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Scott Sutherland Content Marketing, Bellingham, WA (2024)

09/20/2024

6 Ways You Can Protect Your New Home

When you purchase a new home, you want to take care of it as well as you can. There are a lot of different ways you can protect your home. They range from security to preparing for expected expenses. These six tips will help you ensure your home is always as protected as possible.

Insure It Fully
Your insurance is an important tool for ensuring that your home is protected against the unforeseen. It is a way to protect yourself against the costs of damages and personal liabilities. However, not all homeowner’s insurance is equal. Understanding home insurance will help you make better decisions for your home.

While not everyone needs every form of insurance, being prepared for the unforeseen is important. For example, if you live in Arizona, you likely don’t need flood insurance, but you probably do in Florida.

Get a Warranty
Homeowners insurance won’t cover all the possible expenses you experience. For example, it won’t cover damage to major appliances and systems due to wear and tear. A home warranty, on the other hand, will help with these costs.

It is a simple way to extend your protection, so you aren’t caught unprepared. Your home needs to be maintained and repaired from time to time. A warranty and insurance will help you do that.

Buy a Security System
Of course, damage and wear and tear aren’t the only issues you need to contend with. Finding the right home security system will help you protect against unwanted entrants. Even a basic system can make a huge difference in your security. Burglars and other unauthorized people generally target homes that are easy to access.

Many systems also monitor for smoke and other hazards. The right monitoring subscription can protect you against many threats.

Trim Back Vegetation
Vegetation growing up against your house can be a risk for two reasons. First, it is a way for burglars to get close to your home without being easily seen. Second, branches and debris can damage your home.

Keeping your vegetation well-trimmed and maintained can help keep your home safe. Better yet, it is easy to do and will make your home look a lot nicer. It is a smart practice and much easier if you keep up with regular groundskeeping.

Keep Up With Maintenance
Similarly, regular maintenance will help protect your home against minor issues causing bigger ones. A little cracking paint may not seem like a big issue. However, paint protects the structure underneath it. Fixing the issue early involves a little sanding and painting. Waiting may mean mold, rot or other issues.

Again, it is significantly cheaper and easier to address problems promptly. This is one area that the right warranty and insurance can come in handy. For example, if your air conditioning is making a strange sound, you can use your warranty to get it checked and fixed rather than just waiting. That could save you from having to replace the whole system in the near future.

Meet Your Neighbors
Your neighbors are one of your best protections against issues such as unwanted entrants, fire and other similar problems. The people who live around you can e your eyes and ears when you aren’t home. While not every neighbor is interested in looking out for you, getting to know the people around you can never hurt.

Plus, this has the added benefit of enjoying your local community. It is often nicer to live in a neighborhood when you are friends with those around you. So, get out there and get to know people, at least the ones on either side of your house.

These tips will help you protect your new home. They can give you peace of mind when you are out. Your home is a major investment and keeping it safe both physically and financially is worth the effort. Give these ideas a try in your new home.

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07/29/2024

Things To Consider When Choosing A New Neighborhood

Moving is a tough process because of the different elements you have to think about that affect how much you’ll enjoy your new home. One of these factors is the neighborhood that your prospective houses or apartments reside, as it can play a role in how much you are able to relax, advance in your career, and keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

That’s why you need to review certain necessities that your neighborhood must have to ensure a comfortable living experience. These factors will affect how much money you’ll have to spend, your ability to do your job, and how much fun you can have on the weekends. Here are some things to consider when choosing a new neighborhood.

Safety
It can be easy to get attracted to an apartment or house you found online just because it has a low selling price. However, low cost and high quality don’t always line up, and a cheap rental could actually mean you are getting a bad deal. The picture of the home on the website might look pleasant, but they may not be showing that it is located in an area with poorly constructed homes and high crime.

It helps to communicate with mortgage services and real estate agents in person and at the location so that you know what you’re getting yourself into. This is especially important for parents who want their kids to grow up in a safe environment without having to worry about possibilities of violence breaking out just down the street.

Housing Prices
The most important things in life cost money, and homes are certainly no exception. As much as the houses at the top of your list may have a high-quality design and reside in a safe and productive neighborhood, this is often associated with higher prices, whether it’s for the down payment, monthly bills, or both. This is why you need to form a budget before you start looking at neighborhoods so that you will be able to afford your new home.

Finding a neighborhood that has a balance between housing prices and the quality of living will help you find the best spot for you and your family. This should also come in handy if your friends or current neighbors are also looking to move and you want to show them a neighbor that will suit their financial needs.

Work
One of the main reasons for why people choose to live in certain neighborhoods is because of the opportunities that are available for careers. Whether you’re still in college or are looking to make a career change, it helps to live somewhere that provides an abundance of options so that you can fall back on another path in case your first choice doesn’t work out.

Commuting plays another role in where people choose to live, as the distance between your neighborhood and your job if it is out of town can affect how much money you have to spend on traveling. This also affects how much you have left over to take care of bills, tuition and other expenses, as well as how likely you are to stay at the job, or in that neighborhood.

Education
If you’re a parent, you’re thinking about more than what’s best for you when considering what neighborhood is best for your family. The next town that you call home needs to have the right sources of education for your children so that they can grow up prepared for the real world and able to fulfill their dreams. The more options your neighborhood provides for school, the better off your kids will be.

Education is also a significant element for picking neighborhoods for those who are still in college or going to grad school. People in these situations are also likely to be working part-time or full-time jobs while they continue their studies on the weekends. Being close to universities will make the living experience and career progress more enjoyable in this case. But, it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. There are a variety of accredited online and continuing education degree programs to choose from.

Attractions
No neighborhood is complete with sources of fun, as you’ll want there to be something fun to do close by so that you don’t have to spend time and money driving out of town to find entertainment. The neighborhood you decide to move to should have plenty of attractions activities available that provide something new to do every day so that you don’t get bored.

It helps to pick a neighborhood that has an equal distance between the more populated areas and spots that are closer to nature. This means that you can enjoy the night life and parties commonly associated with cities on Friday nights with your friends and then go hiking or fishing with your family Saturday afternoon. Restaurants should also come in varieties so that you have something new to try.

Remember these factors so that you find the neighborhood that is right for you.

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07/01/2024

Common Loan Conditions

Loan Conditions are items the lender wants clarification on before issuing a full approval. In all my years in mortgage lending, I don’t recall a single loan that didn’t have loan conditions. Some conditions are more serious than others, however. The more serious ones are deemed ‘prior to doc’ which means the lender won’t draw closing papers until these items are cleared. There might be some additional income showing up on some bank statements that don’t match up with regular paycheck stubs. The lender wants to know where this money came from and make sure it’s not a loan that has to be paid back at some point.

Yet there are some common loan conditions that appear regularly and borrowers shouldn’t be alarmed at them. One common condition is to provide another paycheck stub, even though you already submitted your pay stubs when you first applied. Why ask for more stubs? Loan files need to have all credit documents be less than 30 days old. If the file is going on 30 days, another stub will be needed to keep the loan in compliance.

Another might be to answer an ‘AKA’ query. This happens when someone applied for credit in the past under another name. This can happen to men or women but it’s more common for women who of course go by their maiden name, get married, and take the husband’s last name.

Another compliance issue relates to bank statements. And just like paycheck stubs, the statements need to be less than 30 days old. It’s good practice to have an additional stub or statement at the ready if the file is going to be more than 30 days old. This frequently occurs for those seeking an initial pre-approval who then go shopping for a home. At some point, the file will need to be updated once a property has been found and a sales contract signed.

One more final word of advice- don't freak out when the lender comes back and asks for more stuff. In most cases, it’s nothing more than some clarification or keeping the loan within the 30-day compliance period. Sometimes borrowers can get nervous when the lender has some questions, but in almost every case, it’s minor.

It’s your loan officer that will guide you with what needs to be provided at application time. Do nothing more than provide the lender with what is being asked for and move on. Don’t sweat it.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]

06/05/2024

One Story or Two Story? The Advantages and Disadvantages of Each

Do you dream of a rambling ranch home? Perhaps the two-story place you grew up in is serving as inspiration for your home search. There are some homebuyers who insist they want a one-story home and those who wouldn’t dream of buying something without stairs.

Are you open to either? Do you feel like the right home will “speak” to you regardless of the number of floors? Let’s take a look at some of the realities of living of both, with a few things you may not have thought of.

Cost-per-square-foot

A one-story home may seem more expensive if it’s priced against a larger two-story home, but you have to take the price-per-square-footage into account to see the value. They typically “cost less per square foot to build,” said Bensonwood. “That’s because the most expensive elements of home-building—excavation/foundation and rafters/roof installation—are being built on a smaller footprint. Plus, you’ll have less roof area to maintain.”

Containing the mess

Kids may be more likely to keep their mess contained to the second level, where guests won’t see it. When their rooms are on the main level, their stuff has a way of migrating into main living areas.

Stairs are dangerous

Yes, people do fall down the stairs. In fact, the National Safety Council ranks stairway falls “second only to motor vehicle accidents as a leading cause of accidental injury,” according to USClaims. Injuries can include bruises, sprains, and bone breaks, as well as more serious traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis.

If the potential for injury is of concern, especially with young children, there are precautions you can take to make stairs safer, including carpeting the surface and making sure the area is well-lit.

The health benefits

Stairs give you a built-in butt workout, but they’re actually good for the whole body. “Climbing stairs is a great form of cardio exercise,” said Truweight. “While climbing stairs, you work against gravity lifting your entire body. This activity strengthens your leg muscles making it a rather strenuous exercise.” It can also “improve your heart rate and health” as well as strengthen joints and muscles.

Let the fresh air in

If you have a one-story home, you likely keep the windows locked up tight, especially at night. But there’s a sense of security that comes from being upstairs. And, as a sales associate in Boston said, “A thief is unlikely to shimmy up your drain pipe just to check out your goods, and far less likely to shimmy down it with your flat-screen TV.”

You may be safer in an emergency

You should have an evacuation plan for everyone in the household to follow regardless of what type of home you live in. But, some buyers prefer to have a single-story because it can be easier to evacuate in an emergency.

“Unfortunately, natural disasters—and some manmade disasters such as fires—do happen,” said The Balance. “This can be a primary consideration depending on your location. You might have to think about the possibility of tornadoes in the Midwest, tidal flooding on the Eastern seaboard, or earthquakes in California. In any case, you'll want to be able to evacuate your home quickly and efficiently under the worst circumstances, maybe even while you're still half asleep. This tends to be easier in a one-story dwelling.”

Defined spaces

Bedrooms upstairs, gathering spaces downstairs. That's the way it should be, right? That’s what many families lean toward—hence the enduring popularity of these plans.

Mobility issues

Young families aren’t the only ones who prefer single-story homes. If you’re approaching retirement age, you may be thinking about whether or not it’s smart to buy a home with stairs. The truth is mobility issues may be many years away or they may never affect you at all. There are also ways you can adapt a two-story home, like adding a chairlift or elevator. Or, you can choose a single story for your forever home and forgo the hassle or expensive renovations.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]

05/16/2024

Thinking of Selling? You Want an Agent with These Skills

Selling your house is a big decision. Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ve probably ever made, and it’s a place where you’ve created countless memories. That combo means there’s going to be a lot of emotions involved. You want someone who understands your perspective, knows what it feels like, and is an expert at helping homeowners just like you navigate the process of selling a home.

That’s where a good listing agent, also known as a seller’s agent, comes in. Here are just a few skills you’ll want your agent to have.

The Ability To Turn Something Complex into Something Simple
Some agents are going to use big, fancy real estate terms to try and impress you. But you shouldn’t have to know all the industry jargon in order to understand what they’re saying. If anything, it’s an agent’s job to keep it simple, so you don’t get overwhelmed or confused.

A great agent is going to be someone who is very good at explaining what’s happening in the housing market in a way that’s easy to understand. But they’ll take it one step further than that. They’ll explain what’s going on and, specifically, what that means for you. That way you’re always in the loop and it’s a lot easier to feel confident when you’re making a big decision. As Business Insider explains:

“Maybe you have a better rapport with one of the agents you’re considering, or you just feel like they’re easier to approach. You’re going to be working closely with this person, so it’s important to choose an agent you’re comfortable with.”

A Data-Based Approach on How To Price Your House
While it may be tempting to pick the agent who suggests the highest asking price for your house, that strategy may cost you. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement when you see a bigger number, but overpricing your house can have consequences. It could mean your house will sit on the market longer because the higher price is actually turning away buyers.

Instead, partner with an agent who’s going to have an open conversation about how they recommend you should price your house. They won’t throw out a number just to win your listing. A great agent will back up their number with solid data, explain their pricing strategy, and make sure you’re both on the same page. As NerdWallet explains:

“An agent who recommends the highest price isn’t always the best choice. Choose an agent who backs up the recommendation with market knowledge.”

A Fair, but Objective Negotiator
The home-selling process can be emotional, especially if you’ve been in your house for a long time. But that sentimental tie can make it harder to be objective during negotiations. That’s where a trusted professional can really make a difference.

They’re skilled negotiators who know how to stay calm under pressure. You can count on them to handle the back-and-forth and have your best interests at heart throughout the process. Not to mention, they’ll be able to rely on their market expertise and what they’re seeing work in other transactions to offer the best advice possible. As Rocket Mortgage explains:

“Whether this is your first or third time selling a house, listing agents work to help make the home selling process smoother and less stressful. These real estate professionals know the ins and outs of the industry and can help you secure the best deal.”

Whether you're a first-time seller or you’ve been through this before, a great listing agent is the key to your success. Connect with a real estate professional so you have a skilled local expert by your side to guide you through every step of the process.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]

04/29/2024

How to Choose the Perfect Smart Home Hub

You hear a lot of talk about smart homes, which may come with the need for a hub.

Smart home automation helps make life more convenient. When you have a smart home hub, devices that come from different manufacturers can be connected and then interact with one another through the automation platform.

Automation hubs give you a way to unify everything connected in your home, so you can control them through one app.

Automation hubs aren’t always needed, though. Most smart home devices have their own app through which you can control them. If they need a hub or bridge, they may come with one.

With a multi-purpose hub, again, you can control everything with a centralized app, so it can be a preference for some people, although not a necessity.

Do You Need a Hub?
When you’re deciding whether or not you even need a hub, you want to think about the type of components that make up your smart home system and how many devices you need to control.

As mentioned, certain devices don’t need a hub at all or come with their own. For example, Philips Hue Smart Lights have their own hub that connects to a router, serving as a bridge between your smartphone and the devices.

The Nest thermostat can also work without a hub, and networked speakers from Sonos do as well as Ring doorbells.

It’s becoming more popular for TVs from brands like LG and Samsung to serve as a hub, and Apple TV can be a hub if you have devices compatible with the HomeKit system.

The more smart products you add into the mix, the more you may need a hub.

You can also use a hub to control several devices simultaneously and create “scenes.” For example, if you’re going to watch a movie, you might have a programmed scene so that your hub will automatically dim your lights, close the blinds, lock the doors and adjust the heating in your living room.

Which Hubs Are Available?
With the popularity of smart home devices and the Internet of Things, as you might guess, there are many hub options out there.

Amazon Echo 4th Generation is good if you’re an Alexa user.

The Amazon Echo 4th generation can connect to numerous low-power devices. The routines of Alexa are pretty advanced, so you can use a lot of triggers to activate other devices. It works along with Alexa Guard, which can listen for smoke alarms and glass breaking, and then turn on your home’s lights and notify you if there’s an emergency.

The Samsung SmartThings Hub v3 is also an excellent choice. It has Zigbee and Z-Wave inside it, and you can connect to hundreds of devices. You can also create a lot of different scenes and scenarios, and SmartThings, as of fairly recently, works with Nest products.

Apple HomeKit supports fewer devices than Google’s platform, but it does let you create routines and scenes with more complexity.

The HomePod mini works with HomeKit, and it’s a smart speaker and a HomeKit hub so you can connect your lights, locks, and other low-power devices.

The Amazon EchoDot is one of the cheaper hubs, and it will work if your devices have WiFi or Bluetooth, although it doesn’t have Z-Wave or Zigbee.

Finally, another good choice is the Google Nest Hub Max.

One of its strongest points is the smart display with a large 10-inch screen. It has powerful dual speakers, and the camera is perfect for Google Duo video calls.

The Nest Hub Max has Bluetooth, Thread, and Wi-Fi. You can use the display to view live footage from home security cameras as long as they’re compatible with Google Assistant. You can also view footage from video doorbells and baby monitors, and the on-screen controls allow for adjusting your light levels.

When comparing all the available options, you need to think about your goals and what you plan to control. You may not need a hub if you have just one or two smart devices. If you have several, a hub can be worth it to you.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]

03/22/2024

CreditSmart® is financial and homeownership education and on your terms.

01/05/2024

3 Keys To Hitting Your Homeownership Goals in 2024

If buying or selling a home is your goal for 2024, it’s important to understand today’s housing market, know your why, and work with industry experts to bring your homeownership vision for the new year into focus.

Over the last year, the economy had a big impact on the housing market, and likely on your wallet too. That’s why it’s critical to have a clear picture of not just the market today, but also on what you want out of it when you buy or sell a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist explains:

“The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing market is to be laser focused on what you need now and in the years ahead, so that you can stay in your home long enough that buying is a sound financial decision.”

Here are a few things to think through as you define your goals for 2024.

1. Know Your Why
You’re dreaming about making a move for a reason – what is it? No matter what’s happening in the market, there are still many compelling reasons to buy a home today. Your needs may have changed in a way your current house can’t address, or you could be ready to step into homeownership for the first time. Use your why and your motivation as a guidepost in partnership with an expert advisor to make sure your move gives you a lasting sense of accomplishment.

2. Figure Out What Your Next Home Needs To Look Like
You know you want to move, but how would you describe your dream home? The number of homes for sale has grown recently, and that could mean more options to choose from when you buy. But overall housing supply is still lower than more normal years in the market, so you’ll have to work closely with a pro to find what you’re looking for. Just be sure to keep your budget in mind as you balance your wants and needs. The better you understand what’s essential and where you can be flexible, the easier it will be to find a home that’s right for you.

3. Determine if You’re Ready To Buy
Getting clear on your budget and available savings is essential before you get too far into the process. Partnering with a local agent and a lender early is the best way to make sure you’re in a good position to buy. This could include planning how much to save for a down payment, getting pre-approved for a home loan, and assessing your current home equity if you’re selling your existing house.

A Professional Will Guide You Through Every Step of the Process
Buying or selling a home takes expertise to navigate. If that feels a bit overwhelming, that’s normal. Don’t let uncertainty hold you back from your goals this year. A trusted expert will help you bridge that gap and give you the facts and advice you need about today’s housing market.

Bottom Line
Work with a local real estate agent and build a team of industry professionals to be sure you hit your homeownership goals in 2024.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]

11/29/2023

Benefits of Buying a House as a Married Couple

Whether you benefit from getting a mortgage as a married couple depends on the circumstances each borrower brings to the table. If both you and your spouse have great credit, good income, and a low amount of debts, then you could complement one another in the application process. On the other hand, if one spouse has bad credit, many debts, or irregular income, it could hurt the situation. Generally, however, spouses that can benefit one another provide great benefits to the mortgage process.

Income Helps Immensely
One of the greatest benefits of getting a mortgage as a married couple is the amount of income you can use. If you both work, you get to use both sources of income to qualify. The income must be stable, long-term, and able to continue for the foreseeable future to count. In addition, you must be able to prove the income with full documentation, which includes paystubs, W-2s, and possibly tax returns. For example, if you held the same job for 5 years, get paid a salary, and regularly received raises in those five years, your income could help the mortgage application. Spouses that job hop, had a decrease in income recently, or cannot prove their income with W-2s and/or tax documents, might not benefit the situation.

Credit Scores can Help
Both your credit and your spouse’s credit play a role in your ability to get approved. If both spouses have great credit, the odds are in your favor to get approved for a mortgage. If, however, one spouse has issues with his credit, it can bring your favorable terms down. The lender will look at the lowest score between the two of you for qualifying purposes. So this is another situation where the credit can either help or hurt you. If one spouse has bad credit, the mortgage terms would be based on the lower credit.

The Amount of the Down Payment
Two people can bring together more money for a down payment than just one person, which is another great benefit of getting a mortgage as a married couple. This is especially true if you wish to secure conventional financing. The higher your down payment, the lower your fees, interest rate, and private mortgage insurance become. In fact, if you are able to scrape together 20% to put down on the home, between you two, you would not have to pay PMI at all.

The Debt Ratio can be Favorable
One of the most beneficial aspects of buying a home as a married couple is the ability to balance out the debt ratio. Let’s say, for example, you have a lot of debt and your DTI exceeds the limit for any mortgage program. Your spouse, on the other hand, has minimal debt and great income. When you combine the two incomes and even the two debt loads, you have a lower debt ratio than you had originally when it was just you.

When Getting a Mortgage as a Married Couple Backfires
As with anything, there are times when getting a mortgage as a married couple backfires. Typically, you balance one another out, whether that means with credit scores, income, or debts. But there are some instances where one spouse can really ruin the chances of securing a mortgage. If there is evidence of bad credit, sporadic income, or excessive debts, this could be the case. The good news is that in most states, you can secure financing on your own and then add your spouse to the title, giving him rights to the property without ruining your chances for financing.

The best way to determine if getting a mortgage as a married couple is beneficial is to talk to your lender. Apply for a mortgage both ways, with both of you on it and separately. This way you can tell which way you will have the most benefits and favorable terms. The lender can run your scenario several different ways in a short amount of time, giving you all of your options. This way you can make an informed decision, as purchasing a home is one of the largest investments you will likely make in your life and as a married couple.

Contact Scott Sutherland Content Marketing To Get Your Personalized Content. [email protected]