Sometimes, it’s feast or famine in the house-hunting game. Depending on the market, you may find few, if any, suitable homes in your price range. Then there are times when you may find several that seem perfect. When that happens, how do you decide which home to pursue and which to leave behind?

It’s an age-old solution, but one we’ve found quite effective with our clients: the pros and cons list. Naturally, the list works best for singles and couples – the more members of a family there are, the more compromises you’ll need to make.

Read on for a roadmap of sorts to help you compile the pros and cons list.

Location

Since location is typically paramount in determining a home’s economic value, let’s start here to determine its functional value to you.

If you have children, choosing between neighborhoods is a bit easier than it is for childless folks. A neighborhood with other children for yours to play with and its proximity to schools, parks and recreation may rule the decision-making process.

Other homebuyers may need to dig deeper. What do you know about the neighbors? Sure, how well they keep up the exterior of their home will tell you a great deal about them, but a trip through each neighborhood during different parts of the week and during the day will tell you even more about whether this is the community for you. Depending on when you visit you may be fortunate enough to hear or see something intolerable — such as that yapping dog or loud music — that will knock the home out of consideration.

Use schooldigger.com and greatschools.org to research the nearest schools. You may not be thinking about future value right now but that doesn’t lessen its importance. Homes near quality schools hold their value better than those near poor-performing schools.

Additional considerations about the homes’ locations include:

• If you use public transportation, determine the distance to the nearest stop.
• Is the neighborhood near the conveniences you frequently use?
• If homes in one neighborhood are increasing in value faster than the others, make note of that.
• If you’re concerned about crime rates, contact the local law enforcement agency with questions.

Comparing the homes

When comparing homes, try to look beyond the attractive staging (or lack of) to see what architects call the “bones” of each home. This includes the design, the floorplan and the home’s soundness of structure.

Your primary concern should be your lifestyle, so determine how well each home fits. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms are important, but what about storage space, room to entertain (if this is important to you) and outdoor features?

Consider your future plans as well – including whether you’ll be starting a family or dealing with an empty nest.

Scrutinize those features of each home that can’t be readily changed without spending a lot of money. This includes the flow, the number of bathrooms, closets and room sizes.

Finally, don’t forget your wish list, if you compiled one. Which home hits more of your hot buttons?

Try to remain unemotional during the process. If you find yourself going back to a particular home because of the gourmet kitchen yet another home has more of what you want, your emotions will keep yanking you back to the former. Is it possible to add some gourmet features to the latter home?

Have you ever noticed something new in a movie you’ve watched for the second time? It’s the same with houses; you may have missed something during the first visit.Take an additional tour of each home to help you decide.

Naturally, a fast moving real estate market won’t accommodate your vacillation and you may need to make a quick decision. In that case, and if you’re really stymied, remember that your new home is also a financial investment so consider choosing the home that will hold its value better than the other.

The holidays are officially over and millions of American’s are sitting, shell-shocked, in the massive mess left behind in their homes. From grease-spattered stoves and backsplashes to gift wrap and ribbon that needs to be stowed and a tree that needs to be un-trimmed, there’s work to be done to get your home back to normal.

We’ve scoured the Internet to find the best post-holiday cleaning hacks to help you get the job done.

Storage hacks

Your first job is to take down the holiday décor and get it stowed away. It’s a big, somewhat messy job, but we’ve come across some brilliant hacks to help you.

• Fill a plastic storage bin with plastic cups – the large red Solo brand cups seem to be among the sturdiest. Wrap each ornament in tissue or newspaper and place each one in a cup. For added protection, fold the tree skirt and place it over the cups. Place the lid on the bin and it’s ready to be stored for next year’s holidays.
• Sure, you can purchase those long plastic bins made specifically to store wrapping paper rolls, but a less expensive option is available from the local dollar store: a tall trash can. Use ribbon or rubber bands to keep the paper connected to the roll, then stand them all up in the trash can.
• Avoid clogging the vacuum cleaner when you try to suck up pine needles left behind when you dragged the tree out of the house. Use a rubber broom (yes, even on rugs) to sweep them into a pile and then into a dust pan, Marie Stegner, consumer health advocate for Maid Brigade suggests to realsimple.com. The tool also works well to pick up animal fur.
• The folks at Good Housekeeping suggest winding your tree lights around empty wrapping paper tubes. “Loop the cord around the roll, starting with the side opposite to the plug, then insert the plug into the tube’s opening.”
• Glitter has a tendency to land and stick to anything upholstered. Use a lint roller to remove it – even from lamp shades!

Kitchen cleaning hacks

• Greasy gas stove? Place the burner rings and grates into large plastic bags or containers and add ¼ to ½ cup of ammonia. Seal the bag or container and allow it to sit overnight where the ammonia fumes will work their magic. Wear gloves to remove the stove parts from the bag or container and rinse in hot water. Use sea salt to scrub anything that stubbornly clings to the rings. By the way, never mix ammonia with other products, especially bleach as it will emit toxic fumes.
• How’s the stove hood looking? If you did as much cooking as we did over the holidays it’s probably one big, greasy mess. We found a surprising but brilliant method to remove the grease: mineral oil (apparently, vegetable oil works as well). Use just a few drops on a paper towel and wipe the hood until it’s grease-free. We used a soft rag to wipe off the excess oil but a paper towel will work as well.
• Squeeze a lemon into a large glass measuring cup and fill to within 2 inches of the rim with water. Place the cup in the microwave and allow it to boil for three minutes. The steam from the boiling water will loosen the grime inside the oven and the lemon helps remove odors. Dip your sponge carefully into the hot water to remove stubborn stains.

 

We’d love to hear about your favorite cleaning tips — feel free to share!

 

Take a trip across the street and then take a good long look at your house. What you’re seeing is your home’s curb appeal, the lack of which can be detrimental to the successful sale of the home – at least for the amount of money you hope to make.

Homebuyers shopping online want to see photos and they’ll judge your home first by its exterior. Many won’t go on to view interior photos if the exterior is unattractive.

What do potential buyers see when they view your home from the curb? Does it compel them to leave the car and venture into the interior or does it cause them to drive off to the next listing? If the latter is the case, get to work amping up your home’s exterior appeal.

Follow some simple guidelines

Landscaping near and around the home’s entry requires a focus on three aspects, according to Environmental Landscape Associates (ELA), a Pennsylvania landscape design firm:

• Principles
• Program
• Elements

Principles of landscape design

The most important principle, according to the firm, is that the landscape’s design synchronizes with the architectural style of the home. In other words, avoid elements of a formal garden in front of a ranch-style home.

Second in importance when considering landscape principles is ensuring that “the front door is prominently visible and the landscape provides the visitor clues and signals for how to get there,” suggests ELA. Make it easy for potential buyers to get out of the car, approach the home and enter it.

Your landscape design program

How will you utilize the space? The “program” part of the process includes answering this question. Is the entry way merely for ingress and egress from the home or will you use the front porch for entertaining? The program also includes determining your focal point. If you’re selling the home, consider making the porch or front door the home’s focal point.

Landscape design elements

What elements will you incorporate into your design? Think about both the hardscape elements, such as pavers and lights, and which plants you’ll use. Remember, all elements should tie into the home’s architectural style.

Going formal?

The formal entry way is best defined by keeping everything organized and in symmetry. The easiest way to do this is to keep both sides of the entry way identical.

Shaped hedges and patterned hardscapes will also lend a formal, balanced feel to the area. Don’t neglect the area near the front door. Even identical planters and plants on either side of the door will help illustrate the landscape’s design.

Keeping it casual

Obviously, rules for a formal entryway don’t apply here so get as creative as you like. Irregular patterns, mismatched shrubbery and more casual edging materials all lend a relaxed feel.

Soften hard edges, such as walkway surfaces, by lining them with plants that bloom in pastel colors (dusty miller comes to mind) or with coleus, hosta or other plants with interesting foliage.

Plant placement

When the focus is the entryway, plant placement becomes critical. Large plants should be placed at both ends of the home and small plants closer to the front door with medium sized in between.

When grouping plants for a formal design, place them in even numbers, suggests University of Missouri Extension agents. Use odd-numbered plants in informal entryway groupings.

The path to your front door, known as your home’s welcoming “handshake” according to Sunset Magazine, should be landscaped to match or complement your home’s architecture.

Naturally if you’re planning on staying put in the house for some time, you’ll want to find a way to blend design rules with your personal taste. If you plan on putting the home on the market, however, curb appeal trumps your taste.

Regardless of what went into the decision to sell your home, you most likely didn’t make it lightly. An addition to the family, relocation for a new job, divorce, downsizing, the death of a spouse and financial problems are just a few of the reasons Americans have for selling their homes. Your reason is, in real estate terms, your “motivation for selling.”

Sounds a bit impersonal, doesn’t it? After all, this home is full of memories – both good and bad. Your home is more than the place you store your things, and more than protection from the elements — it’s where you have celebrated holidays, raised children and spent time with the people you love most. These experiences and memories may be difficult to leave behind, or you may feel relief, depending on your motivation for selling.

So, although your motivation may be borne of tragedy or joy, it’s important to put your emotions aside for a short time and treat the sale of your house as a business deal. Let’s take a look at some of the pitfalls you may encounter when selling if you’re emotionally attached to your home.

Love doesn’t equal value

Market value has nothing to do with love. So, despite how you feel about the home don’t expect that there is someone out there who will fall equally in love with it and be therefore willing to pay more for it than it’s worth.

Of course you’ll want to do all you can to raise the home’s perceived value. Get rid of dated features, repair what’s broken and stage the home to appeal to buyers.

Take nothing personally

Taking criticism is never easy and, during the sales process you may have to take a lot of it. From buyers’ agent’s negative feedback to lowball offers to requests to “get rid of the ugly carpet,” once the home is under contract, you’ll have lots of opportunities to take offense. Keep in mind during these times that no home is perfect for everyone.

Depending on the market, even a lowball offer may be worth countering, so put the emotions aside and, again, treat this like a business transaction.

Be Gumby

Life can become chaotic when your home is on the market. Time doesn’t stop – you still have to go to work and, if you have kids, they still have to get to school and to all the lessons, games and other activities. It’s especially easy to tell yourself you’re “too busy” to allow potential buyers to view the home when you’re overly attached to it. But allow them you must, if you want to get it sold.

Being flexible is key here. Understand that your life is going to be disrupted until the home is sold. Accept it, share it with the family and promise yourself that you’ll bend over backward to accommodate potential buyers.

How to cope

For most Americans, their homes are their largest financial investment as well as the icon of a life lived, of sanctuary achieved and dreams both dashed and realized. It’s only natural to feel an attachment, especially if you’ve lived in the home for some time. But letting go, without leaving claw marks, is challenging for some.

“One suggestion to help you let go of a home or other important possession is to realize that its emotional value doesn’t end when you sell it. Through your memories, you get to keep most of the value the object has had for you,” advises Rick Kahler, of Kahler Financial Group.

So, take lots of photos, even grab a handful of dirt from the garden and plant something in it at the new home. Whatever you need to do to let go emotionally will help you get your home sold, quickly and for top dollar.

 

 

Sure, we’re knee-deep in winter weather right now and many of the tips to save money on heating bills include projects that should’ve been undertaken in autumn. But, if you’ve been feeling that your home is a bit draftier than it should be and the visions you have this holiday season are of dollar bills dancing away from your pocketbook, take heart. There are still some things you can do right now to help stop the money-bleed and warm up your home.

Turn down your thermostat – Ok, so we start with the obvious. But, “for every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you’ll save up to 5 percent on heating costs,” according to consumerenergycenter.org. Furthermore, set the thermostat to 55 degrees at night and you’ll save an additional 5 to 20 percent off your utility bill. Bundle up in sweats and sweaters and you’ll be the one in the neighborhood laughing all the way to the bank.

Use Those Curtains – Drapes on the windows will help to hold heat in the room. Use heavy fabrics, such as velvet, in the winter and consider backing them with insulated fabric. Drapes, however, can also block the cheapest means of heating your home – the sun. If everyone returns home long after the sun has set, opening these curtains at that time may not be a means of saving energy. But, if sunshine is expected, throw those curtains that rest on south-facing windows wide before you leave for work in the morning and on the weekends. Keeping them closed at night and on dreary days will help insulate the home from the cold.

Curtains can also be used in doorways that divide rooms and will help keep the drafts in those rooms from entering others. These types of curtains are known as portieres, common in homes during the Victorian era. (Photo: Willow Bee Inspired)

Speaking of windows – Consider exterior shutters to keep the howling wind from seeping around the windows.

Reverse your ceiling fan – Reverse the direction of spin on your ceiling fan to help pull cool air up. Stand under the fan and watch the blades spin – they should rotate clockwise in the winter. To change the direction, use the remote control. If you have an older fan that lacks a remote, you should find a toggle-switch on the unit, just below the blades.

If you have vaulted or cathedral ceilings, the fan is mounted too high for this technique to work.

Close the fireplace – Since traditional fireplaces suck warm air up the chimney and pump it out of the house, consumerenergy.org suggests that you not even use it during the winter. If you decide to take them up on that, purchase a piece of insulation and use it to block the chimney. If you still want to use the fireplace, close the vent (after all hot embers have died down) when it’s not in use.

Use a Humidifier – Central heating can be very drying. And this makes everything feel a little colder than it is. Moist air, on the other hand, holds the heat better and naturally feels warmer. Using a humidifier, even in just the room you spend the most time in, will allow you to set the thermostat a little lower.

 There are also some myths that you should be aware of when trying to find ways to save energy. Let’s take a look at one of the biggest:

Close off the vents in unused rooms – We’ve all heard that we should close the heat vents in rooms that we don’t use and seal off the room from the rest of the home. Hogwash, say HVAC experts.  Modern forced air heating systems require a balanced pressure load throughout the house. Blocking one or more vents throws the load off balance, causing the system to work harder, eventually breaking down. The Family Handyman suggests that you speak to an HVAC professional before closing heat vents.

Remember, there are plenty of ways to save and if you’re serious, you might want to take a look at your insulation and HVAC as soon as the weather permits so next winter brings even more savings.

With the new year knocking on the door, one of the questions I hear most frequently is where I think the real estate market is headed in 2017. Buyers, especially, want to know if the market will morph into one a bit more favorable to their interests.

Ah, if only I had a crystal ball and could cut right to the chase to tell you what’s going to happen in the 2017 real estate market. Since we don’t have a handy tool to help us discern the future, we rely on experts in various economic niches for our housing market prognostications every year. Are they always right? Nope, but they do get awfully close.

Personally, I combine what I learn from the economic forecasts with my experience every day as a boots-on-the-ground real estate professional and with our Multiple Listing Service statistics. So, let’s dive in.

Interest rates

As you know, the Feds raised the federal funds interest rates earlier this month. While it was an increase of only a quarter of a percentage point they did say to expect a couple more rate hikes in 2017. So, how does this affect the real estate consumer?

Yes, those with an adjustable rate mortgage will take a hit, as will homeowners with an adjustable rate home equity line of credit, or HELOC, tied to the prime rate (albeit a smaller, hardly noticeable hit in most cases).

If you’re planning on purchasing a home, on the other hand, and need a mortgage, while the feds’ move should encourage you to act more quickly than you’d planned, don’t let it scare you off completely. Even with the interest rate hike in December, mortgage rates are still at historic lows right now, so jump into the market and get that dream home.

If the feds make good on the promise of additional interest rate hikes, homebuyers on tight budgets that choose to wait later in 2017 to buy a home may find themselves knocked out of the market. Even a half a percent increase on a 30-year fixed $250,000 mortgage could increase the annual payment more than $850 according to Fortune.com’s Kerry Close.

Put another way, if mortgage interest rates go from 4 percent to 4.25 percent, 965,000 potential homebuyers will be leaving the buyer pool, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The good news, however, is that “There’s a lot that buyers can do to mitigate the effects of rising rates, including looking for lower-priced homes, putting more money down or changing term lengths on a mortgage’s fixed-rate component,” Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com tells Inman.com’s Amber Taufen.

How about home prices in 2017?

That’s the burning question for folks who plan on buying a home down the road. By the end of November, the median sales price of a home was $271,400, up 7.7 percent from last year.

Housing market experts predict that although they won’t rise as quickly as they did this past year, home prices will rise about 3.5 percent in 2017. So, as long as the aforementioned interest rates stay put, there’s a bit of good news for you if you need to wait until later in the year to purchase.

The bad news is for those on tight budgets, at least according to a study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). A $1,000 hike in the median price of new homes, they claim, would knock nearly 153,000 potential homeowners out of the market.

If you’re planning on upsizing, fortune.com’s Close says you’re sitting in the sweet spot. Small home prices are expected to rise faster than larger ones and city dwellers can expect more home value appreciation than those in the outlying metro regions. In other words, expect your small home to be the belle of the neighborhood real estate market when it’s listed.

Which leaves first-time buyers and those who hope to downsize in a not-so-sweet spot. Expect lots of competition from other buyers for these smaller homes in the lower price ranges. In fact, prepare for it by cementing your financing and being ready to submit an offer immediately. We can help you with the preparation part – feel free to give us a call.

That elusive inventory problem

Much of the blame for the low inventory of available homes (causing home prices to rise) goes to the lack of new home construction across the country. There was some good news on that front, however, when December’s National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose to the highest level since summer 2005. This measure of homebuilder confidence is good news for homebuyers as long as it translates into new housing starts.

A lot of it boils down to “it all depends on . . .”

The housing market’s strength depends on a number of variables, one of the most important of which is the health of the job market. Although it’s better than it was during the recession, and although president-elect Trump is promising to amp it up, hiring is still not quite where we’d like to see it. This is something that Fed policy makers will look at when deciding whether or not to raise rates again.

I know this is a lot to consider as you think about your future home-buying prospects but, really, there’s nothing you can do about anything that will impact the housing market. My best advice to you is to jump in as soon as you can.

Talking about older adults is a challenge. It’s not like talking about teenagers, or toddlers, who all pretty much like the same things. The group includes a broad range of ages, interests and living situations.

Younger boomers sometimes bristle at being called seniors, especially if you call them that while they’re on a road trip on their Harleys or rock climbing on the Costa Brava. To them, “seniors” applies to older folks who are slowing down and find it a bit difficult to get around.

Regardless of what stage of aging you’re in, you, like many older adults in the U.S. may be considering aging in place, either the place you’re currently living, or buying one with a friendlier layout. If so, we invite you to read our list of things you may want to consider when compiling your wish list for that home.

Single level living is easier

A single-story home is the most obvious requirement for an older adult living on his or her own. Even younger Baby Boomers find that traveling up a flight of stairs sometimes hurts the knees. For older folks, not only may stairs be difficult or impossible to navigate, there is the real danger of slipping and falling.

Keep an eye on future mobility

Most hallways in homes are 36 inches in width, which is far too narrow for someone in a wheelchair. In an existing home, knocking out a wall to widen a hallway may be a major project. If you are purchasing a home, ensure that hallways are at least 42 inches wide – 48 inches is ideal, according to the experts with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

Install a ramp to compensate for changes in level if you have trouble navigating. Curved ramps aren’t recommended, according to the experts at Drummond House Plans, as steering a walker, wheelchair or scooter may be challenging on a curved surface.

Make the bathroom user-friendly

Over 230,000 people are injured in the bathroom each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Two-thirds of these accidents occur in the shower. Making a senior-friendly bathroom is as easy as applying non-skid strips or a rubber mat on the shower floor and grab bars inside the tub. There are, however, other things you can do for extra security, according to the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC):

• Remodel the shower so that it’s possible to roll into it in a wheelchair
• Lower the bathroom sink
• Install an elevated toilet.

Kitchen

Traditional kitchens are the most challenging rooms for the wheelchair-bound to navigate. Even if you currently don’t use a wheelchair, if you plan to age in place, you may want to consider the possibility that one may be in your future.

The specialists at NAIPC have several suggestions on how to make the kitchen user-friendly for seniors:

• Install cabinet hardware that is easy to grip.
• Provide at least one 34-inch tall countertop with no obstructions beneath it. This allows the senior to sit while performing kitchen chores.
• Elevate the dishwasher one foot off the ground.

Bedrooms

Install a walk-in closet with a doorway that is at least 36 inches wide. To make them easier to reach, lower the shelves and clothing bars. Move the light switch inside the closet to within 36 to 40 inches from the floor.

For those middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom, light the pathway from the bedroom to the bathroom. This can be accomplished with a nightlight or with motion sensor lighting. Large home improvement stores carry nightlights with a kick plate that the user can turn on with the touch of a toe.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential for safety if you plan on aging in place. There’s a delicate balance, however, between adequate lighting and creating glare.

The CDC recommends florescent bulbs while the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) says that LED bulbs are longer lasting than traditional or florescent bulbs. To avoid glare, NARI suggests installing easy-access dimmer switches, pendant lights and under-cabinet lighting.

If you plan on renovating your current home rather than purchase another, be sure to use a contractor that holds the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation.

If you’ll be purchasing, we’re happy to help you find the perfect home in which to age in place.

Don’t you find it odd that so many people take better care of their cars than they do their homes? While maintaining your automobile is important, your home is far more valuable and an investment equally worth protecting.

Sadly, most problems in a home didn’t happen overnight but started out small and, neglected over time, reached the point where the price to repair them became quite costly. These are homes that suffer from what real estate experts call “deferred maintenance,” and they sell for far less than well-maintained homes.

Not only does deferred maintenance drag down the value of a home (by up to 10 percent, according to the folks at House Logic), but it may cause health and safety issues as well. So, even if you aren’t planning on selling the home for years, it’s important to get on a maintenance schedule and stick to it.

It’s mainly about water

“Water causes more damage to homes than any other single deferred maintenance issue,” according to Handyman Hub in Denver. As evidence, they explain how repairing a leaky wax ring around a toilet, if caught early, costs less than $100.

Allow the repair to wait, however, and the cost of repair can balloon to thousands, and may include pulling up the toilet and possibly the vanity, the floorcovering and then replacing the subfloor, all the while crossing your fingers that the joists aren’t water damaged as well.

Frank Lesh, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors tells House Logic how cracked caulk around a window, which costs less than $4 to repair, can quckly blossom into a $5,000 repair bill if moisture seeps into the sheathing causing rot and mold.

The moral of these stories? If anything on or in the home can be damaged by water, inspect it as often as possible.

Make a schedule

Most home maintenance experts agree that regularly inspecting the home is the key to finding small problems before they swell into huge ones. Once your inspections become habit you won’t need to worry about remembering to do them. Until then, make a schedule and stick to it. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers an excellent schedule on its website.

The most important home systems to maintain are the ones that cost the most to replace or repair. For example, roofing contractors suggest that you perform a routine roof inspection twice a year: at the beginning of spring and again in early fall. This may seem like a lot of time spent on just one aspect of the home, but when you consider that a new roof may cost you up to $15,000 it’s worth it to take the time to inspect it.

While you’re up there, clean out the gutters and downspout to make sure that water is directed away from the home. This multi-tasking on home maintenance chores will save you time as well as money.

Then there are tasks that need to be performed more often, such as changing the HVAC filter and dropping a few ice cubes into the garbage disposer to clean the blades (monthly).

Annual projects include checking sealants and caulking (important to prevent water damage) and checking the water heater for leaks. Again, HUD’s home maintenance schedule is a good resource.

While some repairs required to keep the home maintained require the services of a professional, the DIY enthusiast will be pleased to know that lots of them are easy and inexpensive DIY projects.

Ok, so you know you need a big chunk of cash to pay the lender for a down payment on that house you want to buy. You may even know about the earnest money deposit; that smaller chunk of money that your real estate agent told you about. And, sure, somewhere along the line the words “closing costs” may have been mentioned but when you see the amount necessary to close the loan, printed in black and white, it’s a whole other story for many homebuyers.

Wow!

As a rule of thumb, closing costs run 2 to 5 percent of the loan amount, so if you’re using an FHA-backed loan, your closing costs may be comparable to your down payment.

So, if you are obtaining a loan for $175,000 and you qualify for an FHA 5 percent down payment loan, you will be required to pay $8,750 for a down payment and perhaps even that much for closing costs. Did anyone tell you it may cost you $17,500 IN CASH to buy a house?

The truth is, many first-time buyers spend years saving up to pay for the down payment while closing costs come as a complete surprise.

What are closing costs?

When you pay your closing costs you’re basically paying for all of the services you received during the transaction. The seller, pays as well, such as for the real estate broker’s services. In fact, who pays for what at closing varies widely across the country but some items are standard. Some of the more common fees that buyers pay include:

• A fee for pulling your credit report
• Appraisal
• Down payment
• Escrow impounds (money kept in escrow to pay for your homeowners insurance and property taxes)
• FHA Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium
• Home inspection (if not paid at the time of service)
• Loan origination fee
• Notary fees
• Origination fee (this is the lender’s fee for granting you the loan)
• Points, or loan discount fees, if you’ve decided to purchase them
• Prepaid interest
• Private mortgage insurance premium
• Recording the deed
• Title insurance

Lender disclosure requirements when it comes to closing costs

By law, lenders must disclose an estimate of loan costs within three days of the submission of a completed loan application. Then, three days before closing, the lender supplies the borrower with a Closing Disclosure. While the fees listed on the Loan Estimate may increase or decrease before closing, the Closing Disclosure is the final word.

It’s important to compare the two documents and look for changes. If you have any questions or concerns, call the lender immediately.

How to pay less at closing

Many sellers are amenable to paying the buyer’s closing costs, or at least part of them. If you’re cash-crunched, let your agent know so he or she can negotiate on your behalf on the closing costs.

If you’re purchasing a home using the Veteran’s Administration (VA) mortgage, there are certain closing costs that you are not allowed to pay. Some of these include:

• Attorney fee
• Document
• Escrow
• Processing
• Tax Service
• Underwriting

Plus, there is no cap on how much of the closing costs a seller is allowed to pay. So, whether the seller pays them or the lender offers a credit to help pay for them, this is yet another money-saving feature of the VA loan.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website has lots of helpful information about the closing process, including a copy of the Closing Disclosure Form and an explanation of how to compare it to the estimate, and a closing checklist.

The winter holidays – love them or not – are a time to celebrate. With celebration, however, often comes complacency. It’s a time of year when we are more prone to relax and let our guard down, all in the spirit of the season.

As wonderful as the holidays are, there is danger lurking behind some of the more common aspects of our celebrations. But there doesn’t have to be. With a little forethought, preparation and knowledge, the winter holidays can be safe and worry-free.

Keep the kids safe

This is the time to remind children of the family’s basic rules, such as not speaking with strangers. Here are a few safety reminders to keep in mind when shopping with young children:

• Select a meeting place in the event you become separated.

• Teach your children how to identify mall security personnel and how to ask for help. If they can’t find security, let them know they should seek help from a store clerk.

• Remind them to never leave the mall without a parent.

Safety at home includes hanging ornament, lights and other decorations out of the reach of little ones, keep the menorah out of reach and don’t forget that mistletoe and holly berries are toxic and dreidel and other game pieces are choking hazards.

Holiday shopping safety

Unfortunately, crime rates tick upward during the holidays. “We call it good cheer,” says News 3 Las Vegas. “Criminals call it complacency.”

Here are some tips to keep you out of harm’s way while shopping:

• If shopping late in the day, park in an area that will be well-lit after dark.

• Try not to shop alone. Thieves tend to target loners.

• Walk with a purpose, paying attention to what’s going on around you.

• Your car keys serve a number of safety purposes: carry them with the end of the keys pointing out to be used as a weapon. Sound the car’s alarm if anyone suspicious approaches you.

• Check the backseat and under the car before entering it.

• Don’t leave previous purchases, cell phones or other valuables on the seats, in plain sight. Lock everything of value in the trunk.

Fire Prevention

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments respond to an average of 230 Christmas tree fires each year. These fires caused an average of 22 injuries, 6 deaths and more than $18 million in property damage.

A fresh tree is less likely to burn than a dried-out tree so water yours daily. Additional holiday tree safety tips include:

• Keep the tree at least three feet away from a fireplace and heat sources.

• Before putting lights on the tree, inspect each string for exposed wires, frayed wires and broken sockets. If you have pets that like to chew on wires, inspect the strands frequently throughout the season.

• If you need to use an extension cord, don’t overload it and don’t run it under a rug.

Candles also play a prominent role in our holiday celebrations, especially Hanukkah. The NFPA estimates that each year, candles are responsible for 11,640 home fires. Candle safety includes not leaving them unattended while they are burning. Additional tips include:

• Don’t use candles to decorate the tree or wreath. Use battery-operated candles instead.

• Keep candles away from curtains.

• Ensure that lit candles are out of the reach of children and pets.

Speaking of pets

The holidays bring with them some special dangers for your pets. The ASPCA offers additional pet safety tips to keep in mind during the holidays:

• Poinsettias, holly, pine needles and mistletoe are poisonous to pets.

• Tinsel, swallowed, means a trip to the emergency vet.

• Don’t allow the dog or cat to drink from the tree stand. It may contain fertilizers and bacteria.

• Secure the tree to ensure it doesn’t topple over when the kitty decides to take a hike up the trunk.

• Dogs love chocolate. Chocolate doesn’t love dogs. Place the chocolate coins in their foil wrapping and net bags out of Fido’s reach.

Keep these tips in mind and, before you know it, the holidays will be a happy memory, everyone will be safe and life will get back to normal.