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1/23. How Much Do I Need to Put Down?

How Much Do I Need to Put Down? 
 Do you have plans to buy a new home this year? If so, you're probably thinking and saving for a down payment, but how much do you need? There are many loan options, and you may not need 20%.

SELLING A FOR SALE BY OWNER

In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons why this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are the top five reasons:

1. Exposure to Prospective Buyers

Recent studies have shown that 95% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 17% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

2. Results Come from the Internet

Where did buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 49% on the internet
• 31% from a Real Estate Agent
• 7% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspapers

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

3. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value

4. FSBOing Has Become More And More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.

The 8% share represents the lowest recorded figure since NAR began collecting data in 1981.

5. You Net More Money When Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.

A study by Collateral Analytics revealed that FSBOs don’t actually save anything, and in some cases, may be costing themselves more, by not listing with an agent. One of the main reasons for the price difference at the time of sale is: 

“Properties listed with a broker that is a member of the local MLS will be listed online with all other participating broker websites, marketing the home to a much larger buyer population. And those MLS properties generally offer compensation to agents who represent buyers, incentivizing them to show and sell the property and again potentially enlarging the buyer pool.”

If more buyers see a home, the greater the chances are that there could be a bidding war for the property. The study showed that the difference in price between comparable homes of size and location is currently at an average of 6% this year.

Why would you choose to list on your own and manage the entire transaction when you can hire an agent and not have to pay anything more?

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.

9/2

Tips For Safe and Healthy Seasonal Feed Changes

Fall horse pasture is an economical source of equine nutrition, but the lush grass of cooler weather can cause founder and digestive upset. If your horse has trouble with early spring grasses, fall growth can also cause problems.

Your horse needs time to adjust to the changes brought on the new season. Pasture changes, supplemental hay and grain feedings and fallen leaves can play havoc with your horse's digestive tract.

1. When switching from pasture to a hay-based diet, do so gradually. Make changes in hay gradually, replacing from 10 to 25 percent of the old hay with the new variety; increase every three days.

2. If you choose to supplement with grain, introduce small amounts slowly, no more than 1 pound per feeding. Do not feed more than 4 pounds of grain at one time.

3. Be aware that cool or wet weather can change the nutritional balance of fall grasses.

4. When making any dietary changes, watch for signs of digestive upset. Be alert for gas, mild stomach distention, diarrhea or full blown colic.

5. As pasture quality and quantity decreases, your horse may begin to sample other plants. Plant poisonings increase in the fall, so watch carefully for signs of toxicity. Different plants cause different symptoms, so be familiar with common poisonous pasture plants.

6. Some plants become more toxic in the fall, including horse nettle, white snakeroot and perennial ryegrass fungus. Acorns consumed in large quantities can also cause problems.

7. Finally, don't dump large quantities of raked leaves into your horse pasture. Horses like freshly raked leaves, but the leaves are dense and can compact in the horse's digestive system and cause compaction colic. There's also the risk that the leaves may contain toxic species like Red Maple or Black Walnut.

Take advantage of the health benefits and cost savings of fall horse pasture, but be on the lookout for potential digestive upsets.

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Popcorn

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