< PreviousAll Chimneys Need To Be Clean!Spring Hill Chimney ServiceDid you know All Heating Appliances need to have their chimneys cleaned and inspected?Furnaces • Boilers • Stoves • Water Heaters Fireplaces • Wood Pellet StovesLowest Price Guarantee 1.800.943.1515 Will Beat Any Competitor’s Written Estimate by 10%Oil/Gas Furnace Chimney Flue SAVE $20Fireplace Cleaning Masonry/Metal SAVE $20ANY REPAIR Over $500 SAVE 10%• Fully Insured and Bonded • Home Organization • Commercial & Residential Cleaning • Relocation Assistance www.moretime4u.services andis@moretime4u.services Like Us On 16201.31.9.019.qxp_FILLER2 7/8/20 2:11 PM Page 1All Chimneys Need To Be Clean! Spring Hill Chimney Service Did you know All Heating Appliances need to have their chimneys cleaned and inspected? Furnaces • Boilers • Stoves • Water Heaters Fireplaces • Wood Pellet Stoves Lowest Price Guarantee 1.800.943.1515 Will Beat Any Competitor’s Written Estimate by 10% Oil/Gas Furnace Chimney Flue SAVE $20 Fireplace Cleaning Masonry/Metal SAVE $20 ANY REPAIR Over $500 SAVE 10% • Fully Insured and Bonded • Home Organization • Commercial & Residential Cleaning • Relocation Assistance www.moretime4u.services andis@moretime4u.services Like Us On 16201.31.9.019.qxp_FILLER2 7/8/20 2:11 PM Page 1 Page 20 - Please Say You Saw It In The Real Estate Book POCONOS #31-10 ed —rustTal andoc—L e needs!arar CC OTour or ye fvicser epair antrerExp — ! AL AO d T il CO 2 $ or FREE!o e will checkW it f ain, MesirT, esakBr tionsInspec e tA StaA 99 9 $ Change 95 21 s P e and Repairenanctn s rs t - 8-noonaS orint more C ourself Y“Yoou take great car yf,, let me he you take great car P oudsbueet Strth 9th Str213 Nor 570-234-0007 .cgrgCAMt Aons aoup e of elp re OStroudsbur 570.346.8686 scranton.itex.com gur omc If You’re A Buyer or Seller Of Real Estate, Then You Want Your Vehicle To Be Running Great! Agents & Brokers Too! REB.30.13.AAMCO.qxp_16201.16.4.028 7/7/20 4:23 PM Page 1GET THE RIGHT APPRAISAL BY TAKING THE PROPER STEPS Whether youʼre a buyer or a seller, getting an accurate ap- praisal of a homeʼs worth is critical before proceeding with a sale. When it comes to know- ing the value of a purchase, your home is the bottom line. In todayʼs market, lots of fac- tors can contribute to an ap- praisal coming in lower than expected, some of which might include the lack of recent com- parable home sales in the area, or using an appraiser from another town or region. Want to know if your home is being appraised properly? FOR BUYERS: Ask your lender to fi nd an appraiser that is from the county where you are buying. Make sure that the appraiser has a residential appraisal certifi cation and professional designation. Meet with the appraiser beforehand and inform them of any factors that could have an impact on the appraisal. FOR SELLERS: Get an appraisal before you list your home for sale. Use it, along with your real estate agent’s expertise to set the right price for your home. See what similar houses are selling for or are valued at. Maintain a fi le of all the improvements, upgrades made, and tax documents related to your house. If you don’t like the appraisal, question it. Maybe there is some information you can provide or something that you can point out that the appraiser missed. Also, if you’re selling your home, before you get an appraisal, do your best to make the most of your home’s features. Obviously, your home won’t transform form from a single-family to a palatial estate overnight, so some things in the appraisal (square footage, number of rooms, etc.) won’t change. But you can make sure that things are clean, everything in the house appears maintained and functional, and knock out any DIY projects you’ve been putting off. Following these tips will go a long way towards helping you get the appraisal you want. Creative Living 52 Digest.indd 53/24/19 12:36 PMPhone, wallet, keys ... TREB APP Don’t leave the house without downloading TREB app. Find open houses, trusted agents, and more. Make homebuying easy by taking your magazine experience to the next level. Download TREB app PhoneWalletKeys_DigestSize.indd 11/23/20 4:36 PMHAVE A FAMILY? HERE’S SOME HOUSE HUNTING TIPS By Kellen Owings BIG BIG Creative Living 50 Digest.indd 61/24/19 11:38 AMHaving a large family can be great, but if there is one “drawback” it’s that you will need more space in a home to meet everyone’s needs and keep them comfortable. With a large family, you’ll need a larger house, because a home with three bedrooms and one bathroom isn’t going to cut it. You will need to look for homes with as much living and storage space as possible. To help in your search for a home, consider looking for a house with the following features: BIG BIG Look for a big yard A bigger yard provides room for all of your kids’ activities. Younger children can play on a play set, while older kids practice sports. If you have a family pet or pets, the larger yard is better for them too to run around and play. A large yard is also perfect for having friends over or for large family gatherings in the summer. Find a Home with a Finished Basement or Attic With younger children, having one of these rooms is perfect to have as their playroom – a place where the kids can play without you having to worry about the good living room furniture getting messed up. And when your kids get older, a space like this will al- low them privacy and room to have friends over. And later on, when a child is home from college, or even living at home for a bit post-graduation, these spaces are ideal for providing a feeling of “their own space.” At Least Four Bedrooms While younger children can share bed- rooms, older kids will need a room to them- selves. If you can afford to, having a bed- room for each child is the way to go. Also, private or shared bathrooms for the kid’s rooms will help make getting ready in the morning easier for everyone in the house. A Large Garage or Driveway A two car garage will allow both parents to keep their cars free from the elements and off the street. A large garage will also provide storage space for things like sports equipment. And as your kids get older and get cars of their own, a large driveway will provide parking space and room to come and go. To help in your search for a larger home to fit your large family, enlist the help of a trusted real estate company and realtor to help find the right home. Creative Living 50 Digest.indd 71/24/19 11:39 AMAsk me how I can get you started with Beth Ritter The Real Estate Book 570.656.7979 bethritter07@gmail.com TM REB.FILLER.HOME.ACTIONS.qxp_FILLER2 8/21/19 11:30 AM Page 1 Experience isn’t expensive... it’s priceless! Text Any R Code on These Photos to 52187 For More Information On Each Home and Instant Viewing On Your Mobile Phone. Jennifer Ace RE/MAX of the Poconos Direct: 570.460.3111 • Office: 570.421.2345 Email: Jennifer@JenniferAce.com Sold with Multiple Offers! Charming Cape-Cod set on 1.33 Acres on a quiet cul-de-sac, in a No Due Neighborhood. PM-77822 RBFLFLS SOLD Glenbrook Location Sold with Multiple Offers! PM-77596 RBFKQHV SOLD Exquisite custom built Ranch With over 3600SF of living space & nestled 10+ acres with pond & mature landscaping 2,496 SF Pole Barn equipped 4 oversized bay doors. Embrace the serenity that defines the Pocono Mountains lifestyle! PM-77731 RBFKYSK Ultra-Convenient location! Minutes from St. Luke's Medical Center, Commuter friendly to Routes 80, 33, 209 & 611. You will love the natural cedar siding, spacious open layout, hardwood floors! Enjoy a spa-like retreat in the newly redesigned master bath Large flat yard. Offered at $239,000 PM-79415 RBFQPQQ Seven Spring Farm Built Circa 1865 nestled on 17.8 acres in Poplar Valley. Striking views. Located Minutes from New Jersey, Rt 80 & Hospitals. $669,900 PM-79433 RBFQRLH 17 ACRES Hamilton Township Ranch No Dues & Low Taxes! $239,000 PM-78106 RBFLYJB SOLD Brick Quinn RE/MAX of the Poconos Direct: 570.517.3686 • Office: 570.421.2345 Email: brickq@ptd.net When Results Are Important To you Text Any R Code on These Photos to 52187 For More Information On Each Home and Instant Viewing On Your Mobile Phone. Private Setting Remodeled Ranch Home Featuring 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Spacious Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Eat-In Kitchen, 1st Floor Laundry, 2 Offices, A Full Unfinished Basement With French Drain, And Over 9 Acres Of Privacy Highlight This Home. $315,000. PM-78413 RBFMTVX Large Split Level Home Offering A Spacious Living Rm, Large EIK W/Island & Walk In Pantry, Relaxing Sun Porch & 3rd Level MBR With Full Bath, 1st Floor Family Rm, 2-Car Attached & 2-Car Detached Garages All On Just Over An Acre. $285,000. PM-74202 RBDSTNR REDUCED Mountain Retreat Whether Your Looking For An Investment Property Or A Family Retreat This 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home Is Waiting. Partially Finished Walk Out Basement With Lg Family Room, Laundry & Rough Plumbing For 3rd Bath. Home Has Been Freshly Painted & Being Sold Furnished. $230,000. PM-76288 RBFCDWD Lg 4 BR, 3 BA Bi-Level on 1.2 Acres. Highly Efficient Ceramic Electric Heating System, Central Vacuum, EIK, Dining Room & A 4-Season Sun Room. LL Family Room, 2- Car Garage, Paved Driveway & A Chain Link Fence W/Privacy Slats All In A No Dues Neighborhood. $225,000. PM-79148 RBFPVWQ JUST LISTED 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath Contemporary With A Stone Fireplace, Cathedral Ceiling, Open Floor Plan, Private Grilling Deck, Master Bedroom With WIC & Full Bath, C/A And A 1-Car Oversize Garage. $199,000 Text R1029497 to 52187 $209,000. PM-62657 RBDDDPD Looking For Your New Mountain Getaway - This 4 BR, 2.5 BA Home Offers A Stone Gas FP, Wall Of Windows & Cathedral Ceilings. Lg Deck, Dining Area, Sun Rm w/Access To The Grilling Deck, Family Rm, Patio, 2-Car Garage And A Gemini Security System. $174,900. PM-75528 RBDYWPQ UNDER CONTRA CT Please Say You Saw It In The Real Estate Book POCONOS #31-10 - Page 27 Home buying can be both exciting and stressful. After all, there are so many factors that impact your decision, from the liveli- ness of a neighborhood to the quality of a local school district. But, an area’s affordability usually ranks among a home buy- er’s most pressing concerns. When estimating the total cost of living of a home in a given area, there’s more to consider than the mortgage. Don’t forget about property taxes, that annual fee you’ll be paying as long as you own the property. Even if the price may seem manage- able on paper, sizable property taxes could cut into your dis- posable income more than you might initially expect. Creative Living 50 Digest.indd 21/24/19 11:43 AMHOW PROPERTY TAXES WORK While the specifi c property taxes you face might differ signifi cantly by local market, there are some general sim- ilarities that anyone looking to buy a home should understand. That way, you might be able to fi nd an effec- tive way to minimize your property tax burden. HOW PROPERTY TAX IS CALCULATED Property tax is calculated as a per- centage of the appraised monetary value of a piece of property. It is col- lected by state and local governments in the United States and most prop- erty tax receipts go towards funding public services such as education, law enforcement, and local infrastructure. The property tax rate (sometimes referred to as the “millage rate”) is determined by local governments. A municipality will hire a tax assessor to estimate the current market value of a property. Property tax is then applied only on the assessed value, not on the purchase price. Property tax is usually applied only on real property, although personal property can sometimes be subject to property tax as well. Real property is defi ned as land and buildings, while personal property includes items like cars and boats that might occupy the real property. Imagine that you live in an area with a 2% property tax rate on real proper- ty. Following a real estate appraisal of $100,000, you will then face $2,000 in annual property taxes, calculated by multiplying the 2% property tax rate on the $100,000 assessed property value. Now imagine there is a property tax increase from 2% to 2.5% in your mu- nicipality. Assuming no change in the appraisal value of your property, your property taxes will now jump to $2,500. If the appraisal on your prop- erty simultaneously comes in high- er at $110,000, you would now face a property tax burden of $2,750. It’s important to pay attention to the expected future value of a proper- ty you might be looking to purchase as well as the property tax rates of that area. And, if current urban hous- ing trends are any indication, expect those taxes to only increase when purchasing property in one of the cit- ies with the fastest rising real estate prices in the U.S. This means that while the estimated current market value of the property may increase, you will have to shoulder a heavier property tax burden in the meantime. PROPERTY TAX FORECASTING TRENDS FOR 2019 The Tax Foundation recently released their 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index and has provided separate property tax analysis, which is an intu- itive way to see how your state com- pares to others over the last few years. Heading into 2019, states like Arkan- sas, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wy- oming have fallen in the property tax rankings, while Alaska and Delaware gained a whopping fi fteen and eleven places respectively from 2018. With that said, North Dakota still ranks 6th amongst all 50 states, so it’s im- portant to consider the absolute rank of each state in addition to its year- over-year change. For those looking for detailed property tax information across the entire U.S., the Lincoln Insti- tute has published an expansive study comparing property taxes across all states in 2017. So, when estimating the cost of pur- chasing a new home, don’t forget to factor in property taxes as an un- avoidable recurring expense. To do so, you must understand how prop- erty taxes work and what to look for when evaluating the affordability of a neighborhood. No matter what the price tag of your new home, understanding proper- ty taxes, and how they might fl uctu- ate year over year, is the surest way to keeping your fi nances fi rmly under control. Creative Living 50 Digest.indd 31/24/19 11:43 AMNext >