Spring Cleaning Checklist
Wash Windows - Inside and Out
Dust your home thoroughly (shelves, tabletops, dressers, ceiling fans, above kitchen cabinets, baseboards, doorways and pictures)
Wash out all trashcans - Inside and Out
Move all furniture away from walls and clean underneath
Deep clean your floors
Clean all upholstered furniture (don't forget underneath cushions)
Clean inside refridgerator
Self clean your oven
Organize pantry throw away all expired food
Scrub your shower
Vinegar removes hard water scale and mildew
Vacuum and rotate matresses
Switch out cold weather clothing for warm weather clothing
Sweep porch & deck as well as doors & windows to remove cobwebbs & debris
Wash all outside furniture
Posted on 02/20/2017 1:21 PM by Shannon Taylor
Ways to pay off your mortgage early
Each time you pay extra on your mortgage, more of each payment after that is applied to your principal balance. Here are some options for paying extra and examples of how extra payments will affect the average $220,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% interest rate:
- Make an extra house payment each quarter, and you’ll save $65,000 in interest and pay off your loan 11 years early.
- Divide your payment by 12 and add that amount to each monthly payment or pay half of your payment every two weeks, also known as bi-weekly payments. You’ll make one extra payment each year, saving you $24,000 and shaving four years off your mortgage.
- Round up your payments so you’re paying at least a few extra dollars a month.
- Increase your payment when you get a raise or bonus.
Always check with your mortgage company before you make additional principal payments. Some companies will only accept extra payments at specific times, or they may charge prepayment penalties. And always make sure the additional money is applied to the principal and not next month’s payment.
Posted on 02/13/2017 10:43 AM by Shannon Taylor
Interest Rates
The rate you'll receive on a mortgage depends on several variables: your credit score, the loan type, loan amount, points, location and down payment. And when it comes to mortgage products, the shorter the loan term, the less you'll pay in interest over the life of the loan. Longer loans - like 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, for example - typically come with higher rates and steeper interest costs. But the monthly payments are lower than for shorter-term products, like 15-year loans. A 30-year loan will cost less each month than a 15-year mortgage with the same loan balance because the payoff horizon is spread over 15 more years. The type of loan product you choose will depend on what you can afford monthly in principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and other costs. We would love to help you with your next home sell or purchase!
Posted on 02/06/2017 12:57 PM by Shannon Taylor