Q&A FEATURE A Place to Call Home with Lisa Bradshaw

Q&A

FEATURE

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

REALTOR LISA BRADSHAW SHARES TIPS AND TRENDS FOR HOME-BUYERS

WRITER: MEGAN PURAZRANG

Lisa Bradshaw is a lifetime resident of Boonville and Warrick County.

“I’m super familiar with the area,” Bradshaw says. “I’m always interested in helping people who want to move into Warrick County and I serve other areas as well. I would be happy to help anyone if they are thinking of selling and would do a market analysis of their property just to see where they sit, if it is even feasible for them to sell I would be happy to do that free of charge for them as a service.”

Q: ARE THERE ANY CURRENT TRENDS IN THE TYPE OF HOUSES PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR OR IN THE MARKET IN GENERAL RIGHT NOW?

A: I see people moving from the bigger cities to the smaller communities. That’s what I’m noticing at the moment also people are realizing with interest rates low like they are, they can buy more than they could have maybe four or five years ago. They have more buying power because of the low interest rates and people are not saving that money and thinking, “Oh, we’ll just spend $100,000 and have a nice house and save the money” they are spending their limit, they are going bigger. I don’t know if that’s because of COVID-19 and every body was at home. I think people are thinking, “We could use a little bit bigger house.”

Q&A

FEATURE

Q: DO YOU THINK THE SMALL HOME TREND AND COMMUNITIES HAS AFFECTED HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT BUYING HOUSES?

A: No, I think there’s always going to be a market for a first time home. I do see a trend of people looking a little bit bigger knowing they can spend a little bit more and they are wanting more house and more yard.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR FIRST TIME HOME-BUYERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?

A: The absolute, 100 percent, most important thing especially if you’re a first time home-buyer, is to go ahead and go through that pre-approval process with your lender and see if you are maybe eligible for any government funded loans that help with your down payment. In the market with houses selling in hours sometimes with the inventory so low you have to be ready when the time comes to put that offer in – there’s not time to say, I’ll talk to my lender tomorrow or I’ll call my lender Monday because by then that house is going to be gone. So absolutely, the first thing is to be pre-approved and see what your budget is going to be and be ready to move forward when you do find the right house.

Q: WHEN THINKING ABOUT SPENDING ON A HOME, SHOULD PEOPLE BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF STAYING ON THE LOWER END OF THEIR BUDGET OR BE UNAFRAID OF GOING TOWARD THE HIGHER END TO PURCHASE A DREAM HOME FOR INSTANCE?

A: Well, nobody wants to be married to their house payment. And there again, it is important to go through the pre-approval process because your lender will run your numbers with your debt to income ratio and they will give you a range in which you can be in and then you just have to do what is comfortable for you.

Q: WARRICK COUNTY IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF GROWTH AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM CITIES AS YOU MENTIONED. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHANGES OF THE COUNTY AND AREA AND HOW THAT HAS AFFECTED THE HOUSING MARKET, IN YOUR OPINION?

A: It’s a good thing for Warrick County. Newburgh has been exploding for quite some time, but we are seeing growth and new subdivisions in Boonville as well and we are seeing growth in Elberfeld because they are more rural, quiet communities. A lot of times people are looking for a bit of property that’s not in a subdivision with a little more room and they are obviously going to move out into the more rural areas of the county.

Q: IS THERE ANY UNIQUE TRENDS FROM AN ARCHITECTURE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU’VE NOTICED MORE WANT FOR WITH HOME BUYERS?

A: There’s been a high interest lately in pole barn style houses, but of course your average three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch is the thing that everybody wants right now.

Q: WHERE DOES THAT RANCH STYLE AND IDEA COME FROM?

A: That’s just kind of the norm unless you have a bigger family or you have a need for more property somewhere. That’s just what [many] people are looking for in general. That is definitely the most common, I would say 80 percent of people I come across who are looking for a home want a three bedroom, two bedroom ranch house.

Q: IS THERE ARE DEMOGRAPHIC YOU ARE NOTICING MORE OF IN TERMS OF WHO IS BUYING IN THE CURRENT MARKET?

A: Most of buyers right now are in the 25-40 year range. I have some that are older, those people who have growing families or because of the interest rates they found out that they can afford a house – they are looking and they are looking hard.

Q: ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS YOU COULD CLEAR UP AS FAR AS IF IT IS ACTUALLY CHEAPER TO PURCHASE A HOUSE VERSUS PAYING RENT?

A: If you can possibly do it, it is cheaper to buy a house with the interest rates so low right now. The rates are in the upper two’s which is just unheard of and what your payment would be on a 30-year loan is going to be unbelievably more that you could buy instead of renting just a two bedroom apartment or something. It’s going to be much cheaper.

Q: DID YOU FIND THAT THE PANDEMIC AND THE YEAR 2020 HAD AN DETRIMENTAL EFFECT AT ALL – DID YOU SEEN ANY UPS AND DOWNS YOU COULD SHARE COMING OUT OF THAT YEAR AND GOING INTO 2021?

A: Well, when we had the shutdown of course that was kind of scary for everyone. Obviously you don’t want to put your house on the market at the time and have people through it that you didn’t know and the realtors were actually very apprehensive about showing properties during that couple of months. But all in all, even with taking two months off last year, I’ve had my best year that I’ve ever had. I don’t know if it is an upswing of people wanting the bigger houses because they were stuck inside for so long or what it is. It’s just crazy. As soon as a house would come on the market if it is decent at all, [the house] is gone in a day or two. If it’s priced well and in a good location sometimes even hours.

Q: IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW HOW LONG THE INTEREST RATE WILL REMAIN SO LOW – IS THERE AN URGENCY TO ACT FAST VERSUS WAITING?

A: Well we never really know what is going to happen. Interest rates have inched just a bit but they are still lower than they’ve been in years and the market is still remaining super strong so I don’t see any slow down.

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RENO TRENDS

Home renovation trends are ever-changing. Renovations that might have been de rigueur 20 years ago may seem dated now. Recognizing the potentially popular trends of tomorrow is a great way for homeowners to give their homes a fresh new look and put themselves in position to capitalize on popular trends when they put their homes on the market. That’s especially so after 2020, a year when millions of people spent more time at home than ever before. All that time working from home and relaxing at home gave millions of homeowners ideas about what they like about their homes and what they hope to change. The following are some renovation trends that various experts suspect could emerge in 2021.

Eco-friendly living

Climate change, and how to combat it, was a hot button issue during the 2020 presidential election in the United States. So it should come as no surprise that urdesignmag.com, a web magazine that showcases creative trends in design, architecture, art, technology, and fashion, predicts that eco-friendly living solutions figure to be hot commodities in 2021. Eco-friendly appliances, furniture and designs can help to conserve energy and reduce waste, which environmentalists and government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency note are two critical components in the fight against climate change.

Large windows

Large windows can provide stunning views of the outdoors and allow ample natural light into a home. It may not be a coincidence if large windows prove to be a hot trend in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic that dominated much of 2020 forced many people to spend considerably more time at home. Darker homes without much natural light can adversely affect mood, especially when people are spending more time at home. HGTV predicts that homeowners will seek ways to bring more natural light into their homes in 2021, and large windows naturally brighten homes while making rooms appear bigger, helping people feel less cramped. That’s an especially beneficial characteristic when spending more time indoors at home.

Minimalism

The anticipated popularity of minimalism in 2021 may also be connected to the pandemic. As professionals were forced to work from home and many families spent more time together inside their homes then ever before, they may have recognized a need to cut back on clutter, including extra furniture. A minimalist approach is both simple and clean, which can make homes feel less claustrophobic.

Multi-functional spaces

Homeowners asked a lot of their homes in 2020, as rooms were transformed into multi-functional spaces seemingly overnight. HGTV notes that spending more time at home showed homeowners that it may not make sense to dedicate entire rooms of a home to a single purpose. Renovations that can help homeowners transform rooms into multi-functional spaces figure to be hot commodities in the years ahead.

RENOVATION-FREE UPDATES THAT CAN INCREASE YOUR HOME’S VALUE

• Install a statement light fixture • Peel and stick backsplash • Paint your trim

• Replace doorbell

REASONS TO WORK WITH AN INTERIOR

DESIGNER

CONTRIBUTED WRITER

Home is where the heart is, and it’s also where homeowners express their style. Though interior design may come naturally to some homeowners, many more can benefit from a little help defining their style and translating that style into a beautiful home. In such instances, interior designers can be the most valuable investments homeowners make in their homes. Homeowners may hear “interior designer” and immediately hear the sound of cash registers ringing in their heads. However, many interior designers offer various services, including hourly consultations, that can make them cost-effective, especially for homeowners who are still trying to define their style and decide just how they want their homes to look. That’s just one of the many benefits of working with interior design professionals.

Interior designers can save homeowners money

Much like it’s best for homeowners with no DIY experience to hire professional contractors when renovating their homes, paying an interior designer when you have little experience with design can help you avoid potentially costly mistakes. Interior designers are skilled at transforming homeowners’ visions into finished products, and that’s a valuable skill homeowners don’t necessarily have. Trial and error when designing a home’s interior can be costly, even if you’re not knocking down any walls or swinging any hammers. For example, after renovating on their own, homeowners may find they need to replace a new couch or dining table that they realize contradicts their design scheme. Interior designers can help homeowners avoid such costly mistakes and get it right the first time.

Interior designers can help you coordinate your style

Each and every component of a home’s interior says something about its owner. Whether it’s their choice of lighting fixtures, furniture or even appliances, homeowners make a statement any time they choose a design component for their homes. Interior designers can help homeowners coordinate their styles so each room seamlessly transitions to the next one. An ultra-modern living room may stick out like a sore thumb in a home that’s predominantly rustic, and interior designers can help homeowners avoid such mistakes.

Interior designers recognize what’s trending

Interior designers tend to be up-to-date on the latest trends. That can be incredibly valuable, especially for homeowners who are anticipating putting their homes on the market in the near future. In such instances, designers can help homeowners invest in updates or renovations that will appeal to today’s buyers, increasing the likelihood that their homes will sell more quickly, and potentially for more money.

Interior designers are well-connected

Interior designers often collaborate with contractors. Those professional relationships can help homeowners avoid the headaches of finding the right professionals to work with when renovating their homes.