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Follow these tips to design the ultimate pool house…

Connected to Nature

Consider large doors that open to the pool area and easily transition in and out.

Keep It Consistent

Consistent style between the main house and pool house provides a sense of fluidity.

Changing Room

A changing room is essential, as is storage space for towels, pool toys, and more.

Kitchenette

A kitchenette with a few key appliances makes it easy to prepare refreshments by the pool.

Covered BBQ Area

A well-designed grill station next to the pool is perfect for entertaining.

Guest Room

A separate structure gives visitors privacy, while acting as their own private guesthouse.

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Owning a home is probably on everybodys success checklist. Yet, it is a box that often goes unchecked for many years for those first starting out in the workforce. We all know it takes more than just the desire to buy a home in this day and age”if you have not been working toward it for some years, its time to put thoughts into action. Keep these insights in mind when working toward owning a home.

First and foremost are your finances. If you dont have enough money saved up for a down payment nor a steady income to pay your mortgage bill, then homeownership is still out of your reach. Of course, even with our finances in check there is more to consider, such as appraisal fees, home inspections, closing costs, homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance (PMI) if your down payment is below 20%, any repairs a home may need or furnishings, to name a few. Make sure you are prepared for additional spending.

The ideal home-buying scenario is when youre not in a rush. You dont want to rush through open houses to later realize that youve overlooked some important features of the home or neighborhood. You also dont want to rush into buying a home if youre not sure that you will be staying in the same area for at least a five-year period. Do you anticipate a big job move? Are you applying to out-of-state positions? Then it might be in your best interest to wait until you are ready to settle down.

Becoming a homeowner isnt an impossible feat. You just need to be aware of what your step-by-step goals should be. Short on down payment funds? Save up. Feeling pressed for time? Extend that rent contract one more year while you settle your affairs. Taking a big leap at the workplace? Do it now.

Homeownership is on peoples success checklist because it is a good investment, and it gives you a sense of pride and security. Reorganizing a few things in your daily routine will have you a homeowner in no time. Just take it one step at a time, and remember to breathe.

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Shopping for a home loan? It’s best to do it within 30 days of a credit pull so your score doesnt drop.

When you apply for credit, such as a car or home loan, you authorize lenders to inquire for a copy of your credit report from a credit bureau. Too many inquiries could lower your credit score and result in higher interest rates when you borrow, which can translate into paying more over the life of the loan.

If youve ever looked at your credit report, you may have seen credit inquiries by businesses you dont know. Some of them count toward your credit score and others dont.

Hard Credit Inquiry
Hard inquiries happen when you apply for a loan. They affect your credit score, though not by much.

Hard credit inquiries show up when youve applied for credit: car loan, mortgage, student loan or credit card, for example. Each is a credit check that indicates a lender has reviewed your credit because youre applying to borrow money through them.

Applying for credit affects your credit score because opening several credit accounts in a short period of time represents greater credit risk, according to My FICO, a credit scoring company.

If youre rate shopping for a single loan, such as a home loan, it will be treated as one request on your credit report as long as the inquiries are made within 30 days. You may be shopping at multiple mortgage lenders, but those numerous credit requests will count as one and wont affect your credit score if done within 30 days. Some newer credit scoring companies allow up to 45 days of shopping, and some drop it to 14 days.

Soft Credit Inquiry
These arent generated by shopping for credit, and they dont affect your credit scores. Soft credit inquiries include:

• Checking your own credit score.
• Receiving pre-approval offers you didn’t apply for.
• Additional credit checks by a lender you already do business with.
• Credit checks by your employer.
• Credit checks by your insurance company.

Impact on Credit Scores

While soft credit inquiries don’t affect your credit score, hard inquiries do. New credit makes up 10 percent of a FICO credit score, and inquiries and new credit accounts are part of that.

For most, a credit inquiry will take less than five points off their FICO score, according to My FICO. Having few accounts or a short credit history, however, can cause a credit inquiry to have more of an impact.

Many inquiries can mean greater risk. People with six inquiries or more on their credit reports can be up to eight times more likely to declare bankruptcy than those with no inquiries, according to My FICO.

Inquiries remain on credit reports for two years. Only those within the past year count toward most scoring models; the older ones are ignored.

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Anytime you move into a new home, one of the most important things to consider is the safety of your little ones. Baby-proofing your home may sound like a daunting task, but spending a little time when you first move in kid-proofing the house will save you much worry as you get the rest of your house ready.

The kitchen is possibly one of the most hazardous rooms for a young child. With all the cooking utilities and electrical appliances, this room is one of the most important rooms to have childproofed.

Oven knobs are an appealing gadget for children to play with, so make sure that they are off and protected with stove knob covers. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand in the kitchen and keep it out of reach on a high pantry shelf, mounted on the wall or in a childproof cabinet.

Bathrooms can be one of the trickiest places when baby proofing your home. Implementing safeguards is imperative for your childs safety. In order to safeguard from slips, use non-slip mats for in and out of the tub, as well as any hard-surface floors that are near the bathroom. The chances of chasing a wet toddler around the house at some point is high, so adding these non-slip mats will aid in preventing any scrapes or bruises.

It is also important to install a toilet lock so any curious little fingers dont get caught and smashed by accident. This will also prevent the little ones from any exposure to anything unsanitary. Its also useful to cover the tub spout in order to protect his or her head from any danger in case they fall.

In the nursery, make sure that your crib slats are 2 3/8 inches or less apart. For those with real little ones, you may want to remove all the bumpers, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals from the babys crib, as some reports have indicated that children could suffocate on them. This also includes mobiles with small hanging parts.

Rather than using the plastic outlet covers we all grew up with, consider using the new innovative sliding covers instead. This prevents children from choking on the little plastic covers if they manage to get them out.

When you think, childproofing, a baby monitor is a must-have. Although, you want to ensure that the cords are wound tightly and are always away from the crib. There is also the option of a cordless monitor as well.

Additionally, if you have pets, be aware that pet food is a choking hazard and should not be left unattended. Either keep the pet in a room where your child cant get to, or remove the food bowl as soon as your pet is done eating.

Interested in more real estate tips? Feel free to contact me directly!

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