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Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Real Estate Agent

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HOW TO SUBMIT AN OFFER THAT’S MORE LIKELY TO GET ACCEPTED

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 23, 2019

HOW TO SUBMIT AN OFFER THAT’S MORE LIKELY TO GET ACCEPTED

How to Submit an Offer That’s More Likely to Get Accepted

While it may seem there isn’t too much within your control when it comes down to making an offer on your dream home, considering using these tips to increase your chances of submitting an offer that gets accepted:

  • Understand the market. An offer not only identifies what you are willing to pay for the house but also what you think it is worth. 
  • Consider motivation. A seller’s motivation can tell you a lot about their willingness to accept a lower offer. 
  • Be timely. You have less negotiation power if the seller has been presented with multiple offers. The sooner you put in an offer, the quicker you can find out whether or not your offer has been accepted or if you will be given an opportunity to revise it.
  • Offer a higher earnest money deposit. The earnest money deposit (EMD) accompanies your offer letter. It signifies a serious, sincere commitment to wanting to purchase the house.

The home-buying process can feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your timeline while also increasing the chances of having your offer accepted. Do your research, try your best to be patient, and you will be in your new home in no time.

SHOULD YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY COVER YOUR MORTGAGE?

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 16, 2019

SHOULD YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY COVER YOUR MORTGAGE?

Your home is one of the biggest financial investments you and your family will make. If you are the primary person responsible for paying the mortgage, have you considered what would happen if you passed away before the mortgage is paid off and who would become responsible for the payments? Unfortunately, the act of paying off the mortgage could become a financial burden to your family. So, what’s the best way to try to cover these expenses and gain some peace of mind?

When it comes to choosing homeowners’ life insurance, you may have heard about mortgage life insurance, as well as term life insurance. Mortgage life insurance only pays off the mortgage of the house, and your beneficiaries will receive no other money from that policy. So, some experts will recommend getting term life insurance instead of mortgage life insurance because it allows you to buy coverage beyond just the mortgage repayment to meet all of your family’s needs. And depending on your age and the condition of your health, the premiums, in general, tend to be lower with term life insurance compared with mortgage protection insurance. 

Take the time to make a careful, informed decision when purchasing life insurance and work closely with a trusted agent, who can help you decide on the best plan for you and your family.

FINANCIAL TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 9, 2019

FINANCIAL TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

It can be difficult to understand what costs are involved with buying a house if you have never gone through the process before. These tips can help you navigate homeownership and ensure that you are financially prepared for the costs:

Consider all costs of home-ownership. Your mortgage payment is not the only expense that you will be responsible for when owning a house–you also have to consider costs like insurance, property taxes, and repairs.

Reduce your monthly payments with a higher down payment. The more you are able to put down now, the less your monthly payments will be. Additionally, the less money you need to finance, the less interest you will pay.

Understand your closing costs. Most loans require that you bring cash to the closing table. The exact percentage will depend on your loan terms. You will also be responsible for origination fees, credit-report costs, and agent fees.

Your credit score can make a difference. If you have a low credit score, you may want to consider taking some time to work on bumping it up. By raising your score, you may be eligible for a better mortgage rate and with fewer interest costs, you can reduce your monthly mortgage payment.

HOME AUTOMATION: A GROWING TREND IN TECHNOLOGY

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – September 25, 2019

HOME AUTOMATION: A GROWING TREND IN TECHNOLOGY

Home automation has lately become a fast-growing trend in technology. It can take your home’s technology to the next level by cutting energy costs, giving you the ability to control your home’s most important features remotely, and can even increase the value of your house.

A “smart” home is one that is equipped with technologies that automate the home. It’s amazing how many different smart home automation products are currently on the market. While the choices can be overwhelming, you can get started with home automation by narrowing down your options based on these considerations:

Decide which automated features you value most. Thermostat, alarm, appliances, security, and lighting are just a few of the available features.

Determine your budget. The price range for these products can range from very affordable to extremely pricey, so determining your budget ahead of time can more quickly help identify which programs are right for you.

Understand the extent of your technology knowledge and expertise, in addition to your ability and desire to learn. Some smart automation programs are quite simple to use, while others require more technological expertise.

By considering factors like comfort with technology, the features that you want to automate, and an automation budget, you can choose the smart automation program that works best for your household.

PLANTING VEGGIES FOR A FALL HARVEST

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – September 18, 2019

PLANTING VEGGIES FOR A FALL HARVEST

While you have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and bounty of your garden over the past few months, you may already be looking forward to planning next year’s. Think of Fall as a time to clean up your yard, your beds, and perhaps plant some hardy seeds to jump-start your 2020 garden. 

The process of “pre-seeding” involves planting seeds in the Fall. By doing so, you are allowing Mother Nature to control when the seeds germinate. Not only does this often create hearty and healthy plants, but it also saves you money at the garden center.

Here are just a few suggestions of what you could plant this Fall:

· Garlic

· Root Crops (Carrots, Beets, Radishes)

· Greens (Spinach, Lettuce, Mesclun)

· Cruciferous Vegetables (Cauliflower, Broccoli)

Happy Planting!

FALL LEAVES AND GUTTER MAINTENANCE

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – September 11, 2019

FALL LEAVES AND GUTTER MAINTENANCE

An important (but frequently and easily forgotten) task in the Fall is ensuring your home’s gutters are clear of leaves and other debris. Gutters protect many parts of your home, including windows, siding, foundation – even your basement. Their main purpose is to provide runoff from rain and melting snow, so that it drains away from your house.

You can hire a gutter-cleaning service (which typically costs around $100, depending on the size and number of stories of your home) or you can do it yourself. (Note: If you do decide to take this task on by yourself, be sure to put safety first! This is definitely a project for a day with nice, calm weather; do not attempt to clear your gutters when it is raining, windy or damp.)

Some of the tools you will need to get the job done include: a sturdy ladder, heavy-duty gloves (to protect yourself from sharp edges), and safety goggles (to protect your eyes from debris.) First, you will need to scoop out all large debris, before using either a garden hose or blower to get the smaller particles of remaining dirt and debris out of the way to create a clear, unobstructed path for water to flow freely away from your home and yard. 

Beatrice Bloom