If you live in North Central Ohio like us, then you’re likely spending a lot of time indoors as the winter weather sets in. While a newer home may wow with designer finishes, a lack of personal touch may leave your home feeling sterile and uninviting. If you’re yearning for a more comfortable home to shield you from the cold, look no further — here are our realtors’ best tips for how to make your home cozy for the winter.

Lighting

Lighting is a huge tone-setter for any space in your home. Ample windows provide natural lighting that will make any space feel light and inviting year-round. But in the winter months when it gets dark early, that’s when artificial lighting really shines.

In entertainment spaces, it’s great to have dimmers and multiple light sources that provide options for different moods. Having a few friends or family members over for dinner? Keep the lighting dimmer and add candles for a cozier environment. Hosting a larger gathering? Show off your home’s best features by keeping it bright.

To create the best environment possible for every situation, you’ll want to think about the size, shape, color, placement, and amount of lighting available in each space. Opting for warmer-toned lighting grouped at focal points around the room instead of harsh, cool overhead lighting will definitely amp up the cozy factor in your home.

Scents

Another element that you’ll want to affect in order to make your home feel cozier is visitors’ sense of smell. Candles are not only perfect for cozy lighting but homey scents with notes like vanilla, apple, or cinnamon will make your family and visitors alike feel right at home.

Fragrance plugins can be additional seasonal decor pieces while also contributing to the scent of the home. And if you’re cooking for your guests the smell of cooking or freshly-baked goodies will certainly not disappoint.

Heavier Textiles

Stepping onto cool tile or hardwood floors in the winter is the opposite of cozy. Enter area rugs and textile layering. Even if you have rugs in the house year-round, swapping for heavier textiles in the cooler months can make a world of difference.

Even in carpeted areas, decorative rugs can draw the eye and brighten up the room as a whole. And layering them can spice up any room while providing more distance between your feet and the floor.

Keeping your floors warmer to walk on throughout the winter while giving spaces a decorative refresh is why rugs are a win-win for a cozy home. And rugs aren’t the only fabric element that can make your spaces feel warmer, either. Add more, heavier throw blankets and extra pillows to seating areas like couches, or even consider heavier drapes for the cooler months to add more ambiance.

Brighter Colors

While darker colors can contribute to making an area feel homey, they may also make the wrong space feel dark and drab. If you’re looking to liven things up inside your home this winter, there are a number of ways to go about it.

Even in a darker-colored room, bright or colorful furniture and decor can lighten the mood. Any decorative elements that reflect light, like mirrors, will also help the space feel lighter and larger. If that’s not enough, you can always paint the walls a lighter color for a change that will brighten things up a bit.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces are a classic homey element that buyers covet. If your current house has a fireplace, accentuate it for the winter months of heavy use with decorative pieces that fit the tone of your home. Examples include candles, vases, or framed photos, but this is a great area for personalization that sets your home’s unique personality.

Above the fireplace, a larger decor item like a mirror, mounted TV, or painting can continue to establish the fireplace as a room’s focal point. Structuring comfy seating areas nearby will make this the perfect gathering place on a cold winter’s night.

If you don’t have a fireplace, consider adding heated elements to your room for that same coziness factor. There are many easy options for electric fireplaces to consider, and other features like heated throw blankets, space heaters, and the like can continue to add warmth in your living spaces.

Greenery

Plants are the perfect way to add liveliness to your home in the dreary winter months. Rotating a vase of fresh flowers in the kitchen or dining room can keep these areas feeling fresh while you and your family are spending more time inside together.

Potted plants will add a pop of color to any room, and pots and vases will be another decorative element you can coordinate to add more personality to your home. The texture and growth of plants make them a living piece of art within your home.

If you’re worried about plant cost or upkeep, succulents or fake plants are great alternatives to other greenery. Learning how to propagate plants is another way to help offset the cost.

Upgraded Windows

Lastly, new windows are a huge help in making your home feel cozier in the winter. If your windows are old or haven’t been winterized, you may be letting cold air in that keeps your home from feeling warm and cozy. Changing to newer, more energy-efficient windows will not only save you in the long run, but will help your home’s comfortability now.

New, shiny windows that filter in natural light will also help to liven the feel of your home outside and in. And if you’re planning further ahead for the next winter season, consider adding windows where there are none in spaces that could use additional light even in the daytime.

Don’t have the budget or time for new windows? Check your current windows and door frames for any drafts, and add weather stripping or caulk around any problem areas to avoid heat escaping.

CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate Can Help You Find a Cozy Home

Whether you’re looking to move into your first home, planning to upsize or downsize, or moving from a warmer climate, the CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate team is here to help. We’re honest experts in North Central Ohio committed to helping clients find homes that fit their needs. If you’re looking for a cozy home to make your own, trust us to improve both the process and the result.

Looking to move to or within North Central Ohio? CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate is the real estate partner you need.

It’s the holiday season, and as you invite over your friends and family for the celebration, you may be reconsidering whether your current living arrangement really works for the activities you have in mind. From the first impression your home makes at the doorbell, to your family-size dining room, and movie-ready living room, it’s time to make sure your guests feel at ease from the moment they walk in. Read on to find out more about the features that make the best homes for entertaining.

This holiday season, pay attention to how guests feel in your home and let that spark inspiration for upgrades. The ideal home for entertaining may call for new rooms, upgraded furniture, features, renovations, or a new home altogether. Whether you prefer a home that is modern, practical, comfortable, or over the top, you and your guests will benefit from a few considerations depending on your entertainment needs.

Rekindle Family Relationships with Better Home Entertainment

If you have a long list of family and friends for seasonal events, you may be running low on seats at the table, general floor space, or might fear your space appears overcrowded. An open layout is a great option for making your home feel spacious. There are plenty of good reasons that homes for entertaining often feature open layouts. Guests find it easier to walk around in, and an open layout makes lighting the space effortless.

Sliding doors and large windows are another excellent way to create the illusion of more space. Connecting your backyard to your home makes your space feel larger, brightens up the entire room with natural light, and lets in fresh air when people begin to pile in.

Catering for major holiday events is an arduous task on its own. Without the right kitchen, you may not have enough space for your culinary tools, enough countertop space for prepping your next dish, or the room to present appetizers. Ensure your kitchen sink and dishwasher can keep all of the dirty dishes and kitchen messes out of sight and can manage the heavy load.

With the right new home or renovation, you can ensure you have enough space for all of your kitchen amenities, and still have space for more. Consider allowing guests to socialize around an open island countertop, perfect for creating a better foot traffic pattern, or add carts to a smaller kitchen for moveable table space and easy storage.

Whether You’re Moving or Renovating, Keep These Questions In Mind To Set Up Your New Entertainment Space

How Can I Make People Feel More Connected?

The best homes for entertaining really center on creating better connections through their spatial planning. A fireplace may be an additional feature to bring friends and family together. Perfect for entertaining guests, warming up your living room during cold winter nights, and a stand-out feature during the holiday season, a fireplace may be what your space needs to make it feel like home.

For deeper conversations, consider cultivating an intimate seating area. Combined with mood lighting, this separate space can offer the privacy you might crave if you have an open layout.

If your family keeps on growing, be sure to keep the kids in mind the next holiday season with a media room or recreational space fit to keep them entertained. With a TV or desktop computer, this space could double as a home office in your day-to-day life.

What Does My Space Need To Make Guests Feel Comfortable?

Have lots of family or friends flying in? Consider adding another guest bedroom and bathroom to make visiting family and guests more comfortable. Nothing is more inconvenient than needing to cohabitate in these private spaces.

Whether it’s patching up your front porch, fixing a few locks, changing a lightbulb, or additional storage space for all of the clutter in your home, making a few small changes can lead to a huge improvement in your home’s appearance and your guests’ experience.

How Much Space Do We Need?

When considering the ideal home for entertaining, it’s best to make sure that guests feel comfortable participating in key holiday activities. From rummaging around your kitchen when setting out dinner to celebrating with the whole family at the dining table, you should consider whether the layout enables a smooth flow of traffic, if your guests have enough elbow room at the seats you set out, and how to accommodate additional visitors.

A larger outdoor space opens up opportunities for fun activities to keep the whole family engaged throughout the year. From the Fourth of July in the summer, to touch football in the fall, and snow angels in the winter, there is no shortage in the supply of family fun. Add in a backyard porch, grill, and extra space for the dog, and everyone in your circle will have a reason to enjoy the outdoors.

Make Your House One of the Best Homes for Entertaining

An open-floor layout isn’t the only key to improving home entertainment throughout the year. Let your home design show your guests the way to go with thoughtful rug and furniture placement, lighting, open bookcases, and decor. From holiday dinners to inviting your friends over to watch the game, birthday parties, and more, an open space that is thoughtfully designed eliminates the crowd and communicates what each designated area is for.

If you’re looking for a new home for entertaining before next year’s holiday season, connect with one of our trusted real estate experts in North Central Ohio today.

See Homes for Sale in Sandusky and Huron County, Ohio Now

Looking for homes for sale in Huron County, Ohio? Or perhaps you’re searching for Sandusky County homes for sale? Either way, you’re in the right place.

With great nearby school districts and access to outdoor activities, golf courses, and other entertainment options, Huron County is an amazing place for families. And nearby Sandusky County is a Forbes-certified affordable place to live right by the water, including plenty of restaurants, marinas, campgrounds, and shopping areas for your entertainment.

Check out our current listings in Huron and Sandusky Counties below.

Current Huron and Sandusky County Homes for Sale

1. 319 Moore Avenue

3 Beds, 1 Bath, 1,568 Sq. Ft. | $72,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This cute, three-bedroom home in Huron features an enclosed front porch so you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. With natural, solid wood flooring in all bedrooms and plenty of storage in the attic and basement, this spacious home is a perfect quick fixer-upper for those looking to live in Huron affordably.

2. 313 George Street

2 Beds, 1 Bath, 988 Sq. Ft. | $125,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This gorgeous, updated historic home located in Clyde has a great kitchen with ample cabinet space, a large living room, and an enclosed back porch for your enjoyment. Its prime location places you in the heart of a charming community, with downtown Clyde, churches, parks, and a public library nearby.

One bedroom and a full bathroom are located on the first floor, with the other bedroom and a half bath upstairs. There is also another, smaller room upstairs that could serve as a walk-in closet, office, or an additional small bedroom.

Recently updated features (within the past six years) include the furnace and central air, plumbing, windows, custom-made window shades, doors, porcelain tile kitchen and bathroom flooring, a fully remodeled bathroom. There is also a new patio, wood floors, paint, roof (both on the house and the garage), and front sidewalk. The garage is also huge, acting as a perfect area for extra storage.

3. 232 Bertha Avenue

3 Beds, 1 Bath, 1,316 Sq. Ft. | $128,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one-story Sandusky home is in a great location on a corner lot, making it a steal for first-time homebuyers or those looking to downsize. Installed in 2016 and 2017, the recent kitchen updates in this home include a full remodel featuring granite countertops, wood laminate flooring, and a new sink and faucet. The kitchen also has a snack bar with additional storage space and a skylight that lets in bright, natural lighting.

The living room is very spacious and also brings in quite a bit of natural light with its three large windows. Additionally, both the kitchen and bathroom have ample cabinetry to increase storage.

There is also a basement in the home that has been water-proofed about every 10 years to protect against potential flooding. The home is being sold as-is, including some six-year-old appliances (stove, refrigerator, water heater), the basement pool table, and the front porch hot tub.

4. 409 W Cherry Street

3 Beds, 1 Bath, 1,620 Sq. Ft. | $139,900

 

 

 

 

 

With tons of space and a backyard pool, this Clyde-located home is perfect for entertaining! It has a large living room, family room, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen with a snack bar, office/den, and basement inside. Outside the house, there is a private, fenced-in backyard with a concrete patio surrounding the pool, as well as a detached garage.

It features several updates made in recent years. Five new windows were installed and the office/den was re-drywalled and given new carpet in 2018. Updates also include a 2019 microwave and dishwasher in the kitchen, furnace and central air, 200 amp electric service, sump pump, and sewer plumbing system.

In 2020, the basement was professionally waterproofed and a new pool liner, pump, and filter were installed. And just this year, the front of the home was updated with a new front door, fresh paint on the covered front porch and pillars, and resealing of the paved driveway.

5. 152 Meadow Lane

3 Beds, 1 Bath, 1,440 Sq. Ft. | $165,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ranch home is in a perfect Clyde location right by great schools and parks. It has a big living room with the option to partition off a dining area, a nice kitchen with all appliances staying, and first-floor laundry. There is also a multifunctional space between the garage and kitchen that could become a mudroom, office, or playroom depending on your needs.

The three bedrooms are a nice size and there is even a deck on the back that has a pretty field-facing view, perfect for sunrises and sunsets. The original wood flooring is present throughout the house. Updates include a new front porch, two new basement walls, and a 2020 furnace.

6. 2740 Progress Road

3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,293 Sq. Ft. | $229,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautiful Fremont home that families have been making memories in for many years. It’s set on a gorgeous 4 acres of land, half of which has an outbuilding, Quonset, sandbox, and plenty of trees. The other half is wooded and known for spotting deer.

There are 3–4 bedrooms within the house, with the final one being flexible as either a living space or an additional bedroom. The house also has two full baths and a large kitchen. The ample storage space includes a hidden room upstairs with a discreet closet entrance. There is also a deck off of the kitchen to sit out and enjoy nature!

7. Centennial Drive Condos

3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,773 Sq. Ft. | $280,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Bellevue team will be happy to show you any of the myriad available Centennial Drive condos we have currently listed. These are located in Prairie Ridge Condominiums, which is in the newest development in Bellevue!

There are four available layout options ranging between 1,773 and 1,971 square feet of space. The models include 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an open floor plan, perfect for entertaining guests.

You can customize this condo to your individual preferences by working with the builder to choose your own colors, cabinets, flooring, and more. The actual pricing will vary based on the floor plan you choose and any upgrades requested. There is also a real estate tax abatement for 15 years, meaning you only pay real estate taxes on the land!

Ready to Start Your Search for a Home in Sandusky or Huron County?

CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate has more than eight decades of experience in North Central Ohio. We’re known and trusted in the area for going above and beyond in fulfilling our clients’ every real estate need. Whether you’re interested in one of the listed properties above or ready to start your home search in Huron or Sandusky counties, our trusted agents can help.

Since the rise in popularity of rental apps like Airbnb and Vrbo, securing guests for a rental property and earning passive income has never been easier. With nearby attractions like Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands, North Central Ohio is the perfect place for buying an investment property.

However, finding, buying, and readying an investment property for rental in the first place is a huge undertaking. You’ll have to consider many different aspects of property options before deciding on one if you want to ultimately see a decent return on your investment.

Prior to starting your investment property search, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the process. Before deciding to take the plunge, here’s what you’ll need to consider:

Financing and Securing a Mortgage

The first step in any property-buying journey is securing financing. One common mistake made by many homebuyers is starting the property search prior to getting preapproved for a mortgage. This leaves buyers unprepared in case they stumble across the perfect home, since they’ll be unable to jump in to bid on their dream property until they hear back about their financing.

Preapproval also helps you figure out what size of property and what price point you can actually afford to set your expectations realistically from the outset. This will help guide your initial search as well as assist you in making decisions about which potential updates you can afford to make before renting the property out. Flourishing as a rental property owner depends heavily on proper planning and great decision-making, so being well-educated on your budget and potential return on investment every step of the way will be essential to your success.

Finding a Good Investment Property

Once you’ve secured financing and are ready to jump headfirst into the home search, you’ll need to consider which elements you’re actually looking for in a rental. This is not a one-size-fits-all scenario — what works in one area may be completely different from what works in another area.

To start, you’ll want to think about what renters will be doing in your target location. Will they be spending a lot of time inside or mostly be outside? What local attractions will they want to be close to? Does your area attract more long-term or short-term renters? Looking at the current listings for popular nearby rental properties can help inform and inspire you to choose the best property possible for renters in your location.

Another common mistake you’ll want to avoid is choosing a rental home that needs too much work. Especially if it’s your first time searching for an investment property, unless you’re especially well-versed in home repairs, it’s better to avoid major fixers. Otherwise, the home can quickly turn into a money pit, starting your rental-owning journey off on the wrong foot.

Updates to Increase Your ROI

While you won’t want to choose a property that’s too much of a fixer-upper, making some smaller, aesthetic updates can help attract more renters to your property. Redoing the landscaping, switching out fixtures, or adding a fresh coat of paint are all ways to make the property feel new and inviting.

Again, you’ll want to prioritize the updates that will be most important to renters in your specific location. There are many cost-effective, yet visually or functionally effective updates you can make — even the smallest touches can help renters feel welcomed on your property — so pay attention to the details.

Keep in mind, you can only make a first impression once, so make sure your curb appeal and entrance area are in order by cleaning, switching out the welcome mat, and replacing the front door if necessary. Inside the house, having clean, new-looking flooring and ample light are great ways to ensure visitors feel comfortable in the home.

Being a Good Rental Owner or Landlord

When it comes time to finally start renting your property out, your job isn’t over — in fact, it’s just begun. Now, depending on the length of visitors’ stays in your property, you’re transitioning into either a landlord or, at the very least, the person every guest calls when they need help with the home.

So when something breaks, ensuring quick and reliable maintenance becomes your responsibility. When the guests are too loud or causing issues with the neighbors, that becomes your issue too. And when renters are dodging payments and need to be evicted, handling that situation is a part of your new role as well.

There are a number of ways to handle tough situations with tenants or short-term guests, but you’ll want to make sure you have policies in place to deal with potential issues ahead of time. And if you’d rather handle preparing the properties for rental and not dealing with the tenants, you can even pay a management company to run this side of things for you.

Ready to Buy an Investment Property?

One essential consideration we haven’t yet mentioned is partnering with the right real estate agent that knows the area and can advise you on the best location and property for your investment. If after going through this list you decide you’re ready to embark on searching for your first investment property, CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate is here to help.

With popular tourist destinations nearby, North Central Ohio is the perfect place for buying an investment property. And with over eight decades of area experience, CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate’s team of expert real estate agents will help you find the best North Central Ohio rental property available to you.

Connect with a trusted REALTOR® today.

Your home is likely your biggest investment, so naturally, its upkeep is a top priority. Taking care of a house is a huge undertaking, but our home maintenance tips can help you get started with regularly checking your home and setting aside the money and time needed for repairs.

Whether you just bought your first home or have been living in a home for several years, home maintenance is essential for both keeping your house a safe place to live and keeping your home value up to par.

Here is our checklist of maintenance tasks to complete throughout the year.

Monthly Home Maintenance

A monthly check of your electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, appliances, and security system can help you catch minor issues before they become larger problems and keep your home safe. This will also help you save on huge repair expenses down the road.

A best-practice home maintenance schedule starts with monthly checks of the most important elements of your home. For safety reasons, this starts with inspecting smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and ground fault circuits to make sure they’re working properly. You’ll also want to take a look at electrical cords to ensure there hasn’t been any significant wear and tear on them.

You can save money with regular quick maintenance activities, like cleaning the furnace filter which makes it better regulate your home’s temperature and keep your energy bills lower. Other smaller monthly maintenance items that can help you avoid paying for larger repairs include removing mineral deposits from faucets and showerheads, adding salt to the water softener when necessary, unclogging drains, flushing out the water heater to remove built-up sediment, and making sure the garbage disposal is clean and clear by grinding ice cubes, then running hot water with baking soda.

Outside, you’ll want to check and make sure that vents are not blocked and are unlocked. Also, ensure that indoor air vents are not blocked by furniture or other items to make the most of your heating and cooling systems. Vacuuming and cleaning heat registers and vents to remove dust guarantees that these are working at top quality as well.

Fall

The obvious maintenance task essential in the fall is raking leaves in your yard. You could also opt for mowing over the leaves once a week to break them down and provide nutrients to the soil. Early fall or spring is also a great time to aerate your lawn (usually only needed once annually) if you live in a northern state where cool-season grass types are common.

Most fall maintenance is all about preparing your home for winter. Outside of your home, cleaning leaves out of the gutters and getting any necessary repairs done, shutting off, draining, and insulating your sprinkler system, cleaning and covering your pool, and stocking up firewood if you plan to use it in a fireplace are all activities you can complete (or, in some cases, call a professional to do for you) while the weather is still decent. The fall is also a good time for fixing cracks in driveways and walkways, checking out your roof and getting any loose or damaged shingles fixed, power-washing the outside of your house, and fixing any malfunctioning outdoor handles or locks.

Inside your home, check the fireplace for damage and clean the flues, inspect windows and doors for any drafts and caulk over cracks, put weather strips in, or consider replacements. Have your heating system inspected between the late summer and early fall, and check the water heater for any leaking. Since many contractors have wrapped up their significant outdoor projects by the fall, but the weather is still fairly temperate, it’s also a great time to get going on indoor projects like painting or room updates. It may also be a good idea to switch out old — potentially liable to break— appliances ahead of the holidays, and clean out dryer vents to avoid fire hazards (an HVAC specialist can help ensure this is done properly).

Winter

If you prepare properly in the fall for winter, the cold months should hopefully be smooth sailing. Most of your winter home maintenance will involve battling the weather conditions.

Make sure to stock up on road salt and gas for the snowblower before the first major snow. You’ll also want to ascertain that your snowblower is working properly before you’re stuck shoveling in a storm. Look out for icicles on the exterior of your home, as these can be a sign of ice dams forming, which can damage gutters, shingles, or siding and cause leaks inside of your home.

Since outdoor maintenance is mostly on pause during the winter, doing smaller, indoor repairs in the winter can help make sure everything continues to work in your house. Checking your basement for potential leaks, vacuuming the coils in your fridge and freezer and cleaning drip trays, vacuuming the bathroom fan grill, and changing the filters of your heating system are all easy tasks to complete indoors during the colder months.

Spring

While you’re spring cleaning, there are also some essential home maintenance items to check on and complete. Outside, collect any remaining leaves and lay down mulch. Once the snow is gone for good, you can remove insulation from outdoor water systems like sprinklers and ensure that they’re still working properly. Spring is also a great time to reseed your lawn if necessary and fertilize your yard as well.

Just like completing snowblower maintenance ahead of winter, you’ll want to check your lawn mower and get it serviced (if needed) in early spring before your lawn starts growing uncontrollably as the weather warms. Also outdoors, you’ll want to check your roof again for any possible damage sustained during winter storms. Late spring — before it gets too hot outside — is the perfect time to reopen your pool before summer, and stain or refinish your deck.

Indoors, you’ll want to prepare your cooling system for the summer heat. Clean out the filter in your air conditioning unit and get it inspected and/or serviced before the first heat wave heads your way. Additional tasks to accomplish in the springtime include cleaning window and door screens, dusting light fixtures, and polishing wood furniture like tables and desks. Additional essential home upkeep tasks for the spring include draining your water heater, hiring a professional to pump your septic tank, and replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Summer

Summer is the time to kick back and relax, letting the whole family enjoy the indoor and outdoor features of your home. That being said, there are still a few chores to stay on top of during the warm months in order to keep your house in top shape.

Outside, mowing your lawn will become a high priority as your grass starts to shoot up faster and faster. You’ll also want to prune trees, shrubs, and bushes, tend to any outdoor garden areas you have and make sure all plants are receiving enough water to beat the heat. If you have a pool, keeping it clean for enjoyment all summer long should be top of mind for outdoor home maintenance.

Internally, there are a few projects you can tackle in the summer. Oil all garage door elements and door hinges, discard lint from your washer hose and dryer vent, check all water features of your home for potential drips or leaks (think sinks, dishwashers, showers, etc.), and clear out your kitchen exhaust fan filter. You’ll also want to clean your fridge and freezer coils and drip trays more than once a year to keep them operational, so summer is an ideal time to repeat this action.

To help keep you and your family cool on hot days, consider reversing your ceiling fans to a counterclockwise motion that pushes air downward. You can also avoid summer pests by cleaning regularly (especially in eating or food preparation areas) and eradicate them with home remedies and sprays or by calling a professional, depending on the severity and type of infestation.

Bolte Real Estate Has More Than Just Home Maintenance Tips — We Can Help You Find Your Forever Home

A real estate agent can help advise you on maintenance to perform before selling your house and necessary maintenance for first-time homebuyers — but finding an agent you can trust can mean so much more. The right agent will be by your side for the entire home buying or selling process, putting your needs first in order to match you with the best possible buyer and/or find the house of your dreams.

CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate is the trusted North Central Ohio partner that will support you through every step of the home buying or selling process and beyond.

Saving for a house may seem like a daunting task — but it doesn’t have to be when you consider you may only have to put 3% down. Learn how to save for a house down payment in as little as a year here.

Many aspiring homeowners may be misled by the myth of needing to save for a 20% down payment, when in reality you may be able to get a conventional loan with as little as 3% down (this of course depends on your income and credit score), or even no down payment if you qualify for a USDA or VA loan.

When it comes to saving for a home and properly budgeting, the little things add up. For instance, now that it’s tax time, it may be enticing to spend your tax return or stimulus check as soon as it comes in — however, this is exactly the type of extra income you’ll want to be saving if you plan on buying a house in the next year.

Here are a few more tips to help you save for a house down payment in the next year.

Building Your ‘Save for a House’ Budget

Budgeting is essential when you’re saving for a house down payment. Before budgeting, it’s helpful to use an online calculator to figure out how much house you can afford in your area. Browsing houses in your area and what they’re selling for, as well as staying up to date on real estate trends and news are also great ways to inform your budgeting.

Using all of this information, set an approximate amount as a savings goal in a certain period of time, then divide the amount by the number of months you’re saving for. For instance, if you want to save up for a down payment in a year, you’d divide the determined amount by 12 to get the amount you’ll need to save each month to reach your goal on time.

The first step of budgeting is looking at where your money is going each month and defining which areas are necessary and which areas could be cut down. Take a look at your bank statements over the past year and assign categories to each expense like rent, utilities, gas, groceries, entertainment, and more, specifying each category as a want or a need. Then create your budget by assigning known amounts to the needed categories, and figuring out how much leftover money to delegate to the wanted categories while putting away money for a down payment.

A budgeting app or a banking app’s budgeting tool can help make this setup process quicker and easier, automatically track your budget moving forward, and alert you when you’re reaching monthly spend limits for certain categories. Whether you’re budgeting manually or using a tool, the most important thing to remember is to stick to your predetermined monthly down payment savings amount. Sometimes, aspiring homeowners may be attracted to other potential areas for spending their paycheck and get caught up in the mindset that savings are a nonessential expense, pushing back the fruition of their homeownership dreams. Setting budgets and sticking to them will help you achieve homeownership faster, and put you in a good financial position as a first-time homeowner.

Automating Your Savings

In order to save for a house successfully, you’ll need to combat those sudden impulses of spending the money budgeted for your future down payment elsewhere. Consider calling your bank and requesting that they automate your savings so a certain amount is transferred to a savings account each time you get paid. This is great because it makes that money less accessible to spend, forcing you to be a better saver.

Think of it like this: for permanent employees, an income tax is taken out of each paycheck you receive, but you likely count the post-tax amount as the true amount you get paid monthly, without considering the tax amount since it never actually lands in your account. This is especially true for those with automatic account deposits set up since the amount actually going into their account is probably what they pay the most attention to.

Automated savings are similar except instead of the money going away from you to be distributed elsewhere, the money is going toward your future home. Automating your savings, especially for those who have trouble saving, will help you to get into the mindset that your down payment savings are a necessary monthly expense by only letting you see and focus on the amount of money left in your checking account after savings are automatically taken out.

Cutting Out Bad Spending Habits

We all have at least one unnecessary spending habit, which is why saving for a house down payment in a year is a challenge that takes major self-discipline, thoughtfulness, and commitment. Your budgeting setup process should help you to identify which areas you spend the most money in, but you’ll also need to create a realistic, actionable plan you know you can stick to in order to reduce these costs or cut them out completely.

For instance, if you have an unhealthy habit of impulse buying, consider unsubscribing from marketing emails so you don’t see new items or discounts and feel like you’re missing out. If you like eating out a lot, try duplicate recipes at home for some of your favorite takeout meals. Although this isn’t necessarily an unhealthy spending habit, maybe consider swapping a bigger vacation with a staycation or a smaller trip this year to save more. It’s all about creating sustainable and healthy spending habits that you know you can stick to in the longer term and setting yourself up for saving success in as many ways as possible.

Seeking Opportunities for Extra Income

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can choose to focus on making more money rather than solely putting your efforts toward saving. There’s a variety of ways to do this depending on your job and lifestyle, but we’ve compiled some ideas to get you started.

If you feel like you’re at the right point in your career and job, you may be able to ask your boss for a raise. In order to do this, remember that timing is everything when bringing up a salary conversation, approach your boss both kindly and confidently, and come prepared to back up your good work with performance data. If it’s not possible to receive a higher salary at your current job but you can’t imagine saving for a house on your current salary, perhaps consider searching for another job in your free time to see if you’re qualified for a position that better fits the bill.

Another option is to consider starting a side hustle. You could pick up some freelance work that matches your skills, pet sit or babysit, or drive for a ride-sharing company or food delivery app for example. You could also rent out your spare room or apartment when you’re away or not using it. Apps like Airbnb are excellent options for renting out a room or full apartment on your own schedule so it doesn’t interfere with your daily life.

CENTURY 21 Bolte Real Estate Can Help You Find a Great Home Within Your Budget

A licensed REALTOR® can help you find a home that blends the priorities of your style, vision, and budget once you save for a house. Contact CENTURY21 Bolte Real Estate today to partner with the trusted North Central Ohio partner that can help you find the house you want within the budget you have.