2021 Chicago Real Estate Market Trends: What Buyers & Sellers Should Know

Looking at Chicago real estate market trends, buyers and sellers will each benefit this year.

According to economists, we can expect home sales to grow, prices for homes to rise and buyer demand to remain high due to the influx of Millennial and Gen Z buyers (we’ll talk more about that later). For buyers, you’ll continue to see low mortgage rates and more homes for sale due to high homebuilder confidence.

Before we dig more deeply into these optimistic marketing trends and how to plan ahead, let’s talk about two housing market influencers on everyone’s mind: the election and the pandemic.

Housing Market Influencers: the Election & Pandemic

We all experienced a pandemic during an election year. This situation is really one for the history books, but what did that mean for our housing market here in Chicago? Well, while we had to change how we did business by leveraging technologies such as virtual home tours to attract buyers, the market remained strong. But will the presidential changing of the guard impact the market this year? Here’s what the experts think:

Election – The housing market is one economic area where there is a thriving business with the numbers to back it up. For instance, the National Association of Realtors reported that home sales in the US surged in September 2020 to levels unseen in 14 years. Plus, home sales had risen 12 percent in the third quarter of 2020 — the biggest jump in seven years. With mortgage rates at historic lows, economists believe that the housing market will be one of the strongest sectors of the US economy. So, despite election concerns, the consensus seems to be that the housing market will keep growing.

Pandemic – While the pandemic spread through the US, the market remained strong. New home sales jumped 43% in August of 2020 compared to 2019. Why? Millennials are the driving demographic here. Again, lower interest rates, a large population of interested homebuyers, and the realization that owning a home might be the key to work-life balance in this pandemic-impacted environment are the key factors.

In Illinois, home sales have increased 29 percent in November 2020 when compared to the previous November. And in the City of Chicago? That number is 17.6 percent. It’s an impressive increase given these complex housing market influencers and the pandemic recession we’re currently experiencing. There is strength and resilience in the real estate market.

2021 Chicago Real Estate Market Trends: How to Plan Ahead

Now that we know what the experts think and how the election and pandemic will influence (or not) the current housing market, how can home buyers and sellers prepare themselves? Here’s my advice:

For Buyers

1.  Take advantage of low mortgage rates before they go up. Realtor.com forecasts the rate will be up to 3.4% by the end of the year. In the long-term, lower mortgage rates save you money and lower your monthly costs. Now is the time to buy if you’re on the fence.

2. With high demands, the buying cycle is faster than ever. So, when you find a property you like, put your offer in quickly and expect a fast pace due to other interested buyers. This being the case, I always work fast with my clients to communicate with the home seller’s agent for quick responses. While rapid-fire negotiations can be nerve-racking, they are sometimes needed to end up with the home. I will do my best to make the process as simple and stress-less as possible.

For Sellers

1.  Prepare for Millennial and Gen-Z buyers by marketing your home in 2021. Investopedia calls it “tech-oriented house-hunting,” and they couldn’t be more right. People in their late 20s and 30s have certain expectations when they shop. They want to view properties on their mobile devices, text message agents, and engage in all types of multimedia during their home buying journey. In the past years, I have noticed this trend myself, and this is why I market my clients’ homes through video tours, interactive brochures, and online to create enticing property landing pages that get views.

2.  In a pandemic world, expect differences in how business is done. As I stated in the previous tip, you can expect online marketing to go a long way in attracting buyers. You can also expect communication through email and text messaging to avoid face-to-face meetings. Due to local regulations regarding social distancing, you may be asked to leave your home for a period of time while masked prospective buyers view your home. It’s all about managing safety to the level that is comfortable for both buyers and sellers.

Your 2021 Chicago Real Estate Guide

In 2021, we have so much to look forward to and be grateful for. The housing market in Chicago and nationwide is strong. The Chicago real estate outlook gives us an idea of what we can expect this year. Both home buyers and sellers have a lot to gain during their transactions despite the election and pandemic.

This year, allow me to be part of your home buying and home selling journeys. Several of my clients and I navigated 2020’s challenges, and I’m looking forward to bringing that working knowledge with me into the new year. Contact me today to get started.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/chicago-real-estate-market-trends-for-buyers-sellers/

Exciting Holiday Decorating Trends for 2020

 

Festive lights and decor get us excited for all things gift-giving and feasting. And to be honest, holiday decor just gives us something different and uplifting to look at. Here are a few holiday decorating trends that are likely to get us excited about and bring warmth to this year’s holiday at home.

DIY Decor

 

Without added commutes and social obligations, many of us find ourselves with time to spare. So why not create your holiday decor this year? The internet is full of fun ideas to make wreaths, garland, throw blankets, custom ornaments and so much more!

The great thing about DIY is that you can share what you make with others. The decorations you made yourself are great gifts for friends and family. Use what you have at home: scrap paper, yarn, ribbon, paper plates, and plastic cups. All these materials are useful when creating your own decor items. Not to mention, DIY decor is a wonderful way to reuse and recycle items.

Neutrals and Natural Elements

Holiday decorating trends 2020 are pushing neutrals — we’re talking wool, burlap, lumberjack checker patterns, woodland creatures, and chunky knits. We’re loving the basics this year; just the simple decor and subtle items seamlessly integrated into your home. You can put a wooly yarn wrapped wreath on your coat stand or a few new pillows on your couch with creamy colors and soft textures. It’s about creating a sense of warmth and comfort this holiday season.

Also, using neutrals is less disruptive to your home. If you’re looking to sell your home, this is a plus for buyers. They want to see your house as it is without too many distractions.

Front Door Decorations

Bring the holidays out to your neighbors this season. While we are all at home this year, you can add to the joy in your neighborhood or building by adding a festive wreath and signs on your front door. If you’re feeling in the DIY mood, wreaths are easy to make yourself! You can even make it a project that children can help with.

Whether you live in a South Loop townhome or New Eastside high rise, you can boost neighborhood morale by adding simple, festive touches to your front door. Check Pinterest for fun and easy front door decorations.

Spread Holiday Themes Throughout the House

Christmas decor is not limited to your living room. We suggest bringing a little bit into every room of your home! Here are some ideas to sprinkle holiday cheer throughout your home:

• Add seasonal hand towels and scented soaps to bathrooms.
• Place cheerful tea towels in the kitchen.
• Drape garland on the banisters.
• Buy cinnamon scented pine cones and place them around your home.
• Seasonal pillows make fun and cozy additions to sofas and beds.
• Warm flannel bed sheets aren’t an obvious addition, but they sure are nice.

 

Nostalgia Decor

 

These days, people are craving what they remember — grandma’s aluminum Christmas tree, this ceramic tree that everyone seemed to have, or mercury glass ornaments. Bring it all back and into your home for a beautiful and nostalgic holiday mood. Deck your halls with tinsel, baubles, and more. Bring on the kitsch!

If you have a home with a mid-century or Victorian aesthetic, you can work some of the era’s decor into your home. Mid-century decor relies on fun pastels, geometric shapes, and plastic accent pieces. Victorian decor, on the other hand, is quite traditional: luscious evergreen garlands, big bows, and stockings hung on the mantle are an exemplar of the season. Don’t be afraid to embrace something different this year if it boosts the overall look of your home.

Holiday Decorating Trends:  Do What You Like

This year, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays. It’s really about doing what feels right. What are your needs and wants? That’s what you should be rewarding yourself with this year when it comes to stylizing your home. Some people need cozy while others need bright and shiny. There are even those who want to celebrate their holiday the way their parents and grandparents did. Now is the time to start new traditions and fully immerse yourself in the mood of the season.

Need more style tips or want to discuss your next moves on buying or selling your home? I can help guide you! Contact me today to get started, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

 THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/exciting-holiday-decorating-trends/

 

 

Prepare Your Home for the Winter in Pandemic Year

The weather is already changing and the idea of living through cold weather during a pandemic is becoming a reality. Last year, we gave some simple tips to prepare your home for winter, but this year, things are different. We’re living through a time that has changed and will continue to change our behavior in order to ensure our safety. But don’t be discouraged! You can beat cabin fever with some creativity and at the same time, do some practical maintenance to protect your home from frigid temperatures. Let’s start with the practical action items to prepare your home for the winter this fall, and keep your home in top-selling condition.

Do a Fall Cleanup

While the weather is tolerable, let’s start winterizing the outside of the home with a fall cleanup.

When you prepare your single-family home or townhome for the winter, here are a few things you can do:

• Clean the Gutters: Clean gutters help snowmelt run smoothly. It prevents dangerous icicles from forming and moves water away from your home, preventing leaks and water damage.
• Trim Perennials: If your plants are coming back in the spring, trim them now to encourage new growth. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, there are many landscape companies that offer a winterizing package. They will mow your lawn for the final time and trim anything needed. The best part? They take clippings with them!
• Cover Outdoor Furniture: Protect your patio or balcony furniture by investing in good-quality covers. Windy, ice, and water can severely damage even the toughest materials.
• Sprinkler and Water Spigot Maintenance: Sprinkler systems should be drained and shut down for the season. Water in pipes can freeze and burst, causing a slew of issues. Garden hoses should be brought indoors, and water spigots should be covered. An insulating cover will reduce heat loss that is naturally transmitted through your home’s pipes.

For those in condos in neighborhoods like The Loop or New East Side, you don’t often have to worry about building and landscaping maintenance. However, there are some things you can do in your unit to make things more comfortable during the coldest winter months:

• Install Draft Stoppers: These foam or bean-filled rolls are placed at the bottom of your doors to keep cold drafts from entering your home. If you have any exterior doors, these are a must.
• Reverse the Rotation of Ceiling Fans: Changing the rotation of your fan will pull cool air up and displace the warm air near the ceiling.
• Get Insulated Curtains: Large windows bring lots of light in but they also cool your home. Heavy insulating curtains will keep your room much warmer.
• Buy a Humidifier: Humidifiers will put moisture into the air, relieving you of sinus congestion and dry skin so common during cold months. More moist air also means more efficient heating in your home.

Have Your HVAC System Checked & Ducts Cleaned

Comfort begins with temperature and humidity. So, one great thing you can do is to get your HVAC system serviced by a professional. They will make sure your filters are in good shape, check your home humidifier (or install one if you don’t have one), and let you know if there are any possible issues. You don’t want something to go wrong in the middle of a cold snap.

Have you noticed your allergies get worse when you turn on your heat for the season? You probably need to order a duct cleaning service. Duct cleaning is especially important if you have done any construction or remodeling in the home. The service is very affordable. Keep an eye out for deals or coupons in the mail from area companies. The deep cleaning will leave you breathing better.

Prepare Your Home for the Winter by Creating Cozy Spaces in Your Home

When you’re stuck inside, it’s important that you enjoy your surroundings. So, now’s the time to get some new throw pillows, lap blankets, and even an electric fireplace to create ambiance. The Danish people call this coziness “hygge,” and they understand how this feeling can lead to contentment.

Don’t just create one cozy space in your home, create several. That way, you can move around your home for a change of scenery. For instance, you can do your morning reading at the kitchen table with a lit candle that smells of your favorite things. Then, you can migrate to a window that faces the street to do some people watching. You can move a chair right in front of the window for the season (that means possibly rearranging your room). Embrace the change!

Make Plans for Being Inside

Movie nights, game nights, catching up on those books piled next to your bed — these are all things to do while you’re indoors. If you have kids, include them in your routine. Kids of all ages can help cook or clean, or at least they can watch you work. There are plenty of opportunities for teachable moments and quality time when you’re all together.

Make Plans for Being Outside

Cabin fever is a real thing. And cortisol levels will raise, along with your blood pressure. And the pandemic limits the indoor spaces we can visit. But in Chicago, we’re no strangers to cold weather, and we know what it feels like to bundle up and walk to the local drinking hole or grocery store. So, now’s the time to buy any outerwear you need to get outside even when it’s cold. With the right clothing, you can take walks, head to the dog park with your fur baby, or visit your favorite local shops without too much discomfort. Getting outside will revitalize you.

Planning to Sell your Home? Take Photos

While the leaves are changing and the snow is still a memory from last winter, take photos of your home if you’re planning to sell within the next six months. Not only will your home look flattering, but if you wait, snow can distort the look of your home. Pale gray skies can wash out colors and thus, the beauty of your home. Pick a sunny autumn day and have a photo shoot that shows off the best aspects of your property!

As we head into the cooler seasons, I want you to know that I’m here for you. These last months have been unusual to say the least, but rest assured, the housing market continues to operate with remarkable success. As you prepare your home for the winter, I’m here to guide you and help you sell your home no matter what the circumstances.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/prepare-your-home-for-the-winter-pandemic-year/

5 Design Tips for a Multifunctional Home

When it comes to city life, finding the space in your home to do all things you love can be challenging. And these days, we’re home more than ever. As we adjust to our new normal, we need to adapt the way we live and the way we work. Many of us are using our kitchen counters as offices and our coffee tables as desks for remote learning. Therefore, our homes need to be more versatile than ever. So, here are some clever interior design tips to make your home a masterpiece of multifunction.

Where do you start in Designing a Multifunctional Home?

The first thing to remember when designing a multifunctional home is to consider your personal needs. Do you need a quiet place to work? Are you comfortable working where you sleep? Are your kids comfortable virtual learning in their bedroom? Those things matter because your productivity matters. Here are 5 interior design tips for a multifunctional home that will make your space more workable for you as well as more desirable for prospective buyers.

1. Elevate Beds to Create More Space

Especially when it comes to kid’s rooms, space to play and space to sleep is crucial. Many city homes don’t have space for a dedicated play area. Bunk beds and loft beds elevate the sleeping space, making more room for play or study. Beneath loft beds, you can place a desk, book nook, or a pretend play area. These spaces grow with your child too. This extra space can be whatever it needs to be as your child ages. Bunk beds are ideal for children sharing a room and gives them communal space to play.

Adults benefit from loft beds too. These days, there are many small space solutions for sleeping. The space beneath the loft bed may be used for work or even as a petite wardrobe. Again, this bonus space is the key to creating a multifunctional room.

2. Eat-in Kitchens Can Be Formal, Too

In small homes, eat-in kitchens are often your only dining option, and that’s okay! These days, everyone congregates in the kitchen, and that’s because it’s where all the action is happening: drinks are being poured and appetizers being prepared! You can capitalize on all that magnetic energy to which your guests are called. While you might not be hosting much these days, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a space that’s attractive for prospective buyers. Help them envision dinner parties and get-togethers around your kitchen island. Even a two-seater eat-in kitchen can be made more exciting by adding cloth napkins and place settings. Mood lighting may be added with small lamps or a set of lovely candles, and fresh flowers are always a welcome sight.

3. Bring Back the Murphy Bed

The Murphy Bed was born of necessity – the inventor had a driving desire to hide his bed, so he could entertain his friends.  Murphy beds have come a long way from their beginnings in small New York apartments. These days, there are murphy beds set into wardrobes, secret wall compartments, or can be mounted horizontally! Murphy beds are a unique way to hide away a sleeping area to reclaim floor space. Now a room can be used for study, crafting, playtime, and so much more. The only limit is our imagination!

4.  Integrate Your Home Office… Anywhere!

Most of us living in the city are not lucky enough to have a dedicated office space. Thankfully, there are so many ways to integrate your home office anywhere you want to work in your home. It’s really about your comfort and ability to focus while you work. So, if you are happy to stand at your kitchen counter sipping coffee while catching up on your emails, that’s totally an option. If you prefer a dedicated area to sit and work, take a look around your home. There are plenty of murphy desks or tiny desks available to help you get your work done. A lamp will add extra lighting to work by, and a small area rug under the desk will define the space. Just like that, your workplace vignette will be complete.

5. Clutter Has No Place in a Multifunctional Home

Multifunctional spaces don’t work well if they take too long to transition. A multifunctional home should have integrated spaces, like the home office we discussed above, or it should take one or two steps to transition to another space. You can limit the effort needed by keeping things simple. In small spaces, home decor needs to be minimalist. Everything should have its place and utilize baskets and bins where necessary. Baskets and bins are easy to pick up and move to another area to make room for the desired activity. A clutter-free home also makes your rooms feel larger, and that’s attractive to home buyers.

If all these ideas and interior design tips are not enough to help you reclaim some space in your home, up-sizing is always an option. Today, many buyers are taking advantage of the low-interest rates to buy larger homes. As always, I’m here to offer guidance on today’s real estate market and to guide you in selling your home. While the pandemic is a challenge for us all, we’re learning so much about how to cope in order to continue living our lives, working, and educating our children.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/chicago-real-estate-resources/

The Market is Strong: Selling & Buying Real Estate During COVID-19

Buying or selling your home is a big step that’s often emotionally challenging. Trying to do it during a pandemic can feel even more daunting. However, despite the fluctuations in different markets, real estate has been resilient – buying real estate and selling real estate are both active. Or, as The Economist puts it, America’s housing market “seems strangely oblivious” to today’s current issues. Is this something we will continue to experience? Our perceptions of what normal looks like are being challenged more so than ever before.  

But in this post-COVID-19 real estate market, what is the new normal? Now isn’t time to pass up on your dream home or avoid listing your home. There is solid evidence showing that not only is now a great time to buy or sell your home but that doing so now could be an advantageous long-term investment.

Buying Real Estate: Incentives Await You

Buyers, we’re always waiting for the “right” time. And with all the things going on in the world, now might not feel like the right time to buy a home. However, COVID-19 isn’t having quite the impact we expected. While we have to change our behavior to keep ourselves safe and healthy, it doesn’t have to stop us from establishing a life in a new place. Here are some reasons I believe now is a special window of opportunity for home buyers:

Interest Rates are Low

In the past few weeks, Freddie Mac has reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped to record lows – down to 3.03%. This means your dollar will stretch more. Over a 30-year mortgage, you can find homes with higher price points, opening the menu of homes available to you.

Home Buying Assistance

In Illinois, during COVID-19, people buying real estate had 60 home buyer programs to choose from, depending on their requirements. For many millennial home buyers, this might be your chance to stop renting and own a home. Homeownership is a worthwhile investment because, as this pandemic is proving, the real estate market is relatively stable.

Flexible, Safe Options for Home Tours

You don’t have to put yourself and your loved ones at risk to find your future home. Instead, you can book special private house tours, view virtual tours, or utilize several other ways to access the details of a listing. With the varieties of technology at our fingertips on our mobile phones alone, you have options for safe home tours.

Selling Real Estate: The Demand is Here

Demand is putting it lightly. With fewer homes on the market over the past few years, buyers are motivated to find their home and put down an offer. Therefore, now is the time to list your home on the market.

Interest in Single-Family Homes is Strong

Demands for single-family homes are increasing. It’s now higher than pre-pandemic days. According to Forbes, buyer demand is now 25% higher than before the pandemic. That’s impressive, but it’s also reassuring. When you put your home on the market, you can do so knowing that the current environment weighs in your favor.

Homes are Selling – Fast

With fewer houses on the market and lots of buyers, it’s easy to see why homes are selling fast. While it might make things more challenging for home buyers, it’s a boon for home sellers. If you’re selling real estate in this COVID-19 world, your success is almost guaranteed. Fast sales and bidding wars are not uncommon these days. Constant communication is necessary, and you’ll rely heavily on your agent to guide you through this exciting process.

Marketing a Home Has Never Been Easier

Since COVID-19 led to a stay-at-home order in Illinois earlier this year, real estate agents like myself were faced with a special moment. To keep our clients and ourselves safe, we had to leverage the technology we already had at our disposal. And it was extremely successful. Here are some ways I am using digital channels to market my client’s homes:

Virtual Tours: Virtual tours can be pre-recorded or hosted in real-time using apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or Duo. These virtual tours are a great substitute for in-person home tours. For a live virtual tour, prospective home buyers can ask questions and learn as many details as possible without stepping foot in your home.

Digital Flipbooks: Digital flipbooks are interactive online brochures. The high-quality layouts and stunning photos cast your home in the best light possible to attract interested buyers. These digital flipbooks are convenient, and URLs can be provided to anyone who wants to see your home.

Videos: Videos are common enough in the real estate world and are no longer in the purview of high-ticket homes. With a mobile device, high-resolution, motion-stable video recordings are possible.

Social Media: Social media is the place to be when selling your home. I love using social media to reach home buyers. It’s a great way to reach a lot of people at once. Images and hashtags make it easy for buyers to find your home.

Buying real estate or selling your home doesn’t have to be much different than it was five or six months ago. Agents, along with buyers and sellers, have become savvier in the face of disruptions to the way we’ve been doing things. The new normal is this:

1.  Increased virtual communication

2.  More flexibility in the way we do business by utilizing technology

3.  Optimism in the face of adversity by continuing to live our lives the safest way we can

3.  Relying on our communities to keep our neighborhoods protected and local businesses flourishing

 I hope we can enjoy this vision of the new normal together as we continue to live life and do business in 2020.

Work with the Best, Talk to Terri Buseman – Your Chicago Realtor: 1-312-208-5166

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/selling-buying-real-estate-during-covid-19/

Good News! It’s the Right Time for Selling or Buying a Home

If you have been keeping tabs on the pandemic as I have, you know that the stock market has been affected tremendously, and the economy is taking a colossal hit because of the coronavirus. Naturally, many wonder how that financial hit translates into the real estate market. If you were thinking about buying or selling a home in 2020, the pandemic may have you wondering if you should rethink that plan. Despite the challenges of social distancing and life in the age of COVID-19, signs of resilience in the real estate market are strong and the news is good. Buyers are buying and sellers are selling!

According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist with the National Association of Realtors, after a pause from the pandemic “home sellers are gearing up to list their properties with the reopening of the economy… plenty of buyers also appear ready to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates and the stability that comes with locked-in monthly payments into future years.” 

As we reemerge from sheltering-in-place and adjust to life in a “new normal”, the basic process of selling and buying a home remains the same with finding solutions and adjustments to keep everyone involved as safe and protected as possible.

If you are in a position where you would like to buy or sell a home during this time, here are some important tips to help you successfully navigate selling your property and buying your dream home!

A Chicago Realtor’s Best Tips for Selling or Buying a Home During a Pandemic

 

Top 5 Tips for Home Sellers

1. Plan Ahead. Getting your home ready to sell takes planning and patience. From decluttering to cleaning, most sellers find there is much to do to get their house ready for potential buyers. Keep in mind, if you need to schedule work to be done by a handyman, home stager, or another professional, planning ahead is very important as their availability will impact the date your house is ready to be on the market. Be prepared for some delays when booking a designer, painter, or contractor as they may not be as readily available as they were prior to the pandemic.

2. Access to Your Home. Discuss with your realtor how comfortable you are with prospective buyers coming in and out of your home. Our utmost concern is to keep you healthy and protected. So, during showings, we will require that everyone wears gloves, booties, and masks. It is also reasonable to ask potential buyers to limit touching furniture, surfaces, and other items in your home as much as possible.  And of course, after a showing, you will want to ensure all commonly touched surfaces are cleaned and sanitized like light switches, door handles, faucets and surfaces.

3. Take Advantage of Technology.  From virtual tours and 3D walkthroughs to videoconferencing and Facetime, today’s technology makes it easy to view a property and minimize face-to-face meetings when discussing the sale of your home. Be sure you (or your realtor) upload a floor plan as well as high-quality pictures of your home to many different real estate websites such as MLS, Zillow, and Trulia and your social media channels online.

4. Create Virtual Tours and Showings. When your home is staged and camera ready, make sure you or your realtor film a virtual tour of your home. If a virtual tour is done well, a potential buyer can experience your home as they take a virtual walkthrough its rooms. Once filmed, these virtual tours can be uploaded on the many real estate sites and social media channels allowing potential buyers to easily view your home day or night. If a potential buyer shows serious interest, offer the opportunity to schedule a virtual showing via FaceTime or Zoom to allow viewing the home in real-time.

5. Get a COVID-19 Waiver. When potential buyers are serious about your property and want to schedule a showing, those potential buyers should sign an appropriate COVID-19 waiver confirming that they do not have COVID-19 and that they have not come into contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Top 5 Tips for Home Buyers

1.  Investigate Best Mortgage Options. Mortgage rates are attractive right now which is good news. However, it is important to evaluate different lenders and their requirements. With the financial uncertainty caused by the pandemic, some lenders have more stringent income guidelines. Excellent financing is available but be well-advised on requirements and gather all important documentation to make for a smooth process. An experienced realtor is a great source for quality mortgage providers so be sure to seek their guidance and recommendations.

2. Be Mindful of Seller’s Rules for Showings. Speak to your realtor about that particular seller’s rules regarding in-person viewings. We want to minimize the number of people who come in contact with the home. Some sellers will have certain, stricter limitations, while others do not.  You want to respect the sellers so that you can keep everyone as safe as possible and set the tone for positive negotiations when you’re ready to present an offer to a seller.

3. Narrow Down Your Top Contenders. Screen your options as much as possible so that you minimize the number of homes you have to see in person.  Many real estate websites provide easy search features for you to find, filter, and save homes for sale that interest you so that you can keep track of their status, request a showings, or get up-to-date market value of the property.

4. Take Advantage of Digital Technology in Your Home Search. Today more than ever, digital technology makes finding and falling in love with the perfect new home easy. With all of the online tools and internet options readily available like real estate websites and social medial channels, it’s possible for you to look at detailed floor plans and pictures of rooms, special features, interior details, and exterior views of homes offered for sale. Since the pandemic, digital technology plays a vital role in the house-hunting process. Whether by FaceTime, Zoom, or other video call technology, savvy realtors are holding virtual tours and taking advantage of video call options to show homes virtually.  Check listings daily, and subscribe to real estate sites to keep up-to-date with the most recent listing posts.

5. Start the Process Early.  The coronavirus has slowed down nearly every aspect of the home buying process – whether that be with obtaining financing and locating the right property to obtaining home inspections and getting necessary appraisals. There are extra hoops to jump through, additional regulations, and more time needed for the various professionals involved in closing a real estate transaction. Dealing with these additional requirements naturally slows down the process. Starting early and armed with an extra dose of patience will make the process of buying your dream home during a pandemic a smooth one.

Regardless of these extra precautions and changes, remember that everything else involved in the process to prepare your home as a seller or search for homes as a buyer remains the same. The changes in response to the pandemic are just to add these extra precautions to keep ourselves and those around us safe.

When you are ready to sell your property or begin your search for your new home, it is my honor to help you, we can navigate your journey together!  Contact me today to discuss your purchase or sale.  I am passionate about helping every client succeed in every aspect of the buying and selling process.

Work with the Best, Talk to Terri Buseman – Your Chicago Realtor: 1-312-208-5166.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/good-news-its-the-right-time-for-selling-or-buying-a-home/

Home is Your Sanctuary – Especially in Uncertain Times

We have all been spending a lot more time at home lately, navigating a “new normal” from inside four walls. This time has given me a chance to think and reflect upon the meaning of the home. For me, a home extends much further than a financial asset or a roof over my head – it is a mindset that can be created anywhere you need it to be with the right approach. In the traditional sense, a home is a gift, whether you own or rent.  By taking an active approach to minimizing stressors in your space and amplifying what makes you feel at ease, you can turn any space into a physical and mental sanctuary.

Bring balance to your living space

Wherever you currently find yourself, it’s important to reflect on what comforts you about your home. Start by making a list of things you love. A few questions you can ask yourself are:

• What qualities of your home feel the most comfortable for you?
• What aspects of your home do you appreciate?
• What decisions in your home design or arrangement are pleasing to you now?
• Where is your happy corner?
• What areas do the children love the most?

Consider the aesthetics of your home. You likely have rooms that you naturally gravitate towards. This could be for several reasons. For example, neutral tones may give you a sense of calm and reassurance. Take note of your preferences and incorporate those themes in the other rooms of your home.

Similarly, there may be parts of your home or its aesthetics may actually be causing you stress.  Common stressors are:

• Outdated look Lack of light
• Confined or cluttered space
• Aging appliances that require unplanned financial investment

Identify and address what is causing you stress in each room and write it down. Engage the people you live with. Even if you don’t have the funds to update your furniture or paint, de-cluttering is a free way to improve home equity and re-imagine your space. Keep in mind, it’s important to combine functionality with aesthetics. You want to aim to create a beautiful space that is also functional to your lifestyle.

Find opportunities to re-purpose space

When you look at your space through a new lens, you might be surprised to find that it could be used for multiple things. Optimize the space that you have to organize and fulfill your various needs. Consider making rooms multifunctional. This takes creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Can the kitchen island be transformed into an online learning classroom during certain hours, or can the bedroom become a virtual meeting room for when ‘no distractions’ are needed? The point is to re-imagine spaces in the house, configure them for flexibility, and set guidelines for multiple uses.

Make your home your own

During these uncertain times, one thing is irrefutable — the home has taken on an added emphasis as our shelter and safe haven. Our homes have evolved into our workplaces, virtual classrooms, and family entertaining spaces. Now, more than ever, we are motivated to make our homes more beautiful, safe, multi-functional, and comfortable.

Here are a few resources that you can use to jumpstart your reorganizing and redecorating your home.

• Pinterest is a great resource for saving ideas that inspire you. Once you’ve pinpointed an aesthetic or an interior design style that you seem to be gravitating towards, start listing items that you would like to purchase for the home.
• Decorating does not have to be expensive. Here are some practical ideas for budget-friendly decorating.
• If you also need some further interior design inspiration, this blog gives you 33 tips on how to make your home cozy. Apartment Therapy has a great article on making your home as inviting as possible.

While there are many ideas and resources available to help you create your sanctuary, it’s best to follow your heart. Because that is where home is.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://www.terribuseman.com/meaning-of-home-in-uncertain-times/