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These Savannah Spots Have the Most Festive Decor

There’s something magical about Savannah during the holiday season! Dazzling lights, festive décor and Christmas cheer fill the city from top to bottom. If you can’t get enough of Christmas-themed décor, events and spirit, you’ve got to check out these jolly Savannah spots.

City Market
Savannah’s spirit becomes even more exquisite during the holiday season, and City Market is no exception. Stroll beneath holiday lights, taste sweet treats in City Market shops and find the perfect gifts for your loved ones, all while being serenaded by Christmas carolers.

There are also plenty of events to look forward to during City Market’s holiday season. Children will have the chance to make ornaments, decorate cookies and get Grinched (a tradition of Grinch-inspired hair and makeup!). Kids of all ages can also meet Father Christmas and take a Cinderella carriage tour. All this plus face painting, choir music and more add up to a day of fun the whole family can truly enjoy. Look at City Market’s calendar to learn more.

The Forsyth Park Fountain is certainly beautiful year-round, but it’s even more dazzling at Christmastime. Festive wreaths, bright bows and garland frame the already picturesque fountain. During the holiday season, the Forsyth Park fountain often becomes the location for family Christmas cards and engagement photos. It’s a Christmas lover’s dream come true!

Broughton Street
At Christmastime, the shops, boutiques and restaurants along Broughton Street decorate inside and out. Bright, sparkling lights are streamed from building to building all along Broughton Street creating a picture-perfect backdrop for holiday shoppers.

The festive season, called “Holidays on Broughton,” also offers seasonal events for all ages and interests. From the return of a beloved children’s toy store in a pop-up experience to photos with Santa and musical performances, eventgoers can count on an experience that will prove magical year after year.

Throughout the whimsical holiday event, many of the unique and eclectic shops along Broughton Street will offer extended hours of operation and holiday shopping incentives. It’s surely the most wonderful time of the year on Broughton Street!

By:Larissa Allen

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Mortgage Misconceptions May Keep Buyers Away

Potential home buyers often describe the home buying process as being complicated. And, most likely, a lot of their confusion stems from the financing side of the transaction. A lack of knowledge about what is required and how to proceed can cause otherwise qualified borrowers to become intimidated and even delay their dreams of homeownership. For example, prospective buyers often have misconceptions about down payment requirements, believing they are required to put down much more than is actually necessary. And, though calculating the size of your down payment depends on a number of factors, believing that you can’t buy a house with less than a 20 percent down payment can be enough to convince a potential home buyer that they aren’t yet ready to buy. That’s why it’s important to contact your lender to explore your options before you talk yourself out of buying. Though there is plenty of information available online – and recent research shows the internet is the primary source of information about mortgages – you can’t get an accurate appraisal of your options and price range without the help of a qualified professional. Don’t allow misconceptions to hold you back from buying the home of your dreams. More here.

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Contract Signings Improve In October

Among the many indicators used to track the health of the housing market, the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index is unique. That’s because, rather than count the number of homes that sold in any given month, it counts the number of signed contracts to buy homes. So what’s the difference? Well, contracts are typically signed about a month before the actual closing date. Which means, pending sales offer a glimpse of where future sales might be. And, according to the most recent report, sales might soon see a lift. That’s because the number of contracts signed in October was up 3.5 percent and marked the first increase in three months. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said the improvement was encouraging but challenges still remain. “Home shoppers had better luck finding a home to buy in October, but slim pickings and consistently fast price gains continue to frustrate and prevent too many would-be buyers from reaching the market.” In short, buyer demand still outweighs the number of homes available to buy but recent news offers some reason to believe improvements are on the horizon. More here.

 

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Where To Look To Eliminate Household Odors

Your sense of smell can be a peculiar thing. Odors that overwhelm some people, don’t affect others. And odors that you’re accustom to seem to disappear altogether after a while. So it’s no surprise that homeowners might worry that their home may be giving off an unpleasant scent. And, during the holidays, this becomes even more of a concern, as it’s a popular time of year to have houseguests. Fortunately, there are some fairly common places you can target to ensure that you’ve eliminated any odors that may be going undetected. One of the more obvious targets is pets. If you have animals in your home, make sure you clean their favorite places, pillows, beds, and blankets, etc. Basements and bedding are also common places for odors to linger. Mold and mildew can cause mustiness in basement areas but can also be detected by sight, which makes addressing it even easier. Be sure also to keep your bedding clean and your mattress fresh. Another obvious spot to check for odors is your refrigerator and freezer. Check that there’s no grime, grit, or leftovers lurking in the back that are emitting odors. Overall, paying some regular attention to these hot spots can help remove any worry about how your home smells to holiday house guests or, if you’re selling your home, potential buyers. More here.

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Rising Home Values Mean Immediate Gains For Buyers

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not it’s a good time for you to buy a house. Most of these are personal and have to do with the needs and desires of you and your family. Market conditions may influence your decision, but ultimately the best time for you to buy a house is when you’re ready. And while that’s largely true, knowing what’s going on in the market can still be important, as it gives you a feel for what to expect during your home search and after. For example, recent research shows that the average house is $12,500 more valuable today than it was just a year ago. And, though that will be disappointing news to buyers who have seen their purchasing power reduced over the last year, it should also be encouraging to prospective buyers – as rising prices may mean your future home’s value continues to increase once you’ve become the owner. In other words, if home prices continue to increase at the same pace during the next year, buying a house now may mean you’re – not only getting a better deal now than you would if you wait – but you’ll also be able to start building equity almost immediately. More here.

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How Buying A Home Can Help Save You Money

The argument for or against buying a home usually rests, to some extent, on wealth creation. Conventional wisdom says homeowners – through equity and price appreciation – are building wealth, while renters are throwing their money away each month. Of course, there are some notable instances where that basic argument seemed discredited. Take the most recent financial crisis and housing crash, for example. Following the crash, many people began to question the typical arguments in favor of homeownership, as homeowners saw their home values plummet. Now, a new study from Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, and the University of Wyoming says homeownership offers no financial advantage when compared to renting and investing in a portfolio of stocks and bonds. However, the study’s findings are based on an assumption that renters will use any extra money, not on consumption, but on investing for the future. According to the results, “The analysis showed that households that are likely to not reinvest buy-rent cash differentials should mostly own rather than rent their primary residence as ownership forces them to save.” In other words, you can create wealth while renting, if you’re disciplined and invest wisely. If not, buying is a better deal. More here.

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