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New Year's Eve is a time to think back about what happened in 2015, and to dream about all of the wonderful things that you hope for in 2016.  It's also a time to relax, take a break, and celebrate.  The Devine & Associates Real Estate Team  decided to do a little digging, and we found some interesting fun facts about this holiday to share with you.  Quite a few were brand new to us, and some sound like fun traditions to start! 1.  Over 4.000 years ago in Rome was the first New Year's celebration.  New Year's Day was put on January 1 due to the month being named after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates.  Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking ahead and one looking back.  A perfect symbol for the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one! 2.  Baby New Year is a very familiar symbol for the holiday.  Greek mythology is credited with coming up with this one.  It states that the baby will grow to old age o...

If buying a new home has been in your thoughts recently, now is an excellent time to jump in and do it.  Buying sooner rather than later could end up saving you a large amount of money.  Our Laurie and Eldon real estate offices have some incredible choices for you to choose from.  Here are a few reasons why buying a home now instead of waiting is a good idea.   Home prices are predicted to rise.   Home prices have been appreciating over the past year, and predictions state that they will continue to rise, possibly at a rate of 5.2% in the coming twelve months. Over the next five years, they are expected to keep rising by more than 3% a year.    Interest rates on mortgages are expected to increase.   Mortgage rates have been their lowest over the past year, but they are now starting to rise slowly.  This coming year, expect rates to be higher than they are now.  When interest rates are higher, your monthly mortgage payments w...

When buy a new house , you are sometimes automatically volunteered to host the next big family gathering at your place.  This task doesn't have to intimidate you. With a little bit of preparation, things can go smoothly and a good time can be had by all, even you, the host.  Here are a few tips form Devine & Associates Real Estate office to help you get your home ready to entertain this holiday season.   Deep-clean high traffic areas. Bathrooms and kitchens will be getting a lot of extra use with house guests around.  Focus your cleaning efforts on these two areas.  Speed-clean other areas. As long as every other room in the house is dusted and shiny, it's clean enough to get you through the season.  Extra people means that things will have that "lived-in" look even quicker than usual.  Save the deep-cleaning of these spots for after the guests leave.  Plan ahead for any spills or stains that could happen while you are entertaining....

Pricing your home accurately the moment you put it on the market is extremely important.  You can have the most amazing  house for sale in Eldon , Laurie, Lake Ozark, or any of the other towns in this area, but if it isn't priced right, it may never sell.    A good real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks will make sure that this happens by working with you to find that perfect price.  Here are a few tips to get you thinking in the right direction.     1.  Study recent home sales.   Take a look at the final sale price on houses that have sold recently in your area. This gives you a good idea for a starting point when pricing your home.  This doesn't mean the houses that are for sale right now, but the ones that have already been sold.  Compare the original list price to the actual final sale price. It's also helpful to look at the houses that are still sitting on the market, not selling.  Take notes about the thing...

The winter season is nearly upon us, and along with it will come the inevitable ice and snow.  Whether you own a home in Eldon or at the Lake of the Ozarks, you want to know that your roof will keep your house protected all season long.  Now is the time to make sure that your roof is in its best possible shape so that it can handle whatever winter throws at it.   Devine & Associates Real Estate has a few tips for you so that this winter your roof should remain problem-free.   Inspect it, inside & out. Before it's too cold and snowy outside to safely get on top of your roof, get out there and take a look.  Keep an eye out for any cracks or other damage.  Replace any caulking that needs it with a caulk that is approved for use on roofs.  Also check the flashing.  This is what keeps the areas waterproof near fireplaces, pipes on the roof, and other spots where the plane is interrupted.  Remove all dead leaves, branches, and a...

With all of the crazy busyness that the holiday season brings (and the work required to get your home ready to sell), waiting until after the holidays to sell your home in Eldon, MO seems like an obvious choice. However, recent insights suggest that listing your home before Christmas may be more advantageous. Keep reading to learn why listing your home before the New Year might best for you. 6 Reasons Why You Should List Your Home Before Christmas 1. You Will Have Less Competition Because so many sellers decide to wait until after the holidays to list their homes (some people even choose to take their homes off the market during this time), the number of homes on the market is almost always lower in December than any other time of the year. By listing your home now, you won't have to compete with as many other properties. 2. You Can Get In Front Of Serious Buyers Because the holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, you can be confident that the buyers wh...

Buying your first home is a very exciting - albeit a little overwhelming - experience. There are so many details that need attention and so many important decisions to be made. Your real estate agent in Eldon, MO will be able to help guide you through the home search and purchase process, but what happens after you have signed your name on the dotted line and moved into your new house near the Lake of the Ozarks ?  Owning your own home is unbelievably rewarding, but it certainly comes with its fair share of important responsibilities. If you are preparing to buy your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks (or if you have recently joined the ranks of proud local homeowners), keep reading to find a few important tips for first-time homeowners. 1. Your New Home Will Cost More Than Your Monthly Mortgage Payment While it is true that owning a home is often cheaper than renting if you plan to live in your chosen location for at least three years, don't be fooled into thinking t...

You've decided to buy a house, but now it's time to ask yourself an important question: do you want to buy a foreclosure, or do you not? Buying a foreclosure at the Lake of the Ozarks can be a great way to save money on your home purchase, but there are several associated factors that deserve careful consideration.  Devine & Associates Real Estate is here to help you make a smart, educated decision about your foreclosure purchase. Here are a couple things to keep in mind before buying a foreclosure. 1. You Should Always See A Foreclosure Property Before You Buy It This guidelines applies to all properties, but it is especially true for foreclosed homes. A foreclosed home will generally require lots of work after you move in in order to make it "livable," so you should make sure you know exactly what you're getting yourself into. Don't be afraid to look at the home several times; it sometimes takes several passes through a single property before yo...

When it comes to your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks , you shouldn't have to compromise. By definition, your dream home should be everything you could have ever hoped for - something that perfectly meets all that you have envisioned. While you could spend time combing through all of the homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks in search of the perfect property, you could also take matters into your own hands by building your dream home! If you're thinking about building a house at the Lake of the Ozarks , the first step is to find a great plot of land. If you're looking for land for sale in Lake Ozark, MO , you've come to the right place! 24.7 Acres For Sale In Eldon If you've been on the hunt for beautiful property for sale, we found it for you! This gorgeous plot of land in located off of McGarity Road on the North Shore side of the Lake of the Ozarks (near Blue Spring). With hundreds of trees, the property has plenty of privacy and a cozy ho...

Moving to a new home can be overwhelming for anyone, but it can be especially tough for young children. Your kids may not be mature enough to understand all your reasons for moving; all they will know for certain is that they have to leave the home they know and move to an unfamiliar house, potentially in an equally unfamiliar city or state. Working to make the process easier on your children can be hugely beneficial for everyone involved. Here are a few tricks you can try, courtesy of your friends at Devine & Associates Real Estate . 5 Tips For Moving With Kids 1. Get Your Little Ones Involved In The Home Search One of the biggest reasons kids dislike moving is often because they feel helpless. You can help overcome this by bringing your children with you when you tour homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks . Kids may find a full day of house shopping to be exhausting, though, so we recommend waiting until you have narrowed your choices down to the top 2-4 properties. ...

Moving to a new house in Laurie, Missouri is always a big undertaking - but it becomes an even bigger project when you have children or pets that will be making the move with you. Next week we will focus on how to move with kids, but this week we are here to look specifically at a few tips to help pet owners move to their new homes. We hope you find them useful! Moving With Pets - 7 Quick Tips 1.  Obtain Veterinary Records If you are moving to a different city or state, you will probably have to find a new vet. Before you leave, make sure you get access to your pet's prior veterinary records; your new vet will likely need this information in order to properly care for your animal. 2.  Arrange A Sitter For Moving Day If your first step is to determine which day you will be moving, your second step is to arrange for someone to watch your animals on that day. You don't want to have to worry about your pets getting underfoot or escaping when the doors are propped ope...