Centre Realty, LLC

❗ Buying your first home is exciting, and it’s also expensive. You may not be familiar with all the costs associated with buying a house, and some of them can be quite unexpected.

🔻 Here are several hidden costs you should be aware of when buying your first home.

1. Appliances
If the previous owners of your new home take all the appliances with them, you’ll need to buy new ones when you move in.

2. Repairs And Improvements
If the home you’re purchasing needs repairs or improvements, you’ll likely be on the hook for them.

3. The Inspection
Before buying any new home, it’s smart to have an inspection done. This will cost money, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind it gives you.

4. Higher Utility Bills
Your electric bill may be higher each month, and it’s possible you’ll become responsible for bills that your landlord used to pay like trash pickup and water.

5. Insurance Premiums
The reality is, however, that the home is much older than the others, and as such, the insurance premiums may be quite high. This may end up costing you more in the long run.

6. The Locks
One of the first things any new homeowner should do (unless they’re buying a brand-new home that no one’s ever lived in) is change the locks on all the doors leading outside.

7. Cable/Satellite TV
Are you used to cable tv? Is your new home wired for it? If your new abode isn’t cable-ready, what about satellite tv? Either one is going to cost you for installation, which is something many new homeowners forget about in the excitement of buying a new home.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

Hidden Costs First-Time Home Buyers Should Expect Barbara Parks

📦 Got a small space that’s cluttered no matter what you do?

✨ Here are some organizational ideas that may help.

1. Invest In A Shoe Bench
If you’re inclined to ask family and friends to take their shoes off when entering your home, it only makes sense to have a shoe bench in which to place their shoes until they put them on again.

2. Hang A Mirror
Hanging a mirror in an entryway hallway. It gives you a chance to double-check your appearance before you head out the door and it will make the tiny space appear bigger and brighter.

3. Add A Welcome Mat
Depending on the amount of space you have, a simple rectangle welcome mat may suffice. If your entryway is a hallway, you may want to consider a long hallway runner instead.

4. Keep Essentials Handy
If there are things you use every day, make a space for them by the front door.

5. Keep Coats In A Closet
Coat racks are convenient, but they can be an eyesore when everyone piles their outerwear. Make it a point to hang coats, jackets, hoodies, and the like in a nearby closet.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

Organization Ideas For Small Spaces Barbara Parks

🔍 Looking for a new place and want to save money?

👇 Below we discuss the five things you need to do if you hope to get a discount on your monthly rent.

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Check out other rental properties in the area and find out what the going rent is with them.

2. SWEETEN THE DEAL
Give your landlord more reason to lower your rent by offering incentives to do so.

3. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
When doing a walk-through with the landlord, be sure to ask the right questions to gauge how willing he’d be to lowering the rent if asked.

BE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The better you look to a landlord as the ideal tenant, the more likely he will do what he can to get you into the apartment.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

How To Negotiate Into Getting A Discount On Rent Barbara Parks

🏢 If you’re planning to move into the city, remember these helpful tips when buying your urban home.

1. Be Honest With Your Co-op Broker
It’s important that you be upfront with your co-op broker about how much you can comfortably afford to spend so he or she can help you find the perfect home.

2. Consider Up And Coming Neighborhoods
The trick is to do your research first to make sure it’s an emerging neighborhood with lots of potential.

3. Research A Building’s Financial Status
Before signing on the dotted line, hire an attorney to research your potential new home’s financial status.

4. Don’t Expect To Buy A Co-op And Use It As An Investment Property In some cases, you may be able to rent a co-op for a short period of time, but in most cases, renting is not allowed.

5. Understand Your Hoa Fees
It’s important to understand what your HOA fees cover so you can factor any additional costs into your budget.

6. Understand The Pros And Cons Of Urban Living
There is no lawn care or snow removal to worry about, there’s a sense of community and belonging. There is a downside, you’ll have less control over fees, and you won’t be able to do what you want around the property.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

Urban Home Buying Tips Barbara Parks

🏠 Without a doubt, flipping houses is expensive, but it is possible to flip houses using very little, if any, of your own money

💰 Here are five ways to do that.

1. Portfolio Lenders
You can get a portfolio lender to foot the bill for the entire flip – including repairs. While this is rare, it does make it possible to flip a house with no money.

2. Line Of Credit
It’s often impossible to get a line of credit on an investment property, so refinancing may be a better option to get money out of an investment property you already own.

3. Hard Money Lenders
Hard money lenders are companies who borrow cash from investors at a low rate and then borrow it to other investors at a higher rate. The higher the percentage they loan out, the higher the fees and interest will be.

4. Private Money
Private money usually comes from people you know like family, friends, other investors, etc. When borrowing from a private lender, the amount you can borrow, and the terms of repayment vary greatly.

5. Partnership
By far, this is the easiest way to flip houses using none of your own money. In a traditional house-flipping partnership, one person does all the work while the other person provides all the money.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

5 Ways To Flip Houses With Little To No Money Barbara Parks

💸 Buying new furniture can be quite the expense.

😉 The good news is, however, that you can replace your old, worn-out furniture with new and vibrant pieces without breaking the bank.

👇 Here are six ways to get great furniture at a great price.

1. Browse craigslist and/or freecycle
The trick to craigslist shopping is to browse higher-end areas to ensure you find higher-end pieces. Just make sure any cleaning or repairs don’t exceed your good deal.

2. Diy your current furniture
If you’re the handy or crafty type, you may want to consider reupholstering or refinishing your current furniture to make it appear brand new.

3. Look for yard sales, estate sales, and garage sales
Yard sales, estate sales, and garage sales are excellent places to find unique furnishings you may not have considered before.

4. Going-out-of-business sales
If you’ve got some wiggle room, wait for going-out-of-business sales to get the best deals on new furniture.

5. Shop thrift stores
With just a little attention, you could end up with a wonderful piece of furniture at a bargain price.

6. Look for clearance and discount sections
Your local furniture store may have a clearance section where they sell last year’s models or pieces with slight imperfections such as scuffs or dents at rock-bottom prices.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

6 Ways To Get Great Furniture For A Great Price Barbara Parks

🤔 Renting your first apartment? Here’s what you need to know.

1. Figure Out How Much You Can Afford To Spend
You must plan accordingly, so you don’t end up living outside your means. Remember, you’ll be paying for more than just rent each month.

2. How Much Space Do You Need?
Usually, the less space the rental has, the cheaper it will be for rent, utilities, and furnishings.

3. Think About Where You Want To Live
Location is key in deciding where you want to live when you rent your first apartment.

4. The Rental Application
The information and documentation you provide here will help the landlord determine whether you’d be a good tenant or not.

5. Next Steps
The lease is a legal document that explains everything that’s required of you and what the rules are for living in the rental unit.

Barbara Parks | Centre Realty LLC
[email protected] | (803) 319-6817
8033196817

How To Prepare For Your First Rent Apartment Barbara Parks