Seller & Buyer Tips • April 24, 2023

Which Down Payment Strategy is Right For You?

by Crystal Zabel

WHICH DOWN PAYMENT STRATEGY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders.

But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.

THE DOWNSIDE

The downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you’ll pay. You’ll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20-percent down payment, which will eliminate some homes from your search.

THE UPSIDE

The national average for home appreciation is about five percent. The appreciation is independent from your home payment, so whether you put down 20 percent or three percent, the increase in equity is the same. If you’re looking at your home as an investment, putting down a smaller amount can lead to a higher return on investment, while also leaving more of your savings free for home repairs, upgrades, or other investment opportunities.

THE HAPPY MEDIUM

Of course, your home payment options aren’t binary. Most borrowers can find some common ground between the security of a traditional 20 percent and an investment-focused, small down payment. Your trusted real estate professional can provide some answers as you explore your financing options and find which down payment strategy is right for you.

Seller & Buyer Tips • March 3, 2023

10 Benefits of Homeownership

by Crystal Zabel

Homeownership is a great milestone to strive for, and there are lots of benefits that come with it. Below are 10 benefits of homeownership you might not be aware of yet. Lets get started.

Financial security: Homeownership gives you a place to call your own, which can provide stability and financial security.
Tax savings: As a homeowner, you can take advantage of tax deductions on mortgage interest, property taxes, and more.
Equity growth: Over time, your home’s value is likely to increase, which can create a strong source of wealth.
Home improvement: As a homeowner, you can customize your home to your liking, adding features and making improvements as you see fit.
Pride of ownership: Owning your home can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Sense of community: When you own your home, you can create relationships with your neighbors and become part of a community.
Privacy: Homeownership gives you the privacy you need to create a safe and comfortable space for you and your family.
Freedom: As a homeowner, you have the freedom to make changes to your home and lifestyle as you please.
Investment: Homeownership can be a good long-term investment, as it can help you build equity over time.
Stability: Homeownership can provide stability for you and your family, as your living situation won’t change unless you choose to move.

We hope these 10 benefits of homeownership give you a better understanding of why it’s such a great milestone to strive for. For tips on choosing the right lender to purchase your home I have got you covered Click Here to learn more.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Crystal Zabel, Realtor
“Your Crystal Clear Realtor”
Coldwell Banker Professionals
67395 Main Street
Richmond, MI 48062
586-727-2741 – Office
810-683-4560 – Cell
micrystalclearrealtor@gmail.com
Website / Facebook / LinkedIn – Like me on Facebook
What is my home worth?

Seller & Buyer Tips • January 2, 2023

Home Insurance Versus Home Warranty

by Crystal Zabel

The Difference Between Home Insurance and Home Warranty

When purchasing a new home, it’s important to do in-depth research on all facets of the homebuying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on home insurance versus home warranty below to educate yourself on your options.

Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss that are caused by fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, and hail, however, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered. It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person were to get injured in your home or on your property. According to American Home Shield, the average annual cost of a homeowner’s insurance policy ranges between $300 and $1,000, and the bank usually asks you to obtain a policy before the mortgage is issued. Make sure to keep in mind that each type of coverage in the policy is subject to a limit and, in most cases, you will have to pay a deductible.

Home Warranty

A home warranty is designed to cover the cost of repairs and replacements of larger appliances and crucial systems in your home that may fail or break due to age and wear and tear. This includes but isn’t limited to HVAC, electrical, or plumbing components, kitchen appliances, and your washer and dryer. With a home warranty, you are required to pay premiums year-round, even if you do not use it, and it won’t cover damages if appliances were not maintained properly or if the damage is from a fire or other disaster.

I hoped this article helped you understand the difference between home insurance versus home warranty. For more tips or to answer any questions email, text, or call me with my info below.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Seller & Buyer Tips • December 12, 2022

EASY LANDSCAPING DIY PROJECTS

by Crystal Zabel

EASY LANDSCAPING DIY PROJECTS

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features. Let’s get started on easy landscaping DIY projects.

Whether it’s as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look as well. Here are our top five easy landscaping projects!

Create a pathway.

To guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color.

Add a wall or border.

Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard.

Install a water feature.

Nothing says Zen quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by purchasing and installing a small feature powered by a solar panel or create a larger focal point in your yard by installing a waterfall wall or small pond.

Light your way.

An easy way to transform your yard is to strategically use lighting. Place cool-colored lights high in trees to recreate a moonlight feel, use pathway lights to naturally guide the eye, or highlight objects or plants.

Plant upwards.

Expand your yard space by drawing the eye to the sky with a trellis fence or screen made of wood or metal. Once you install your trellis, select your climbing plants and vines and get to planting!

Click Here to learn more about Curb Appeal and why it is important.

For more tips or to answer any questions email, text, or call me with my info below.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Moving Tips • November 11, 2022

PREP YOUR PETS FOR THE BIG MOVE.

by Crystal Zabel

PREP YOUR PETS FOR THE BIG MOVE

Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your furry friends. Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly and to help you prep your pets for the big move.

Medical records. First, when moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for you and your pet. Also, if you have family or friends in the area ask for recommendations or do your own research by reading reviews and news articles. Once you find one, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move.

Transportation. Secondly, whether it’s a short drive or a long plane ride, you pet will likely need to be put into a carrier. For most pets, this is a foreign concept and they require time to get comfortable with it. Start acclimating your pet as early as possible and use comfort items like treats and favorite toys and blankets to make the experience a positive one for your pet.

Acclimation. Third, pad your moving schedule with ample time to get your dog or cat acclimated to their new home. While the movers are still hard at work, keep them safely away from foot traffic to reduce stress. Once they’ve left, make sure to clear anything that could be dangerous and block off areas as necessary then let them free to get a lay of the land on their own.

Tips for choosing the right lender Click here.

For more tips or to answer any questions email, text, or call me with my info below.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Seller & Buyer Tips • October 11, 2022

Tips for Choosing the Right Lender

by Crystal Zabel

Tips for Choosing the Right Lender

When you are starting your home buying process one of the first things your agent will ask is if
you have been pre-approved. This is important for many reasons; the main reason is to know
how much of a house you can afford to purchase and what type of loan you are going to be
using. The loan type and amount will let us, your agent, know what your price point is and where
to look. While many parts of the process are the same across the mortgage companies there are
few things you want to look at and below are tips for choosing the right lender.

First is what are the different loan types, the main types of loans for purchasing residential real
estate are:

Conventional
FHA
USDA
VA

Why does the type of loan matter? The type of loan matters because FHA, USDA, and VA are
government backed loans. These loans have a different set of guidelines for what the home has to
have in order for the loan to be approved by the appraiser. These loans can also offer lower down
payments.

Next is to know where you can get a loan, there are different options:

Banks
Credit Unions
Mortgage lenders not affiliated with a bank
Mortgage brokers

There are other options than the ones listed but this is a start. At traditional banks mortgage loans
are part of the services they provide to their customers; you do not necessarily have to be one of
their customers to get a loan. Credit unions you do have to be a member to get a loan and they
have member only deals that you may be interested in. Mortgage lenders that are not affiliated
with a bank, they are companies that only provide mortgage services for a specific company.
They do not offer other services like banking; they may also have a faster turn time for the loan.
Mortgage brokers work with multiple lenders, most of the time they only offer mortgage
solutions but will help you choose one of the lenders, they work with, that best fits your needs.

Finally, when preparing to speak with one or more lender there are some questions to ask you
will want to ask.

How long will process take?
Is the person you are currently speaking to going to stay your main contact or is
that going to change as the process progresses?
What will we do online and what will we need to do in person?
Do you have an interest rate lock? If so for how long? If closing doesn’t happen
by that date, will I have to pay to extend my rate lock?
What are the fee’s associated with your company and my loan?
If working with a mortgage broker here are a couple extra questions to ask

How many lenders did you submit my information to?
Why did you select this lender?
What, if any, additional fees are involved?

Preparing to get a mortgage can seem tasking but is worth it in the end. There are few things you
can do to get ready.

Check on your credit score and make improvements as needed (many lenders will
help guide you through this process as well)
Save for your down payment and closing costs
Make sure you have a stable source of income that is provable

While all this might seem like a lot, your Realtor and the lender you choose, will be there to
guide you through the entire process. Click Here to find out what Title Insurance is and why it is important.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Seller & Buyer Tips • September 1, 2022

Tips For Selling Your House

by Crystal Zabel

Tips For Selling Your House

When it comes to selling your house, there are always questions that come up.

Below are a few tips for selling your house:

Selling Secret #9 Hire a Trusted Real Estate Professional To Guide You Through The Entire Process

Having a trusted real estate professional like a realtor will always give you a upper hand in listing your property. Your trusted real estate professional will help you from starting with guiding you to the right listing price for your property using local data. They will put your needs first, work directly with you, keep you informed through out the entire process, and will be there to answer your questions along the way. A true Realtor will be there for you from the start through the closing and after.

Selling Secret #8 Price At A Reasonable Market Value

Having a professional real estate agent, they will run comparable with accurate local data and help guide you to an accurate price range to list your property. They will provide you the maximum price on your home in it’s current condition.

Selling Secret #7 Know Where To List

Your trusted real estate professional will know where to list your home to get maximum exposure to potential buyers.

Selling Secret #6 Know When To List

Speaking with a trusted real estate professional will help you figure out the best time to list your property that best fits your needs.

Selling Secret #5 Keep Decorations Neutral

When buyers see your property whether in photos or in person it is always a good idea to keep decorations neutral. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. The best thing you can do is depersonalize the house by replacing family photos with something neutral like a painting or center piece if on a table or shelf.

Selling Secret #4 Have Quality Photos

Having quality photos of your property will give a good first impression to potential buyers. Quality photo’s also allow the property to show better online when the potential buyers are first looking at the home to determine if they want to set up a showing to view the house.

Selling Secret #3 Declutter & Clean Up Before Showings and Open Houses

Potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the property so it has more potential for buyers to come into the house and see the space and paint the picture of how they will decorate and use the house as their own and what they can do to fit their needs. Having a clean and decluttered space will allow for buyers to get that.

Selling Secret #2 Quick Fixes/Minor Updates.

You do not need to go and do a full make over or fully update your house. Instead, do updates that will payoff and help you sell quicker, like a fresh coat of paint, clean blinds or get new ones, replace door handles throughout home, replace hardware on cabinets. Repair/Replace any leaking faucets.

Selling Secret #1: First Impression matters and that means your Curb Appeal Matters.

You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Click the link here to see why Curb Appeal Matters and how you can spruce up your properties curb Appeal. (Why is Curb Appeal Important?)

There is more to selling then just choosing a list price and putting on the internet. I am here to
help you through the entire process from start to finish. For more Tips On Selling Your House or to answer any question please feel free to call, text, or email me I am ready to help you, my info is below!

– Crystal Zabel, Realtor.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Seller & Buyer Tips • August 2, 2022

What is Title Insurance?

by Crystal Zabel

What is title insurance

What is Title Insurance?

If you are planning on buying a home, you are going to need title Insurance. Title insurance is extremely
important yet rarely talked about and even less understood by most. If you have already purchased a
home with a mortgage, title insurance was required and obtained for you. So what is title insurance?
Unlike typical insurance like car insurance for example which protects your vehicle against accidents in
the FUTURE, title insurance protects you and your home from events that have occurred in the PAST.
Common title issues that occur and put you at risk Include:

Errors in public records at the city, township or the county.
Ownership by another party not discharged from some point in the past.
Incorrect signatures on recorded documents which sometimes can indicate fraud or forgery.
Unrecorded easements which could restrict where you can build a structure on your property
Judgments, liens, and lawsuits which have been attached to the property due to nonpayment or
have not been released properly. You could be responsible for paying these if you sell or
refinance your home.
Undiscovered will – This happens when a prior owner of your home dies and the home is not
put through the legal probate process properly. Years later a relative or even the state could
put your ownership in jeopardy.
Tax Liens – These could be property or personal tax liens against your property that may be
unpaid. You could be forced to pay these should you want to sell your home or refinance.
And many more !

There are over 70 examples we have on file of title ” defects “ from the past that could potentially cost
you a lot of money or even to lose your home. Most often issues that arise are due to clerical error or
problems that can be resolved quickly, but sometimes problems are discovered that could cause you to
be faced with financial loss or even the loss of your home. This is where a good title company becomes
necessary when buying a home.

Here’s why: Title companies are tasked with protecting you and your mortgage company from these common
scenarios by providing title insurance. We do this by researching the history of your property (A Title
Search) for at least the past 20 years at the state, county and city level as well as other sources. When
the title search is completed the title company underwriter approves the title search and an insurance
policy is issued protecting you and your mortgage company.

For decades mortgage companies have required title insurance, now you should too.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Crystal or myself for “ Crystal Clear” answers.
Thank you for reading,

-Mark Moore

Cislo Title Company
Phone : 810.245.6950

The above Title Company I work with and recommended for great service and adequacy.

Crystal Zabel Your Crystal Clear Realtor

Home Tips • July 6, 2022

Getting Your House Picture Ready to List!

by Crystal Zabel

Getting Your House Picture Ready to List!

Getting your house ready for pictures is an important first step in the selling
process. The reason this is an important step is because you want your pictures to
look good when they are posted online. Pictures represent the house prior to
anyone going to see the house in person. When people look at pictures they get a
feeling for the house, the layout, the upkeep, things of that nature.
It is amazing how small things can make a house look so much better, not just in
pictures but in person as well! Let’s get into some tips:

• Tidy up the outside

1) Pick up around the yard
2) Mow, trim, get rid of weeds
3) Clean deck, furniture, patios
4) Pressure wash house if needed

• Inside the house

1) Replace light bulbs if needed
2) Clean off and remove items from all countertops in kitchen and
bathrooms
3) Clean off and remove items from kitchen table, place a centerpiece if
possible
4) De clutter all surfaces including mantles and tops of refrigerators
5) Remove small rugs to show the floors
6) Wash walls/touch up paint

• Pets (We love them but not everyone does)

1) Hide food bowls, litter boxes, and toys
2) Don’t forget to get the hair off the couches

• Great hiding spots

1) Closets
2) Washer/dryers
3) Dishwasher
4) Cupboards/pantries
5) Garages/Sheds

Getting Your House Picture Ready to List is an important part of the selling process.

Click here to see why curb appeal is also important.

Recipe's • June 29, 2022

The Ultimate Barbecue Lettuce Wraps

by Crystal Zabel

The Ultimate Barbecue Lettuce Wraps are a light, easy, and refreshing to make recipe and it’s great for gatherings, camping, or just enjoying as a dinner!

What you will need to make The Ultimate Barbecue Lettuce Wraps:

Meat of your choice (chicken, steak, pork, tofu) 1 decent boneless steak to make 4 Servings. However, serving of meat vary between how much is needed to your liking.
Lettuce, I prefer large leaf romaine but you can use what you like (butter lettuce, iceberg etc. Just make sure it is large enough to hold food).
1 Half Red Onion, chopped.
Chopped Cilantro, optional.
BBQ Sauce of your choice, (OR just seasoned Meat).

1. Cook Meat of Choice- First, you will want to start by barbequing your meat to desired doneness. Next, you will add the BBQ Sauce (or sauce/seasoning of choice) while cooking to your desired doneness.

Once the meat is done cooking as desired you will then cube the meat or cut into slices.

2. Prep- Rinse all veggies, destem Cilantro, chop Onions, and other desired garnishes.

3. Serve- Take your large leaf lettuce and spoon on your meat, onion, basil, and cilantro; fill them as
much or as little as you like. Then, roll up or fold like a taco and enjoy!

Also, You may use a tortilla if desired in place of lettuce.

Bonus Add-ons: Grilled Corn, Jalapenos, Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Cheese, Drizzle with Ranch, Caesar Dressing and/or whatever else you can think of!

Enjoy, The Ultimate Barbecue Lettuce Wraps!

Which Down Payment Strategy is Right For You?

10 Benefits of Homeownership

Home Insurance Versus Home Warranty

EASY LANDSCAPING DIY PROJECTS

PREP YOUR PETS FOR THE BIG MOVE.

PREP YOUR PETS FOR THE BIG MOVE

Tips for Choosing the Right Lender

Tips For Selling Your House

What is Title Insurance?

Getting Your House Picture Ready to List!

The Ultimate Barbecue Lettuce Wraps

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