Simmons Homes

It is pretty gross to think about what might be “living” in the carpet of a house you buy.  But when you purchase a Brand Spankin’ New home with Simmons you can kick your shoes off and relax while looking at your brand new beautiful carpet! (I promise, there aren’t any talking rodents in our flooring)

Moving can be stressful. Sometimes in all of the rush and details of a move, perfectly rational people can do some pretty funny things like a story I read where a lady called her storage cube company to ask a question.  She wanted to know how many days until the cube arrived at her new home.  The answer of 4-5 days freaked her out as she was concerned that the food in her freezer might spoil! We know you are smarter than that, but we do want to help you on your journey and preparing to move into your new Simmons Home with a few tips:

Getting Organized

Start early!

The studied timeframe puts an average family taking a month to completely pack up their home.

Create a Calendar

Chart out when you want each room to be completed and delegate which family member is responsible.

Room Inventory

Start by forming 2 room lists, one for your current place and one for your future home.  Write out the tasks for each room as a checklist for the family member responsible for packing it up.  This will also help you manage what goes where at the new location.

Find Great Movers

Hire the best via referral

Get referrals from local real estate agents and friends who have moved recently.  Poor quality movers really can be worse than none at all!

“Binding Not-To-Exceed”

Check with a few different companies and always ask for a “Binding Not-To-Exceed” estimate.

Insured

Only hire movers that are licensed, bonded and insured.  If not, your personal insurance may be liable for an accident.

Letting People Know

Post Office

File your change of address with the Post Office at least 30 days prior to the date of the move.

Records

Get copies of your existing records (transcripts from schools, medical records from doctors, ect.) while you are there notifying them your change of address

Utilities

Make a list of your current utility companies, their contact information, and your account numbers.  Likewise research and list out all the information you will need to turn on the utilities at your new home. Simmons Homes provides our buyers with a complete list and contact information on utility companies for each of our neighborhoods around the Tulsa area.

More tips on Packing and Moving Day to come….

Buying a home has tax advantages that simply renting a home does not. You may have heard people say that when you rent, you’re just paying someone else’s mortgage and helping them earn equity.

With tax season right around the corner the following are 6 itemized deductions that, as a homeowner, you can take on your taxes. This is what you’re missing out on by not having your own mortgage.

Home mortgage interest: When you first buy a home, the majority of your monthly payment is made up of interest. As you continue to pay your mortgage each year, slowly the balance shifts from interest, to principal payments.

The interest you pay on your mortgage up to $1 million per year is deductable. And if you own a primary and a secondary home, as long as they add up to $1 million or less, you receive deductions for both.

Property tax: Did you know your property taxes can be deducted from your federal income taxes? Both state and local taxes are counted in this equation.

Home buying expenses: Certain fees and closing costs associated with a new home purchase can be deductible. Some examples are prorated interest on a new loan, prorated property taxes, and loan origination fees.

Home equity loan: If you need money, for example, to pay off high-interest credit cards, start up a business, or any other number of reasons you can think of, you can borrow up to $100,000 against the equity in your home and deduct the interest.
Credit card interest, on the other hand, is not deductable.

Home-sale exclusion: When selling a home for profit, as long as you live in your home for two of the previous five years before selling, you only pay taxes on profits over $250,000 if you are single. You only pay taxes on profits over $500,000 if you are a married couple filing jointly. This exclusion can be taken once every two years.

Free Rental Income: Another unusual benefit of owning a home is that you can rent your home for up to 14 days during the year and pay no tax on the rental income. If you are a renter subletting your home you have to pay taxes on the income you earn.

If your lease is coming up for renewal and you are still trying to decide if it’s better to own verses rent in this economy here are 6 compelling reasons why you benefit as a home owner when it comes to tax time.

With great pricing and availability today in new home communities, why would you ever buy a used home? While short sales and foreclosures may sound like a great deal, there are so many more reasons to buy new.

Here are 8 great reasons to consider new verses used as you dive into the housing market and become a homeowner.

1) Quality Construction: Have you ever visited an older home and noticed exterior paint pealing, floors creaking, and a slight breeze through windows or doors even when they’re closed? Each year construction methods improve. With more durable, low maintenance materials and improved building codes, a new home is more airtight and needs less overall care than their older cousins.

2) Pick Your Options: When you walk into a used home you see cabinets that aren’t your first choice, floor coverings that don’t match your tastes and more. When you purchase new, you get to sit down with an array of colors, materials, and styles to choose from in order to make a house reflect your own personal taste.

3) Cleanliness: How do you feel about old toenail clippings or what a black light might uncover as you walk across 5 year-old carpets in that “bargain” foreclosure? Not to mention the things that find their way into crevices of kitchens and bathrooms…in a new home you have the unmistakable pleasure of being the first person to live in the home. It’s truly a clean slate.

4) No Surprises: Used homes may seem like a great deal until you move in and 3 months later the hot water heater blows, the roof leaks, or the dishwasher needs to be replaced. New homes come with new appliances and guarantees.

5) Warranties: A good home builder will provide security against those surprises that happen with a used home. When you buy new you receive builders’ warranties, structural warranties, and the manufacturers warranties that come with new appliances and other materials used to construct your home.

6) Community Lifestyle: New home communities are designed with community in mind. Many have the benefits of walking trails, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools and other amenities that bring the community together. Since everyone in the neighborhood is new you get to take advantage of making new friends and shaping the neighborhood and your lifestyle at the same time.

7) Energy Efficiency: With current industry standards pushing toward greater energy efficiency and smaller environmental footprints, homes are being built with everything from Low-E windows to low flow toilets to reduce consumption and keep bills down. Older homes do not have the benefit of these technologies.

No Updating Nightmares: Older homes often look like a good deal if you could just move that wall, put in better lighting, and gut the hot pink bathroom. What you don’t realize is a small project can get out of hand quickly when you peal back the surface. With a new home you can get involved in the process, choose your options and layouts upfront and get what you want the first time through.

These are just 8 of many reasons why new beats out used everytime.

When searching for a new home there are several levels of research you may go through in order to find that perfect home. A good builder will have the right tools and customer service to help guide you along that path ever step of the way.

Phase 1 – Searching on line: An attentive builder knows that your search begins online. In fact since 90% of home searches start on the Internet, it is our responsibility to provide you with the information and resources you need to first identify with our community and begin to envision the possibilities. From floor plans, pictures, and virtual tours as well as an easy to navigate website, we provide the resources you need at the beginning stage of your research.

Phase 2 – Detailed Question And Answer: Once we’ve caught your attention with home styles and communities to choose from, we know the next thing you want to do is fire off questions via email, facebook or twitter. Or you may even want to pick up the phone and talk with someone. It’s important that we provide you with an individual dedicated to answering your questions in a quick and thorough manner.

Everyone is different in the level of attention and information they need before visiting a new home community. Time frames for moving vary. Physical proximity to the area may not be optimal at the beginning of a home search especially for those moving from further distances. Financial factors play a role in move times as well.

By being aware of what each homebuyer is working toward we can gauge customer service accordingly. With a through knowledge base as well as resources to loan officers, school data, and community information you can gain a lot of insight before scheduling your trip to the area.

Phase 3 – Visiting the Community: After all the questions and details that can be answered over the phone and online have been attended to, the next step is to schedule a visit the community in person. By setting an appointment and taking a VIP tour you get to see first hand, in three dimensional real time, whether you can envision yourself living in the home, the community, and the neighborhood.

You can explore the lots, the models, and the options in a more hands on interactive way with one of our dedicated professionals who can answer all the little details that never occurred to you during your online search.

By progressing through each of these 3 phases you will gain all the knowledge, information and insight you need to make an informed decision on the path to happy home ownership. We’d love to be your guide on that journey.

Buying a new home is the fun part. You find your floor plan, pick your options, watch your new home materialize, and then you have your keys in hand. Exciting!

Moving: Not so exciting. Moving can be a daunting task. Here are some tips, tools, and checklists to help make moving into your new home smooth and easy.

1. Space planning: One of the most difficult questions when moving, “Where’s it going to go?”

A great iphone app that helps you find the answer is Mark on Call.  This Home Interior Layout Designer lets you construct your new room. Measure and re-create your furniture and position it in the space.

This helps immensely when directing movers or friends to place furniture where it will go verses stacked in a corner. Remember move rugs in first and unroll them. Then bring in the furniture and boxes.

2. Labeling: Seems simple, never is.

Keep like objects in boxes from specific places and write a detailed label. Don’t just write master closet or kitchen. Write suites and ties, summer shorts and t-shirts, Coffee maker, toaster and crock pot. This will be a lifesaver when you are digging in a box of bathing suits to find your fuzzy robe and slippers.

Descriptive labels will eliminate countless hours of frustration when you desperately need that first cup of coffee in the morning. Without them you’re unwrapping endless numbers of wine glasses wishing for coffee and more detailed labeling.

3. Utilities And Services: Some utilities and services may be transferrable from your current location, while others may require new accounts. Some services are optional and others may be included in your fees.

There’s nothing more chillingly eye opening than taking a shower shortly after moving into your new home and realizing you didn’t contact the gas company.

Take a look at the following list and make sure you know what you do and don’t need and research the right companies to call in your area.
• Electricity
• Gas
• Phone
• Cable
• Internet
• Trash Removal
• Water
• Waste Water
• Security

4. Changing Your Address: Seems straight forward, you can find USPS online but this will only forward your mail for one year. After that, the little yellow labels run out. If you haven’t changed everything over you may not receive important information.

Here’s a key list of people and services you should notify.
• Car Insurance, Health Insurance and any other Insurance Providers
• Credit Cards, Loans, and Anyone Else You Owe Money To
• Amazon.com, Ebay, Other internet services that have your mailing address
• Monthly Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions
• Doctors Offices
• Previous Employers (W-2s)
• Professional Licenses, Business Organizations
• Parents and Grand Parents (Especially if you get checks during the holidays!)
• Your Drivers License

Being proactive with just these four things will make your move a much easier process.

If you’ve been searching for a new home you’ve probably heard someone say, “There’s never been a better time to buy a new home, interest rates are at an all time low.” But what does that really mean to you?

Here’s a little history on interest rates. Do you know what a high mortgage rate would look like? December of 1980 the 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 14.79%. By January of 1990 it dropped to 9.67%. Over a 10-year period, rates inched down by about 5%. But by May 2000 the rates were only down to 8.52%, barely a 1% change in 10 years. So, when you hear reports that mortgage rates are at an historic low, this gives you more context.

Several years ago people were happy to purchase at a 6.5% interest rate, but now, with mortgages available from the high 4% to low 5% range there truly has never been a better time to purchase a home. Especially as rates slowly creep up again.

So what can you get for your money with lower interest rates?

Low rates mean lower payments: If you can afford a mortgage of $150,000 at a rate of 4.9% your monthly payments will be around $796 per month (not including taxes and insurance). A rate of 6.5% would cost about $948 per month. By purchasing a home while the rates are low, you free up over $150 per month.

Low interest rates mean you can get more house for your money: If you can afford a payment of about $790 per month (not including taxes and insurance) that means at a rate of 6.5% your mortgage would be approximately $125,000. Yet at a rate of 4.9% you can afford a home loan of almost $150,000 this gives you nearly $25,000 more house for the same payment of approximately $790 per month.

This difference in price could be the space you need and the options you want. Rolling $25,000 more into a mortgage could get you a lot more house for your money in a new home.

It’s important to understand rates so that you can make an informed decision about purchasing your new home. Many people keep waiting for the lowest rates. But how will you know when the rates hit bottom? Usually when standing at a higher point looking down.

By assessing your situation and looking for the right loan to fit your current lifestyle, you can look at the historic rates and see how much more home you will get for your money now verses just a few years ago.

Written By Kevin Swift:
Kevin Swift and Swift Home Loans is one of the top home loan originators in Oklahoma and the preferred lender for Simmons Homes. Learn more at www.swifthomeloans.net or fill out their online application here.  You can also call 918-528-6404 for your personal consultation.

*Rates and payments are approximate for the purposes of this article and do not include taxes and insurance.

Ever go grocery shopping without making a list while hungry? You think, “I know what to buy this week, no need to write it down.”

Walking through the grocery store, stomach growling, everything starts to look good. Several yummy objects later, you roll a full basket up to checkout. Once home you realize you forgot key ingredients for meals, but gosh you really took care of the deserts and cravings.

Ahhh the joys of cooking. Note to self: Next time bring a list.

The same thing happens when you enter a new home community to build the house to fit your lifestyle. You begin to salivate. A great builder thinks of all the possibilities addressing a wide variety of tastes, needs, wants and desires. Touring a model is the opportunity to see all the ingredients unfold before you. This is part of the joy of building a new home.

Suddenly you are that starving person grocery shopping. You want stone fireplaces, decks, deluxe appliances and the kitchen sink. Just kidding, you always get a kitchen sink. But are you going with the under mount, with brushed nickel fixtures?

With so many options to choose from, it’s important to separate your needs from your wants. Then you’ll know up front what the most important elements will be when you roll your cart through those model doors. You don’t want to walk out hours later and think, “oh but we really need this, that, and the sun room.”

Before you go new home shopping, sit down and make a grocery list of important ingredients. A wants and needs list is the menu for your plan. Once you have the structure of your meal down, you can go hunting for that rich chocolate cake to finishing everything perfectly.

Ask yourself a series of questions:
• Do I need 4 bedrooms, or 3 and a flex space?
• Do I want a garage or can I live with a carport?
• Is a gourmet kitchen important?
• Open floor plan, or traditional formal rooms?
• Luxury bathroom?
• Where do I spend the most time?
• What kind of rooms do I need for hobbies?
• What are my structural needs?
• Is this the rest of my life house?
• Do I need to think about resale?

Then make a list of things you’d love to have to design the house just for you. By making two lists side by side, you’ll start to see what the most important features are in your new home.

Now when you walk the model, you’re armed with a shopping list. First find the structure that fits your lifestyle. Do you have the spatial plan, the right kitchen, and so on? Then you can start dressing spaces with the proper appliances, countertop materials, and flooring choices to fit your tastes.

If you forget major ingredients like the finished room over the garage for scrap booking, or the 2-foot bump out with the optional gas fireplace, those things are a lot harder to add later. Tick off the needs on the list, then look around at shinny objects and see which will be perfect side dishes to satisfy those wants.

Leaving out your needs is like leaving the yeast out of your cake. It may still taste sweet but it really falls flat and in the end something is missing. By making your lists upfront, when you are ready to go shopping you’ll be sure to have everything that makes your house a home.

After living in home for so long, it gets tiring looking at all the same old kitchen countertops, bathroom fixtures and small rooms. Your house doesn’t fit your needs, and you can no longer deny it. Time to make a hard decision, should you buy new or remodel the house? The typical American family makes this decision several times in life. For many people moving is the simpler, less expensive and certainly less stressful option.

At first, it might seem like there are cost advantages to staying put and renovating. A study by the Wall Street Journal found that the price of keeping a typical home up to current standards over a 30-year period is almost four times the homes’s purchase price. The money spent on a remodel really isn’t an investment, its consumption and they almost always cost more than expected. You might not get your ‘investment’ back.

Then, there are some things that you cannot renovate away; your neighborhood, location and schools. If you always wanted to live at the top of a hill, there’s nothing you can do about your flat street. By moving, you can find that ideal home with the same new elements that you wanted in your remodel.

A few benefits of buying new include moving into well-planned desirable neighborhoods, low maintenance, up-to-date designs, a builder’s limited warranty, energy efficiency, and new and better wiring. Many builders provide their customers with a team of professionals to guide them through the process. There is truly no place like home and when you purchase new, you are able to create the setting you desire.