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Food For Thought When Buying A Home

When buying a new home, here are some things to keep in mind as you move forward.

Andrew R. McKinley

Aug 21, 2018

National Storytellers Society

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You might not really think about what all is involved when buying a house, not at least until you are faced with it all and, it can be a little overwhelming. I know for myself, as a second time home buyer, there are still things that hit me in the face like a tree branch when trying to make decisions. Ultimately the people you should lean are for help, advice, any and all questions is that of your lender and realtor. But, take it from me it doesn't hurt to do some of your own research as well just take everything with a grain of salt and consult the professionals.

First things first. Understand your finances.

Save Money

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You have to know what you can and cannot do when looking to buy a new home. This is not just referring to the price range of the home itself. There is also the closing costs, the costs of paying for an inspector, and then if you already own a house, you need to remember to take its mortgage and utilities into consideration if you don't plan to sell it before you buy another place. I believe the safe rule-of-thumb is: your take-home income should be three-times what your predicted rent/mortgage and utility payment will be.

Choosing a Realtor.

Realtor

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Second of all, when it comes to choosing a realtor to either sell or help you buy a home. Do not, and I repeat, do not settle for the first realtor you speak with. Take some time, do some research on your area or the area in which you wish to buy. Check reviews and, don't be afraid to treat it like an interview process. You want to make sure you are working with someone who has your best interests in mind that listens to your wants and needs and is proactive. You shouldn't have to do most of the house hunting yourself. But ultimately find someone you're comfortable with.

What are you looking for?

Floor Plans

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Take time to understand what it is your looking for and what meets your needs. Then, think about what level or amount of deviation from these wants and needs you would be willing to accept. Remember, already built homes were built by someone else and likely is designed after their needs or wants. I haven't found a home that didn't have something I would change or remodel.

Negotiate

Negotiate

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Don't be afraid to haggle with the price. In a lot of cases, the seller will take what they absolutely have to sell the house for, the estimated worth of the home and then add a little. I owed $83k left on my previous mortgage, the home was estimated to work $100k, and I put it on the market for $115k. This gave me room to haggle with potential buyers. But besides that, you can ask for the seller to pay your share of the closing costs; this is especially important to remember if you're in a situation where you cannot afford those costs out of your own pocket. Or you could ask them to split the cost, or request certain repairs to be done and you'll offer this, the list goes on. But, in the end, again, take advice from your realtor.

Warnings About College To Incoming Freshmen As Told By Gifs

College is hard, but you will make it through.

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1. You will have that special "college" look to you.

2. You will feel like an adult but also feeling like a child.

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3. You will have classes that are just the professor reading from their lecture slides for an hour.

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4. You will need to study but also want to hang out with your friends.

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5. Coffee is your best friend.

6. You don't know what you're doing 99% of the time.

7. You will procrastinate and write a paper the night before it is due.

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8. Money is a mythical object.

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9. It is nearly impossible to motivate yourself to go to classes during spring.

10. The food pyramid goes out the window.

11. You will have at least one stress induced breakdown a semester.

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12. Most lecture classes will bore you to tears.

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13. You will not like all of your professors.

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14. You will try to go to the gym... but you will get too lazy at some point.

15. When you see high school students taking tours:

16. You will try to convince yourself that you can handle everything.

17. Finals week will try to kill you.

18. You won't like everyone, but you will find your best friends sooner or later.

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19. You actually have to go to class.

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20. Enjoy it, because you will be sad when it is all over.

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This is for the girls who have dealt with an emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally abusive father.

The ones who have grown up with a false lens of what love is and how relationships should be. The ones who have cried themselves to sleep wondering why he hurts you and your family so much. This is for all the girls who fall in love with broken boys that carry baggage bigger than their own, thinking it's their job to heal them because you watched your mother do the same.

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XOXO, Gossip Girl.

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"DESTINY IS FOR LOSERS. IT'S JUST A STUPID EXCUSE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM HAPPEN." - BLAIR WALDORF.

The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

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11 Moments Every College Freshman Has Experienced

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

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We've all been there. From move-in day to the first finals week in college, your first term is an adventure from start to finish. In honor of college decisions coming out recently, I want to recap some of the most common experiences college freshmen experience.

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

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You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

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The college years are a time for personal growth and success. Everyone comes in with expectations about how their life is supposed to turn out and envision the future. We all freak out when things don't go exactly as planned or when our expectations are unmet. As time goes on, we realize that the uncertainty of college is what makes it great. Here are some helpful reminders about life in college.

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Recommended for you

Food For Thought When Buying A Home

When buying a new home, here are some things to keep in mind as you move forward.

In This Article:

First things first. Understand your finances.

Choosing a Realtor.

What are you looking for?

Negotiate

Subscribe to our Newsletter

College is hard, but you will make it through.

1. You will have that special "college" look to you.

2. You will feel like an adult but also feeling like a child.

3. You will have classes that are just the professor reading from their lecture slides for an hour.

4. You will need to study but also want to hang out with your friends.

5. Coffee is your best friend.

6. You don't know what you're doing 99% of the time.

7. You will procrastinate and write a paper the night before it is due.

8. Money is a mythical object.

9. It is nearly impossible to motivate yourself to go to classes during spring.

10. The food pyramid goes out the window.

11. You will have at least one stress induced breakdown a semester.

12. Most lecture classes will bore you to tears.

13. You will not like all of your professors.

14. You will try to go to the gym... but you will get too lazy at some point.

15. When you see high school students taking tours:

16. You will try to convince yourself that you can handle everything.

17. Finals week will try to kill you.

18. You won't like everyone, but you will find your best friends sooner or later.

19. You actually have to go to class.

20. Enjoy it, because you will be sad when it is all over.

You are not alone.

XOXO, Gossip Girl.

HER WARDROBE:

HER LOVE LIFE:

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

2. Getting to know your roommate.

3. Attending your first class.

4. The good first experience with dining hall food.

5. Exploring the flaws on your campus.

6. Contemplating skipping a lecture.

7. Using college as your explanation for everything.

8. Finally finding dining hall food annoying.

9. Getting mad at your roommate.

10. Feeling like everyone else has it all figured out.

11. Feeling overwhelmed by finals.

College is not what everyone expects it to be.

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