Tag Archives: Jenni Stolarski

Real Estate

Homeownership and Climate Change

Are You a Homeowner Thinking About Climate Change?

Are You a Homeowner Thinking About Climate Change? | MyKCM

Americans are more aware than ever of the effects climate change and natural disasters can have on their homes. According to a report from realtor.com:

“More than 3 in 4 recent buyers, 78%, took [natural disasters] into account when choosing the locations of their homes, . . .”

The study also found that many existing homeowners (34%) have already considered selling their houses and moving to a new location because of the changing climate. If you’re like those homeowners and are weighing your options about what to do next, here’s some information to keep in mind as you begin the process of selling your existing house and searching for your new home.

Do Your Research and Work with a Real Estate Advisor To Find a Home That Meets Your Needs

As a homeowner, it’s impossible to control what types of weather events your home is exposed to. As Maiclaire Bolton Smith, Senior Leader of Research and Content Strategy for CoreLogic, says:

“You can’t necessarily remove the location from around you, but there are things you can do to mitigate damage that can happen.”

The first step is understanding how to navigate your home sale and purchase with these specific issues in mind. While that can seem like a difficult undertaking at first, with the appropriate resources and experts on your side, you can simplify the process.

The Mortgage Reports provides some tips for purchasing your next house, including, but not limited to:

  • Vetting the location before you buy
  • Researching Climate Action Plans and learning if the city or state has one
  • Working with professionals for additional assessments on the home’s ability to withstand natural disasters

Ultimately, your best resource throughout the process is a trusted real estate professional. An agent will help you navigate the sale and required disclosures for your existing home, be your expert advisor on local guidelines and information, and keep your goals and concerns top of mind. Even if your advisor doesn’t have the answers to all your questions about how your next home will stand up to natural disasters, they can help connect you with experts and resources who will.

Bottom Line

If you’re becoming more mindful about the effects of climate change and you’re ready to make a move, you’re not alone. Let’s connect so you have a trusted advisor on your side to help you navigate the sale of your current house and find the perfect spot for your next home.

Neighborhood Maps, Real Estate

West Kessler and Stephens Park Estates

West Kessler and Stephens Park Estates in Dallas, TX

Welcome to West Kessler and Stevens Park Estates in Dallas, Texas. These two neighborhoods form the western boundary of the historic Stevens Park Golf Course. West Kessler is named for George E. Kessler, the pioneering planner and landscape architect. Stevens Park Estates neighborhood began development in 1926 on land owned by Annie Stevens, daughter of Dr. H.S. Stevens, a prominent Oak Cliff resident.

Don’t wait to explore all that West Kessler and Stephens Park Estates have to offer!

18. Stephens Park Estates 22. West Kessler

The Stevens Park Golf course is the oldest city-owned course in Dallas. It was built in 1924 and originally had 9 holes, but was later expanded to 18. The course has some of the best views of the Dallas skyline, as well as a CCC-built pavilion and walking paths. It’s an amazing asset to both neighborhoods. At Plymouth and Oak Cliff Boulevard sits Annie Stevens Park, a great playground with swings, slides and tons of shade. There are several green spaces in the area, that make West Kessler and Stevens Park Estates a visual treat to walk or drive through.

What was the market like for West Kessler and Stephens Park Estates in 2021?

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to see what else makes this neighborhood special!

Real Estate

The Perks of Putting 20% Down

The Perks of Putting 20% Down on a Home | MyKCM

If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment. Is it 20% of the purchase price, or could you put down less? While there are lower down payment programs available that allow qualified buyers to put down as little as 3.5%, it’s important to understand the many perks that come with a 20% down payment.

Here are four reasons why putting 20% down may be a great option if it works within your budget.

1. Your Interest Rate May Be Lower

A 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender you’re more financially stable and not a large credit risk. The more confident your lender is in your credit score and your ability to pay your loan, the lower the mortgage interest rate they’ll likely be willing to give you.

2. You’ll End Up Paying Less for Your Home

The larger your down payment, the smaller your loan amount will be for your mortgage. If you’re able to pay 20% of the cost of your new home at the start of the transaction, you’ll only pay interest on the remaining 80%. If you put down 5%, the additional 15% will be added to your loan and will accrue interest over time. This will end up costing you more over the lifetime of your home loan.

3. Your Offer Will Stand Out in a Competitive Market

In a market where many buyers are competing for the same home, sellers often like to see offers come in with 20% or larger down payments. The seller gains the same confidence as the lender in this scenario. You are seen as a stronger buyer with financing that’s more likely to be approved. Therefore, the deal will be more likely to go through.

4. You Won’t Have To Pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

What is PMI? According to Freddie Mac:

“For homeowners who put less than 20% down, Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is an added insurance policy for homeowners that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage.

It is not the same thing as homeowner’s insurance. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that’s required if you make a down payment less than 20%. . . . Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your monthly payment.”

As mentioned earlier, if you put down less than 20% when buying a home, your lender will see your loan as having more risk. PMI helps them recover their investment in you if you’re unable to pay your loan. This insurance isn’t required if you’re able to put down 20% or more.

Many times, home sellers looking to move up to a larger or more expensive home are able to take the equity they earn from the sale of their house to put 20% down on their next home. With the equity homeowners have today, it creates a great opportunity to put those savings toward a larger down payment on a new home.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy a home, consider the benefits of 20% down versus a smaller down payment option. Let’s connect so you have expert advice to help make your homeownership goals a reality.

Neighborhood Maps, Real Estate

East Kessler Park

East Kessler Park in Dallas, TX

Welcome to East Kessler Park in Dallas, Texas. East Kessler Park was officially established in 1937 by developer Roy Eastus and the Stemmons Family. On the southern edge of the neighborhood is Methodist Hospital which was built in 1927 on land donated by the Stemmons family.
This hilly, shaded neighborhood voted NOT to become a City of Dallas conservation district. There were so many home styles…it would be impossible to chose the ONE that exemplified East Kessler. They have an active neighbor association that gathers regularly.

Don’t wait to explore all that East Kessler Park has to offer!

1. Methodist Dallas Medical Center 2. Kessler Parkway Park

One of the most frequented assets of East Kessler is the Coombs Creek Trail which winds along the northern boundary the neighborhood. Although it seems its always been there, this hike and bike path was just added in 2009. Only a handful of blocks in East Kessler have sidewalks, but the wide boulevard-design of its streets makes the area walkable
Mature trees and rolling hills makes the neighborhood feel much further than 5 minutes away from the 3rd largest metro area in the United States.

Check out eastkessler.org to learn a little more!

What was the market like for East Kessler Park in 2021?

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to see what else makes this neighborhood special!

Real Estate

Owning Vs Renting

Owning Is More Affordable than Renting in the Majority of the Country

Owning Is More Affordable than Renting in the Majority of the Country | MyKCM

If you were thinking about buying a home this year, but already pressed pause on your plans due to rising home prices and increasing mortgage rates, there’s something you should consider. According to the latest report from ATTOM Data, owning a home is more affordable than renting in the majority of the country. The 2022 Rental Affordability Report says:

“. . . Owning a median-priced home is more affordable than the average rent on a three-bedroom property in 666, or 58 percent, of the 1,154 U.S. counties analyzed for the report. That means major home ownership expenses consume a smaller portion of average local wages than renting.”

Other experts in the industry offer additional perspectives on renting today. In the latest Single-Family Rent Index from CoreLogic, single-family rent saw the fastest year-over-year growth in over 16 years when comparing data for November each year (see graph below):

Owning Is More Affordable than Renting in the Majority of the Country | MyKCM

Molly Boesel, Principal Economist at CoreLogic, stresses the importance of what the data shows:

“Single-family rent growth hit its sixth consecutive record high. . . . Annual rent growth . . . was more than three times that of a year earlier. Rent growth should continue to be robust in the near term, especially as the labor market continues to improve.”

What Does This Mean for You?

While it’s true home prices and mortgage rates are rising, so are monthly rents. As a prospective buyer, rising rates and prices shouldn’t be enough to keep you on the sideline, though. As the chart above shows, rents are skyrocketing. The big difference is, when you rent, that rising cost benefits your landlord’s investment strategy, but it doesn’t deliver any sort of return for you.

In contrast, when you buy a home, your monthly mortgage payment serves as a form of forced savings. Over time, as you pay down your loan and as home values rise, you’re building equity (and by extension, your own net worth). Not to mention, you’ll lock in your mortgage payment for the duration of your loan (typically 15 to 30 years) and give yourself a stable and reliable monthly payment.

When asking yourself if you should keep renting or if it’s time to buy, think about what Todd Teta, Chief Product Officer at ATTOM Data, says:

“. . . Home ownership still remains the more affordable option for average workers in a majority of the country because it still takes up a smaller portion of their pay.”  

If buying takes up a smaller portion of your pay and has benefits renting can’t provide, the question really becomes: is renting really worth it?

Bottom Line

If you’re weighing your options between renting and buying, it’s important to look at the full picture. While buying a home can feel like a daunting process, having a trusted advisor on your side is key. Let’s connect to explore your options so you can learn more about the benefits of homeownership today.