So you just signed the final paperwork and closed on your very first home. Congratulations are in order as this is a huge milestone to achieve in your life! Now that the stress of house hunting, negotiating and providing documentation has come to an end, it is time to take a sigh of relief knowing that you are now a homeowner. While it might be tempting to dive right into picking out paint colors, furniture, decor and personalizations that will make your new house feel like a home, it is important to make some responsible financial preparations first.

Make higher payments

Many first-time home buyers have loans with PMI (private mortgage insurance) included in their monthly payment. PMI is usually issued by the bank on a mortgage where the down payment is less than 20%. PMI is an additional payment or insurance that the bank collects to protect itself from a potential default on the loan. Typically a 20% down payment is required to secure the property as an asset for the bank in the event of a foreclosure. Depending on your type of mortgage, PMI will come off of the monthly payment once you have hit the 20% equity milestone. 

Everyone is looking to make some extra money these days. If you have a rental property at your disposal, why not turn it into a VIP Airbnb and make some extra cash? 

Airbnb’s are becoming extremely popular places to stay for travelers. They offer a homier experience than a hotel, where renters usually have access to not only a room to sleep in but to a living room and kitchen. Airbnb’s can also accommodate larger groups of friends traveling together at a fraction of the price of hotels. And with it being so easy to find a deal on a great Airbnb, it’s no wonder more and more people are choosing to book an Airbnb over a traditional hotel.

Getting set up is easy. Start at Airbnb.com. 

Begin by answering a few basic questions about your property listing. You can list it as a house, apartment, bed and breakfast and more. Airbnb allows you to post your listing free of charge. 

The beginning of 2020 debuted with news of a pandemic threatening the world’s population. As the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold, economic activity is being slowed down while uncertainty looms over many sectors. The real estate market is one of the areas not immune to the crisis, facing new challenges as the situation evolves. 

At the beginning of the year, the real estate industry was off to a good start, despite limited inventory and affordability issues. Low interest rates fueled both existing home sales and new home sales in January, marking the second month of year-over-year increased activity.

However, the coronavirus hit just in time for the spring season which was supposed to be the peak time for house hunting and selling. In the midst of the crisis, there may be some reluctance to buy or sell until the crisis is contained, but as of now the real estate business is still running and people’s need to move has not entirely changed.

Four Executives of Realty Executives Edge (formerly Realty Executives of Cape County), of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, were recently honored by Southeast Missouri REALTORS® at the annual installation and award luncheon.  Executives Lois Long, Raelenna Ferguson, Becky Buehler and Bill Cole were among the award recipients.

Southeast Missouri REALTORS® is a local trade association that provides its members with opportunities for collaboration and cooperation in order to educate, promote growth, protect the rights of property owners, and support economic expansion in Southeast Missouri.  With over 300 REALTORS® and more than 70 affiliated businesses, the association serves Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, and Perry counties.

Lois Long was awarded REALTOR® of the Year.  This award is given to a member of the association who best lives up the REALTOR® mission statement and is active in community service or volunteer work.  Long joined Realty Executives in 2012.

First Time in Company’s 43 Years

Realty Executives Saskatoon, located in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, has achieved the #1 brokerage status in their area for the first time in the company’s 43 year history. This honor is earned based on sales volume and percentage of market share in the Saskatoon area.

The Realty Executives brokerage reported a sales volume of $672,808,879,and a market share of 21.62 percent for Saskatoon and area. Broker/Owner Wayne Zuk, is excited to accomplish a goal that has been a long time in the making. Realty Executives Saskatoon has been a part of the Realty Executives International franchise since 1995.

In the real estate marketplace, the cost of owning a house is quite high. So, not a surprise when you wish to gain a profit once you decide to resell. However, this wish could be a costly one, as it would involve some renovations here and there. This process of renovation and cleaning is called home staging.

Home staging involves the preparation of a private residence for sale in real estate markets. The whole concept aims at creating a more appealing impression to potential buyers; thereby selling the house more swiftly and at an increased price. 

With the holidays just around the corner, so much time and effort goes into preparing a wonderful feast for your guests, from the appetizers right through to the desserts. 

But what about your faithful furry friend? Your dog has a great sense of smell and all of the wonderful scents that waft through the air during this period will be like heaven to your pooch if they know they’ll be getting some of the leftovers. 

However, while some foods make great pet names, not all food is safe for your dog to eat; do you know which foods are safe for your dog, and which aren’t?

Linda Weis is a busy lady on any given day, but for the last six weeks or so, she’s spent countless hours researching candidates applying to become the next justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.

Weis, of Manhattan, is the owner of Realty Executives. She’s also one of nine people on the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which recently went from years of dormancy to high gear with the retirements of Justice Lee Johnson and soon, Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.

“I just had to make time,” she said in an interview at her office Tuesday. “It’s the kind of thing you don’t say no to.”

On Thursday and Friday, the commission will interview the 19 candidates applying for Johnson’s seat on the court. Those interviews will be in Topeka.

Moving to a new house is an exciting experience. But once the last box of your things has been relocated, the process of adjustment begins.

As it’s in human nature to resist and get stressed about changes in life, this process could be quite challenging and result in certain side effects.

Having trouble falling asleep in a new room and a new bed is one of the most common of those effects. But why exactly does this happen and what can you do about it?