Home prices in the St. Louis region declined 1.07 percent in February from a year ago, excluding distressed sales, according to Core Logic, a provider of financial, property and consumer information. Despite the decline, this is much less than previous years during this volatile market. Mortgage rates, on the other hand, have risen a bit in the last few weeks.
So as a buyer, what do you do? Wait until prices go down even further and mortgage rates go down too? (Those rates are still at historic lows). We don’t see hedging your bets as the most logical path to home ownership.
Buying a home right now is a very personal decision and not one to be taken lightly. Buyers who are the most successful right now have given a lot of thought to the process and considered their financial situation, now and in the future.
If you are considering buying this season, have you:
• Saved for at least a 20% down payment? Remember, cash is king these days. Look beyond the purchase price to closing costs and what you may need for maintenance and emergencies.
• Been honest about what sort of monthly payments you can afford at current interest rates?
• Kept your credit score up to date with no blemishes?
• Researched where you want to live and why?
• Not rushed into your decision to purchase property?
If so, you are the type of buyer who will benefit from current market conditions and enjoy homeownership for a long time to come.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sad curb appeal doesn’t sell houses. Colorful landscaping sprinkled with native plants is the ticket.
On a recent episode of Property Ladder, one of those HGTV programs, a house beautifully rehabbed on the inside didn’t attract buyer interest because of the outside. The owner didn’t see the point of spending money on the home’s landscaping. With uninviting curb appeal, the home languished on the market.
Perking up that curb appeal will welcome buyers and show your home is well cared for. Even if you’re not selling this spring, enhancing your landscaping will make you feel better.
Give your landscaping an honest look to decide what goes and what stays. The shrub that’s been struggling for the last two years and “might” make it this summer probably won’t. Take it out and plan for a replacement. Patches of dead grass could use a renewal. Reseed and fertilize for new growth. Trim back branches that may impede natural light in your house. Replace cracked bricks in the sidewalk and power wash the siding if it seems dingy.
And now, the fun part. Your almost blank palette is ready to be filled with color. Planting a garden and refilling empty spaces requires planning. First, decide what you want and how much work you are willing to do. Spring is a wonderful, fresh time, but think ahead to July and August in Missouri, when outdoor gardeners can lose enthusiasm with the high temps and humidity. Without care, all those plants and all that work will go to waste.
Assuming you choose a relatively work-free garden, we suggest using Missouri native plants. After all, they live here and grow in our climate, unlike that temperamental import from Hawaii that needs constant attention.
Here are some advantages to consider if you plan to use native plants:
• Once established, native plants need minimal watering, reducing your water bill and the time it takes to spray the plantings.
• Because the plants are acclimated to grow in Missouri soil, they establish quickly and don’t need pampering.
• Native plants have already dealt and adapted to the problems of pests and weeds.
• Birds and butterflies thrive on native plants, giving you a garden paradise and hours of entertainment watching those in flight coming and going
Resources include local garden stores that sell much more than annuals and whose employees are trained in native plant propagation, and we can’t say enough about the Shaw Nature Reserve, your one stop for plants, information and a delightful day out. The annual spring wildflower sale is set for Saturday, May 7, plenty of time to plant this spring’s garden. Another plant sale and garden tour on Saturday, April 30, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in St. Peters is also an excellent stop for plants and info.
Curb appeal and landscaping can be fun, fragrant, inexpensive and stress-free when you plan ahead and make plant choices that make sense for our area.
Perking up that curb appeal will welcome buyers and show your home is well cared for. Even if you’re not selling this spring, enhancing your landscaping will make you feel better.
Give your landscaping an honest look to decide what goes and what stays. The shrub that’s been struggling for the last two years and “might” make it this summer probably won’t. Take it out and plan for a replacement. Patches of dead grass could use a renewal. Reseed and fertilize for new growth. Trim back branches that may impede natural light in your house. Replace cracked bricks in the sidewalk and power wash the siding if it seems dingy.
And now, the fun part. Your almost blank palette is ready to be filled with color. Planting a garden and refilling empty spaces requires planning. First, decide what you want and how much work you are willing to do. Spring is a wonderful, fresh time, but think ahead to July and August in Missouri, when outdoor gardeners can lose enthusiasm with the high temps and humidity. Without care, all those plants and all that work will go to waste.
Assuming you choose a relatively work-free garden, we suggest using Missouri native plants. After all, they live here and grow in our climate, unlike that temperamental import from Hawaii that needs constant attention.
Here are some advantages to consider if you plan to use native plants:
• Once established, native plants need minimal watering, reducing your water bill and the time it takes to spray the plantings.
• Because the plants are acclimated to grow in Missouri soil, they establish quickly and don’t need pampering.
• Native plants have already dealt and adapted to the problems of pests and weeds.
• Birds and butterflies thrive on native plants, giving you a garden paradise and hours of entertainment watching those in flight coming and going
Resources include local garden stores that sell much more than annuals and whose employees are trained in native plant propagation, and we can’t say enough about the Shaw Nature Reserve, your one stop for plants, information and a delightful day out. The annual spring wildflower sale is set for Saturday, May 7, plenty of time to plant this spring’s garden. Another plant sale and garden tour on Saturday, April 30, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in St. Peters is also an excellent stop for plants and info.
Curb appeal and landscaping can be fun, fragrant, inexpensive and stress-free when you plan ahead and make plant choices that make sense for our area.
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