No more reasons to keep renting!

Pam Woodke • Apr 24, 2015

$21,600. For the majority of us, that’s a lot of money right? If you had that kind of money would you give it away? “No way,” is what you’re probably saying. But that is what many people are doing, not just once, but EVERY SINGLE YEAR. If you scan Craigslist you’ll see that $1800 is about the average monthly rent for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home/condo/townhouse in Anchorage right now. Month after month, year after year, people are paying this kind of rent, paying someone else’s mortgage, when for the same monthly amount they could be owning a home of their own.

Why not invest in a brand new home today?

“I can’t afford a down payment,” is the most common reason for not purchasing. This was true for many of us in the past. But did you know that there are loan programs out there (namely Alaska Housing and Cook Inlet Housing) that, along with the builders’ closing cost contribution and low, low, low interest rates, can get you into a BRAND NEW HOME with nothing down? This would be a BRAND NEW 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage townhouse-style condo for the same monthly payment as you are spending in rent each month. No, I’m not kidding!

“But I don’t want the maintenance hassles of owning my own home,” you might say. Did I mention BRAND NEW? With a new home you won’t have to deal with any costly maintenance issues typical of older homes for many years to come. Most new condos even come with landscaping installed so there are no huge expenses upon move-in.

“I want to be flexible, and free to move whenever I want” is another reason people give for not purchasing. Yes, that’s a good reason, if you move around a lot, change jobs, etc. But if you’ve been living in the same rental for 5 years think about how much money you’ve been giving to someone else, when you could be investing it in something YOU own.

“I can’t afford my dream home so why should I settle for less?” No, you might not be able to afford the size/location/upgraded home you really want right now. Pinterest and Houzz are great for showing you all the things you can’t necessarily afford. But if you ask most people who are living in their dream homes, they didn’t just wake up one day in the house of their dreams. They started off with what they COULD afford, over time built equity in that home, and eventually were able to move up to another. Sometimes another and another, until they ended up where they wanted to be. You’ve just got to take that first step to homeownership. And there’s no better way to take that step than into a BRAND NEW HOME.

“My credit is bad.” Yes, that is sometimes a deal breaker. But it may not be as awful as it seems. Make an appointment with a mortgage professional. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed – they can help outline specific steps you need to take to repair your credit. In no time you may be on your way to homeownership.

Yes, buying a home can be intimidating, maybe downright scary. Until you’ve done it. Then you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. And Spinell Homes makes it so easy. Let our professionals guide you into a great new home. And start putting your money towards yourself.

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Don’t let the high mortgage interest rates of today stop you from buying a home. Spinell Homes is offering an interest rate buy down for all move-in ready homes. A buy down lowers your interest rate for two years, saving you money and giving you time to refinance when rates drop. With a buy down, your interest rate will drop 2% from the current rate for the first year of the loan. The second year, the rate will drop by 1%. The third year of the mortgage, the rate will return to the original rate from the day you locked into a contract. Here’s an example: If you were to purchase a home with a loan amount of $612,750 and locked into a rate of 7.125% the buy down rate would be 5.125% for the first year of your loan. This would save you about $9,500 the first year. The second year of the loan your rate would be 6.125%, saving you about $4,800 that year. The third year it would return to 7.125%. These combine savings equal $14,300. But the savings don’t stop there. Economists predict interest rates will drop in the next two years. When rates drop, you’ll be able to refinance at the lower rate. If you choose NOT to use a buy down, the seller will often pay more in closing costs. Don’t wait for interest rates to drop to get into your new home. When interest rates drop, home prices could go up and you can expect increased competition from all the people who waited for rates to drop. With the Spinell Homes buy down you can get into a great home at an affordable rate. NOTE: Rate buy down is only being offered on move-in ready homes.
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Picture opening the door to your perfect home. The finishes reflect your personality. The space suits your lifestyle. The location provides peace. If you’re a homebuyer, the ideal home can feel out of reach. Shopping for existing homes can mean making sacrifices. Perhaps the location is great but the home needs renovations. Or maybe the home feels just right but it's located in the wrong part of town. New construction is your best shot at creating the home of your dreams. If you’ve never been through the building process, it can seem overwhelming. But at Spinell Homes, we’re here to make the process fun, easy and extremely rewarding. If you’re interested in building, give me a call. I’ll walk you through what you can afford and expect. You’ll need to come prepared with information about your budget, lifestyle, and home wants and needs. Bring any questions that you have and our team of experts will happily answer them. By setting these expectations upfront and having an open conversation, it kicks off a great relationship from the start. Next, it’s time to identify a location and floor plan. If you don’t own a lot, Spinell Homes has numerous available lots. We’ll identify one that works for your budget and family. You’ll then pick a floor plan that maximizes the lot, budget and lifestyle. Often Spinell experts will make adjustments to the plan to customize it for your needs. If you decide to build, it’s now time to secure the financing. Working with Spinell Homes, we’re able to connect you with preferred lenders who can walk you through the process of getting a mortgage. Then a purchase agreement is set in place. Working with Spinell means you avoid getting a construction loan, which is at a much higher interest rate. With a loan and plans in place, the real fun begins. From cabinetry to countertops and siding to sliding glass doors, new construction requires a lot of design decisions. While something like doorknobs seems minor, these little details make a big difference. Luckily, you don’t have to make the selections on your own. Spinell’s design team will help you pick finishes that won’t break the budget and work well in the home. Spinell will also be aware of the materials’ availability, ensuring to order on time and keep the project on track. Building a home is a big project. It comes with a lengthy timeline, a lot of decisions and a large budget. But at Spinell, we’re pros at this process. The company has been building homes for more than 30 years. We understand how to communicate when there’s an obstacle. In addition to getting the keys to your dream home, new construction comes with a lot of other benefits. Today’s construction materials are the safest and most energy-efficient materials on the market. Appliances and lighting fixtures are also energy efficient. This will save you energy and money on utilities. New construction also comes with warranties. This means you don’t have to worry about unexpected expenses. You can focus on settling in and making memories with your family. Don’t let navigating the building process sink your spirits. With the right partners, you can soar through the steps and find your forever home.
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Building a home will likely be the biggest and most expensive adventure of your lifetime. Like with any adventure, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s what you need to know to have a fun and successful build.  Pick the Perfect Partner New construction requires a lot of decisions, but choosing a builder is arguably the most important one. This partnership will set the tone for the entire project. Be sure to do your homework. At Spinell Homes, we encourage you to look at the homes we’ve built, there are thousands out there. You can ask us for references and speak with happy homeowners. Don’t be shy about asking questions and getting answers. A reputable builder like us will be open, upfront and honest. Starting the relationship with good communication will make the entire process easier. Know the Numbers Sticking to a budget can be one of the most difficult tasks if you don’t pay attention to the numbers. At Spinell Homes, we’ll keep you on track. Once a budget is set, we’ll show you finishes and plans within your budget. Transparency and planning for every penny mean avoiding surprises. Trendy vs. Timeless New construction is your opportunity to design the house of your dreams. It should reflect your unique personality and passions. Add room for the mud room you’ve always wanted or set aside space for a wine cellar. Building is a chance to create something fitting for your family. However, while you may intend for this to be your forever home, it’s never a bad idea to think about resale. Life and plans change. It’s important to balance making it your own now, with the potential for selling in the future. This balance should be applied to home design. Try to blend trendy with timeless. Think about the features that are easier to change. For example, flooring, wall colors and lighting fixtures could be swapped if they go out of style. While siding, floor plans and kitchen cabinets involve more time and money. Be Prepared for Setbacks Building a new construction home is a long process that involves a lot of moving pieces. Unfortunately, there will likely be some obstacles along the way. Understanding that it’s not all smooth sailing will make it easier to deal with difficulties when the time comes. With over 30 years in the building industry, we know how to navigate every possible problem. Whether it’s a weather delay or materials on backorder, try to handle these setbacks with the knowledge that the problems will pass. Enjoy the Process Getting the keys to your home is an amazing feeling but if you race to the finish line you’ll miss enjoying the journey. Working with Spinell Homes ensures a stress-free and enjoyable process. While you walk through the framing, picture how the rooms will host your family during the holidays. As you pick out the finishes, think of the memories they’ll help make. From plans to final product, building a home with Spinell is the adventure of a lifetime.
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