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Nearly All Young Renters in Wilmington DE Want to Purchase A Home

by Katina Geralis

According to the latest Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey from the National Association of REALTORS, 94 percent of renters aged 34 and younger want to own a home in the future. Not only does this take into account their beliefs on whether or not now is a good time to buy or sell and their expectations of the mortgage market, but also their beliefs on homeownership as part of the American Dream.

The survey also found that indeed 77 percent of renters believe homeownership is part of their American Dream, 83 percent of overall renters (not just young renters) want to own a home in the near future and 84 percent of renters believe owning a home is a good financial decision.

So what does that mean for you if you are among the majority of Wilmington Delaware renters who are dreaming of owning a home in the coming year? We've rounded up a few tips below to help you prepare to become a homeowner:

Start saving your down payment
We have shared in a past blog post various ways to begin saving for a down payment, from setting up an automatic withdrawal from your account each month to cutting back on large purchases to downsizing your current apartment to save the difference for your future home. Either way—and no matter how much you intend to put down—you need to start putting money away for this purpose.

The survey found that one of the top reasons young renters do not currently own was the inability to afford it. With the rising costs of rent, it may be easier for you to save for your future home by downsizing in the meantime! 

Clean up your credit score
Errors on credit reports can take months to correct, but bad credit can take even longer. Start grooming your credit well in advance of applying for a mortgage and you will be that much closer to a speedy approval! Wilmington area buyers can begin by ensuring all payments are made on time and in full, paying down any large debt and keeping credit card purchases to a minimum.

Remember, you do not need the best score to purchase a home, but the higher you can get it, the better the interest rate you will be able to secure.

Make a budget
To better prepare yourself for buying a home, it is wise to start researching home prices in your desired area of Wilmington. Do you know what neighborhood you'd like to live in? How about your wants and needs in a home? Once you have these in mind, you can enter your monthly income and costs into a mortgage calculator to see if your dream home is within reach. If not, you can adjust your budget, but it is always helpful to have a price range in mind as you begin the homebuying journey!

Buying a home in Wilmington, DE is a big step, especially if it's your first time! But don't worry— the KG Home Team has consistently been ranked a Top Real Estate Team in Delaware and we are here to help you with every decision along the way! 

We even offer FREE First-time Homebuyer Seminars and a FREE Home Buyer E-Guide!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
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5 Ways to Prepare Your Wilmington DE Home for Holiday Guests

by Katina Geralis

We all know schedules can get a bit hectic during the holiday season and before you know it, your guests have arrived at the door! There is no better time than now to get your Wilmington DE area home in order for hosting holiday gatherings this year, no matter how many you plan to have in attendance. The best way to avoid any last minute headaches? Take it one room at a time and the earlier you can begin, the better! 

Consider these following five tasks your go-to list for holiday home prep and enjoy the season without any homeowner hassles!

Clean out the closets
Give your guests more room to hang their coats and store their belongings by purging your closets. In doing so, you can also make space for any gifts you receive or need to store before your holiday events. Start with coat closets and move on to your bedrooms as the former can be the easiest to clean out.

Touch up walls and doors
Throughout the year, your Wilmington home can acquire smudges, spots and paint chips. Now is the time to touch them up, even before you deck the halls with holiday decor! Small sponge blocks can quickly remove smudges from walls, bathroom tile, flooring and even appliances. The last thing you want in your holiday photos are scuffs in the background!

Clean your appliances
During the holidays, the focus shifts from living spaces to the kitchen and dining room. You'll likely be cooking up a storm if you're hosting guests—or at least eating at your table—so spend some time addressing dirty appliances and dusty dining rooms. It is fine to scrub the inside of your oven and stovetop prior to cooking your holiday meal, but do not self-clean until afterward! One of the main causes of oven breakdowns during the holidays is that self-cleaning button.

Clean your chimney
Gathering around the fireplace is a holiday favorite, so make sure yours has been cleaned this year! A local chimney sweep will remove soot and creosote— residue that can cause fires. While you're on this task, also spring for changing your furnace filter if you haven't yet. Experts recommend cleaning your furnace every four to six weeks to ensure optimal energy efficiency.

Winterize your entryway
As you welcome guests into your home, their boots and shoes will need somewhere to gather! If you store shoes in the entryway, add mats for your guests to wipe their feet when they come inside. Mats will also keep your floors cleaner longer as the snow and dirt can collect here rather than on your wood or carpet.

The Kat Geralis Home Team wishes you a happy holiday season and as always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have about buying or selling a home in the Greater Wilmington area!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

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