4 Things Your REALTOR® Wants You To Know

Your real estate agent in Sunrise Beach MO will be right there by your side for the entire process of buying or selling a home at the Lake of the Ozarks. For buyers, we'll be there to help you hunt for the perfect home, extend your offer, negotiate on the final sale price, and walk you through the closing. For sellers, we will be there to help you stage and list your home, aggressively market your property to get it in front of as many buyers as possible, negotiate the sale price, and assist with the closing.

As your advocate, guide, and confidant, it is our job to make the entire process easier. In this vein, here are a few things we want everyone to know about real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks.

1. SELLERS - Your House Might Not Be Ready For Listing Photos

If you have never sold a home (or haven't in several years) you may not be up-to-date on everything that needs to happen before taking listing photos and marketing your home. EVERYTHING needs to be deep-cleaned, and ALL clutter needs to be removed or, at the very least, hidden - all the way down to the magnets and pictures covering your refrigerator. Any work you may have already done to prepare your home for listing photos will be hugely helpful, but be prepared for your agent to prescribe a few other tasks before photos are taken.

2. BUYERS - You Won't Be Able To Afford Every House

Your real estate agent can show you any home you want, but ultimately it is entirely up to your mortgage lender to determine how much house you can afford. Consequently, we strongly encourage our buyers to talk with a lender before they begin searching for homes in earnest. By getting prequalified or pre-approved before seriously beginning the home search, you will be able to have a realistic understanding of the price points will be able to afford. Once you know your price parameters, your agent will be able to help you find homes within that price range.

3. SELLERS - No One Can Actually Predict How Quickly Your Home Will Sell

The market is hot right now and most homes are selling quickly, but it is impossible to truly predict how quickly a buyer will extend an offer that you wish to accept. It will depend on the quality of the offers you receive, how much foot traffic and general visibility your home gets, and how much effort your agent puts into marketing your home. A good agent will go out of his or her way to ensure that your property gets in front of as many buyers as possible, but again - it is impossible to predict exactly how quickly things will happen.

4. BUYERS - Just Because You Can Afford To Buy A House Doesn't Mean That You Should

Your lender will tell you how much house you can afford to purchase based on your debt-to-income ratio. The debt-to-income ratio looks at how much of your monthly income is tied up going to preexisting debts and the new debt you will have once you take out a home loan; typically, lenders will want to make sure that your total debts will not equate to more than 40-42% of your gross income. However, they don't take into account the myriad of other expenses you will have to face as a homeowner, such as repairs, maintenance, upgrades, utilities, etc. Buying a cheaper home with a smaller mortgage payment will leave more room for these other (sometimes unpredictable) expenses.

Eagle's Nest Realty Will Be Here For You Every Step Of The Way!

No matter where you are at in your real estate journey, the team at Eagle's Nest Realty, Inc. would be more than happy to assist you in any way possible! Our goal is to make selling or buying real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks as stress-free and rewarding as possible. Contact us to get started!

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5 Reasons To Be Grateful You Own A Home

We are fortunate to enjoy many blessings in our lives. Even the simplest things are worth being grateful for - the roof over our heads, the food on our tables, and the people in our lives are all excellent examples of things to be thankful for this holiday weekend. If you own a home, you can add a whole extra set of blessings to that list! Eagle's Nest Realty is here to share with you some of the reasons to be grateful to own your own home.

1. You Can Decide How To Live Your Life.

There's nothing worse than not being able to live the way you want simply because an independent party (such as your landlord) tells you otherwise. As the homeowner, you are the one who gets to decide whether or not you want to have a pet, how loudly you want to play the music, and what color you want to paint the walls. There is nothing quite like the sense of freedom and pride that comes from owning your own home!

2. You Don't Have To Wait For Someone Else To Make The Repairs.

The fact that homeowners are responsible for making their own repairs is sometimes used as a negative hit against homeownership, but we believe that it's actually a big advantage. All too often, renters end up waiting weeks and weeks before the maintenance man finally responds to their request. When you own your own home, you have the freedom to make repairs you need, when you need them.

3. You Can Save Money.

Rent costs have risen to all-time highs over the past few years, and they are expected to continue to increase in 2016. As a result, individuals who plan to rent for a few more years so they can save up more money for the down payments may end up getting caught in what Keeping Current Matters has dubbed "the renter's trap." As the owner of your own home (and depending on your type of mortgage loan) you can enjoy fixed monthly payments that will remain consistent for the duration of your loan.

4. You Are Investing In Your Future.

When they make their monthly payments, homeowners are investing in what some people call a form of "forced savings." Paying your mortgage is non-negotiable, but a portion of your monthly payment comes back to you in the form of home equity. Home equity refers to the monetary amount of the home you actually own. For example, if your house is worth $250,000 and your loan balance is only $200,000, you have $50,000 of equity in your home. By making your mortgage payment every month, you are forcing yourself to build home equity - which will prove to be a valuable financial asset in the long run!

5. You Can Enjoy A Sense Of Stability.

Even if you rent the same house or apartment for several years, it unavoidably feels like a temporary arrangement. When you buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, on the other hand, you can know that you will be in that same home for several years. This sense of stability has been shown time and time again to offer incredible benefits for people of all ages - children of homeowners perform better in schools and homeowners are more relaxed and confident. There's truly nothing like it!

Don't Yet Own Your Own Home? Call Us!

If you have yet to join the ranks of proud homeowners, call us at 877-452-5338. With over 40 years in real estate and over 15 years in the Lake Area, we have the experience you need to successfully buy a home in Sunrise Beach MO. We would be honored to help you find your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks! 

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5 Crucial House Hunting Tips

There's nothing quite like searching for your new home! Walking through all the different homes is always a lot of fun (and a great way to get some new home decor ideas), but if you're not careful, it can become very time-consuming very quickly. Is there a way you can make your home search more productive? The team at Eagle's Nest Realty is here to help you out with these tried-and-true home hunting suggestions!

Tip #1: Take Notes. A LOT Of Notes.
Once you tour more than three or four homes, it will become very hard to remember which specific characteristics belonged to which home. Bring a notepad with you and take notes on each of the different homes you see. Write down anything - good or bad - that stands out to you about each home, such as carpet that needs replacing, unusual features in the kitchen, glass railings in the stairway, etc. You will rely on these notes more heavily than you might think!

Tip #2: Pay Attention Each Home's Surroundings.
Keep in mind that you won't just be buying your new house - you'll also be buying the neighborhood, the view, and the surrounding area. As you tour each potential home, take note of its surroundings. Is it located right next to a noisy street or highway? Are the neighboring homes in poor condition? Is there a lot of construction going on nearby? Add these observances to your notes about each property. While some of these things might not affect you directly, it's important to look at all of the variables when buying a home.

Click here to see more about this home for sale in Sunrise Beach.

Tip #3: Drive By Potential Homes Before Scheduling Showings.
The way homes look online tend to differ greatly from the way they look in real life. You can save yourself (and your Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent) a great deal of time by driving by the homes you want to tour before scheduling any showings. Sometimes, driving past the front of the home will reveal deal-breakers that you couldn't see from the online listings. Driving past the homes first will help you ensure that you only schedule tours of the homes that have legitimate potential!

Tip #4: Differentiate Your Needs From Your Wants.
Do you need a home with vaulted ceilings and a tile shower? Probably not, although it would certainly be a nice perk! On the other hand, you probably do need a home with enough bedrooms to give you and your family places to sleep. Taking the time to identify what you need in a new home versus what you want will help you stay organized and focused during your home search. It's certainly okay to get swept away by the dazzling features of each home you tour (that's half the fun of buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks!), but you want to make sure you only do so after you make sure the home will meet your needs.

Tip #5: Be Realistic About What You Can Afford.
Unfortunately, the loan amount you may be approved for does not necessarily indicate how much you can afford to spend on your new home. Your monthly mortgage payment is only part of the picture; once you have moved into your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you will also have to pay for utilities (electricity, water, trash, etc), repairs, any association fees, and the upgrades you wish to make. All of these extra expenses tend to add up quickly! Protect yourself and your investment by creating a budget that outlines your income and projected expenses. Don't forget to add in the other costs of livings, such as groceries and fuel.

Want More Home Hunting Help? Contact Eagle's Nest Realty!
Buying real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks is big undertaking; it's important to make sure you go about it the right way! If you are looking for a Lake of the Ozarks REALTOR® to help you through the process, we hope you'll keep us in mind. We would love to help you find your new home!

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Lake of the Ozarks Voted the BEST Recreational Lake in America!

It's official! Americans across the States have voted, and the Lake of the Ozarks has been voted the #1 Recreational Lake in the Country by USA Today and 10Best. Like all the full-time residents, weekenders, and passing tourists, the team at Eagle's Nest Realty is super excited for the Lake to receive such a great honor. 

We believe that the Lake of the Ozarks owes its success to several different factors. Here is a quick peek at some of the unique selling points that have helped make our beautiful lake the best in the country.

Expansive Shoreline

The Lake of the Ozarks is accessible to so many different people and from so many different locations. From Gravois Mills to Lake Ozark, our Lake touches several different towns, each with their own unique feel. With more coastline than the state of California, our Lake offers plenty of room for people to buy waterfront homes on the Lake of the Ozarks, take their boats directly up to their favorite restaurants, and enjoy quiet, peaceful access to the water from several different state parks.

Amazing Vistas

Nestled among the Ozark Mountains, the Lake of the Ozarks offers some of the best views you'll ever see. Where else can you find a huge body of water surrounded by stunning greenery in the summer, and then watch that same greenery turn into beautiful snow-covered trees in winter? No matter where you are on the Lake, you'll get to enjoy incredible views that will take your breath away.

Endless Activities

What's your favorite thing to do? Fishing? Hiking? Swimming? Water skiing? No matter what you love to do, the Lake of the Ozarks is sure to have something especially for you. In addition to the ones we just listed, our Lake offers tons of different recreational activities, including go-karting, boating, tubing, coving out, and jet skiing. Not only that, but there are several mini golf courses, a lazer tag company, a movie theater, arcades, and more. 

Gorgeous (And Affordable!) Housing Opportunities

As if all the shoreline, vistas, and activities weren't enough, the Lake of the Ozarks also offers some of the best and most affordable housing options you can find. With real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks ranging from multi-million dollar estates to cozy and cost-effective homes, you're sure to be able to find something that perfectly matches your lifestyle and your budget. If you would like more information about relocating to the Lake of the Ozarks, don't hesitate to reach out to the team at Eagle's Nest Realty. We would love to help you find a home or a condo to call your own!

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