RSM Rancho Santa Margarita

07/05/2021

Essential Moving Tips for Seniors for a Stress-Free Process
Meta description: Moving can be stressful and challenging, especially for the elderly. Here are some essential moving tips for seniors for a stress-free process.

Featured image.
Alt-tag: Man and woman standing by the door holding mugs
Moving can be incredibly stressful, especially for the elderly. However, it happens very often. Whether it's for downsizing, relocating to be closer to loved ones, moving to a place that has more natural beauty, or moving into a senior living community, or for any other reason, the elderly usually struggle to handle the relocation, both physically and mentally. These essential moving tips for seniors are crucial for a stress-free process, so make sure to read them carefully and put them to good use.
Decide when it’s time to downsize
When kids grow up, spread their wings, and fly off into the world, many seniors find themselves stuck in a large house that requires a lot of work, cleaning, and maintenance. They usually have multi-story homes, many vacant rooms, and large bills, which start to cause them headaches. Deciding to sell your home and downsize is never easy, even though it has some obvious benefits, such as:
● Stretching your budget
● Less time spent on house upkeep
● More accessible layout
Seniors who decide to downsize are usually relieved since navigating a small house or apartment is much easier. Also, paying lower bills lets them save some money, and they need to spend much less time keeping their home tidy.
Planning and preparation are crucial
Moving is challenging for the elderly and their families emotionally, as well as logistically. That's why one of the crucial moving tips for seniors is proper preparation. It's a good idea to start your home search before there's any urgency for moving. Seniors need to have enough time to pick out the perfect place and choose the right location with enough amenities and services, care options, etc. The main part of planning involves researching:
● Different types of houses and apartments
● Retirement communities
● Assisted living communities, etc.
To decide which option meet the majority of their needs, seniors need to visit few different properties, get a feel for the environment and ask some crucial questions. A final decision will also depend on the costs of living at each option. So, one option may be a better fit than another, depending on the budget.

Caption: Seniors should have enough amenities, services, and care options in their new environment.
Alt-tag: An older man with eyeglasses showing thumbs up and looking at the camera.
Declutter your home and sort your belongings
When moving to another home, the main thing that makes the process easier is decluttering. Seniors should get rid of all furniture, clothes, and possessions that they no longer need. Then, they should set aside must-have items and items with particular sentimental value that they want to see regularly. So, take a systematic approach and start with one area of your home at a time. Don't make the mistake of getting rid of all the things you love - keep those that are useful or meaningful. The rest can be donated, sold, or thrown away (if something is broken, damaged, or completely useless).
The more you get rid of before your move, the easier and quicker it will be to fit everything into your new, downsized home. If there are many things to be sorted out, you should accept the help of your family member or a friend. Then, go through this step together.
Prepare yourself emotionally
In addition to the logistical side of the process, there's also the emotional side of moving. Moving can be overwhelming, especially for those who lived in the same place for a long time, raised their children there, and made plenty of family memories. People tend to have a lot of positive associations built up around their homes, so it's essential to focus on all the benefits of a move. It's an opportunity for positive change, meeting new people, and finding a balance between independence and care.
It's normal to feel a bit sad, confused or anxious, but don't fear your emotions but embrace them instead. Also, opt to keep a positive attitude about your upcoming relocation and remember the many advantages of that transition. Once you settle into your new home, it's important to maintain a daily routine and become active in the new community. It will help you cheer up and look forward to your new life.
Hire professional movers
After you've decided to downsize, found the perfect place, decluttered your home, and sorted your belongings, it's time to organize the moving day. One of the essential moving tips for seniors is to hire professional movers. They can help with every part of this task and provide all the services needed, such as packing, offering a storage unit, and transporting your belongings. Efficient and safe moving practices will ensure a fast, stress-free move, and all your items will be secured and protected.

Caption: There's a wide range of moving services available to make the whole process stress-free.
Alt-tag: Two men carrying moving boxes.
Be safe on moving day
When the moving day arrives, you need to make sure everyone and everything is safe. Luckily, when you have reliable and sufficient help, you won't get injured or suffer severe back strain (which is typical during DIY moves). Just make sure there's always a clear path into and out of your home. Furthermore, if you have any pets, keep them away from your home on moving day.
In addition, you shouldn't forget to take care of your nutritional needs. Don't skip meals on moving day, and make sure you're well-hydrated. You need to have enough energy for the whole day.
Settling into your new home
It can take a while to adjust to your new environment after a move. You need to adapt to your new home, new beautiful neighborhood, and new daily routines. So, take your time to properly settle and be patient with yourself. Slowly decorate your new space, make it as comfortable and familiar as possible. Don't forget to call or visit your family members and friends often. Friendly faces and voices will make this significant transition much easier to handle.

Caption: Following all of these essential moving tips for seniors will ensure one successful move.
Alt-tag: An elderly couple walking on the street.
The bottom line
If you follow these moving tips for seniors, your relocation will be as successful and stress-free as possible. When you evaluate your situation carefully, assess the amenities and support you may require, accept your emotions, and don't forget the crucial steps of ample research and methodical planning, you're very likely to have a positive experience.
However, if you need some help with finding your perfect home, or selling your current one, make sure to reach out to Glenn Tinturin, a trusted real estate broker with years of experience. With the help of his team, your house-hunting process will be entirely stress-free, so that you can start relaxing and enjoying your golden years!

Photos used
https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-woman-standing-by-the-door-holding-mugs-7328485/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/positive-senior-man-in-eyeglasses-showing-thumbs-up-and-looking-at-camera-3824771/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-couple-people-woman-7464232/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/elderly-couple-walking-on-the-street-5637575/

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07/30/2020

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met this week, leaving interest rates near zero to help buoy an economy heavily hit by the current health crisis.

“The path forward for the economy is extraordinarily uncertain and will depend in large part on our success in keeping the virus in check,” Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell said in a statement, adding that the “pace of recovery looks like it has slowed,” as more states continue to battle a second wave of increasing coronavirus cases.

The Fed will continue to monitor the markets but, as of now, is not “even thinking about” raising rates and will keep rates low “until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events.”

Recent data shows just how much the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the economy. According to the Commerce Department, the U.S. GDP (gross domestic product) fell 9.5 percent in the second quarter of the year—on an annualized basis, GDP fell at a rate of 32.9 percent.

“As expected, economic activity collapsed in the second quarter due to the total virus-lockdown in April and only partial re-openings in May. The GDP contraction of 33 percent on an annualized basis is the steepest ever experienced in the U.S.,” said Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist, National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). “Even with the stimulus and enhanced unemployment benefits, consumer spending collapsed by a massive 35 percent. Business spending also collapsed by 27 percent. Even residential investments—comprising of home sales, home building and remodeling activity—dropped by nearly 40 percent.

“This morning’s advance report on second quarter GDP showed that the economy contracted 32.9 percent—the largest single quarter drop on record—as COVID-19-driven business closures and restrictions on in-person activity sharply reduced consumer spending and business investment,” said Joel Kan, AVP of Economic and Industry Forecasting, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). “In recent weeks, housing demand has rebounded sharply, and we expect the rest of the economy to recover in the second half of the year.

Third quarter data should be more optimistic as states began reopening amid a decline in COVID cases.

“The good news is that this data is backward-looking. Third quarter data will show a massive increase. Personal savings rates are the highest ever, with massive deposits at banks,” said Yun. “There will be an unleashing of spending in the upcoming months as economies open further. Home sales have already been rising strongly and will continue to do so. GDP growth in the third quarter could be as high as 30 percent. Note: This data will come out three days before the November election.”

However, with the last few weeks showing deterioration across various states, the economic rebound could slow. Unemployment filings totaled 1.43 million last week, according to the Labor Department—the second weekly increase.

“The adverse impacts to the job market and hardships for many households may persist—especially if virus cases continue to rise in several parts of the country,” said Kan. “There are still many workers who have not returned to work, households in need of mortgage or rent forbearance, and an overall sense of uncertainty ahead. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates low, and monetary policy supportive, until there are clearer signs of an economic recovery.”

An upside to the Fed’s near-zero lock-in? Fed rates can indirectly influence mortgage interest rates, which just decreased slightly according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®).

“It’s Groundhog Day in the mortgage market as rates continue to remain near historic lows, driving purchase demand over 20 percent above a year ago,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Real estate is one of the bright spots in the economy, with strong demand and modest slowdown in home prices heading into the late summer. Home sales should remain strong the next few months into the early fall.”

Here’s the breakdown:

– 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Averaged 2.99 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending July 30, 2020, down slightly from 3.01 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.75 percent.

– 15-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Averaged 2.51 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.54 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.20 percent.

– 5-Year Treasury-Indexed Hybrid Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): Averaged 2.94 percent with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.09 percent. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.46 percent.

“We expect that the Fed may strengthen their forward guidance on the future path of interest rates at their September meeting, providing more explicit signals as to which factors could lead them to eventually raise short-term rates,” said Mike Fratantoni, SVP and chief economist of MBA. “In the meantime, we expect mortgage rates will stay near all-time lows. These record-low mortgage rates will continue to provide stimulus to homeowners who refinance and lower their monthly payments, while also boosting homebuyer demand and their purchasing power.

10/29/2019

5 Tips for Beginning Your Home Search

In today’s market, low inventory dominates the conversation in many areas of the country. It can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared. Here are five tips from realtor.com’s article, “How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind.”
1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search
One way to show you’re serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage. Even if you’re in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach. This will help you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a home well outside your price range.
2. Know the Difference Between Your ‘Must-Haves’ and ‘Would-Like-To-Haves’
Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Before you start your search, list all the features of a home you would like. Qualify them as ‘must-haves’, ‘should-haves’, or ‘absolute-wish list’ items. This will help you stay focused on what’s most important.
3. Research and Choose a Neighborhood Where You Want to Live
Every neighborhood has a unique charm. Before you commit to a home based solely on the house itself, take a test-drive of the area. Make sure it meets your needs for “amenities, commute, school district, etc. and then spend a weekend exploring before you commit.”
4. Pick a House Style You Love and Stick to It
Evaluate your family’s needs and settle on a style of home that will best serve those needs. Just because you’ve narrowed your search to a zip code doesn’t mean you need to tour every listing in that vicinity. An example from the article says, “if you have several younger kids and don’t want your bedroom on a different level, steer clear of Cape Cod-style homes, which typically feature two or more bedrooms on the upper level and the master on the main.”
5. Document Your Home Visits
Once you start touring homes, the features of each individual home will start to blur together. The article suggests keeping your camera handy and making notes on the listing sheet to document what you love and don’t love about each property you visit.
Bottom Line
In a high-paced, competitive environment, any advantage you can give yourself will help you on your path to buying your dream home. And your first step is to contact Glenn Tinturin at 909.663.7811 or via messenger.

The KCM Crew

07/02/2019

What is the home you’re buying or selling worth in today’s market?
There is so much information on the news and on the Internet about home sales, prices, and mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively and correctly price your home at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a lowball offer?

Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”

Hiring an agent who has his or her finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying or selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.

Bottom Line
Today’s real estate market is highly competitive. Having a professional who’s been there before to guide you through the process is a simple step that will give you a huge advantage!

Call Glenn!

03/26/2019

In today’s real estate market, with more houses coming to market every day and eager buyers searching for their dream home, setting the right price for your house is one of the most important things you can do.

According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, home values have risen at over 6% a year over the past two years, but have started to slow to 4.4% over the last 12 months. By this time next year, CoreLogic predicts that home values will be 4.6% higher.

With prices slowing from their previous pace, homeowners must realize that pricing their homes a little OVER market value to leave room for negotiation will actually dramatically decrease the number of buyers who will see their listing!

Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price their house so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing so, the seller will not be negotiating with a buyer over the price, but will instead have multiple buyers competing with each other over the house.

The key to selling your house in 2019 is making sure your house is Priced To Sell Immediately (PTSI)! That way, your home will be seen by the most buyers and will sell at a great price before more competition comes to market!

Bottom Line
If you are debating listing your house for sale, meet with a local real estate professional who can help price your home appropriately for your area and maximize your exposure this Spring Market! *** Contact Glenn Tinturin when you're ready to sell ***

03/21/2019

EZ Loan Money. Better than FHA.

02/14/2019

Guitar Lessons by Glenn Tinturin in South Orange County. I love teaching, and can teach all genres, but my specialty is Classical Guitar.