6 Ways to Save Money for Your First Home

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savings jar filled with coinsFor many first-time home buyers, the idea of a 20% down payment is terrifying. It’s one of the biggest obstacles to homeownership. Maybe you want to own a home someday, but the thought of saving up thousands of dollars for a home purchase has deterred you from seriously considering it.

Believe it or not, it is possible to save enough money for a down payment and make your dreams of homeownership a reality. Here are just a few of the ways that you can start saving.

1. Track How Much You Spend Now

When saving for your first home, you’ll need to stick to a budget. Awareness of how much you spend can help you figure out where you can cut your costs. Consumer.gov outlines a few tips for creating a budget here.

2. Determine What You Can Afford

home buyer tracking financesEven if you don’t plan to buy a home for a few years, figuring out how much you can afford for your home will make your savings goal more concrete. Don’t forget to include taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance in your monthly payment calculations.

3. Start Small

Start saving for your down payment and other homeownership costs as soon as you can. The earlier you start, the less you will have to cut your spending and the more time you’ll have to reach your goal.

4. Shop Around for Other Loans

If you find that a 20% down payment is unrealistic, you can opt for a mortgage that offers lower down payment options. FHA loans, for instance, offer 3.5% down, and VA loans offer no money down.

Make sure to do your research. If you put less than 20% down on a home, you will have to purchase private mortgage insurance. We can talk more in depth about home financing options available to you.

home buyer looking at bank account5. Make Your Savings Automatic

Many people find it’s easier to save money if it’s automatically transferred into a savings account every month. Check to see if your bank offers automatic funds transfer services, or ask if your employer can direct a portion of your paycheck into your savings account.

6. Create a Separate Savings Account

Establishing a savings account specifically for your down payment and homeownership costs is another great way to set aside money for a home. If you decide to automatically transfer money to savings, creating a separate account may make it even easier.

We Can Make Your First Home Buying Experience Easier

first-time home buyers moving inWhen you’ve saved up enough money and are ready to buy a home, we have all the resources you need to make your homeownership dreams a reality. Have a question about owning a home? Call us.



Hilton Head Real Estate News – August 28, 2016

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   Please Vote for the Happiest Seaside Town!

It’s hard not to be happy when you are on Hilton Head Island.  With its 12 miles of sugar sand beaches, captivating places to visit like Harbour Town, water front restaurants like Hudson’s, the spanish moss covered oaks and over 200 days of Sunshine, it sure is a happy place!  Please vote if you agree!

Please click here to find out more.
Vacation in a Sea Pines home this fall and be one of the first to play the
1 Grey Widgeon
1 Grey Widgeon
57 Lawton Road
57 Lawton Road
14 Water Oak
14 Water Oak
11 Hollyberry Lane
11 Hollyberry Lane
9 Fern Court
9 Fern Court
2390 Lighthouse Tennis
2390 Lighthouse Tennis

Preview all of our

Vacation Homes and Villas!
Hilton Head Properties, 12 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928



Hilton Head Real Estate News – September 22, 2016

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   Beaufort County Delinquent Tax Sale

The delinquent tax sale for Beaufort County is always the first Monday of October.  The sale will include properties on Hilton Head, Daufuskie, Bluffton and other locations in Beaufort County.  Information can be found on the counties website.  You may also see these yellow postings around which indicates the taxes are delinquent.

Please click here to find out more.
   Opportunity is still knocking!

Can you hear opportunity knocking?  Dirt, land, lots, home sites and a piece of the rock are being offered at compelling values in Hilton Head, Bluffton and Daufuskie.  The chart to the left shows the median pricing for the last several years.  Click here to read more!

Rent a great big home for a
family reunion this Autumn!
16 Mallard
16 Mallard
Sleeps 22
2 Kingfisher
3 Kingfisher
Sleeps 14
10 Singleton
10 Singleton
Sleeps 18
9 Sand Dollar
9 Sand Dollar
 Sleeps 14
31 Bradley
31 Bradley
Sleeps 14
2 Weather Shore
2 Weather Shore
 Sleeps 14

See all our fabulous Vacation



5 Things Only Home Sellers Understand

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Whether this will be your first time selling a home or your tenth, the home selling process can be a challenge. You want to sell quickly and for the most money, so you will be doing absolutely everything you can to spruce up your home and make it as inviting as possible. But not every experience during the home sale is a struggle. Here are the moments home sellers know too well.

a gathering with friends at home1. The Nostalgia You Feel While Packing

While you’re going through closets and pulling your personal photos off the walls, you may experience some nostalgia. You can vividly remember the day you bought the house. You remember all the guests that have visited. You even remember the stains that you’ve spent time scrubbing out of the carpet.

You have made memories in this home. But don’t forget about all of the new memories you will make in your new home. Whether you’re relocating, upsizing, or downsizing, you will have the opportunity to start fresh.

2. Having to Rush Out the Door for Showings

One of the hardest parts about selling your home is being prepared to leave at any time for showings: during dinner, early in the morning, on weekends… Sometimes, you have just 5 minutes to drop what you’re doing and dart out the door. But when you hear that the buyer has made an offer, you know that all of your scrambling was worth it.

a child with her head in her hands3. The Home Buyer Who Nitpicks Everything

It takes time to clean and declutter the home that you’ve lived in for a while. You remember the dust and dirt you found when you first moved furniture and packed up your closets. You even remember the hours it took to paint your rooms a neutral color. Your home looks brand new and ready for showings, so you can’t help but roll your eyes over the buyer who complains about that one thumbtack hole or the Windex streaks on the window.

4. The Awkwardness of Living in a Partially Empty Home

Everything echoes. It’s impeccably clean. Even the dust bunnies have moved on. With the pictures off the walls, the furniture put in storage, and the walls painted a neutral color, your home looks less like your own and more like a model.

people in front of a house5. Feeling Bittersweet About Leaving Your Home

After all the home sale preparation, last-minute showings, and negotiations, it’s time to say goodbye to your old home and hello to the new one. Yes, there may be things that you will miss about your old home. But there will be also things you can’t wait to have in your new home.

Your Home Sale Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

We can help make your home sale a pleasant (and profitable) experience. As real estate experts, we offer a variety of helpful home selling resources, from a free home evaluation to low-cost home improvement ideas. When you’re ready to sell your home, call us.



Hilton Head Real Estate News – September 8, 2016

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   Buy a lot and build later!
Build Now

If you want a new home in the Hilton Head area, there are really only three ways to go about this.  They include buying a new home from a builder, buying an older home(to tear down) or buying a vacant lot.  If you are more than a few years away from making the move, think about buying a lot now.  Listed below are benefits and ideas for home-site owners.

971 Inverness
975
Inverness
923
Inverness
949
Inverness
223 Turnberry
267
Turnberry
39 Fazio

5 Fazio

1858
St.Andrews
Hilton Head Properties, 12 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928



Year Round Vacations with Hilton Head Properties R and R!

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real seasons_0001While many vacationers visit Hilton Head Island during the summer weeks between June and August, the best kept secrets are the months ahead.  You can enjoy Hilton Head Island, subtropical temperatures, sunshine and our awesome vacation properties between September and May at great rates.  Come stay with us every season!

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Hilton Head Island – Build on Your Lot Later

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Lots for sale in Hilton HeadIf you want a new home in the Hilton Head area, there are really only three ways to go about this.  They include buying a new home from a builder, buying an older home(to tear down) or buying a vacant lot.  If you are more than a few years away from making the move, think about buying a lot now.  Listed below are benefits and ideas for home-site owners.

Read the rest of this entry



Hilton Head Real Estate News – September 8, 2016

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   Buy a Lot For Later!

If you have ever dreamed of living in the Hilton Head area, consider buying a

home site.  Not only is it the easiest form of ownership, it gets your foot in the

door for later on living here!  Reasons to buy land also include prime locations

currently offered, compelling prices and even financing for qualified buyers.

Search:  Bluffton
Search:  Our Listings
Ready to Recharge Your Batteries!
Autumn is one of the best times to visit the Hilton Head area.  The weather in the Hilton Head area is nice, the pace is slow and there are many great places and fall festivals to enjoy.  Just click one of the properties below if you would like to explore a fall getaway!
3 Starboard Tack - Palmetto Dunes
3 Starboard Tack
Palmetto Dunes
18 Starboard Tack Palmetto Dunes
18 Starboard Tack
Palmetto Dunes
2 Weather Shore Palmetto Dunes
2 Weather Shore
Palmetto Dunes
40 Mooring Buoy Palmetto Dunes
40 Mooring Buoy
Palmetto Dunes
10 Ocean Breeze South Forest Beach
10 Ocean Breeze South Forest Beach
14 Water Oak Sea Pines
14 Water Oak
Sea Pines
Vacation home and villa ideas visit hiltonheadpropertiesrandr.com,
                     contact us anytime at (843)785-2242 or email info@hhprandr.com.
All Our Best,
The Crew at Hilton Head Properties R & R



Hilton Head Island – Buy Land for Later!

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Hilton Head Lots If you have ever dreamed of living in the Hilton Head area, consider buying a home site.  Not only is it the easiest form of ownership, it gets your foot in the door for later on living here!  Reasons to buy land also include prime locations currently offered, compelling prices and even financing for qualified buyers.

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These Small Home Improvements Can Pay Off Big When Selling

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First impressions matter when selling a home. But the first thing buyers see isn’t always your staged living room or upgraded kitchen. The price is the first impression buyers have of your home. The price also determines whether buyers skip over your home or go inside for a better look.

using a laptop at homeHome buyers are attuned to the market. When they are searching online for properties and browsing through listing photos, they can easily spot a home that is not worth the price tag attached to it. Read the rest of this entry




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