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        <title>Shoreline Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/2018-01/</link>
        <description></description>
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    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/organic-food-on-a-budget.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/organic-food-on-a-budget.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>ORGANIC FOOD ON A BUDGET</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Organic food usually tastes better, and is better for you, but it can also be very expensive compared to non-organic products. Organic food can cost nearly 50 percent more, thanks to the extra labor required to produce it and consumers’ demand exceeding supply.


So how do you get tasty organic food without spending a ton of extra money? Follow these tips to get more bang for your buck.


Shop at farmers’ markets: You can get fresh organic produce for far less at a farmers’ market than you’d pay at the grocery store. It’ll taste just as good, and you’re getting your food straight from the source.


Choose seasonal produce: Out-of-season produce usually has to be imported, and that can really drive up the price. Focus your meals on in-season fruits and vegetables so that you don’t end up paying $6.00 for a pound of organic asparagus.



 



Shop more frequently, and plan your meals around bulk sales: The trick here is to only buy what’s needed for your meals, and to only plan for a week of meals at most. That way you’re less likely to throw food away, because you can use leftover produce for more meals before it goes bad.


Grow your own: A home vegetable garden will provide some extremely cheap organic produce, and gardening can also be a fun and rewarding hobby.




 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2018 16:27:00 -0800</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/which-down-payment-strategy-is-right-for-you1.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/which-down-payment-strategy-is-right-for-you1.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>WHICH DOWN PAYMENT STRATEGY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders.


But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.


THE DOWNSIDE


The downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you’ll pay. You’ll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20-percent down payment, which will eliminate some homes from your search.


THE UPSIDE


The national average for home appreciation is about five percent. The appreciation is independent from your home payment, so whether you put down 20 percent or three percent, the increase in equity is the same. If you’re looking at your home as an investment, putting down a smaller amount can lead to a higher return on investment, while also leaving more of your savings free for home repairs, upgrades, or other investment opportunities.



 



THE HAPPY MEDIUM


Of course, your home payment options aren’t binary. Most borrowers can find some common ground between the security of a traditional 20 percent and an investment-focused, small down payment. Your trusted real estate professional can provide some answers as you explore your financing options.







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 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:29:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/dispelling-refinancing-myths.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/dispelling-refinancing-myths.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>DISPELLING REFINANCING MYTHS</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.


YOU’RE NOT TOO LATE.


For years now, we’ve been hearing that interest rates will be on the rise, and although there have been some small increases, you’re still in a great position to drastically lower your interest rate. The general rule is if your mortgage interest rate is more than one percent above the current market rate, you should consider refinancing.


IT’S NOT TOO TIME CONSUMING.


Don’t brush off refinancing just because it seems like a long and daunting process. An informational call with a lender to see how rates compare will only take a few minutes. There are also some programs for streamlining the application process. And besides, isn’t the amount of money you could save worth the time and effort?



 



ARMS CAN BE REFINANCED, TOO.


Seeing your Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) increase after the introductory period can be incredibly stressful and place a squeeze on your budget. Many people assume they’re stuck, but ARMs can be refinanced, just like fixed-rate mortgages. You can even switch to a shorter term fixed-rate mortgage, such as 15 or 23 years. The longer you’re planning to stay in the home, the more sense it makes to look into refinancing.






 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jan 2018 16:33:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/five-money-saving-green-upgrades.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/five-money-saving-green-upgrades.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>FIVE MONEY-SAVING GREEN UPGRADES</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Going green is great for the environment, but that’s not the only benefit. When you make green upgrades in your home, it can also lead to some major savings.




Solar panels: The upfront cost is big, but the long-term savings are huge. Solar panels will cost several thousand dollars to install, but ongoing maintenance costs are very low, and a typical system could save you hundreds of dollars per year. You can even sell your surplus electricity.


Wood furnace: Wood-burning furnaces are relatively inexpensive, and though the yearly savings aren’t as dramatic (about 10 on heating bills), it adds up over the long run.


Insulation: There’s a good chance your insulation isn’t very efficient, especially in older homes. Look into installing floor, cavity, wall, and loft insulation to reduce your heating bills.


Rain barrels: Rain barrels are extremely inexpensive, and provide gallons of free water to use when you wash your car or water your garden.


Geothermal system: OK, so the price tag is scary at first. A geothermal system uses the earth’s temperature to heat and cool your home, but can cost $30,000 to install. But tax credits allow you to get a lot of that money back, and the energy savings average about $1,900 per year. If you plan to be in your home for a decade or two, it’s a great investment.




 




 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jan 2018 16:26:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/short-sale-and-foreclosure-how-are-they-different.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/short-sale-and-foreclosure-how-are-they-different.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>SHORT SALE AND FORECLOSURE: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner. Here’s a brief overview.


A short sale comes into play when a homeowner needs to sell their home but the home is worth less than the remaining balance that they owe. The lender can allow the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed, freeing the homeowner from the financial predicament.



 



On the buyer side, short sales typically take three to four months to complete and many of the closing and repair costs are shifted from the seller to the lender.


On the other hand, a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their home so the bank begins the process of repossessing it. A foreclosure usually moves much faster than a short sale and is more financially damaging to the homeowner.


After foreclosure the bank can sell the home in a foreclosure auction. For buyers, foreclosures are riskier than short sales, because homes are often bought sight unseen, with no inspection or warranty.







63
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:31:00 -0800</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/hats-off-celebrating-30-years-of-sharing-history.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/hats-off-celebrating-30-years-of-sharing-history.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>Hats Off Celebrating 30 years of sharing history</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Heritage Ranch is celebrating 30 years of sharing history 


On January 20th at 3pm you can join our &quot;wagon trail&quot; tour of the museum's past 30 years. Enjoy craft beer, wine and delicious fare along with educational and entertaining stops along the way all leading to our big announcement at the end of the trail. Live music, food and fun for the entire family from 3pm to 5pm.


Admission is free and a good time is almost guaranteed
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:27:00 -0800</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/the-3-best-reasons-to-buy-a-home-in-2018-but-youd-better-hurry.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.shorelinesd.com/blog/the-3-best-reasons-to-buy-a-home-in-2018-but-youd-better-hurry.html</link>
        <author>Shawn@ShorelineSD.com (Shawn Bengtson)</author>
        <title>The 3 Best Reasons to Buy a Home in 2018 (but You'd Better Hurry)</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Figuring out when to plunge into the real estate market can be quite intimidating—especially when prices are high, choices are limited, and history urges restraint.


&quot;We’ve seen two or three years of what could be considered unsustainable levels of price appreciation, as well as an inventory shortage that resulted in a record-low number of homes for sale across the country,&quot; says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®. &quot;When you factor those together, you have a market that has to either explode or see some relief.&quot;


Comforting, right? Well, take heart: Experts agree that relief is indeed on the horizon.




New predictions for 2018 forecast more moderate gains in home prices and rising inventory levels, while low unemployment and record levels of consumer confidence mean more buyers are feeling good about their finances.




A lot depends on where you live (and how much you plan to finance), but these factors combined could mean 2018 will be your year to take the buying plunge.


1. Rates are going up


After years of record-low interest rates (hello, 3), the Fed is finally making some noticeable increases: The rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage broke the 4 mark last year. And with economic growth continuing to carry momentum, Vivas predicts we'll see at least two to four more rate increases throughout 2018. Rates are anticipated to hit 5 by the end of the year.


&quot;The big story there is that those increases will further constrict affordability,&quot; Vivas says. &quot;The more buyers wait, the more expensive it will get to buy—not just because of home prices, but because of inflationary pressure.&quot;


In other words, if you want in on the American dream, now might be the time.


2. Prices are climbing, but not crazily fast


Home prices have soared over the past few years, pricing otherwise well-positioned buyers out of high-cost areas and leading some experts to cry &quot;bubble&quot;. But in 2018, price increases are expected to moderate.


Vivas forecasts a home price increase of 3.2 year over year, after finishing 2017 with a 5.5 year-over-year increase. Existing-home sale prices are predicted to increase 2.5 year over year.


Of course, it all depends on where you live. While red-hot markets such as San Francisco are predicted to finally lose some steam, sales numbers and home prices are poised to climb in Southern states such as Texas and Florida, where economic momentum continues chugging along and new construction is happening in the right price points.


So what does that mean? Basically, home prices will still increase, but not at the same pace as they have over the past few years.


3. Inventory levels will begin to increase


An inventory shortage has plagued the U.S. housing market since 2015, forcing some buyers to settle (a tiny house with linoleum floors for $1 million, anyone?) and keeping others out of the buying game entirely. But by fall 2018, the tides will begin to turn, with markets such as Boston; Detroit; and Nashville, TN, recovering first.


The majority of inventory growth will happen in the middle- to upper-tier price point, in the ranges of $350,000 and $750,000 and above $750,000, Vivas predicts.


New home construction is also expected to expand. But that will happen slowly, thanks to a constricted labor market, limitations on the amount of lots and land that's available, tight bank financing for building loans, and a run-up in building material prices, says National Association of Home Builders chief economist Robert Dietz.


&quot;It's been a slow climb back from the recession, and now we're confronting all of these limiting factors and supply-side constraints,&quot; Dietz says.


It's particularly tough, he says, for builders to break ground at the entry level for first-time buyers, particularity in high-cost coastal markets such as California. That means it will take longer for those inventory levels to recover.


But there's a bright spot: Builder confidence is at its highest level since 1999, according to the NAHB. And that means hope is on the horizon.


&quot;As we head into 2019 and beyond, we expect to see the inventory increases take hold and provide relief for first-timers and drive sales growth,&quot; Vivas says.


The wildcard: Taxes and politics


When the Republican tax plan was introduced, the proposed elimination of the mortgage interest deduction was all anyone could talk about: While the new limitations on the deduction will affect only 2.5 of all existing mortgages in the U.S., it will have a disproportionate effect on Western markets, where 20 to 30 of mortgages are above the new threshold, according to Vivas.


Across the board, experts agree that the new tax plan decreases incentives for homeownership and reduces the tax benefits of owning a home—particularly in highly taxed, expensive markets such as California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. But on the flip side, that means that if fewer folks are motivated to buy, then there’s less competition for those who want in the game. Plus, some taxpayers—including renters—will see a tax cut. That increase in buyers' disposable income could spur demand from folks who are looking to build equity as a homeowner, rather than flushing away their savings in rent.


&quot;Buying remains the more attractive option in the long term—that remains the American dream, and it’s true in many markets where renting has become really the shortsighted option,&quot; Vivas says. &quot;As people get more savings in their pocket, buying becomes the better option.&quot;
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:19:00 -0800</pubDate>
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