How Can You Avoid a Rent Increase When Renting?

In this day and age, more Americans are postponing buying a home and choosing to rent. There are a lot of advantages of renting, like having more freedom to move when you want and not needing to deal with costly repairs. However, rent is rapidly increasing across the country, especially in large cities.

 

How can you avoid a rent increase when renting? You work hard for your money, and you already spend a large portion of your income on rent each month. You shouldn’t have to part with more of your income just to stay in your home. Luckily, there are things you can do to avoid a rent increase when renting your home or apartment.

 

 

1. Pay Rent on Time

It should come as no surprise that being a good tenant will help you avoid a rent increase. One of the best ways to prove you’re a great tenant is to pay your rent on time every single month. Even better, paying early will show you’re a responsible person worth keeping in the home.

 

Your landlord doesn’t want to go out and find new tenants. Marketing a property is time-consuming. If you can show you’re a reliable, easygoing tenant, you’ll be less likely to face a rent increase.

 

2. Avoid Getting a Pet

Who doesn’t love coming home to a furry friend? Unfortunately, that four-legged pal probably also comes with hefty fees and deposits. If you have a pet, you can expect to pay a non-refundable security deposit to cover any pet damages as well as pet rent with your monthly payment. Pet rent ranges from $15-30 a month, and that’s not something you want to worry about on top of your rent.

 

These fees will depend on your specific landlord and location, but if you want to keep your rent low, avoid getting a pet. You can always adopt a pet later when you own your home and don’t have to worry about added fees.

 

3. Sign a Longer Lease

Most people sign a year-long lease, but did you know you can usually sign a longer lease? During a fixed rental period, landlords are legally not allowed to increase the cost of the rent. This means if you know you’re staying in a place for a while, it might be financially smart to sign a 2 or even a 3-year lease.

 

However, we recommend you live in your place for at least 6 months before agreeing to a long-term lease for over 12 months. You never really know a place until you live there for a few months, so you don’t want to trap yourself into a long-term agreement.

 

4. Maintain the Property

Taking care of the property you live in is always a good idea, but it’s especially smart if you’re renting. Not only will you protect your security deposit, but you’ll also be less likely to experience a rise in the cost of your rent.

 

Landlords often raise rent prices to afford new appliances, maintenance, or other expenses. That means if your landlord offers new appliances, be sure to ask about whether or not it will bring a rent increase. These upgrades and repairs are costly, so take a strong role in keeping the property functional and clean.

 

5. Know Your Market

If you do have a landlord who’s trying to raise your rent, it’s worth knowing your market. Check out the prices for similar apartments in the area. If you can find a similar place for less money, show this to your landlord. While they might still raise the price, at least you’ll have a greater understanding of the best value in your area.

 

6. Refer New Tenants

Many apartment communities and landlords offer incentives to refer new tenants. If you know there’s a vacancy in your building, why not recommend your responsible friend who’s about to move to your area?

 

There might be something in it for you if you refer someone, like a credit on your account or a discount on rent. Either way, your landlord will see you as an asset and a resource worth keeping around.

 

Protect Your Rent 

While every market is different, there are a lot of unexpected ways to avoid an increase in rent. If your landlord is considering increasing the price of your property, see if you can talk to them. Many landlords are understanding and realize that a good tenant is valuable.

 

Renting can be a great option, and sometimes increases in rent are justifiable, but make sure you explore all of your options first. You deserve to live somewhere you can afford.

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How To Conduct Long Distance Home Searches

When looking for your perfect home, you could find yourself getting overwhelmed by the task at hand. This is made even more difficult if you’re searching remotely — whether for a job relocation or a change of scenery.

 

However, although admittedly more difficult than searching locally, finding your new home doesn’t have to be impossible, especially if you educate yourself about the local area you’re moving to, as well as maintaining realistic expectations.

 

If you’re ready to find your new home remotely, here are some tips for making the long-distance home search as easy as possible!

 

 

Utilize Internet Sites

There is a multitude of interest sites out there with a wealth of information available about real estate currently for sale, as well as neighborhood demographics and local statistics. Websites such as Realtor.com and Niche.com are particularly useful and can help you gain a good idea of your new potential area.

 

Google Earth is also a great tool to use that allows you to remotely tour a neighborhood and get a feel for it without having to be there physically. You can also google the local amenities and how close they are to any potential properties, you’re looking at.

 

Another great way of finding out about an area is to ask the locals themselves. There are various message boards and facebook groups dedicated to specific areas, and you could learn much speaking to some of the residents who already live there.

 

 

Find A Real Estate Agent Local to the Area

Finding a local and knowledgeable real estate agent could be invaluable while researching an unfamiliar area. Experienced real estate agents are experts in their area and will be able to guide you to the ideal location and home depending on your needs. This could help you to save ample amounts of time and stress.

 

If there are properties that you would like to preview, your real estate agent can also do that for you and create a shortlist — saving you a trip of viewing unsuitable properties. It’s also essential to use a real estate agent who has excellent communication skills on the phone and even email, as the distance can make it challenging to sit down and have in-depth conversations.

 

 

Take a Trip

To get an authentic feel for an area, there is no better way than to go and visit it and spend a few days there.  If possible, you should plan at least two visits to your new city, and view any homes that you have been interested in during that time. You should also make a point of spending time in the top neighborhoods that you have been considering and familiarize yourself with them and their local amenities. 

 

As well as viewing potential properties and getting to know the area, it would help if you also explored the local areas dining and retail options, as well as the local transport network and closest hospitals. All of these factors will help you to make an informed decision about your new location and ideal home.

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source https://nationalcashoffer.com/how-to-conduct-long-distance-home-searches/

Phoenix and Buckeye are the Fastest-Growing Cities in the U.S.

Real estate investors should always be aware of new and emerging markets. For this reason, you might be interested to learn that Phoenix and Buckeye are two of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Phoenix gained the most new residents of any city in the country from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2018. This influx of over 25,000 residents brought Phoenix’s total population to 1,660,272 as of 2018.

 

Buckeye, on the other hand, grew at the fastest rate of any city in the country with a population of at least 50,000. Buckeye had an impressive growth rate of 8.5% from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2018.

 

Why should you care?

 

Identifying growing markets is a great way to find new real estate investment opportunities.

 

Phoenix & Buckeye: Watch for Opportunities

Phoenix and Buckeye should be on your radar for cities with potential investment opportunities.

 

As these cities continue to grow, real estate values have the potential to increase at a rapid rate. As a real estate investor, it’s important to try to find opportunities before these values start to increase so that you can start making renovations and preparing to flip the property.

 

According to Chamber Business News, Deanna Kupcik, president and CEO of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, said, “Our housing market has gone sky-high, and we’re issuing more permits now than we did back in ’07, when it was at its peak before,” Kupcik said. “We’ve got good builders, lots of room to build, and so that’s… what it is, and it’s a wonderful place to live.”

 

Phoenix, on the other hand, is an increasingly popular city for millennials, thanks to its great weather, amazing quality of life, and affordable housing options. In addition, there are a number of great opportunities for education and employment.

 

Thanks to these factors, it’s likely that Phoenix and Buckeye will continue to experience significant growth over the next several years. As such, it’s important to watch for real estate investment opportunities in these areas.

 

Fastest-Growing Cities by Percentage Increase

Buckeye tops the list of fastest-growing cities by percentage increase, but what are the others?

 

The top ten are as follows:

 

1. Buckeye, AZ
2. New Braunfels, TX
3. Apex, NC
4. Frisco, TX
5. Meridian, ID
6. McKinney, TX
7. Georgetown, TX
8. Rowlett, TX
9. St. Cloud, FL
10. Ankeny, IA

 

Remember, these are the fastest-growing cities by percentage increase, not the total population increase. These should be looked at primarily as small, emerging markets.

 

Fasting-Growing Cities by Numeric Increase

While Buckeye is the fastest-growing city by percentage, Phoenix tops the list of fastest-growing cities by numeric increase.

 

The top ten for this list is as follows:

 

1. Phoenix, AZ
2. San Antonio, TX
3. Fort Worth, TX
4. Seattle, WA
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Austin, TX
7. Jacksonville, FL
8. San Diego, CA
9. Denver, CO
10. Frisco, TX

 

These cities are the locations which experienced the largest increase in population between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018. Frisco, TX stands out, in particular, as it is the only city to appear in the top ten of both lists.

 

By paying attention to the continued growth of these cities, you may be able to identify new, exciting real estate investment opportunities in the future.

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Why the U.S. Housing Market Is Still a Seller’s Market in 2019

In the real estate world, you never hear the end of the debate between sellers’ and buyers’ market. Recently, there has been a lot of news coverage saying 2019 is officially a buyer’s market. Is this really the case?

 

According to recent research, news outlets might be wrong. While the housing markets across the country might not be as warm as they were in previous years, that doesn’t mean now isn’t a great time to sell your home. In fact, 2019 might be your best bet to score a good deal on your home. In this guide, we’ll explain why the U.S. housing market is still a seller’s market in 2019.

 

 

What does a seller’s market mean?

First, let’s define what it means to be in a seller’s market vs. a buyer’s market. These terms are easy to confuse if this is your first introduction to real estate and selling your home.

 

Essentially, a seller’s market is when the demand for homes exceeds the supply. Since there are more people who want to buy homes than properties available, the average cost goes up. This is when you’re more likely to see bidding wars, higher listing prices, and competitive home purchases.

 

On the other hand, a buyer’s market is when there are fewer buyers than sellers. In a buyer’s market, the average costs of homes go down since there are fewer buyers. Buyers might be able to offer less money, and it’s unlikely that there will be any bidding wars. You can see from these definitions why home sellers hope for a seller’s market when putting their home on the market. Now, let’s examine why it’s still a seller’s market.

 

1. There are still new buyers. 

One of the first reasons to consider selling your home today is because people are still deciding to buy homes. Interest rates are on the rise, and this has scared some buyers away, but many buyers are still applying for mortgages.

 

This is especially true for lower-priced homes. There are many new homebuyers just now entering the market, mostly Millennials. These are mainly first-time buyers, and they’re finally in a financial situation where they can afford a home. Now is the time to take advantage of this new wave of buyers.

 

2. You have higher home equity post-recession. 

Most homeowners have recovered from the 2008 recession, and that means they’ve rebuilt or started to build equity on their home. Any homebuyers who bought shortly after the recession benefited from low-interest rates, and this means they’ve begun to really rack up home equity.

 

The higher the equity you have in your home, the more you have to gain from selling. Selling now will give you more to put towards your next down payment, and you’ll be able to avoid higher interest rates with your larger contribution.

 

3. Interest rates are still reasonable. 

Despite rising interest rates thanks to the Federal Reserve, these prices are still reasonable. Mortgage rates have fluctuated a bit in the past few months, but they’re still at a very reasonably low percentage.

 

Mortgage rates are more likely to rise in the next few months leading into 2020, so take advantage of the market while it’s still hot for buyers. In the next few years, the tides will likely shift back to sellers.

 

4. You should act sooner rather than later. 

Ultimately, the reason it’s still a seller’s market in 2019 is that it’s better to act now than to wait it out. The next recession is definitely on the horizon, and we don’t know for sure when it will strike next. If you’re considering selling your home, this might be your last chance to get the highest value for your home.

 

We know right now is still a seller’s market, but it might not last for long. If you wait to sell your home, you might find yourself swept up in another recession.

 

Should you sell your home?

After reading this article, you should have a good understanding of why we’re currently still in a seller’s market in 2019. However, this isn’t going to last forever. Top real estate experts argue a recession is on the horizon, so it’s important to stay on top of these trends in the housing market.

 

If you’re thinking of selling your home, now is the right time to act. Otherwise, if you’re comfortable where you are, it might not be a bad idea to stay where you are for another five years or so to see how the real estate market changes.

The post Why the U.S. Housing Market Is Still a Seller’s Market in 2019 appeared first on National Cash Offer.

source https://nationalcashoffer.com/why-the-u-s-housing-market-is-still-a-sellers-market-in-2019/

How To Organize A Messy Garage

How to Organize A Messy Garage

Garages were developed to naturally house cars, but their uses have increased these days. They now contain much more. They hold old clothes, boxes, toys, hardware, and other unnecessary items. As a result, it becomes a habitat for rodents and insects. Well, if you have been in your home for a couple of years without cleaning your garage, then this is the best time to clean it. Why? Your garage might have become a messy place with several collections of unnecessary stuff. This post will guide you on how to clean your messy garage.

 

 

Gather the Necessary Supplies

Research shows that every household stores some unnecessary things in the garage. As a result, it becomes a dumping ground for all kinds of things which takes much space. The more these things accumulate, the more it becomes messy and less spacious for your car. To work on this, you need to get the right tools in place. Some of the tools that you need are trash bags, vacuum or a broom, catch-all basket, glove, among others. Endeavor to get all these before you start working on the garage.

 

 

Organize Garage Clutter

The first thing to do to your garage is to clean with a broom or a shop vacuum. While you do so, you should look out for nails, small items, oil stains, cobwebs, and other evidence of winged or fur creatures. You should also begin the de-cluttering process by trashing some unnecessary things. You can gather some of the items into several categories based on their importance. You can pick some to keep, donate, or thrash. With this, you will know the number of items you need to repair or replace. Most of the time, people are usually surprised to find some new things in the garage.

 

 

 

Create Zones for the Items in the Garage

The fact that people cannot segregate their items in the garage makes it hard for them to keep their garage clean and organized. It would help if you categorized your belongings based on their usefulness and types. For example, you can put all sports equipment at one part while tools like a windshield wiper, anti-freeze should be placed in another angle. You can add more zones if you think some items do not fit the categories you created. Doing this will give your garage an organized structure like that of a shopping mall or supermarket.

 

 

Make More Room

Invest heavily in the purchase of containers, cabinets, and boxes to house some items to avoid littering the floor with unnecessary things. It is also advisable for you to get rid of the packaging (cartons) of each of the product you purchase. Removing the packaging will give you the opportunity of arranging your things efficiently. For efficient cleaning, you need to determine which product or item to be kept in the cabinet or boxes. This activity should be done based on your needs or the importance of the products.

 

 

Maintain the Garage

You would have had enough space to keep your items and possible new things when you are done with the cleaning and organization of your garage. It will also be free from cobwebs, flying insects or fur animals. You can as well repaint its walls to give it a classic outlook. Once you are done with all these, it would be best to maintain it.

Now that you have known how to manage your garage, it is left for you to keep up with the management. You should also ensure that you re-organize your garage at least twice per year to make it more attractive.

The post How To Organize A Messy Garage appeared first on National Cash Offer.

source https://nationalcashoffer.com/how-to-organize-a-messy-garage/

The Best Housewarming Gifts To Buy For A New Homeowner

With spring and summer being prime time for real estate transactions, there are high chances that a friend or family member in your entourage may soon take the next step and becomes a homeowner. After the weeks, and sometimes months of house hunting and the emotional turmoil that often comes prior to closing on their dream property, chances are high that they will want to mark the occasion with an epic housewarming party to introduce their new abode to those they care about.

As a guest, finding the perfect gift for your host is always an ordeal. Thankfully, we have gathered a list of the best housewarming presents for new homeowners that are sure to bring a smile to their face!

 

 

1. Gift cards from a favorite local restaurant (that delivers)

If you have ever moved, you know the tune: the days of setting up a new house and turning four walls and a roof into a home are often a bit hectic. Between opening an endless amount of boxes, figuring out the place of each object, and making sure all the administrative side of moving is taken care of, dinner time always comes too soon. By the time stomachs start to rumble, the last thing your friends will want to do is take over the kitchen (if the kitchen is even set up yet). Save them the trouble by gifting them a card from a local restaurant or delivery service!

 

 

2. Tool kits

From hanging pictures to putting furniture together, there will be plenty of occasions when a new homeowner wishes to have a couple of tools close by. If they have never owned a house before, the chances are high that they will not own many of the essential tools everyone should keep in their garage or their basement, even if they are not particularly handy. It may not be the most glamorous gift, but a well-equipped tool keep will serve them well for years to come.

 

 

 

3. Potted plant

Green plants are an excellent way to make a house a home. If the new homeowner has a garden, a new plant will be a wonderful reminder of their early days in the property as they see it grow along with the memories they will make in the house. Many houseplants need little daylight to thrive and are easy to take care off. Besides, many have air purifying quality and are a great present even if they have little to no outdoor space.

 

 

4. A bottle of wine

Buying a house and moving is a stressful process even when you are well prepared. Your friends will be happy to celebrate their new home and relax at the end of a long day with a bottle of their favorite wine. It also can help them make light of a long day of putting furniture together!

 

 

5. Candle

There is a reason why a sweet-smelling candle is one of the most popular presents for new homeowners. Much like house plants, they will help them make their new space feel more comfortable and familiar even while they are still in the midst of opening boxes.

The post The Best Housewarming Gifts To Buy For A New Homeowner appeared first on National Cash Offer.

source https://nationalcashoffer.com/the-best-housewarming-gifts-to-buy-for-a-new-homeowner/

Questions to Ask on a Home Tour

One of the most exciting parts about searching for the right home is the house tour. There’s something exciting about getting to see the interior of different spaces. This comes as no surprise what with the widespread popularity of shows like House Hunters, but is there more to the home tour than meets the eye?

 

When it comes to touring homes, you need to know the right questions. It’s easy to get swept up in pretty wall paint and home features, but what about the small details? With the right questions, you can identify if this property really is the right fit for you. Here are the questions to ask on a home tour.

 

 

1. How does the price compare to others?

If you’re just starting your search, you might not yet know what the average price is in the area. You need to make sure the home you’re touring is priced right for its size, location, and so on.

 

The best way to know this isn’t just to check the price yourself but to ask your agent to compare the sale price with similar homes in the area. Your agent will be able to let you know if the price is fair, if it’s overpriced, or if it might be priced low to encourage a bidding war.

 

2. Are there any concerns?

Don’t be afraid to ask your agent point-blank if there’s anything you should be concerned about with this property. They might have noticed things you didn’t think of yourself, and it’s in their favor to be honest with you.

 

They might explain that the backyard is hard to maintain, that it might cost a lot to heat the home, or any other issue. It will be up to you to decide if this is important to you or not.

 

3. How long has the home been on the market?

One of the first questions you should ask if you don’t already know the answer is how long the home has been on the market? This information will tell you a lot about the property.

 

First, if the home is new to the market, the seller isn’t likely to strike a deal with you if you offer a lower number. On the other hand, if the home’s been on the market for a while, they might be more open to negotiation. However, beware that the homes that have been on the market longer might also have hidden problems.

 

4. What repairs are needed?

This question is a bit more direct than the question about concerns, but it’s just as important. Look beyond the stunning backyard to ask if there are any specific repairs that are needed. The seller has to disclose any known issues, so don’t hesitate to ask.

 

Similar to this, ask how recently any appliances or devices have been serviced or replaced. This will let you know whether or not you should expect expensive repairs in the future.

 

5. How safe is the area?

While you might think you can guess the safety of a location by the appearance, that’s a naive way of thinking. Crime happens everywhere, and no neighborhood is immune.

 

Asking about the crime statistics in the area or whether there has been a local property crime is a must. The home itself might have a criminal past you don’t know about, and you can’t afford to overlook these statistics.

 

Don’t be afraid to speak up!

These questions to ask on the home tour might seem like a lot to remember, but they’re really just a normal part of getting to know the property. It’s easy to feel like you’re nagging or being a bother, but remember these are normal questions.

 

Both the agent and the homeowner expect you to want the full picture when touring a home. It’s easy to see a newly designed kitchen or gorgeous curb appeal and assume all is well, but it’s always smart to look below the surface by asking the right questions.

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