. Thanks to many home improvement stores, you can easily purchase the supplies you need and install them in a few hours. The satisfaction you receive will be well worth the effort. Now good luck and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
