Handy tips and articles about buying a home in St. George, Utah.

Prepare

Decide on exactly what you want in a home as well as the things you are willing to compromise one. Deciding these things ahead of time will help you narrow down your choice. It is also important to decide exactly what you are willing to pay, so you don’t talk yourself into something out of your price range.

Educate yourself on market trends

House hunting can be overwhelming, and understanding your local housing market can be even more so. One thing you can do is look on real estate websites that offer price estimates. This can prepare you for what to expect to pay for similar properties. Also, look at reports that can tell you how many homes are for sale in your area. This will help you determine if you are looking in a buyer’s or…

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I recently moved from the Salt Lake City area to St. George.  A moving company packed up our belongings and moved all of our items down to Southern Utah for us.  We have spent the last four months unpacking our belongings and moving into our new house.  When we finished unloading everything, we had hundreds of boxes in all shapes and sizes to recycle. 

I went online and got mixed information.  Some grocery and home improvement stores in the area said that they recycle boxes on their websites, but when I called about it, they knew nothing about a recycling program.  Finally, I called Rocky Mountain Recycling Center.  They told me to bring any boxes I had to their recycling location and they would gladly recycle the boxes for us, at no charge. 

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Buying your first home is a big deal, but that first home is rarely your dream home. After several years, you might start thinking it’s time to upgrade for more space, a nicer neighborhood, more luxuries, or all of the above. Here are a few questions to help you make the big decision before you call your real estate agent.

Can you handle a larger mortgage?

The most important question to ask is whether or not you can handle the larger mortgage that comes along with a nicer or bigger house. Create a budget for the potential new mortgage payment along with all the other costs that come with a new home such as possible HOA fees or higher electric and gas bills from heating and cooling a larger home. If you can make it work—you can proceed to ask…

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If you are like me, you are probably anxious for the previous owner of your new piece of real estate to move out so you can get started on making your new house feel like your own. Before they move out you should consider the previous owners are experts on your new house, so be sure to take advantage of their knowledge while they are still around. Here are a few questions you might want to consider.

Where are the circuit breaker, sump pump, and other things located?

These are the type of things you usually forget are in the house until you need them. When you first have an issue with the electricity in the house, you’ll want to quickly locate the circuit breaker. The first time there is heavy rain, you’ll want to quickly make sure your sump…

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St. George is among the fastest growing cities in the United States.  People relocate to Southern Utah for various reasons.  According to the St. George Chamber of Commerce, “the excellent quality of life, the many breathtaking scenic areas, the temperate climate, the healthy lifestyles, the variety of beautiful gold courses, our outstanding school system, the Dixie State College education opportunities for all ages, and the growing business opportunities” are just a few of the reasons. 

St. George is a great area to live, play and work.  St. George is located within the Mojave Desert.  The desert climate contributes to generally clear skies, relatively mild winters and hot summers.  Residents and visitors to St. George enjoy over 300 days of…

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Reports from the first quarter of 2017 show now is the best time to sell a home in 10 years. Housing markets have recovered from the recession, home prices are up, and home builders are having a hard time keeping up with demand. If you've ever considered selling, now is the perfect time to place your home on the market.

By the Numbers

Nationally, sellers are seeing an average of $44,000 in gains right now and home prices are up 13%. In Utah, median sale prices also reached an all time high of $295,000. Homes are on the market for shorter amounts of time, in some of the fastest-selling areas around the country they're only on the market for about 3 weeks. While these are statistics and not guarantees, they show much growing home values are…

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St. George, Utah is an excellent option for a vacation home! There’s so much to do and see and enjoy. Here are the top 10 reasons to buy a vacation home in St. George:

  1. The Scenery

Southern Utah is one of the most gorgeous regions in the world. The red rock deserts, majestic mountains and deep blue skies gives residents and tourists alike a gorgeous view nearly all the time.

  1. The Weather

Unlike most of Utah, St. George enjoys nice weather almost all year long. It is sunny almost 300 days year, almost never snows, and the average temp is 51-77 degrees. This makes it the perfect place to vacation to no matter what time of year.

  1. Easy Access to Adventure

There is so much to do in the surrounding areas…

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One of the biggest deterrents to buying a home is being able to afford the down payment. The more you can pay for the home upfront, the better your loan options and payment plan will be. It is recommended that you pay about 20% for a down payment, but other financing options are available. If you are looking to buy a home in St. George, use these tips to save for your down payment.

Create a Budget

The first step to saving for a down payment is controlling how much you spend and save. The only effective way to do this is through budgeting. Budgeting software like Mint.com can help you track money more effectively and reach your ultimate goal of downpayment.

Look for Ways to Save

As you start to create your budget, you may realize you are…

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According to a recent report by CNN, 21% of all real estate purchases last year were vacation homes. This is up 57%  from 2013, and the highest rate since 2003. While this is a great sign for the American economy overall, it is an especially good thing for St. George. Washington County is a popular vacation home destination, giving visitors from up north a break from the snow in the winter and plenty to do during summer. If you are one of those interested in buying a vacation home in St. George, use these tips to make the best purchasing decision.

Manage Expenses

Are the expenses worth the investment? While you probably won’t use your vacation home as much, expenses can still  stack up, especially if you hope to rent it out and need to pay for…

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Buying a home can feel like an overwhelming transaction. Luckily, your St. George real estate agent is here to help! Here is a step-by-step guide to purchasing your next home.

  1. Research

There are several aspects of your next home to research before you even start looking. You need to figure out where your credit score is at, and what your budget looks like. You also need to research possible locations, school districts, and neighborhoods to decide where you want your family to settle. You need to decide what you need in a home, and what you’re willing to compromise on. Answer these basic questions before you do anything else.

  1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Once you have figured out your budget and determined you have an…

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