Vaulted ceilings are one of the features that many sellers will try to highlight, and many buyers try to search for when purchasing a home. While they do indeed add a touch of luxury to many spaces, what exactly is it about vaulted ceilings that seems to draw so much attention, and is it worth it?

As with nearly all things there are a few pros and cons that are associated with the feature of high ceilings, however it seems that in many cases, at least for the majority of buyers and homeowners, the pros outweigh the cons significantly.

Pros

While everyone has their own opinions when it comes to pros of Vaulted Ceilings, we will try to stick to the two main reasons that are most popular among both homeowners and buyers. First is simply space. While vaulted ceilings in no way adds additional square footage to a home, they help to create an illusion of the space being bigger and more open which can make even a smaller room feel quite large.

Related: Space Saving Hacks for Small Homes

Second, while not in all cases, oftentimes vaulted ceilings are accompanied by oversized or large windows which allows for your home to maximize the usage of natural light, creating a brighter and airier ambiance which can leave your home feeling more open, crisp, clean and inviting to both yourself as well as guests, friends and family.

Cons

Really there are only two cons when it comes to vaulted ceilings, and they don’t seem too drastic. First, for some they feel that vaulted ceilings can cause a lot of dead space and wish that instead of vaulted ceilings, the space was used in a way where it could be accessed as a loft, additional bedroom, storage, etc.

Second is simply the height of the ceilings causing hardship for many homeowners. Whether there is a window that is too high to reach for easy cleanings, or cobwebs and dust that settle into the upper corners or peaks of the ceilings, with the height it can make routine cleaning more difficult, especially for those who are not comfortable using ladders.

Related: Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you are in the market to purchase a new home, are a homeowner looking to renovate, or simply trying to stay on top of today’s Real Estate Trends and Designs, Vaulted Ceilings are a timeless feature that has remained coveted over the past few decades and is foreseen to remain at the top of many buyer’s wish lists.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and are in need of an experienced seller’s agent, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

 

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Additional Tips for Buyers

• Why Your Offer May Not Be Accepted
• 3 Tips for Buying in a Seller’s Market
• House Broke: The Common First Time Buyer Mistake
• Why Was my Offer Rejected?
• 10 Tips for Moving Across the Country
• Luxury Features that Aren’t so Luxurious

It is no secret that we are in a seller’s market and that may lead to having your offer rejected by sellers. Receiving rejection letters can be an emotional and draining experience, however, there are a few things you can do to help boost your chances of acceptance. While there is no magic rule book that ensures that your offer will be accepted, there are a few reasons that you may be receiving more rejections than you expected. While there are many different factors that could be playing a role in your rejections or acceptance, these 4 things may be hurting your chances the most.

#1 Offering Below Asking

While you once could barter and offer less than asking and still have a good chance of receiving acceptance, in today’s market nearly all offers that are not at full asking price or above are automatically tossed out.

#2 Including Contingencies

While not all contingencies are “bad” there are many buyers who are choosing not to including any contingencies within their offer which then makes their offer look more appealing than others. A contingent offer will nearly always look worse than a contingency free offer. While this will help your chances of acceptance, you need to make sure that you are comfortable choosing to not include any contingencies, as it could alter your home buying experience.

Related: Waiving an Appraisal

#3 Competitive Market

The market is competitive, it is that simple. In a competitive market it is more likely to receive multiple rejections before you have an offer accepted. Try not to take it personal and keep hunting until you find the house to call home. Pull out all the stops. If your offer isn’t competitive it won’t be considered. Throw in a personal letter to the homeowner to help your offer stand out among the rest.

#4 Flexibility or Timeline

If you aren’t flexible to the seller’s timeline or needs than you risk rejections. Being as flexible as possible or adhering and catering to the seller’s timeline is one of the best ways to ensure that your offer is accepted and not rejected.

Related: How Much Home Can I Afford?

If you are in the market for a new home, it is important to remember that the market is hot, and homes are selling FAST. Discuss your wants and needs in depth with your agent and make sure that if you are ready to place an offer that it is competitive with the current market to help boost your chances of acceptance.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and are in need of a seller’s agent, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time and we would be more than happy to assist you.

 

Schedule a Consultation

Additional Tips for Buyers

• How to Sell a Beach Home FAST
• When to do Certain Upgrades
• This One Thing Might Decrease Your Home’s Value
• Why Was my Offer Rejected?
• 10 Tips for Moving Across the Country
• Is it Still Affordable to Buy Right Now?

If you’re considering purchasing a home, then you may be wondering what exactly you can afford when it comes to a purchase price or monthly mortgage. While there are many different tips and ways you can calculate what an “affordable” payment or purchase may be, ultimately, always remember that you have to be comfortable regardless of what purchase amount you may be approved for.

Related: Two Things you Can’t See in a Virtual Tour

It isn’t uncommon for buyers to choose to only purchase homes that are below their pre-approval amounts. For example, if you are approved for $400,000 but your personal budgets would be better and more comfortable with a purchase price of $350,000, then it is always recommended to stay within that price range, regardless of being approved for something more expensive.

When it comes to breaking down your purchase price and monthly payments, you can follow a few different tips, however, try using the following calculation as a basic rule of thumb. It is highly recommended that you try to keep your monthly mortgage at or below 30% of your gross income. Here is an example

Your Annual Gross Income = $80,000

30% of your income = $24,000

This means that your TOTAL monthly mortgage payment would have to be at or below $2,000, this would include principal, interest, PMI if applicable, taxes, homeowners, and any HOA dues.

Related: House Broke: The Common First Time Buyer Mistake

Many financial advisors say that you can generally afford a home that is two to three times your gross income which would mean that in the above scenario of an annual income of $80,000, you could afford a purchase price on a home of up to $240,000 and still follow the 30% gross income guideline.

While many people do believe that this budgeting scenario is an older practice and is living well within your means, it is ultimately up to you to decide what you are comfortable spending on your monthly mortgage. While your lender will help you look at other monthly debts and incomes to establish a pre-approval amount, it is important to always factor in your revolving debt, potential mortgage amount and remember that you should add in a budget for necessities such as groceries and gas when determining your home budget.

It is easy to get overzealous when buying a home and shoot for the stars, however by doing so you may find yourself in a tough spot later down the line financially. Once you have established a realistic budget, make sure to convey those numbers to your realtor so that they can ensure you only view homes that fall into the budget you have set.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and would like to work with a qualified seller’s agent, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

 

Additional Tips for Buyers

• Two things You Can’t see in a Virtual Tour
• Carport, Detached, or Attached Garage?
• Should we Buy or Rent?
• Why Was my Offer Rejected?
• 5 Unique Ways to Use a Detached Garage

Buying a vacation home is one of the most exciting purchases you may ever make. Imagining the memories and laughs that will be had can make many buyer’s giddy as they begin their search. As with all Real Estate purchases you want to make sure that you work closely with a qualified Realtor® and discuss your wants and needs in depth to ensure you view homes that will best fit your expectations. Unlike a primary residence, there are a few features you may want to ensure your vacation home has.

Related: Two Things you Can’t see in a Virtual Tour

In addition to the location and finishes, each vacation home should always be stocked with board games, puzzles and enough dishes to serve family and friends allowing for your vacation home to be the perfect place to enjoy the company of those closest to you. In addition, these 5 things are crucial when purchasing a vacation home and while they may be important in a primary residence as well, they are key to enjoying your new home away from home to its fullest.

Bedrooms

Buying a vacation home that doesn’t provide enough bedrooms is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Extra rooms are crucial in being able to invite friends or family to enjoy a vacation, and thus you want to ensure that you will have enough space to do so.

Outdoor Entertainment

Whether an outdoor dining area complete with an outdoor kitchen or BBQ station, corn hole, horseshoes, or even an outdoor projector system for movies, outdoor entertainment is quite simply one of the best arts of a great vacation home.

Open Floorplan

You don’t want to get claustrophobic or feel cramped when on vacation, and this is no different when it comes to your home. An open floor plan is key in allowing enough space for you to comfortably move around and entertain guests.

Related: Pros and Cons of a Gated Community

Large Kitchen

We all know the kitchen is the heart of the home, and thus it should be large enough to house the majority of the people you are vacationing with. Whether this is with a large bar top with plenty of seating, or a floor plan that allows the kitchen to flow into a seating area, room to congregate within and near the kitchen is ideal.

Ample Storage

Vacation homes require a lot more storage than people expect. From suitcases to board games, dishes, as well as seasonal toys such as sand toys, snorkel gear, kayaks, etc. there is a lot of stuff that will need to have to have a place to call home.

When making your list of wants and must have’s it is important to keep these few items in mind to ensure that you can enjoy your new home for years to come whether as a small intimate getaway or a large family gathering.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, whether a primary residence or vacation home, are ready to sell your home or have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

Additional Tips for Buyers

• Two things You Can’t see in a Virtual Tour
• Carport, Detached, or Attached Garage?
• Should we Buy or Rent?
• Why Was my Offer Rejected?
• 5 Unique Ways to Use a Detached Garage