Showing posts with label buying a home. Show all posts

Friday, June 28, 2019

6 Reasons to Own Your Own Home

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Best Real Estate Agents in Gales Ferry

Are you looking for the best real estate agent in Gales Ferry to sell a home? Top real estate agents in Gales Ferry do more than than place a sign on your property and pray that someone sees it. If you want a successful real estate agent in Gales Ferry then please check my profile at Zillow, Trulia or Realtor.com.

Click on image above for the Gales Ferry Real Estate Market Report

Click on the image above for a quick video about the

Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent Award.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Luxury home for sale: 203 Reutemann Road North Stonington

Looking for a luxury home for sale in North Stonington with nature appeal? Designed by Robert Melinosky of 4DResidential Design Services, LLC in Newport RI, this 10 room, 4,505 sq ft, contemporary home hides inside of a Colonial façade! Asking price is $700,000.

Sitting high up on 10 acres and partially bordering the Wyassup Brook, 203 Reutemann Rd in North Stonington offers gorgeous views of nature from the many windows in all three stories. Amble up the concrete walkway to the front door under the portico and turn right into the hallway to the 21 x 18 kitchen or left into the 15 x 12 living room. Note that there is no staircase staring at you! With 9’ high ceilings the first floor is so spacious, even more so in the vaulted ceiling of the 16 x 16 family room.

The recessed lights in the kitchen ceiling and the pendant lights over the island offer abundant lighting. The two-tiered island with breakfast bar, corian counters and a large sink is surrounded by pantry closets, double ovens, more corian counters and cove backsplashes, range, separate stand-up freezer and refrigerator and a microwave. A built-in buffet, again with a corian counter, separates the kitchen from the family room. Picture windows in both the front and back of the family room increase the open space feel and the wood burning Jotul stove protruding from the fireplace heats nearly 60% of the home. A study/office is tucked in next to the buffet at the front of the house.

The back of the kitchen sports a window seat with even more storage and a view of the four season sunroom. Access the 21 x 13 sunroom through a three panel sliding glass door. Radiant heat warms the concrete floor as it does in the bathrooms and the mudroom. Two skylights in the pickled pine, bead board ceiling add to all of the light from two all-windowed walls.

In the hallway from the window seat in the kitchen is built-in shelving for cookbooks, the staircase upstairs, a second staircase to an office over the garage, the entry from the garage, a half bath and the 15 x 12 dining room. Hardwood floors cover the entire first floor, less the sunroom.

The dining room has side by side, nine over nine windows and is partially separated from the 15 x 12 library by a 4’ high divider. The front of the living room also has a nine over nine window on the front (southern) side of the house and a bay window facing westward. Again, the 9’ high ceilings, the windows and the divider add to the open feel of the home.

The staircase in the back of the house instead of at the front door makes it easy to leave the two car garage and carry anything upstairs, if you are not carrying groceries to the kitchen! The carpeting upstairs is one year old in the hallways and two years old in the bedrooms. Two bedrooms, each at least 14 x 12, have their own full bath, and two bedrooms share their own access to a full bathroom. The 16 x 17 master bedroom has a master bath with a whirlpool tub, a separate shower and another fabulous window!

One of the previously mentioned bedrooms is on the third floor along with a great room complete with shelving for media. The winter views of the Wyassup Brook are spectacular from here, as they are from all over the house!

Outside of the sunroom is a stamped concrete patio with a rolling outdoor bar. Double doors on the back of the garage lead out to the patio. The pathway along the side of the garage brings you to an outdoor closet for tools. The closet does have electrical outlets. The two car garage has automatic door openers. The home is protected by cement board siding with a wood grain finish for a natural look.

White pine, blue spruce, rhododendron, crabapple trees, tall grasses, blackberry bushes, black maple, birch trees, and burning bushes make up the landscaping. Deer, fox, turkeys, beavers, ducks and geese will visit upon occasion. The lawn has a sprinkler system installed.

As was mentioned, the Wyassup Brook is part of the boundary line. Another boundary is the Holmes Family Cemetery, which dates back to the early 1800’s and is maintained by the North Stonington Cemetery Association annually. Other interesting features are the stone walls and a stone foundation of what was probably a root cellar. The property can also accommodate horses if you choose.

Besides the radiant heat in the rooms with cement floors the garage is plumbed for radiant heat but not hooked up. Baseboard heat from the boiler is fueled with oil and the 120 gallon tankless hot water system provides plenty for showers. A 200 amp service supplies the home with electricity and it is cooled with central air.

If you are looking for a luxury home with an open floor plan, spectacular kitchen, plenty of space and incredible views in North Stonington then you owe it to yourself to look at 203 Reutemann Road!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

5 Things to Think About When Buying Your First Place

As a renter, you have the luxury of choosing a place that meets your needs at the moment. Buying a home is a much bigger commitment, both in terms of finances and the length of time you’ll likely live there. When seeking out your first place – whether a house or condominium or anything in between – it’s important to do your homework.

Here are 5 things to consider as you begin the process of purchasing your first place.

1. The growth possibilities. Shop for a place that meets your current spaces needs, but also consider one that can adjust to a changing household. A five-year plan may not pan out as you expect, so think about possible life changes that could impact your need for bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.

2. What's under the hood. Your first place may not come with many frills or luxury features – but all the basics should be in good condition. Thoroughly inspect prospective properties. And before any purchase is made, hiring a professional inspector is a must. Your real estate agent can guide you through this key step.

3. Know that no home will be perfect. Your first home may likely not be the perfect place. But make it the right one. Finding the right home is often a matter of prioritizing. Make a list of “must haves,” along with “nice to haves” and “not necessary to haves.” A three-car garage is nice, but would you rather have a larger kitchen or live in a good neighborhood? Only you can measure the importance of the amenities you are looking for.

4. Consider ALL the costs of ownership. When you buy a home, you take on recurring costs you don’t have to worry about as a renter. Look for a home that meets your budget in terms of full living costs – mortgage, utilities, trash pick-up, sewage fees, homeowner's association dues and other fees. Your lender doesn't take into account these costs when approving your home loan. A good real estate agent can help you calculate estimated monthly costs to determine the most appropriate price range for you.

5. The lifespan of things. In addition to identifying cosmetic and structural flaws before you buy, know what to expect from the home's components. How long until you need to replace the roof, appliances, furnace or carpet? Everything may be in working order now, but all homes need these types of repairs at some point. Researching the expected remaining life on large-ticket items can help you plan for the future.

When you're ready to start the process of buying a home

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Buying a home? You don't have to do it alone.

Discover Home Loans conducted an interesting survey that revealed how prepared people who are buying a home are for the actual mortgage process.

The survey reported that 94% of prospective buyers believe they are making a good investment decision if they buy a home. The survey also explained that 66% of buyers reach out to real estate agents to help determine whether buying a certain home would be a good investment. However, there is less certainty regarding the mortgage process. Most buyers overwhelmed The majority of potential buyers are actually overwhelmed with the plethora of information available about the home financing process. Here are some interesting highlights from the report:

Nearly 66% feel overwhelmed with the amount of information available
76% of those under the age of 30 feel overwhelmed
76% of first time buyers feel the same way
54% of those buyers who have previously owned also were overwhelmed
59% of buyers turn to mortgage bankers to help evaluate mortgage terms and comparing offers
49% of buyers turn to real estate agents to help evaluate mortgage terms and comparing offers

There is help available…use it! Cameron Findlay, chief economist at Discover Home Loans, gives great advice: “The industry is becoming more transparent in an effort to help homebuyers become informed about changes that may affect their process. The sheer amount of information can lead to confusion and stress. Those looking to purchase should work closely with their lender and realtor to make sure they are comfortable with mortgage terms and understand the impact a loan will have on their finances.” Bottom Line Purchasing a home can put great pressure on a family. Reach out to the best mortgage and real estate professionals in your market for assistance throughout the process. November 3, 2014 by Stacy McNary ·