Moving from the city to the suburbs can be a big adjustment for some people. Many homeowners who make the move look forward to living a more peaceful, laidback lifestyle, while others crave the hustle and bustle of the city once it’s gone. Before purchasing Lowry real estate, it’s important to make sure that you’re ready to make this move. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Will I have a long commute?

One of the reasons why some people end up being unhappy in the suburbs is their commute. Many office buildings are located in the city, which means people who live in the suburbs must drive farther to get to work. Be sure to do a test drive from the suburbs to your place of employment—during rush hour—so you can see how long it will take.

Will I have a car?

Parking is limited in the city, and since many places are within walking distance, a lot of city dwellers rely on public transportation instead of buying a car. But, using public transportation to get from point A to point B is more difficult in the suburbs. Therefore, it’s best to only move to the suburbs if you will have a car to get you where you need to go.

What will the taxes be?

Another thing to consider before making the move is property taxes. The property taxes within a city can vary depending on the part of town. Talk to a realtor to find out if you should expect property taxes to increase or decrease once you move to the suburbs. If the property tax will be more than what you’re used to paying, make sure to factor this into your budget.

How will I spend my free time?

There’s always something happening just a few steps away when you’re living in the city. If you still want to spend your free time having fun, research the suburban area ahead of time to learn what people do during their spare time. For example, if you usually go to a yoga studio in the city a few times a week to unwind, find one in the suburbs. Take a class there on the weekends to see if the experience is similar to the one offered in the city. Doing this will give city dwellers a better idea of what to expect when they move to the suburbs.

Does my family need more space?

The main reason why people move from the city to the suburbs is space. Suburban homes offer far more space, which means they are perfect for growing families. If you’re running low on space, a move to the suburbs may be the best decision. See 5 reasons Millennials are rushing to the suburbs.

Do you think you’re ready to move from the city to the suburbs? If so, it’s time to get in touch with the professionals. Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.

Buying a home can sometimes seem like an unachievable dream if you are struggling financially, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you are committed to reaching your goal, it may be possible to save enough for a down payment in just one year. How? Follow these tips to save up for a house on the Goldsmith real estate market:

Stop Spending On Non-Essentials

Take a good look at your spending habits to determine what non-essential items you are wasting money on every month. Do you need to go out to dinner multiple times a week? Do you have to pay for a membership at a high-end gym if you really don’t use all of the extra amenities it offers? These luxuries may make your life more enjoyable, but if you want to save for a home, you should only be spending money on the essentials. You can go back to treating yourself with these luxuries in the future, but for now, focus solely on saving for a home.

Reduce Your Rent

One of the main reasons why people have such a hard time saving for a home is because they have to spend the majority of their income on rent. If you find yourself in this situation, brainstorm ways that you can cut back on rent. Can you downsize to a smaller, less expensive home for the next year? Do you have a friend or family member that you could move in with so you could share living expenses with another person? If so, take advantage of these opportunities so you can save money every month.

Send A Portion of Your Paycheck to Your Savings Account

Get in touch with the payroll department at your work and ask them to send a percentage of each of your paychecks to your savings account instead of depositing 100% of the money in your checking account. Making this change ensures that you won’t ever have access to the money that is sent directly to your savings account, so you won’t be tempted to spend it. Learn how to save for a house in 10 simple steps.

Cut Your Commute

Do you have a long commute to work? People that have to drive a long distance to get to work spend far too much money on gas for their cars. If you’re trying to save money, talk to your supervisor and find out if it’s possible for you to work from home several days a week. Be honest about why you’re asking for this opportunity so they understand how important it is to you. If the idea is approved, put all of the money that you would have been spending on gas aside for your new home.

Do you have enough saved to finally begin searching for your dream home in Goldsmith? If so, get in touch with the professionals. Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.

The new year is quickly approaching, and many people are making a resolution to buy a new home in 2018. If you want to close on your dream home by the end of next year, there are a few things you can do now to start preparing. Here’s how to get ready to buy a home on the University Hills real estate market in 2018:

Take Advantage of the Holidays

A lot of people may be asking if there’s anything special that you want for the holidays this year. Instead of asking for new clothes or the latest smartphone, ask your friends and family to contribute to your down payment. Even if you already have enough to make a down payment on your own, you should still take advantage of the holidays and collect as much cash as you can to put towards your new home. If you don’t end up using the extra money for the down payment, save it to cover the cost of new furniture or moving into your new home.

Put the Credit Cards Away

Speaking of the holidays, it’s best to avoid charging a lot on your credit cards as you shop for your loved ones. Increasing the balance on your credit cards could lower your credit score, which could affect your ability to secure a mortgage from lenders. Now is the time to focus on paying off some of your credit card debt instead of adding to it, so create a budget for the holidays and stick to it. See 6 ways to budget for the holiday season.

Interview Real Estate Agents

The winter is typically the slowest season for the real estate industry, which means it’s the best time to interview real estate agents. Local agents shouldn’t be as busy during this time of year, so they should be more than willing to get in touch with you to discuss your search for a dream home. Take your time and find a real estate agent that seems to understand exactly what you’re looking for so you can ensure the home buying process goes as smoothly as possible.

Look At the Current Market

Even if you’re not ready to start looking at homes in person, it’s recommended that you take a look online to see the homes that are currently on the market. This will give you a better idea of how much you will need to spend in order to get the type of home that you want for your family. But, keep in mind that prices may be somewhat lower during this time of year since it is the slow season.

Now that you know how to prepare to become a homebuyer in 2018, you’re ready to get in touch with the professionals. Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey. Even if you’re not ready to start your search, we would be happy to answer any questions you have about becoming a homeowner.

Finding a new home for your family can be difficult, especially because it’s not just about finding a home that you, yourself love. It’s important to look for a new house that everyone in your family will love—even your furry, four-legged friends. Here’s what you should look for when shopping for a pet-friendly home in University Park in Denver:

Pet-Friendly HOA

If a home is in a HOA community, make sure you ask if there are any pet restrictions you should know about. Some HOA communities do not allow certain dog breeds, while others have a weight limit for pets. Buyers who have large dogs or a dog breed that is known for its aggressiveness may not be welcome in HOA communities, so this is something you should ask about before even seeing the house.

Fenced Yard

A pet-friendly home will have a fenced-in yard so owners can let their pets run around outside without worrying about them getting loose. If the home has a fence, make sure that it is sturdy and tall enough to keep your pet contained.

Other Pets in the Neighborhood

Find out if there are other pets in the neighborhood by driving through the community at various times throughout the day to see if anyone is outside walking with their pets. If a lot of people in the area have pets, it means you shouldn’t have trouble finding someone to watch your pet while you are out of town or making friends while you walk your dog in the evenings.

Flooring

Now, it’s time to look inside the house. If the home is covered in light colored carpet, don’t expect this to last for very long. Pets tend to drag in dirt and mud, so the light colored carpet will get dirty fairly quick if you have a pet. Hardwood is another flooring material that is not very pet-friendly. If you don’t trim your pet’s nails regularly, they can scratch the surface of your hardwood, leaving visible marks.

The best flooring choices for families with pets are laminate and tile, since they don’t stain or scratch easily. If possible, try to find a home with laminate or tile in the high traffic rooms such as the kitchen and bedrooms. Read 9 tips for a chic, pet-friendly home.

Stairs

Does the home have stairs? If your pet can climb stairs, this shouldn’t be an issue. But if your pet is older, he may have trouble climbing up and down the stairs. Think about how you can block off the stairs to prevent him from trying to make the climb. If you think it would be possible to add a gate to keep your pet away from the stairs, this shouldn’t stop you from buying a two-story home.

Are you ready to find your dream home on the University Park real estate market? If so, get in touch with the professionals. Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.

Potential buyers in Observatory Park will see listing photos of your home before they get the chance to see the home in person. For this reason, it’s important to make sure your home looks its best in the photos so it makes a good first impression. Working with a real estate agent who takes professional photos is crucial. But, is your home ready to be photographed? Get your house camera-ready by following these tips:

Remove Clutter

A home should be completely clutter-free if it is about to be photographed by a professional photographer. Are there shoes by the front door or car keys sitting on the kitchen counter? Find a spot to put these items before the photos are taken. The cleaner and more organized the home looks, the more appealing it will be to potential buyers. Learn how to declutter your entire home going room by room.

Make the Beds

The beds in your home may already be made, but are they made up well enough to be photographed? Take another look to find out. Fluff the pillows and straighten the bed skirt so everything looks picture perfect. If you have decorative pillows that you never put on the bed, now is the time to bring them out. The goal is to make the bedrooms look as if they belong on the pages of a interior design magazine.

Hide Personal Items

Potential buyers should be able to visualize themselves in the home, but this can be hard to do if there are personal items in every listing photo. Make it easier for them by removing personal items such as family photos or kids’ trophies before the photos are taken.

Consider Staging

If you have already moved out, talk to your real estate agent about staging the home before photos are taken. A professional stager will bring furniture into the home in order to make it look more appealing to potential buyers. This is a great idea for homes that are vacant since it gives potential buyers the opportunity to visualize how each room can be used.

Focus on the Exterior

The outside of the home is just as important as the inside, so don’t forget to prepare the exterior of your home for listing photos. Spend an afternoon trimming shrubs, pulling weeds, and raking leaves in the yard so everything looks neat and orderly in the photos. You should also move lawnmowers, bicycles, hoses, and anything else that may be in your lawn into your garage or shed. Shortly before the photos are taken, add a fresh layer of mulch to the flower garden and around the base of your trees. Now, potential buyers will see that the outside of your home is just as beautiful as the inside!

Are you ready to sell your Observatory Park home? If so, get in touch with the professionals. Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.