Utah Home Mortgage Specialist

Show clients the real cost of buying versus renting.

How many times have you heard someone say, “In this market, it makes more sense for me to rent”? The truth is, many people don’t understand how to truly evaluate whether or not renting is really in their best interest. Offering prospective clients a free analysis is a great way to start a homeownership conversation.

Move.com offers a number of useful calculators, one of which is the “Rent vs. Buy” calculator:

“This calculator will help you to compare the costs of renting to the costs of buying a home. Since there are all kinds of forces at work behind the scenes (interest, property taxes, tax savings, appreciation, opportunity costs, closing costs, selling costs, etc.), comparing the cost of renting to the cost of buying is a lot more complicated than just comparing the monthly mortgage payment to the monthly rent payment. This calculator attempts to forecast the net effects of all the hidden forces so you can make an informed decision.”

http://www.move.com/home-finance/financial-calculators/rent-vs-buy-calculator.aspx

Even if you can’t afford an interior designer, you can decorate successfully. Before starting a project, determine your style preferences. If you have trouble coming up with great ideas, check out decorating shows and collect tear sheets from magazines. For best results, create a budget and focus on one room at a time. Here are top designer tips to help turn your home into a haven:

1. Before beginning a project, have a plan;
2. Mix high-end & affordable pieces;
3. Purchase well-made furniture with interesting details or classic lines;
4. Splurge on furniture that gets a lot of use;
5. Avoid being too trendy;
6. Don’t over-accessorize;
7. Use accessories that draw the eye to a room’s focal point;
8. Don’t let furniture hug the walls;
9. Angle sofas to make rooms appear larger;
10. Arrange furniture for easy access & movement;
11. Add the illusion of space by keeping part (or all) of the floor visible;
12. Everything doesn’t have to match;
13. When mixing styles, choose pieces that visually balance each other;
14. Paint can refresh, revitalize or completely change a room’s look;
15. White is classic but color creates depth & interest;
16. Choose a hue that suits you, your family, and lifestyle;
17. Blue and green rooms are calming & relaxing;
18. Dark colors make a room seem smaller;
19. Light colors make a room seem larger;

Paint ceilings two shades lighter than walls for small rooms to feel airy & spacious.

Being credit savvy pays off. High credit scores can mean lower payments and thousands of dollars in savings. Approximately 65% of your FICO score is based on two factors: payment history & utilization. And the higher your balances are in relation to credit limits, the lower the score – even if you pay your card off every month. Here are simple steps to maintain a high FICO score:

• Make all payments on time;
• Avoid negative occurrences (such as collections);
• Keep credit card balances low (under 25%) in proportion to credit limits;
• Do not close old credit card accounts;
• Shop for credit only when necessary.

The best way to improve and maintain your credit score is to keep spending under control, pay bills on time, and avoid applying for extra credit too often. Also, be certain to periodically check your credit report for accuracy. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, the only government-authorized source for consumers to access a free copy of their annual credit report online.