During the holidays, while visiting friends and family, it’s likely you’ll encounter the Christmas over achiever. We all know this person – their house is a beacon, gleaming with countess outdoor lights; their living rooms smell of cinnamon and fresh pine; and every single dish towel, soap tray and candle has been swapped out for its holiday-themed counterpart. Kudos to those who have the energy and time to go all out with seasonal decorations, but unfortunately, most of us don’t have a spare second during the hectic holidays. Between parties and parades, gift buying and baking, we’re swamped.

Give yourself a break this Christmas – while still sprucing up your space for the season – and try a few of these quick and easy holiday decorating ideas and tips.

1. Use greenery to decorate outdoors. You can pull pine boughs, magnolia leaves and other native greenery from your own backyard and use it to accentuate front doors, mailboxes and porch railings.
2. Instead of fretting over Christmas candles throughout the holidays, use battery-powered alternatives. In addition to adding the ambience of flickering light throughout your home, these counterparts are safer and require less of your attention.
3. Buy a few seasonal plants to place about the house. Paper whites and poinsettias are available at nearly every nursery in the Southeast during the holidays.
4. Fill hurricanes and clear cylinders with colorful ornaments. Use them as simple, elegant centerpieces or coffee table decor.
5. When baking gingerbread men, make a few extra. Let them dry, and hang them on your tree for vintage appeal. Go truly old fashioned by stringing dried cranberries or popcorn strands around its branches.
6. Customize your wreaths this season by stretching the frame into an oval shape and adding small pinecones, mini-faux presents, decorative birds or other unique touches that coordinate well with your style.
7. Focus on one large element. Don’t try to put together an impressive tree, decked out dining table, as well as a few other centralized holiday decorations. Put your energy into one main project and add simple, seasonal touches elsewhere.
8. Enhance your mantle with basic winter garland. Within minutes, your fireplace is topped with fresh-scented greenery. Intertwine a few mini-Christmas lights for added effect.
9. Light the walkway to your front door. This can be easily achieved with small, simple solar lights lining the path to your home.
10. Don’t feel the need to put out every decoration you own. If you put out the rooftop Santa last year, let him stay in the attic this year. Alternate your holiday decorations to get use from them, but save yourself time by displaying only a few items from your collection every Christmas.

Most importantly, decorate your home to please yourself and your family. Although the holidays can get stressful at times, it’s important to focus on what’s truly important.

For more ideas on how to bring the holiday atmosphere into your home, chat with a real estate agent who has seen properties during every season. Give Katie Gray a call at 704.560.9699.

When was the last time you attended a housewarming party or purchased a gift to welcome someone to his or her new home? In the past, housewarming parties served to help newlyweds stock their first place, but the tradition seems to be fading now that the traditional homeowner varies so greatly. Many single individuals own their own homes, some couples rent and some people move around.

But it is important to remember that when someone buys a home, it’s the beginning of a new phase in his or her life. If a family moves in next door, it’s a good idea to meet them, since they’ll likely be your neighbors for quite some time. And housewarming gifts – regardless of whether or not a party is thrown – make people feel welcomed to a new community.

So if you’re wondering if housewarming gifts have gone out of style, the answer is no. They are still wonderful gestures of care and an excellent way to build relationships with your neighbors.

Curious about what to give?
Here are some traditional and non-traditional options.

• Housewares are popular gifts. If you’re thinking about giving something useful or bulky – such as a coffee maker or larger appliance– you may want to check with the new homeowner first to ensure you don’t give them something they won’t use or already have.
• Accessories are typically safe gifts to give. Picture frames, candles, wine racks…these are all items that most people can put to use without giving up much space in the home.
• For something a little different, consider giving a housewarming gift that’s not for the house at all. Simple yard ant, decorative planters or a potted, seasonal plant are all great options.
• There’s a lot to do when you move into a home. Consider giving gifts that save the new homeowner time. A gift certificate for a home cleaning or to a local restaurant could be quite convenient.
• There’s always the DIY route. Put together a welcome basket. Include a map of the area, information about the neighborhood and some home-baked goodies. Putting the effort into the gift yourself will only make it more meaningful.

Although the tradition of housewarming parties seems to be on a downward trend, giving a gift to a new neighbor will always be a warm and welcoming gesture.

For more ideas about what to give as a housewarming gift and for all your real estate inquiries, consult Charlotte real estate agent Katie Gray at 704.560.9699.

You make the decision to purchase a home. You then find a Realtor and scour the market compiling a list of potential properties. You proceed, making appointments to view them; compare their good and bad qualities; and after much time and energy spent, you decide to make an offer on your top choice.

When it comes time to put an offer on a home – after you’ve exerted so much effort – you want to follow some basic guidelines to ensure your offer is accepted, to guarantee it’s appropriate and well – received by the sellers.

According to Better Home and Gardens, there are few things you should be aware of when making an offer on a new home.

Have your home loan pre – approval before making an offer. Talk with your bank; get financing or pre – approval for a mortgage loan. When it comes time to make an offer, having your finances in order will show potential sellers you’re serious. What’s more, many real estate agents require pre – approval before beginning the property hunt.

“Market conditions will dictate the selling price,” says BHG. That’s why it’s paramount to understand the economic context when making an offer on a home. Speak with your real estate agent, and know what similar properties in the area are selling for. It will help you when deciding whether or not to offer less than the asking price.

Be sure your Realtor and the selling party’s Realtor have discussed both parties’ interests. There will likely be some points that one or both of you – both the buyer and seller – are not willing to negotiate on. Similarly, there are areas in which one party or the other would be more likely to concede. Having an understanding of these “can often make the difference between an accepted offer and a stalled negotiation,” notes BHG.

About committing a hefty deposit when making an offer, BHG has this to say: “You’ll want to submit an earnest money deposit when writing an offer, payable to a reputable escrow company, to be delivered by your agent no more than three business days after the acceptance of the offer. Even when delivering an offer below asking price, offer a large deposit if possible, and it will pay dividends.”

Finally, give the seller an appropriate amount of time to respond to your offer. “Typically, the seller is given until 5PM on the third day from receipt of the offer to respond, unless you write in a different date and time,” says BHG; but if the offer is strong, or if there is a lot of competition, you may want to revise the terms of the response period. Speak to your Realtor about this before making a decision.

Making an offer on a home can be stressful. Not knowing whether or not to offer a number below the listing price is difficult. Having a reputable, experienced Realtor will be your best tool when navigating the offer process. Consult with Katie Gray by calling 704.560.9699 before taking the plunge and making an offer on your new Charlotte home.

When people make the decision to get married and have a wedding, they go through the process of registering for gifts. Invited guests then reference these registers to ensure they purchase gifts that the couple wants. Kitchenware, sheet sets and home accessories are commonly featured on registers – but what about houses?

The Federal Housing Authority and cooperating lenders actually make it possible for soon-to-be husbands and wives to register for homes…in a matter a speaking.

The FHA bridal registry program allows you to register with a particular lender. Your wedding guests can then contribute to this interest-bearing account, helping you raise the down payment for your FHA loan, thus your first home.

According to Housing and Urban Development, “The intent [of the FHA bridal registry program] is to give couples planning to get married the opportunity to amass monetary gifts from friends and family for the specific purpose of making the down payment on a home.”

It is pretty simple to take advantage of bridal account registries. You open a savings account – ideally with an FHA – approved lender – and provide your banking information to family and friends. Anyone with an interest in the purchase of your new Charlotte home, such as your Realtor or lender, cannot be party to the giving of funds. You have documentation flexibility with these accounts, often not requiring gift letters.

HUD stipulates that these accounts are not only used by individuals getting married. “This initiative is not limited just to couples that intend to get married, but is available for other situations where such gifts are typically received by an individual or individuals,” notes HUD.

More from HUD: “Funds may be deposited by friends and relatives directly into the Bridal Registry Account, or given by cash or check to the couples or individuals for deposit. This account will take the guesswork out of gift selection. These gifts can be given with the assurance that the donors are providing the couples or individuals with an opportunity to purchase their first home.

Bridal couples or individuals are not obligated to use the money in the Bridal Registry Account for a down payment on a home. The couples or individuals control how the funds will be used, and if their plans change, they can simply withdraw the money and use it for something else. Also, there is no requirement that the bridal couple be married prior to closing the mortgage loan.”

If you’re planning a wedding this summer and hoping to purchase your first Charlotte home, consider the FHA bridal registry program. Buying a home is a big decision, one requiring substantial saving and financial planning. If you want to speak with a reputable Realtor about planning for your first home or budgeting for your down payment, call Katie Gray at 704.560.9699.