Date Archives: December 2019

New homeowners, set a reminder on your smartphone: January 6th is National Technology Day! Technology is woven into nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and our real estate agents want to help you maximize your connectivity around your new living space. Believe it or not, many homeowners aren't aware of the many recent tech advances that can turn any type of house into a fully-functional smart home. Bring convenience into your life and consider upgrading your new space with these home automation upgrades.

1. Smart Hub
   If you don't have an interconnected command center in your new home, put it at the top of your list! Many of the best tech companies, including Google and Amazon, will help you not only integrate smart technology throughout your home, but they'll also offer you an easy to use command center to control these systems. Your smart home hub can connect to other devices, giving you the ability to use a simple swipe of a finger or vocal command to utilize countless smart systems.

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Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is one of the most important steps and usually the first that you should take if you're serious about buying a home. Pre-approval is almost standard these days and can give you a big advantage in your homebuying process. A pre-approval tells you how much home you can afford and also serves as proof that you'll be able to close on a sale when you enter into a contract. Since a lender will approve only to a certain amount, you and your real estate agent will know the price range of homes you can afford.

But how long is a mortgage pre-approval good for? If you're hoping to buy a home in the New Year, it's important to think about the timing for pre-approval since weeks or months could pass before you actually purchase a home. And because lenders realize that the homebuying process takes time, a mortgage pre-approval does have a shelf life, but it expires after a certain length of time. Our real estate agents share what buyers need to know about timing on getting loan pre-approval for a new home purchase.

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Winter is a wonderful time of year to sell your home. However, unlike spring and summer you won't have bright and flush foliage to frame the exterior. You may also have less sunlight to illuminate the interior. To help your home stand out, our real estate agents recommend the following advice for taking spectacular listing photos. 

• Clear Away the Snow & Lawn Debris
  You want your walkways, patio, driveway, and roof to be free of snow when you take your photos. This helps give prospective buyers a true feel for how the home looks without a white blanket covering everything.
  
  Similarly, you will want to prune bushes and trees. It's vital to clean gutters and remove dead foliage as well as extraneous decor. Cleaning up the front and back yard will make it easier for your photographer to take stunning photos of your property. If everything has turned brown, it is advisable to add potted evergreens or artificial shrubs to create a touch of contrast.   

• Install Higher Wattage Bulbs
  Higher wattage bulbs breathe life into the room. They create warmth and a bright atmosphere that will appeal to prospective buyers who view the photos and walk through the home.

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There's no doubt that the holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year when you call Upstate New York home, and local light displays are a big reason why. The tradition of light shows in our area dates back decades, creating enchanting family memories and helping locals get into the holiday spirit. This year is no exception, with legendary holiday light shows taking place across a wide variety of local communities. Our real estate agents are ready to ring in the holidays, and we've got the details on the best holiday light displays to visit around Upstate New York.

Holiday Light Displays Around Upstate New York

• Price Chopper/Market 32 Holiday Lights – Washington Park – State and Willet Streets, Albany, NY 12210
  With a history that includes more than 30 years of spectacular light shows, the Price Chopper/Market 32 Holiday Lights is the perfect place to get in the holiday spirit close to Albany homes for sale. Take a scenic drive through the park to see all of the lights, then visit the Washington Park Lakehouse to enjoy crafts, refreshments, and meetings with Santa.

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