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Can an Insurance Score Save You Money?

Fri, Feb 14th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Your credit-based insurance score is a three-digit number that tells insurers how likely you are to file a claim. If your score is low, insurers will typically charge you more for your insurance coverage. If it is high, you'll usually pay a lower premium.

Insurance scores are like the credit scores lenders review when you apply for a loan or new credit card, using much of the same financial information. But credit-based insurance scores also factor in other pieces of information.

Your credit-based insurance score considers:

  • Your credit history: a measure of how well you've paid your bills in the past
  • Current debt levels
  • Length of your credit history
  • New credit that you've added re...


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How To Bring More Natural Light Into Your Home

Thu, Feb 13th 2025 9:00 am by Rosette Garcia

It's no surprise that potential home and apartment buyers often cite "lots of natural light" as something they are looking for in their new residence. There are many ways to increase natural light in your home, including some that are even budget friendly. Here are a few ways to maximize natural light in your home:

  • Cleaning both sides of windows and patio doors is a fairly easy way to let more sunshine into your home. In case you don't think your windows are dirty, try cleaning one window with a clean cloth and see how much dirt comes off. Your living space will become instantly brighter by taking this simple step.
  • Shrubs and bushes are an important part of creating a beautiful landsc...


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Cooking Up the Right Credit Score

Wed, Feb 12th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

It's undeniable: Your financial life will be easier if you have a strong three-digit FICO credit score. With a high score, you'll more easily qualify for new credit cards and loans, including mortgage and auto loans, with lower interest rates. This makes borrowing money easier and more affordable.

What credit score do you need?

Most lenders consider FICO credit scores of 740 or higher to be very good and scores of 800 or higher to be excellent.

In other words, if your score is 740 or higher, you'll generally qualify for credit cards and loans at lower interest rates. That's good news! A lower interest rate also equals lower monthly payments on loans. It also means that your credit card...



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Home on the Range: What's Trending in Range Hoods

Tue, Feb 11th 2025 8:41 am by Rosette Garcia

If you are remodeling a kitchen or building a new one, you will not want to overlook the importance of adding a statement range hood to your list of must-have appliances. Whether you are preparing breakfast or a large holiday meal, your range hood is there to vent out odors, grease and steam that builds up while you cook. The most important decision is how you will vent your range hood. After all, the basic function of a range hood is to properly vent the air in the kitchen. The three different exhaust types are:

  • Ducted range hoods, which are the most desirable, vent directly to the outside.
  • Ductless range hoods pull the impure air through a charcoal filter and then circulate it back ...


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Baby Step One: Starter $1,000 Emergency Fund

Sun, Feb 2nd 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

In the last newsletter we introduced a straight forward and proven way to get out of debt. In the upcoming newsletters, we are going to go into detail for each step.

An emergency fund is insurance between you and life. It is only an emergency if it is urgent, necessary and unexpected. If you have no money in savings, you will need to start from $0 to build up this emergency fund before you can start tackling your debts. Maybe you have several thousand in savings, but also have debts. Everyone's situation is different, and for some people, the $1,000 emergency fund is already done. But the reality is that only 4 in 10 Americans have $1,000 in case an emergency happened. Over half of Ameri...



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Baby Step One: Starter $1,000 Emergency Fund

Sun, Feb 2nd 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

In the last newsletter we introduced a straight forward and proven way to get out of debt. In the upcoming newsletters, we are going to go into detail for each step.

An emergency fund is insurance between you and life. It is only an emergency if it is urgent, necessary and unexpected. If you have no money in savings, you will need to start from $0 to build up this emergency fund before you can start tackling your debts. Maybe you have several thousand in savings, but also have debts. Everyone's situation is different, and for some people, the $1,000 emergency fund is already done. But the reality is that only 4 in 10 Americans have $1,000 in case an emergency happened. Over half of Ameri...



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2024 Market Recap

Sat, Feb 1st 2025 11:00 am by Rosette Garcia

The following is a bulleted list of interesting stats from 2024 taken from the Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors:

  • Prices remained relatively flat compared to recent years where we saw huge increases in property prices. In January 2024, the average price per property was $395,396. With a high point in May of $397,444 and a low point in February of $370,322, we ended the year in December with an average sales of $388,321. Compare that to 2022 where the year started at $314,268 and finished in December at $367,215.
    This past year, seller accepted less than their asking price and they did it much more frequently than in recent years. The average percent of list price dipped below 97...


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Colorful Bathroom Fixtures Are Back

Fri, Jan 31st 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Colorful bathroom fixtures are gaining in popularity among decorators and homeowners with an eye toward more subtle shades than from the past. While you shouldn't expect to see 70s avocado-colored bathrooms anytime soon, you will see greens, pinks, beiges, and grays. In fact, plumbing giant Kohler Company is putting peachblow pink and spring green back into production based on customer demand to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

The focal point of the bathroom is usually the bathtub. The color of the tub will influence the choice of the toilet and sink. White- or ivory-colored bathrooms are a safe  bet, especially in terms of resale. However, if you are planning to stay in your home for s...



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Medical Debts and Mortgages

Thu, Jan 30th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia Buyer Tips

No one likes to see medical bills piling up, and rising utility, cellphone and internet bills can wreak havoc on your monthly budget. Can these bills also prevent you from getting a mortgage or other kind of loan?

The importance of your debt-to-income ratio

When you apply for a mortgage, your lender will study your debt-to-income ratio to determine how much they are willing to loan you.

Your DTI ratio measures how much of your gross monthly income — your income before taxes are taken out — your monthly recurring bills consume. The higher this ratio is, the less likely it is that lenders will approve you for a mortgage.

Although the target ratio varies from lender to lender, most lende...



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Being Green in an Apartment

Wed, Jan 29th 2025 11:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can still enjoy an indoor garden in your apartment. Choosing plants that will thrive indoors and giving them the right growing conditions can make all the difference. Here are some tips on selecting the best apartment-tolerant plants for your home:

Start with sunlight

How much light your plants need and how much they actually receive are key to making sure they will thrive. Low-light plants are those that need four or fewer hours of indirect sunlight a day. Some of the popular choices for this lighting situation are snake plants, pothos, dieffenbachia, philodendron and African violets. Bright-light plants are happiest in south-facing windows tha...



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Modern Traditional Interior Designs

Mon, Jan 27th 2025 10:04 am by Rosette Garcia Just For Fun

The rule of thumb in home décor is that trends only last about a decade. If you've been following a particular trend, after 10 years your home may start to look out of step with the next trending style. Keeping up with the latest trend is time-consuming and expensive. That is why many decorators choose modern traditional for their clients. With its clean modern lines and warm traditional elements, modern traditional offers the best of both worlds. Let's look at some of the key elements to help you create this style in your own home.

Blend the old and new — To start, you can pair either vintage elements with modern décor or modern elements with vintage décor. As an example, an elegant vin...



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Leverage What You Already Have For Decorating

Fri, Jan 17th 2025 10:30 am by Rosette Garcia

Instead of buying new things for your home, consider saving money and the environment by reusing what you already have. Oftentimes unused furniture and decorative items are banished to the attic or basement where they are soon forgotten. Now may be the time to consider how these pieces can be repurposed or recycled to renew the look of your home. Here are some tips to help you find hidden decorating gems at home:

  • Consider where you might want to relocate accent pieces and small decorative items to another room to give it a fresh look. Throw pillows, vases, frames, table lamps, plants, baskets, artwork or small rugs are prime candidates for being moved to another spot.
  • One of the best ...


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Credit Scores: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Thu, Jan 16th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Will opening a new store credit card hurt your three-digit FICO credit score? Will closing that credit card account that you haven't used in 10 years cause your score to drop? Will applying for a home equity loan cause your score to tumble? You may not need to be as worried as you are! Learn how credit scores work.

Why your credit score matters

Lenders study your three-digit FICO credit score whenever you apply for a new credit card or loan. The higher your score, the more likely you are to qualify for a mortgage, an auto loan or a credit card with a lower interest rate. If your score is too low, you might struggle to qualify for new credit or loans at all.

Most lenders consider FICO s...



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Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale

Wed, Jan 15th 2025 9:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Home staging is a strategic way of preparing your home to spotlight all of its best features while downplaying its shortcomings. This includes decluttering, depersonalizing and making any necessary repairs or improvements to the house. Home staging is not required, but it can make a difference in a tight, competitive selling market.

Staged homes tend to sell faster than those that are not staged. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes recently sold for about $40,000 above asking price. Staged homes were reported to sell nine days faster than the average home.

While you can work with a professional stager, know going in that you will spend  somewhere between $782 ...



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Island Dreams: Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island

Mon, Jan 13th 2025 9:29 am by Rosette Garcia

The kitchen island is more than just a functional component of kitchen design; it's a central hub for cooking, socializing and — sometimes — doing homework. A well-designed island can transform your kitchen into a dream space for culinary creativity and gatherings. Here are four key considerations to help you design the perfect kitchen island.

Size and shape matter

Your kitchen island's ideal size and shape depend on your kitchen's layout and size. Ensure enough room for movement around the island — experts recommend at least 42 inches of clearance on all sides. Consider an island shape that complements your kitchen's configuration, whether rectangular, square or even L-shaped, to enhan...



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The Minimalist Bathroom: Decluttering for Peace and Relaxation

Mon, Jan 6th 2025 11:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Transforming your bathroom into a minimalist sanctuary not only enhances its aesthetic but also turns it into a haven of peace and relaxation. Embracing minimalism in bathroom design involves more than just a style choice; it's about creating a space that promotes calmness and order. Here are key points to consider if you're looking to declutter and simplify your bathroom:

Streamline your essentials

Focus on reducing the number of items to just the essentials. This includes toiletries, towels and accessories. Evaluate what you truly need daily and find a designated place for each item. Storage solutions like built-in shelves or vanity cabinets can keep counters clear and maintain a neat...



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Outta-Sight Style With Hippie Chic Decor

Sun, Jan 5th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Hippie chic décor is an unapologetically joyful eclectic blending of several other styles, including Boho, Maximalism and Biophilic interior designs. To get started, do some research by diving into the aesthetic of the era. Hippie fashion, art, film and music are there to inspire you in creating the unique vibe in your own home. This laid-back style is characterized by visually interesting bold colors, daring patterns, deep textures and natural materials. Psychedelic colors like orange, turquoise and purple come together with funky patterns like paisley, tie-dye and florals in unexpected and eye-catching ways. The result is a groovy explosion of fun decorative energy. Here is some inspira...



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Your Home Sale and Capital Gains

Sat, Jan 4th 2025 10:00 am by Rosette Garcia

Let's start with the basics: What is capital gains tax? It is a type of tax on profits earned from the sale of assets like stock or real estate. When these are sold for more than they cost to purchase, the IRS taxes the gain.

In real estate, capital gains are calculated by taking the final total sale price of the house and deducting its original cost. However, the tax on that gain is calculated with additional considerations:

  • How long you owned the house
  • Any fees you've paid — escrow, recording and appraisal fees, brokers' commissions
  • Your income tax bracket
  • Your marital status

If you've owned your house for less than a year, then the capital gains are considered short term. In ...



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2025 Real Estate Prediction

Fri, Jan 3rd 2025 4:00 pm by Rosette Garcia

Predicting the future is always difficult but especially difficult when trying to account for all the factors involved in the real estate market. When dealing with something complicated, I try to boil it down to its most basic components and go from there. Real estate, like any market, comes down to supply and demand. 

Supply:

In the Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors market, our supply has steadily grown in 2024. This trend leads me to believe that supply will either hold steady or grow in 2025. Since Myrtle Beach is a popular retiree destination, there’s an inherent turnover of homes as the aging Baby Boomers pass away or move out of independent living. Those homes regularly co...



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How To Create an Apartment-Based Home Office

Thu, Jan 2nd 2025 10:34 am by Rosette Garcia

Setting up a home office within the size limitations of an apartment requires being creative and resourceful. If you live with another person who also works from home, you will need to be respectful of their space. Before you claim an area for your office, make sure you will not disrupt the other person, especially when it comes to making and taking phone calls.

Your home office should be a place where you can focus and stay motivated. Assess your apartment and see where you can carve out a workspace. A couple of likely places would be the living room or bedroom. If you've been working at the dining room table, you already know how disruptive working in a common area can be. You need to ...



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