The first-time home buyer’s nightmare is to fall in love with a home, make an offer and find out that your dream home was every other first-time home buyer’s dream home.  After making numerous offers, it can seem like and impossible goal to reach. The dream can come true and here are some ways to put yourself ahead of the competition.

Using a Realtor is a must. Not only using a Realtor, but a good realtor who knows the area. A seasoned real estate agent is best to work with when buying your first home. In a competitive market, a good realtor with extensive experience and good industry relationships often know of homes that might not be listed yet and can negotiate an offer before they event hit the market.

If you have found a good agent, that agent will probably expect you to be preapproved. Many realtors will not even take a client that does not have a preapproval amount from a lender. This also can be an advantage for a first-time home buyer who is unfamiliar with the home buying search and process. A preapproval will prepare you for how much you can afford and let a seller know you are serious and good for the offer.  No one wants to fall in love with a house and discover that the house you have fallen in love with is out of your budget because you had no clue what your purchasing power was or lose out on it because another home buyer had a preapproval and you did not.

Sometimes taking a road less traveled can lead to your dream home. If you have a certain neighborhood or area you would like to purchase a home in try and locate rental homes. Get in touch with the landlords as some rental home owners may be interested in listing their home but just do not have it on the market yet.  Your realtor can locate these homes in the area and also contact the landlords regarding a potential sale of the home.

Many first-time home buyers want a move in ready home.  It is hard to see the potential in the ugly house for sale.  This can be an easier purchase because the home needs updating or is not staged so many will just pass it over.  Not only is a fixer-upper easier in the competition but also is eligible for certain home loans and money for repairs.  An FHA 203k loan is a loan where you are able to borrow money for both the purchase of the home and the home improvements. Sometimes it is even easier to get approved for a 203k because it is guaranteed by the FHA. Lenders have less of a risk when using a 203k.

Look at broadening your search area. Sometimes looking just outside your target neighborhood can maximize your chances of owning your first home. Young families are often in search of a home in a good school district and often find a neighborhood that want to be in. Instead of focusing on the one neighborhood in that district that you love, broaden your search to include neighborhoods that are close and still are in the same school district.

Transitioning neighborhoods are areas that were in the decline but home buyers and businesses are coming in and revamping the area. This is a good option to go with because many first-time home buyers are skeptical of the current state of the neighborhood. The homes in the transitioning neighborhoods are more affordable.  You get more home for the money and once the neighborhood is transitioned the home will be worth a lot more.  A home in a transitioning neighborhood is a good idea, but depend on a realtor to help you buy a home that they know is going to appreciate.

Searching for and purchasing a home is an exciting step for a first-time home buyer.  The market is competitive and with these tips you are sure to land your dream home.

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Good curb appeal is a plus when selling your home.  In fact, attractive landscaping can add up to 28% overall value to your home. There is a fine line between too much and too little landscaping which could lead to a setback in your home’s appearance. To make sure your landscaping is not a complete disaster, do not make the following mistakes.

Avoid “mulch volcanoes” which are piles of insulating organic matter that come above the trunk of a new tree.  Mulch should be loosely applied so that the soil temperature and moisture can be controlled.  If you pile the mulch and pack it in, it can strangle the roots of the new tree and the root collar will soften.  This will cause rot, a good home for insects and suffocated roots.

Know your plants! Some plants can be harmful and in fact dangerous to your landscaping. Invasive species of plants can overtake your yard. Beware of Bamboo (impossible to control), Mexican feather grass, fountain grasses and pampas grasses.

Always plan ahead.  Poor planning even in landscaping can become a problem. Draw your design out and understand your space allotment.  According to John Crider of Crider Landscaping, “Measurements are key. Like a good carpenter, measure two times and cut once.” Don’t make the rookie mistake of planting too big.  For small areas of your yard, plant flowering perennials and smaller plants. Large shrubs and large foliage often struggle to take root but small foliage take root easily.

If you live in an area that often uses gravel, too much is an eye sore.  These areas usually include places that get little rain. Using gravel in your landscaping does conserve water, but it also soaks in the heat that can damage your plants.  Too much gravel can also harden your soil making it hard to add foliage to the hard-packed area.

Just like any other fake material, if it is installed incorrectly it will look tacky and fake.  Drought-ridden regions often lack grassy areas, so in comes fake grass. The artificial turf of today looks amazingly like real grass. The one rule of thumb is to install it correctly.  Usually an expert is recommended.  If this is going to be a DIY project, you should excavate 3 inches below the finish grade and install sub-base.  The reason for this is simple. Soil expands and contracts with the water intake which can create a wrinkle effect and uneven surface on the lawn.  Chad Vander Veen of Purchase Green Artificial Grass says, “A sub-base will ensure an artificial grass installation will continue to look good for the duration of its 15- to 20-year life.”

Protect your landscaping when under construction.  Many of us are always working on our homes.  If you want to spruce up your home or add an addition, remember your large trees.  Protect them from the construction, especially their roots.  Damage roots can affect a tree for years to come.

Remember good landscaping goes a long way, but can also be a potential for a big disaster.  Always plan ahead and consult an expert if you are unsure on any project you may be embarking on.

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The United States has seen a great amount of school tragedies in the last ten years.  Schools across America are amping up their security measures.  St. Tammany School Board is no different.  The School Board recently approved hiring additional resource officers. There will now be police officers and mental health providers for each campus.

The county reports this will be a $4 million annual increase in cost and will come from the existing funding for the first year.  Administrators have advised the district that more funding for future school years will need to be covered.

Fortunately, there have been reduced tax rates across St. Tammany Parish. May 17, 2018 a 1-mill reduction over the 2017 rate was adopted, cutting the rate back to 64.41 mills.

Luckily St. Tammany School District’s property tax rate has dropped 23 mills since 1992.  This can be contributed to the amount needed to cover outstanding bonds dropping and the district’s bond attorneys refinancing outstanding debt at a lower interest rate. The 1 mill cut saved the taxpayers $1.9 million.

Since the recent cut in taxes, many board members are hoping that voters will agree to the $4 million in the security enhancement project.