The Rise of the Milennials

A new generation, the millennials, are entering into homeownership and with them are new mortgage rules. When it comes to buying a home, there are a lot of aspects that need to be navigated through such as applying for a loan, getting pre-approved, hiring an agent, and so much more.

For many, buying a home can be stressful and you need to be sure you are ready to make the commitment of being a homeowner. If you might to relocate in the next few years, you’re deep in depth, or just not ready to make the commitment, you should consider holding off buying a home.

Ready to buy? Make the whole process easier by hiring the right team to help you find your dream home. A real estate agent can help to make the home buying/selling process a lot easier on you. Ensure you are hiring the right agent for you by taking time to ask them questions and references.

Have questions about applying for a loan? How to find out your credit score? Give us a call today! We are here to answer your questions and help you get pre-approved.

Building A Solid Financial Future

Buying a home is an important financial step in anyone's life, but you have to start saving now to buy that dream home. Every little step you take towards becoming more money smart can help you achieve your short and long term goals.

Financial guru, Dave Ramsey has a few tips about getting a good and solid start on your money path. 

Start an emergency fund. As the old saying goes, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. You never know what life has in store and sometimes there are a lot of twists, turns, and bumps in the road. Build an emergency fund of $1,000 dollars to give you some cushion if anything happens. 

Pay off your debt via the snowball effect. This strategy is great to helping you build momentum and getting your debt paid off. Dave Ramsey advises you make a list of all your debts and then pay off the smaller debt first. Once that one is paid off, move to the next, and continue you down the list until all your debt is paid off. Not sure how you are going to wing it? Consider getting a second job to pay off your debt, sell some of your items, and whatever else you need to do to get your debt paid off.

Build a 3-6 month savings. Once the first two items above are completed, now is the time to put enough money into savings to sustain you for 3-6 months if anything unexpected happens in life. This account will be there if you lose your job and need some cushion while you look for another one or whatever happens in life, you will be covered. 

For steps 4-7, take a moment to read Dave Ramsey’s entire article, The Seven Baby Steps, and remember that every dollar you save is getting you one step closer to reaching your financial goals. If you are considering buying a home, Dave has an awesome mortgage calculator worth checking out (but still talk with a financial officer and get pre-approved to make the home buying process easier). 

Successful Gardening Tips for 2015

When it comes to gardening, there are some myths that need to be debunked. As you plot your planting this year, keep these things in mind for a more successful growing year.

If you include drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping remember they don’t need very much water to survive. However, keep in mind that they will still need to be watered--probably once every other week. Because Utah is a desert state, when you are planting, make sure the soil is wet. Young plants are most susceptible to a drought, due to their roots not be established, and you will need to verify the soil remains moist.

When choosing a pesticide, the safer choices are the ones that contain Bacillus thuringiensis, aka Bt, and insecticidal soap. A lot of of synthetic and organic pesticides contain natural toxins and poisons which can be hazardous to people, pets, frogs, and bees.

Staking newly planted trees is probably not needed,
unless the tree is top heavy or in a windy area. As you go about staking, remember to keep the stake loose (a little movement is good for the tree) and don’t leave it up longer than 6 months. If a tree is staked too long or too tight, trees tend to have smaller trunks that are weak and prone to breakage.

For more insights on gardening, read: 10 Gardening Myths Busted!

Manage Your Time with These 3 Tips

As I sit down to write this blog, I’m surprised at how busy my life is. With my to-do list mounting up, and my stress mounting, I’m forced to evaluate which tasks are most important and prioritized my time more efficiently. Which is--at times--easier said than done.

For me, I live off lists. All my tasks, regardless how big or small, are written down so I don’t forget them. Once my list has been made, I go through my list and separate them into three categories: Must-do, Will-do, and Can-do.

The Must-do tasks are the ones I absolutely must do. Blocking out time to do lead generation, marketing, call prospects, and any office work that needs to be done. I also block out time every night to write and do any final work needed.

The Will-do tasks are also important. This is the time you follow up with clients, reserve time for home inspections or listing appointments.

The Can-do tasks fill in the gaps of free time. During these blocked out moments, take a moment to fill them in with the tasks that will help make you money. What else can you do to be more proactive or get a head start on tomorrow’s tasks?

By taking time to block out your day into these three sections you’ll be surprised at how effectively you can manage your time.

Prepare for the Tax Season with These Tips

Tax day is only two months away and now is the time to get everything together. If you are married, here are some things you be aware of:

If you recently changed your name, report the change to the Social Security Administration to ensure your name matches your social security number. Also notify your employer if you've changed your name or moved to make sure your W-2 gets sent to the right place.

To report a change of address, file an IRS Form 8822.

Adjust your tax withholdings on your  W-4 to reflect your new status. If you've claimed zero on your W-4 in the past you may want to reconsider. Although you may receive a big refund from the government at the end of the year, that is having the government hold your money interest free. This year, why not take that extra money and put it in a savings account that will earn interest?

Get all your paperwork together to make the whole filing process easier. Take time to gather you and your spouse’s social security numbers, birth dates, and W-2s.

For further information about filing, read this great article by Dave Ramsey.

3 Tips to Prepare for Tax Season

Tax season is right around the corner. Can you believe it is that time of year again? This year make tax season easier by taking time to get organized which can lead to more money in your pocket in the long run.

Here are 3 strategies to make this time easier are:

1. Gather all your documents and get them ready
   
2. Collect your final paycheck stubs from each job you had during the past year and match them with your W-2s. If you are married, make sure your spouse also receives all of their paperwork.
   
3. Verify that you have the social security numbers and birthdates of all the individuals on your tax return.

When you have all your tax information gathered and ready to go, take some time to create a solid financial plan.