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It’s easy to overlook some of the things that can affect your budget and purchasing power when you’re considering a home, and one of the biggest factors that buyers overlook is the cost of their daily commute.

We’ve all heard that real estate is all about “location, location, location,” and properties in more desirable locations typically come with a higher price tag than similar properties that aren’t in a hot neighborhood.

Yet the overall cost of living for choosing one location over another might be negligible when you factor in the commuting costs that are required—gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance—if you purchase a home that is significantly further from your workplace. If your mortgage is $200 less per month, but you’re spending an extra $200 in commuting costs, are you really saving money?

Commuting costs aren’t just about the disposable income left in your bank account, either. It can even affect how much money you can borrow. If you’re a long-distance commuter, a loan officer may factor your travel costs into your debt-to-income ratio.

Aside from how commuting affects your purchasing power or disposable income, there’s also the question of how it affects your quality of life—no one wants to spend hours a week just getting to and from work.

The real estate market varies greatly from location to location, so the best way to get a complete picture of your purchasing power—and all the factors that go into your home budget—is to speak to a trusted real estate professional.

Selling your home is a huge undertaking to begin with, but if the process drags on for months and interest trickles in much slower than expected, it can be frustrating and stressful. To avoid this, there are a few steps you can take to prep your home and sell quickly.

Declutter

Survey your home and store any items that are not essential to the décor of the room. This can include personal photos and mementos, excessive throw blankets or pillows, children’s artwork, vases, lamps, knick-knacks, and more. The cleaner you keep counters, shelves, and mantles, the easier it is for potential buyers to picture themselves in your house.

Paint

A fresh coat of paint on the exterior or interior of your home can go a long way and is one update you can likely do yourself for fairly cheap. Repaint your home with a neutral color, like taupe, cream, or gray, that will allow potential buyers to easily envision adding their own touches to each room.

Availability

Buyers are drawn to sellers who are flexible with showings and can accommodate their schedule on short notice. The more open you are to showing times, the more buyers will see your home and the less likely they are to choose another home before seeing yours.

Photos

First impressions are key, and the first one your home makes is generally through photos online or on flyers and brochures. Investing in a professional real estate photographer can boost interest in your home. They have an eye for design and know how to highlight your home’s strengths and move the spotlight off any flaws.

Here are a few things new homeowners can do to save on energy and maintenance.

When you’ve just purchased a new home, there’s a ton on your mind. There’s moving, decorating, getting to know your new neighborhood, and more. Here are a few things that should be at the top of your to-do list, because they’ll save you a lot of money.

CHECK ON YOUR WATER HEATER

Set your water heater for 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is plenty hot enough for bathing, washing dishes, and any other household use of hot water, so heating water above 120 degrees is a waste of energy and money. And if your water heater is an older model, it’s worthwhile to invest in a water heater blanket to keep it insulated.

REPLACE AIR FILTERS

Sellers often put in a lot of cosmetic work to get the home move-in ready, but they often skip or forget about air filters in the HVAC system. Filters can be found at your local hardware store (just make sure to get the right size) and are easy to replace. Doing so will improve air flow and quality, and save on energy costs.

GET A SMART THERMOSTAT

A smart thermostat, such as Nest, will cost you some money up front but is well worth the long-term savings. It’s programmable so that your AC and furnace run at lower levels when you’re not home, so you’re not wasting money to cool or heat an empty house.

SET UP A SPACE TO AIR-DRY CLOTHES

Whether it’s a rack in your laundry room or a clothesline in the back yard, air-drying clothes is a big money saver over even the most energy-efficient dryers. Air-drying your garments will also help them last much longer.

CHECK FOR LEAKS

A leaky faucet or a constantly-running toilet will use up water unnecessarily, and that’ll show up on your utility bill. And in the worst case, they’ll cause expensive water damage and mold.

Inverness Park friends. First off, happy holidays to you! Second, looking for a little help. We have a family who’s wanting to buy a home in Inverness Park. They prefer the ‘Clarendon’ model but may be open to another floorplan too (would like 4 bedrooms and about 3,000 square feet of home). If you or any of your neighbors are thinking of selling we’d love a call and a sneak peak. That would be amazing. Thank you all in advance.

9607 Boca Raton Way, Discovery Bay, CA 94505

$649,000 | 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,503 SqFt

Better than new – in the private gated community of The Lakes! Gorgeous “newer than new” well designed home features “tons” of upgrades and amenities to live in and enjoy!! Open floor plan concept bathed in lots of natural light to enhance the experience. Beautiful flooring, attractive counter tops, vanities and cabinetry. Master bedroom suite with a lavish bath plus a second bedroom are conveniently located on the main level. The upstairs has two bedrooms, a loft plus a bath to allow for a good, functional floor plan with flexibility. The three-car tandem garage also provides for added storage space as well. Relax in the lovely back yard with an inviting “California Room” plus an outdoor kitchen, built-in barbecue and luxurious spa. Lush lawn area with a spacious side yard creates a great entertaining atmosphere. Enjoy the privacy and amenities of “The Lakes” community, such as: security gate, greenbelt, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts & soothing fountains. a must see!!

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