Donna Littlefield, Real Estate Agent & Broker in WNY

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Reasons to Have a Garden on Your Property

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Garden Have you seen the prices for fruits and vegetables go up, up, up over the years? Take a trip to Tops, Wegmans, or any other grocery store in Western New York, and you might get sticker shock when you see what they’re charging for basic foods we all should be eating more of…

Why not plant a garden on your property this year? First of all, think of the money you’ll save when you can harvest your own mini-crops of things like tomatoes and cucumbers and beans. Plus, you’ll be eating healthier than most people, with fresh foods literally from your garden to your kitchen table– no middleman.

Gardening can be a relaxing thing to do in order to get your mind off your day job. Forget the emails, reports and sales figures. Instead, concentrate on digging your hands in the dirt, tilling the soil, planting seeds, and nurturing plants as they grow. You can become a horticulturalist, and it’ll give you something to talk about with like-minded gardeners. After all, people who grow things love to share thoughts, tips and advice with one another.

Gardens make your property look more appealing. If fruits and vegetables aren’t your thing, consider planting a flower garden. Anytime you see a home with pretty flowers surrounding it, you know someone lives there who cares for them and tends to them so that they look nice for all who see them. It’s a matter of personal pride, and anything that can be done to beautify a neighborhood is a good thing.

Finally, in this world we live in where young and old alike seem glued to computer screens, starting and maintaining a garden is a way to get away from computers and handheld smart phones. There’s a satisfaction in gardening as you and yours get to see what you’ve created. Spending time outdoors in the fresh air– getting closer to nature than a computer screen allows– is an important aspect of life we shouldn’t avoid. Gardening can bring people together; it’s good for the soul!

 

Western New York is Home to Great Outdoor Music

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Outdoor ConcertsWestern New Yorkers have so many concerts and events to choose from during the summer months. Two places where many people go– locals and tourists alike– are Artpark in Lewiston and Canalside in downtown Buffalo. Both are fun places that take advantage of their natural surroundings– Artpark is high above the Niagara River and Canalside is Buffalo’s premier waterfront place for people to gather and have a great time.

If you’re a music lover, Artpark’s 2016 concerts will not disappoint. Dolly Parton makes a rare Western New York appearance at Artpark on June 12, followed by Canadian favorites Barenaked Ladies (BNL) on June 14. If you’re a fan of 1980s music, OMD and Howard Jones are also on the ticket for the BNL show! Tuesday nights at Artpark include affordable concerts from Blue Rodeo (June 21), rock group Whitesnake (June 28), The Band Perry (July 5), Tears For Fears (July 19) and Styx (August 16), among others. Other big names coming to Artpark this summer include Bob Dylan, Boz Scaggs, Pat Benatar, Melissa Etheridge and Ben Folds. Go to http://www.artpark.net/ for complete information.

Canalside Buffalo is known for its Thursday night concert series during the summer. Besides hosting concerts, Canalside is a great place to relax in a colorful “Buffalo sunset” chair and do some people watching as locals and out-of-town visitors stroll around historically aligned canals and the Buffalo River boardwalk. At night, you’ll want to watch the magnificent Grain Elevator Light Display, which can be seen from Canalside, across the river, from sundown until 11 p.m. nightly. Take some time, too, to admire the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park and/or Harbor Center, with its indoor ice rinks featuring hockey practices and more. Canalside has all sorts of things to see and do during the summer; visit https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/ to find out about daily activities there, as well as planned summer concerts.

Tips for Improving Your Credit Score

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Credit Score Favorable mortgage rates typically go to people with credit scores indicating they pay their bills on time and in full. How can you improve your credit score before you apply for a mortgage?

First, consider where you currently stand by asking for a free credit report from TransUnion, Equifax or Experian. Next, notice your “FICO” score, which is one of the main things mortgage lenders take into account. The FICO score considers things like your payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history and types of credit used. This is the score you’ll want to improve before securing a mortgage rate. Finally, look for any errors on your credit report and fix them as needed. For disputed accounts, you can contact both the credit bureau and the lender, bank or creditor that provided the information to the bureau. Both are responsible for correcting any inaccurate or incomplete information in your report.

After you know what your current credit score is, thanks to the credit report you looked at, it’s time to figure out what you can do to improve it within the next few months.

Now’s the time to cut out spending on frivolous things you don’t really want or need. Instead of wasteful spending, start paying down your credit card debt balances, which will improve your overall credit score. Then, since you’re not overspending because you’ve made a conscious effort to avoid buying things you don’t want or need, you’re also able to pay your current credit card bills on time. This shows mortgage companies you’re serious about keeping a positive payment history rather than always making late payments.

To maximize your FICO score, get in the habit of paying all your bills on time, every time. Do your best to keep balances on credit cards low, and only apply for credit when you absolutely need it. Ultimately, mortgage lenders want to have confidence in you, and by making some changes in how you handle your bills now, you can secure favorable rates when you decide to invest in a house and seek a mortgage to make that a reality.

 

Tips for Saving For Your First Home

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Saving For a New Home A lot of people live in rented apartments with the intent to eventually save enough money to buy their first home. What are some practical tips for saving for your first home?

First up, write down a budget. You probably have income. You definitely have expenses. Now’s a good time to make a list of these numbers and take a critical look at where cuts could be made. Maybe you don’t really need a boat or that expensive watch you’ve been eyeing at the mall, right? If you have a lot of stuff, consider having a yard sale or selling some items on craigslist or via your local paper’s classified ads section. Do the math to understand how much money you currently have saved up as well as the amount you’d like to have saved up by a certain date. This way you have set yourself a goal and written down a budget in order to achieve that goal in a specific period of time.

Next, do whatever you can to eliminate debts in your life. You want to go into home ownership debt free, ideally. It’s important that you start to pay off credit card bills in full and on time, as well as pay back any creditors you currently owe money to. In order to get out of debt, you might have to make some lifestyle changes. Instead of cable TV, you could get TV channels over-the-air for free. Instead of owning two cars, you could try sharing one. Rather than eating out at restaurants often, try making simple meals at home because you can actually save quite a bit of money when you decide to be frugal.

As for the surprises that come your way in the form of bonus checks, cash gifts from friends or relatives, and/or tax refunds, put all those in a savings account that’s earmarked for your plan to own your own home. In other words, any money coming in that’s not part of your regular income should automatically get put in the bank, to be used toward buying a home. You’d be surprised at how these things add up!

Finally, call a reputable real estate agent, such Donna Littlefield, who will provide you with the guidance you need. You can contact her at 716-578-1788 to discuss your future home ownership goals. She’ll be happy to help you get on track to buying your first home in Wheatfield, Pendleton or Amherst.

The Benefits of Living in a Buffalo Suburb

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Why do people move from the city to the suburbs? Usually, it’s because the lots are wider so they’re not so close to their neighbors, there’s plenty of room in the front, side and back yard for kids to run around and play, and the schools are above average. The Buffalo suburbs are popular precisely for these reasons.

Lots of married couples with little kids want the suburban experience. The suburbs aren’t lacking nearby amenities like rural areas often do, and they’re also considered safer than urban areas where people are living close together and there’s often concentrated poverty. Indeed, the suburbs of any city, including Buffalo, are generally safe, affluent, and loaded with quality shops and restaurants and schools.

As a realtor, Donna Littlefield specializes in Wheatfield, Pendleton and Amherst. These Buffalo suburbs are the epitome of what a foreigner would consider the typical, idyllic American suburb. People use cars to get to-and-fro, there are plenty of recreational activities available in nice parks and such, and things are generally kept-up, modern, and clean.

Amherst is home to the University at Buffalo, which brings a smart, diverse group of people to the area. The campus offers sporting events, concerts, art shows and more. Indeed, the university’s presence enhances the overall region with its brainy professors, creative students and many good-paying jobs for all sorts of people.

Wheatfield and Pendleton are a little more “sleepy,” in a good way. They’re the kind of suburbs people like to go home to in order to get away from the crowded, noisier urban areas. They offer nice, affordable homes. Being in between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, it’s a quick car ride to either for various entertainment options, from casinos to concerts.

Where would, for instance, soccer moms choose to live if they were moving to the Buffalo area? Wheatfield, Pendleton and Amherst are all great choices. Donna Littlefield is the realtor to connect buyers with homes for sale in these quality Buffalo suburbs. Call her today at 716-578-1788.

 

What is an Escrow Account Used For?

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EscrowAn escrow account is a bank account typically utilized by your mortgage lender to pay certain property-related expenses on your behalf. These expenses can include property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

If you buy a house and obtain a mortgage, you’ll typically make home loan payments on a monthly basis as well as put extra money into an escrow account. So, money is added to the escrow account every time a mortgage payment is made. That money goes toward covering real estate-related expenses as needed on a timely basis.

An escrow account usually deals with a person’s specific property. The escrow holder safeguards funds, handles those funds according to the instructions they’re given, pays bills as authorized, and can close the account when all provisions of the escrow have been complied with, complete with a “Closing or Settlement Statement.”

Escrow comes from the French word “escroue,” which means a scrap of paper. The term originally referred to the deed a third party held until a transaction was completed.

While the process of escrow is primarily connected to real estate transactions, escrow accounts can also be used to provide a reliable third-party means of completing a sale. It’s not unusual to escrow vehicles, websites, intellectual property, or commodities.

Now that the world is connected online via the Internet, escrow services have gone somewhat digital, though they’re still available through face-to-face, in-person dealings. It’s quite common for home buyers to obtain and use an escrow account.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home or land in Western New York, real estate agent Donna Littlefield can guide you along in the process, and help you figure out whether or not you need/want an escrow account.