#48 The Winter Connection!
Few
would deny that each changing season brings certain delights and its own
challenging changes. Winter is almost in
full swing, and one consistent thread comes with it: cold! Mild
or severe, the Winter temperatures swiftly drop away from the warmth of Summer
and that “Indian Summer” lull of Autumn we all love.
With
the arrival of the cold come Winter winds, the first frosts and blessed
rain! The fire threat recedes into
memory for another year. Thank goodness!
We haul out our winter clothes, stock up on firewood or pellets and
start making big pots of hot soup! We
start to notice some very, very early signs of the coming holidays – like the coffee
shops offering “holiday flavors.” Invitations
to holiday inspired gatherings are popping up in emails – and snail mail; and,
a lot of us are visiting our attics or storage sheds to pull out those boxes of
ornaments!
The
onset of Winter has significant impact on everything we have going! That most definitely could include your
project-in-progress of applying for your home Mortgage loan. If you have already received your pre-approval,”
you may be house hunting while keeping one eye on the sky, hoping the cold and rain
will hold off! The further along you
may be in the process, the more urgent it can feel to get it accomplished!
One
word of caution – it is so tempting in the holiday excitement to push the
limits of your credit lines! Remember
how hard you worked to keep your credit score in good shape for that “pre-approval?” (Think twice about tempting “discounts” that
just might backfire!)
Wouldn’t
it be great to have it all buttoned down for the holidays? It
would, but only if your decisions are driven by your strategic plan and not by
the high anxiety and celebratory lure of holiday images. There are two schools of thought concerning
home buying in the holiday season. Some
sellers take their home off the market during the holidays simply because of
the distraction factor they assume exists for both sellers and buyers at that
time. On the other hand, sellers who
keep their home “on the market” at holiday probably really want to sell ASAP. A buyer might find some excellent bargains
available! Consider those circumstances
when you decide to stay on the lookout, or to put the search aside until after
the New Year.
Perhaps
you and your home Mortgage loan officer have been planning and timing all along
to have your actual purchase and move-in, coincide with the December Holidays! If that’s the case, then you have probably
been developing a Winter addendum to your checklist. Is the house you want (and are in the process
of acquiring) winterized? Is it
outfitted to meet a severe Winter head-on – you know – well insulated, rain
run-off preparations, well sealed (maybe duo-pane) windows, etc.? (There are experts advising us to expect
stronger storms, non-traditional rain patterns and other climate change
impacts.)
Among
your team you can find any and all answers you might need regarding how to
protect your home investment from the onslaught of Winter. Your Residential realtor, perhaps your
consulting General Contractor and any trades experts in plumbing and electrical
matters are available to help you with advice and action.
That
first Winter in your new home – with holidays fast approaching – is exciting,
satisfying and challenging all at the same time. Hurrying up to slow down a little will help it
all turn out for the best!
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