Marge Cahill Homes

Do you have a small kitchen?  Here area some tips on how to maximize a small space. 1. Donate Stuff Before  moving into your new space , make sure to get rid of the things that you know you don’t need anymore. Have you actually used that discounted bundt pan you bought two years ago? If not, why not donate it to your local charity shop? Someone else might be getting some use out of it, and you’ll be saving yourself from clutter in  your new home . 2. Think Vertically Vertically storing things is a tried-and-true  method of using space , and the kitchen holds some unique opportunities for making the most of it. By hanging pot racks, magnetic knife strips, mounted dish-drying racks installed above the sink, and rods with hooks for towels, aprons, small tools, and oven mitts, these are all excellent ways to keep necessary clutter in its place and keep surfaces and lower areas of the room free. 3. Find Beautiful Utensils It’s far more convenient to keep everyday items out, but they never n

If you are thinking about purchasing a home  for the first time, here are some important tips to consider: 1. Pay Off As Much Debt As Possible Owning a home may be a little more expensive than you may realize, even if your monthly mortgage payment will be similar to your rent. When you own your own home, you will be responsible every bit of maintenance and that tends add up fast!  I recommend you think about your budget, pay off as much of your debt as possible, and then begin thinking about your  home search .  2. Realize How Much You Can Afford Before you begin  searching for homes , you need to check your monthly budget to determine how much you can afford. You should to leave room for other expenses such as car payments, student loans, utilities, etc. Make sure your monthly housing costs (mortgage, HOA fees, taxes, insurance) will be less than 33% of your income. 3. Saving Your Down Payment You really should try to save 20% for your down payment. Once you have the 20% down, you won

  Once you’re ready to  make the big move , and you start looking for the home you’ve always dreamed of,  you’ll hear a lot of mortgage jargon that you may be unfamiliar with. One such term you’ll hear is “debt-to-income ratio”, and unless you’re a math wiz, this can sound intimidating. Debt-to-income ratios are actually simple to understand, and helps you understand how much you can afford before you start looking for a home. Your debt-to-income ratio is the way your  mortgage broker  decides how much of a home payment you can afford. It is the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes are deducted). Two calculations are involved: the front ratio and the back ratio, written in ratio form, i.e., 33/38. What do the numbers mean? The first number in the ratio indicates the percentage of your monthly gross income used to pay your housing costs. Your principal, interest, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance and association dues are all considered with this number. The second nu

Mark your calendar to check your credit report—and do it every year. Credit card companies as well as mortgage lenders will rely on the information in your report, therefore your score determines your chances to borrow money—and how favorable your terms will be. This is important if you're thinking about purchasing a home in the near future! Where to check your credit score Experian (experian.com), Equifax (equifax.com) and TransUnion (tuc.com), are the three major credit-reporting agencies. You can request a free credit report every year from each credit bureau to get an idea of where your credit stands. Credit scores can range anywhere from 200 to over 800. Scores below 620 are considered risky; 720 and above will earn excellent rates and terms. Determining credit scores: Your debt payment history is typically 35% of the total score: Late payments and amounts owed are the two areas that are most closely looked at. Amount owed is about 30% of your score: Large outstanding balances

  A good real estate professional comes in handy in more many more ways than you may think! If you want the best possible experience out of your home selling and or buying experience,  you should rely on a seasoned professional like myself to guide you every step of the way. 1. A Pro Understands Current Market Conditions A good  Realtor  will be able to simply and effectively explain today’s real estate market, and decipher what it means for you. I believe that an educated consumer is the best consumer. I will make sure that you are educated in every area that’s important in your real estate transactions. 2. Experience Matters I am educated, and experienced with the real estate entire sales process. In this industry, experience really does matter. There are so many issues that could come up in a transaction that the average consumer is most likely not familiar with. Handling these difficult issues is second nature to me. 3. Determine the Correct Pricing Determining the  correct price  

There are many terms used for the type of homes available, and  it can be difficult to keep the names straight. Here’s a quick course in the various types of homes available on the market today: Stick Built Homes Stick built, or site built, homes typically refer to traditional, single-family homes that are built at the same site that the finished home will stand. It’s built by a local contractor and built to area construction codes. Manufactured Homes Manufactured homes, more commonly known as mobile homes, are the stereotypical rectangular, shoebox structures you see all over the country. In some cases, these homes have been replaced by 2,500-square-foot homes with sun rooms, and even decks in some cases. The Manufactured Housing Institute defines a manufactured home as “a single-family house constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment, built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, better known as the HUD Code”. Most people still refer to them

Once again, the interior decorating trends are leaning towards "comfortable homes".  What does that mean for you? Many interior designers agree that   potential home buyers   are looking for warmer colors and intimate spaces once again. That seems to be the way to go in 2021.  1. Try Traditional Wall Coverings What’s old is new again! Recently there has been a strong return to traditionalism. With the more traditional decorating styles, there has been a return to wallpaper. You will also begin to see shades of darker fabrics and various wallpaper patterns as well. 2. Smaller Furnishings Unlike the style from the previous trend, smaller and more useable furniture has become popular. People are purchasing smaller pieces of furniture that are staged and arranged in a closer, more intimate setting. Surprisingly, this trend is being seen through all the generational age groups - not just millennials. 3. Bold Colors In the recent years past, various shades of blues have been the mo

Did you know that a home inspection is an important part of transferring home ownership from a seller to a buyer?  Plus, home inspections are definitely in the best interest of both parties involved. What Do Home Inspectors Actually Do? A good home inspector will check out the home's plumbing system, electrical system, furnace & air conditioning, and look for structural problems. They will should note things like a damp basement, and leaky windows also. Inspections will report needed repairs and or replacements that should be made, so you buyers and sellers avoid surprises. When getting a home inspection, you should remember that it does not  "pass" or "fail", and the home inspector will not tell you whether he thinks the home is worth the money, or if you should or shouldn't buy it.  Their job is to make you aware of repairs that they or deem necessary. Home Inspection For Home Sellers We often hear of the home buyer having an inspection prior to the  

Choosing to move from one state to another can be intimidating. The easy part of the process is to make this decision. The challenging but thrilling part is sorting out the details and planning for the big move. It can be a logical nightmare. To help, here are tips to make a smoother move.  1.  Research Your New State Moving to a new state can sometimes feel like moving to a new country. Before deciding to move out of Illinois, take some time to do as much research on the new state you are moving to as you can. For example:  • Find good schools, if you have children, and figure out the best area to search for a new home. • Find out how much taxes you are going to pay in the new state. • Learn how cold it gets in the winter and how hot it gets in the summer. • The idea of leaving Illinois and moving to a new home might seem exciting, but you need to do enough research to know you're making the right move. 2.  Search for a Home Once you finally decided to move to a new state, start l

Exterior staging your home is also known as creating curb appeal. There is an old saying that everyone knows: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is especially true with real estate; when your home is for sale! It’s so important to make sure that the first look that buyers get, leaves a positive, and lasting impression.  Enhance Your Home's Exterior Power wash the exterior of the home, however, if you see peeling paint, you may need to hire professional painters to clean and repaint the home  Deep clean the inside and outside of your windows to make your windows shine!  Clean out your gutters and replace them if they look old or are rusted out Have someone jump on the roof and fix loose shingles  In the Fall, rake leaves and tidy up your flower beds  During Spring and Summer, mow your lawn and remove weeds and growing up through sidewalks Keep you trees and bushes trimmed  Plant some bright-colored flowers  Keep toys and yard tools stored and put your gar