With today’s real estate market dramatically changing daily, it is still always better to be a homeowner.  Below are 5 brief reasons why it is so great to own your own home.  Check out the link below for the full article.

1.  Equity:  Even with the high initial costs to buying a home, your monthly mortgage payments go toward your own principle verses to your landlord (which you will never see again).  Even with the recession, experts still feel that the housing market will recover, making an investment in a home a long-term savings.

2. Relationships:  When renting, there is not a lot of opportunity to make lasting relationships with your neighbors.  Homeowners have yards, walking trails, community pools and clubhouses where they can get to know their neighbors and socialize more.

3.  Predictability:  As long as you have a fixed-rate term on your mortgage it’s predictable.  Having a predictable mortgage each month that will be the same amount 15 years from now as it is today lets you plan for the future for other predictable expenses that will arise.

4. Ownership:  This is obvious.  But the perks of owning enables you to make your house a home.  Renovating, updating, painting and decorating allows you to personalize your home to your own tastes.  When renting, you are usually stuck with the basic wall color, carpet, no option for expanding, etc.

5.  Great Deals:  With interest rates at a historic low, now is a great time to buy!  With fixed interest rates 4% and lower means huge savings for today’s buyers.  And with the recession still ongoing means lower house prices as well making it a wonderful opportunity to get your foot in the door with your first home!

If you are looking to buy or sell your home in Santa Barbara, CA call to find out what your options are and how we can help you find the home of your dreams!

Click the link below for the full article “5 Great Things about Home ownership by Carla Hill” at Realty Times. http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20111102_great.htm

 

    The Boathouse sits right on the beach at Arroyo Burro Beach (better known as Hendry’s Beach to locals).  The atmosphere is wonderful with plenty of outside & inside seating, a great bar, and delicious seafood.  Enjoy a hot bowl of Santa Barbara’s best creamy clam chowder, some “small bites”, or fresh fish favorites such as the Mesquite Grilled Ahi or the local Petrale Sole which is dusted in seasoned flour and pan sautéed in butter, white wine, garlic and capers and served with roasted red potatoes and sautéed spinach.

The best time to go is obviously at sunset, but if you want a more casual dining experience, go for brunch on the weekends.  There is no better way to spend a sunny beautiful Saturday morning than sitting on the beach, drinking a bloody mary and having the Boat House Signature Breakfast- Two poached eggs over Dungeness crab cakes on a bed of roasted potatoes.  Topped with chipotle Hollandaise, pico de gallo and avocado.  A true Santa Barbara local dish that once you try, you will be going back again.