home buying tagged posts

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about proactive chimney sweeping.

A Partially Closed Damper

If you opened the damper for your fireplace, it’s possible that something on the interior or exterior is preventing it from opening fully. Soot buildup and water damage could lead to a damper in need of repair. Clean Sweep can examine the damper and complete any necessary repairs for it to work properly again.

No Pilot Light

If you have a gas fireplace, the pilot light can be extinguished by a strong gust of wind or downdraft. Try turning the pilot light back on by turning the control knob to the pilot position. Hit the red button that lights the pilot and hold it for about a minute before turning the knob on...

Everyone loves Thanksgiving dinner, all the games on tv and a long weekend, but there are some interesting facts that you might not know about this holiday. Check out this month’s Item of Value and read the full story about Thanksgiving and its traditions we all love. Football, balloon animals and Pilgrims are a part of the holiday, but how did all of the customs that we take for granted get started?

Click here to get the full e-report.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home, contact Gigi today!
Oh by the way, I’m never too busy for any of your referrals.

Home mortgage rates

Thanks to Mark Hines of Fidelity Bank for this episode of Tips from the Pros about mortgages.

As most of you know FHLB (Federal Home Loan Bank) grant program ran out of funds in early October. The date funds will be available again for us to use is January 14, 2019. Fidelity Bank Mortgage again has $1,000,000 to use for its borrowers/buyers. Currently Baltimore County SELP still has funds and certainly MMP or the Maryland Mortgage Program.

More buyers are electing to build a new home as the inventory of existing homes is low. Fidelity Bank offers a 1 time close construction loan as well as the HomeStyle and FHA 203k renovation loans.

We are seeing less seller help on contracts and usually multiple offers resulting in a big win for sellers.

As always feel free to u...

See what clients are saying

Meet Katie and Chris Peitsch

What do you love most about your new home?

All the extra space! Moving from a townhouse to a single family home, basically doubled the square footage of our house. The large master suite is a nice perk too.

If you could sum up your experience in one word what would that be?  Why?

Fast. We only toured two houses before making an offer. The online tools Gigi gave us helped us to narrow down our search as we already knew the area we wanted to live in. Selling our townhouse was also surprisingly fast, we had an offer within a week. Again, the tools and suggestions Gigi and her team gave us about getting our house ready to sell made the process easier...

Thanks to Mark Hines of Fidelity Bank for this episode of Tips from the Pros about mortgages.

As expected the Feds raised interest rates 25 bps to 5.25% on Wednesday, noting that job growth has been “strong” and inflation has been close to their 2.0% target.  In addition, a larger majority of members (12 up from 8 last meeting) now expect an additional 25 bps hike by year-end and three more hikes in 2019.

The Prime rate is for short term lending like revolving charge accounts and HELOC’s (Home Equity Line Of Credit). This also affects the construction loans that rely on the prime rate as their benchmark.

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Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros about organizing mistakes.

Some people believe if their home is clean, it’s organized. That is not necessarily true. Clutter can be hidden in closets or under beds. People may have trouble finding things because they don’t have storage containers clearly labeled.

How do you make sure you don’t take these organizing missteps?

Kitchen counters

You don’t have to have your kitchen counters completely clear. If you use your toaster every morning, keep it on the counter. Putting it away and taking it out every day is a waste of time. However, if you only use it every now and then, it makes sense to keep it off the counter.

Entryway

A completely clear entryway can make it hard to find a place for your coat,...

Thanks to Tom Benisch of State Farm for this episode of Tips from the Pros about what to store in the garage.

It’s easy for a garage to turn into a catchall storage unit. For most items that’s fine, but some things simply don’t belong in a garage, and they can even become a home hazard without proper storage protection. This list of common red-flag items can help identify what doesn’t belong in the garage.

• Extra fuel. Stashing portable gas cans and propane tanks in the garage can be dangerous: Highly flammable fuel poses a leaking risk. If you store any fuel in the garage, do so only in dedicated, leak-proof containers out of the reach of children and pets and away from potential sources of ignition such as water heaters or power tools...

34 Elinor Ave.

Here it is, the one you’ll want to call home! This delightful single family colonial at 34 Elinor Ave., Baltimore County is perched on a large corner lot...