New Mortgage Rates! Courtesy of Scott Jacobsen

 

Scott Jacobsen 

Vice President of Residential Lending

M (630) 673-3103  |  F (312) 592-2232

Create a Sale Worthy Home

Depersonalize

Buyers may not be able to see past personal belongings and may even be distracted by them. Remove personalized items, such as family photos, where possible, replacing them with generic items. 

Improve the exterior

Curb appeal is crucial to making a strong first impression. Lackluster landscape can turn buyers away even before they reach the front door. Seasonal potted flowers and plants can help make the house look polished. Repair damaged walkways and consider a fresh coat of paint on trim around windows and doors. Pressure-wash sidding if neccesrary.

Put things in storage

Rent a storage unit for items that can make a house appear clustered. Clean out closets and cabinets. If closets are brimming with stuff, buyers may assume the house doesn't have enough storage space. 

Make it light and bright

Open all the drapes and blinds, and turn on lights so the house is well-lit. Add table lamps or other lighting fixtures to dim rooms as needed.

Create an experience

Make bathrooms look like a spa. Stack pretty washcloths, add scented candles and faux plants and buy bathmats and towels in coordinating tones. Remove items from kitchen counters. Set up dining spaces as if one were sitting down to a meal. Ensure appliances are sparkling clean -- inside and outside.

Use common scents

Baked goods, vanilla and cinnamon make for appealing scents. Making a home sell fast involves preparation and the knowledge that buyers are often greatly influenced by their first impressions.

Ant Problem

Wet spring means more ants heading inside- here's how to deal with them.

Plenty of precipitation is a good thing for lawns and gardens. But it could also mean trouble with ants. Ant colonies flee into houses when the ground gets wet. Suburban pest control companies are noticing an uptick in ant-related calls. Research has shown bait gels and granular are products ants carry back to their colonies, which in turn destorys the problem at is source, are best ways to eliminate ants. Sprays spread pesticides in the house and may not solve the problem. 

Carptenter Ants
Dull, black ants, which can grow up to three-forths of an inch, dig into damp wood, often near leaking pipes or inadequately sealed windows. They don't eat wood but rather forage human food and insects. The ants burrow into door frames, wall voids and foam insulation. "It's important to deal with them swiftly and completely."

Pavement and Odorus Ants
These two species, especially, move inside during rains. The pavement ant is dark brown and about one-sixth of an inch long. The odorous ant releases and ammonia-type scent when crushed. Both are the easiest type of any to eliminate by properly sealing windows and cracks in a house's foundation with caulk.

Pharoah and Ghost Ants

These species still make it into hosues, many times through indoor plants bought at garden centers. Pharoh ants are yellowish brown and one of the few types that can sting, while ghost ants are defined by a dark head and translucent legs and body. Seek a professional to help rid houses of an infestation of these specicies. 

New Mortgage Rates! Courtesy of Scott Jacobsen

Scott Jacobsen 

Vice President of Residential Lending

M (630) 673-3103  |  F (312) 592-2232

Money Saving Tips - Part Seventeen

1. Get the good - student discount. If your teen gets good grades, you could get an average annual auto insurance discount of $263. 

2. Swap steak for pork chops. They cost 55 percent less than rib eye. Sub two pounds of chops every other week and save $230 yearly.

3. Buy plane tickets separately. Airlines require each person on a reservation to pay the same, even if cheaper seats are available. Buy separately and save the group $1,000. 

4. Work from home one day a week. For SUV drivers, the savings in commuting costs alone can be up to $1,965 a year.

New Mortage Rates! Courtesy of Scott Jacobsen from Residential Lending

Mortgage rates have dropped again for most products since my update two months ago. Let your buyers that are writing contracts this weekend know that mortgage rates are even lower.

Here are latest mortgage rates:

Conventional

30 year fixed = 4.25%

20 year fixed = 4.125%

15 year fixed = 3.75%

5 year ARM = 4.00%

7 year ARM = 4.125%  

FHA/VA 

15 year fixed = 4.125%

30 year fixed = 4.125%

Jumbo (loan amounts over $484,350)

30 year fixed = 4.375%

15 year fixed = 4.00%

5 & 7year ARM = 3.75%

10 year ARM = 4.00%

** Above rates considering 780+credit score, 25% down payment, owner occupied, 30 day rate lock, $250,001 minimum loan amount, purchase & escrows. Rates can change at any time without notice..

Please let me know if you have any mortgage related questions or have clients in need of a Mortgage Pre-Approval. Thanks for your support! 

You can contact Scott Jacobsen at
scott.jacobsen@mykeymortgage.com
(630) 673-3103

 

Scott Jacobsen 

Vice President of Residential Lending

Cheers to Caffeine

If you're trying to lose wight...

Consider a cup before breakfast. One study featured in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that participants ate 10 percent less food at breakfast if they consumed a small amount of caffeine first. 

If you're exercising...

Drink a cup of strong coffee about an hour and a half before hitting the gym. The adrenaline increase from the caffeine helps your body break down fat, and you may improve your physical performance. 

If you're worried about sleep quality...

Try decaf. Decaffeinated coffee has similar nutritional benefits as its caffeinated counterpart without the shot of adrenaline. 

Why drink coffee?

Coffee consumption has been linked to lower risks of several diseases, including: 

- Cardiovascular disease

- Dementia 

- Parkinson's disease 

- Reduced DNA damage in those with hepatitis C

- Some cancers

- Stroke

- Type 2 diabetes 

Coffee also contains nutrients, such as:

- Antioxidants. Coffee is America's No. 1 source of antioxidants, beating out fruits, vegetables and chocolate. 

- Niacin 

- Magnesium

- Potassium 

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, caffeine was shown to decrease the risk of depression. 

Fewer than four cups a day may help your heart rhythm. 

Caffeine increases adrenaline in your body, which can boost alertness and awareness.