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Showing posts with the label buying a home at Lake of the Ozarks

Why You Should Buy a 2nd Home at the Lake of the Ozarks

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The Lake of the Ozarks is a booming place for real estate, and whether you're buying or selling your home at the Lake - eXp Realty is here to assist.  Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks  has many advantages, and while they may seem purely recreational, we have a few other reasons that may take you by surprise. Here are some reasons why you should buy a 2nd home at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Easy Lifestyle When you buy your home at the Lake, you'll find that around each corner you're close to all of your basic needs and then some! From amazing restaurants and bars to retail and grocery stores, we've got it all. While shopping and dining are huge aspects of our area, you'll also find that the easy lifestyle is also created through activities and events around the area. LOCATION! The Lake of the Ozarks was voted the BEST recreational Lake at the Lake of the Ozarks by USA Today - meaning our location is ideal. When you buy a home at the Lake of the Oza...

4 Reasons to Relocate to the Lake of the Ozarks

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Lake of the Ozarks is often only thought of as a popular vacation spot. However, there are a lot of reasons you should consider making the Lake of the Ozarks your permanent residence. For starters, enjoy the Lake of the Ozark beauty all four seasons! Watch the beautiful color changes in the Fall, the lake freeze and snowfall in the Winter, wild flowers bloom in the Spring, and best of all boat ALL Summer long! eXp Realty specializes in Lake of the Ozarks lakefront properties and would love to help you relocate to the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. Still not convinced? Here are four reasons you should relocate to the Lake of the Ozarks. 1. Life on the Water Living on the water isn't just great in the summer, it's great all year long! You can take your boat out all summer long, but boating is still great in the Fall and Spring. Enjoying a relaxing boat ride in the Fall when the leaves are changing is incredible. If you love to fish, Lake of the Ozarks is the perfect spot....

Understanding the Home Mortgage Process

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When buying a home, one of the first steps to need to look at is getting pre-qualified for a home. Your pre-qualification will give you an idea of what you can afford, and help you know exactly what you're looking for in your next home. There can be many complicated factors to your mortgage, and we want to help you feel at ease through the entire process. The entire  eXp Realty  team is proud to help you through this exciting process of finding a home, whether it's your first, or you are a seasoned home buyer. Here are a few things you'll need to know about home mortgages to help you understand them better. What are Closing Costs? Your closing costs will vary from property to property. It can include items like title insurance fees, pre-paid interest, and documentation fees. Your type of mortgage and location can make a difference in these closing costs, so you'll want to talk with your lender and  Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent . What Documentation Will I...

Home Ownership Expenses You May Not Have Considered

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While the investment of home ownership far outweighs the cost of rent, there are a few expenses that you many not have included in your budget. From landscaping to furniture, a new home can incur expenses that you may not have realized to start with. At eXp Realty, we aim to prepare you for home ownership at the start, helping to make this new and exciting transition and smoothly as possible. Here are a few other things that you should figure into your budget when buying a  home at the Lake of the Ozarks . Homeowner's Insurance In Missouri, the average homeowner's insurance premium is $1,191. An insurance premium is paid either annually or monthly, and it will depend on your insurance provider. If you are getting a mortgage for your home, many lenders will require that you have homeowner's insurance. It's worth it to do your research and call around for the best price and service. Utility Bills These may not come to mind immediately, especially if you've be...

Packing Tips For Moving Into Your New Home

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Packing is inevitably one of the most time-consuming and potentially stressful parts of moving, but it doesn't have to be. By utilizing a few tips now, you can save yourself time and energy on packing, as well as money too! At eXp Realty , not only do we assist you in the purchase of your homes at the Lake of the Ozarks , but we also want to give you tips on how to move your belongings from one home to the next. Here are a few tips to remember as you're packing up your home. Get Started Early Even if you're a fast packer, you can never start too early. Give yourself a couple of weeks to really sort through the items, and organize while you pack. Start with items that you don't use often like china or books. Pack Your Items Strategically Pack all of the immediately needed items in one box, and label them with a star. Or better yet, pack them in suitcases or clothes hampers so you can easily access them. You would want to include clothes, toiletries, a few rolls ...

Buyers: Don't Skip the Final Walk-Through!

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Congratulations! You're about to close on your dream home . It's spacious, beautiful, and it has that luxurious screened in porch you've been dreaming about for years. You can't wait to move in and begin unpacking everything! With so many exciting things to think about, performing a final walk-through of your new home is usually the last thing on any buyer's mind. You've seen the house plenty of times; why do you need to inspect it again? The final walk-through is not another inspection, though. It's a chance to make sure everything is in the condition you and the previous owners agreed upon. A thorough walk-through should be performed 2-3 days before closing. After you close, any problems you discover will be your responsibility to fix, not the previous owners. Final Walk-through DOs and DON'Ts DO: Flip on all the light switches to make sure the lights work Turn on all appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, etc) and make sure you get the ow...

Planning Your Budget for a New Home

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When you think about buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , your excitement may have you thinking of everything BUT the expenses you'll incur once the sale is complete. As a homeowner, you'll have many new responsibilities that will play a role in your new budget plan. So before you move ahead on purchasing a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , we're sharing with you a list of potential expenses you'll need to consider when planning your new home budget. Take a look: Homeowners Insurance In Missouri, the average homeowner's insurance premium is $1,119. An insurance premium is paid either annually or monthly, and it will depend on your insurance provider. If you are getting a mortgage for your home, many lenders will require that you have homeowners insurance. It's worth it to do your research and call around for the best price and service. Utility Bills These may not come to mind immediately, especially if you've been living in an apartment where th...

Tips for Buying a Home with Your Significant Other

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Engaged...check. Married...check. Honeymoon...check. Now you may be considering purchasing your first home together.   Buying your first home with your new spouse can be a complicated process.  Many couples have never actually lived together, one person might be carrying more debt or have bad credit, your tastes and expectations are worlds apart...these are just a few things that cause newlyweds to get frustrated early in the home-buying process. Here are a few tips to consider when purchasing your first home together. 1. Window Shop Together Go to home tours, review listings and discuss likes/dislikes, clip pictures out of magazines and determine what you can and cannot live without. Figure out which things you can compromise on so that you will BOTH be satisfied buyers. Keep in mind that most homebuyers will stay in their home for 9 years - you want those nine years to be enjoyable. 2. Consider Credit Issues for BOTH of You Your bills are always paid on time. You...

Celebrating Christmas in Your New Home

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Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and even more exciting if you'll be spending it in your new home. Whether you'll be decorating the halls, or singing carols around the neighborhood, there are several ways you and your family can make amazing memories. Here are a few ways you can celebrate the Holidays in a new place. Deck the Halls Use your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks as a chance to really enjoy decorating. You'll have new places to put all of your old decorations, and you can enjoy buying a few new pieces that are special for this new home. Of course, you don't have to limit the decorating to just the inside! Enjoy a chance to get out and hang some lights on your home and make it festive outside too. Sing it Loud for All to Hear Christmas in your new neighborhood is a great chance to get out and meet your neighbors. Put together a nice plate of treats that you can make with your family, and then take the opportunity to meet the people around yo...

Tips to Keep Your Closing Date on Schedule

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Finding a buyer for your home is obviously an important step to selling your Lake of the Ozarks Home - but during the weeks to come, it is critical that you do everything you can to make sure the deal closes! Here are a few tips that will help keep your closing date on schedule and your contract in tact. Do Not Ignore Contingencies Some contracts will require that you do something before the sale is complete. If your contract designates specific repairs or improvements, be sure to do the job and do it well. The buyer will notice and it can delay your closing date or stand in the way of finalizing your contract. If it's Broken, Fix it! The buyer will have the opportunity for a pre-closing walk through - this should be a very exciting and happy time for the buyer. However, if the buyer notices that things are "falling apart," it leaves a bad impression with the buyer and could prompt the buyers to back out of the sale. Take Deadlines Seriously Deadline...

Moving with Kids: Tips to Make the Transition Easier

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Moving is stressful enough, throw in some kids and it's like the stress multiplies by 10. One of the toughest parts about moving from your home where your children have grown up is not only leaving all the memories you've made, but leaving a place your children know and love. As the most experienced real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks , you can bet we've seen families make the transition a few times in our years. That's why we've come up with some tips to make moving with kids a little easier. Call a Family Meeting Once the decision has been made to make the move, the time will come that you'll need to break the news to the family. Order some pizza and sit around the table discussing this change and why you made the choice. Share with your family that you're excited about this opportunity and encourage your kids to express their feelings. This will allow you the opportunity to get ahead of a possibly difficult transition. Visit the Home Onc...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Reverse Mortgages

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The benefits of owning your own home go far beyond just having a place to stay - your home will likely be your greatest financial asset. The equity you build in your home will give you a huge advantage down the road. One way to take advantage of the equity in your home is to sell it and apply the equity towards your new home or towards your retirement. Another way is to take out a reverse mortgage. This week, the team at  eXp Realty  is here to help you get a better understanding of reverse mortgages and the advantages and disadvantages they offer. What is a Reverse Mortgage? A reverse mortgage is a type of home loan that lets you convert a portion of your home equity into cash. Essentially, the equity that you built up over years of making mortgage payments can be paid to you. Generally, you don't have to pay back the money for as long as you live in your home. However, when you die, sell your home, or move out, you, your spouse or your estate would have to repay the loa...