Ice Cream and Mortgage Options

While on our summer vacation, my husband, daughters and I stopped for some ice cream to cool off after enjoying a wonderful day in the hot sun.

“Would you like chocolate or rainbow sprinkles?” My daughter pondered the question for a moment, then asked, “Why can’t I have both — half chocolate and half rainbow?”

Great idea, I thought. Why not have a taste of both options? It costs the same and the server was happy to indulge us. This got me thinking about options and how easy it is to recommend me over the big banks when it comes to financing the home you’ve always wanted but never thought you could afford.

When you go to a bank, their goal is to get you a mortgage. What I have discovered in talking to clients is that they were, in fact, given some options and they did answer some questions. But the options offered by the bank employees are generally pretty basic: 15-year or 30-year mortgage? Adjustable or fixed rate?

When I talk about options, there’s more involved than simply choosing the length and type of mortgage. I get as creative as possible while considering your whole financial picture — past, present and future.

Last year I spoke with a newly divorced mother of three who was interested in buying a summer place. We discussed the option of a cash-out refinance. This is when you take the equity out of your current home to use it for another property-related transaction. It differs from a home equity loan, which is another loan on top of your existing mortgage.

This is an option my client never knew existed and it’s not something typically offered by the big banks. With the cash-out refinance, she was able to buy her summer home.

If you need advice on creative ways to buy either a first or second home — or if you just can’t decide on which toppings you should choose for your ice cream — please get in touch. I look forward to working with you.

July’s Home Improver

An Expert’s Advice on Watering Your Lawn 

Ask anyone when the best time to water the lawn is and you’re likely to get several very different responses. Some say watering during the morning hours is best, while others insist that an evening spritz is ideal. So who’s right? We did a little research and we also reached out to a local expert for help in figuring out when and how often we should turn on the hose or sprinklers.

According to Kyle McNerney of Smart Water Management, the best thing you can do for your lawn is water the soil deeply and at the frequency required. You’ll need to factor in weather, plant types, sun, shade and the depth of the roots of a particular plant. For example, shrubs need more water than grass, and should be watered 2-to-3 times a week. While lawns don’t need as deep a watering as shrubs, Kyle believes they should be watered every other day. Daily watering may be required on days of intense sun and heat.

So when is the best time of day to water your lawn? According to Popular Mechanics, the morning is the ideal time of day. The weather is usually cooler and there’s less wind, which allows for a more even distribution of the water. During the day, water can evaporate too quickly, even before it is absorbed into the soil. Evenings, once thought to be the perfect time, are actually the worst. Water clinging too long to the grass can promote fungus and cause your grass to die off prematurely. Turn on your sprinklers before you head to work and your lawn will have the best chance to thrive throughout the summer and fall.