Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Every Wednesday We Will have {Decorating Wednesdays!}

I am so excited to share with you various ideas and concepts of different layouts on Decorating your home with what we call "Staple Pieces".  "Staple Pieces" are items I like to start off with than go from there and add other pieces of furniture, home decor, and various other items to go off of the Staple piece I work with.


Here are some neat ideas on decorating your home. It DOES NOT have to be costly.  We love clean, cut, and crispy.

No matter where you came from its always lovely to have that one stop for everyone to hang up your Coats, purse, and misc. items. This is one way with many options to do just that right next to the entry way.


Living at lake of the Ozarks we have plenty of Fisherman. Finding a simple item like these Fish Stands will accent any avid Fisherman's Kitchen.


 A "Staple Piece" is usually the main item or furniture you decorate off of. In this one the Couch and Rug are the "staple pieces" and all other furniture/items selected to surround and coordinate it fashionably!


It truly does not take much to accentuate a bare wall with these items creating a "Piece of Simplicity".


The Winter Month is coming and no matter what kind of Fireplace you may have...you can never go wrong with the basic Rocking chairs to cozy up to the fire.


Dining rooms may seem like a daunting task to decorate.  Not so true.  The staple piece is the artwork on the wall. Throw a black table and upholster chairs with the colors off the artwork. Easy Peasy!


Outside Fire Pits are all the Rage these days. Easy to build and do it yourself. Here is a tutorial and easy steps to create your own before the snow comes down!

With that said We wish you a warm and cozy fall.

Until Next Time,
Ebbie

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Lake of the Ozark News November 5, 2013

How to prepare on buying your "Dream Home"....

If you’re like everyone else, you dream about buying a house but wake up to the reality of loose-end finances and the overwhelming prospect of a monthly mortgage.
So how to prepare?
1. Check your credit – Requesting a credit report is actually one of the easiest things you can do; clearing fraudulent activity is one of the hardest. That’s why it’s important to check your credit history early in the process if you’re thinking about buying. If you find something negative on your report, it could take months to clear things up. The U.S. government allows for one free report each year from each of the three national credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Visit annualcreditreport.com for your free reports. It's a great first step.
2. Pay down debt – This might seem like a no-brainer, but banks don’t want to see that you have a whole lot of stuff and not a whole lot of money. Banks need to know you’ll be able to pay their loan first and foremost, and they like to see a high credit score, which debt negatively affects. So start paying off those credit cards, and put off purchasing that new car or making any other major purchases until after you’ve secured a mortgage. Speaking of mortgages…
3. Build a down payment – Conventional wisdom says a down payment should be no less than 20 percent of the home price. A 20-percent down payment is something to shoot for, but it's not necessarily required or entirely realistic, particularly for first-time homebuyers. A 3.5 percent down payment is the minimum required to secure an FHA loan. So although you might not end up bringing 20 percent to the transaction, you will have to prepare to bring some cash to the transaction.
4. Research neighborhoods – This is where the fun starts. If you’re not sure which part of town you’re looking to live, get out and explore! Drive around, walk the streets, visit the shops and eat in the restaurants. If you don’t see yourself living there, then move on to the next community. And don’t forget to research school districts – even if you don’t have children or don’t have children in public schools. Homes in good school districts move the fastest when it’s time to sell – should that day ever come.
5. Get pre-approved – Unless you’re paying cash, nothing shows a seller you’re ready to buy quite like having a pre-approval letter from a lender. Plus, you’ll know exactly how much you can borrow, which can guide you toward properties in your price range. Plan to secure a pre-approval just before you start looking at homes. Meet with several lenders to determine which company you trust most and which one can offer you the best terms and interest rate. Oftentimes, your real estate agent can provide you the names of reputable lenders.
If we can be any help to you finding your perfect home at the lake, please let us know or call 573-302-2313. Until next time! Ebbie :)