When it comes to home remodeling, there are very few design decisions you can make that are sure to stand the test of time. While it can be tempting to opt for trendy renovations (open shelving anyone?), there’s no guarantee that they next buyer – or your future self – will share the same preference. We’re all painfully aware that the future is tough to predict, but there are a handful of decisions you can make on home improvements that won’t keep you up at night, regardless of market forces.
Infrastructure
When it comes to remodeling, there are fewer sure-fire bets than investing in a home’s infrastructure. Investing in updated electrical and HVAC systems, siding, plumbing, insulation, and windows can yield tremendous ROI for homeowners whether they’re dwelling or selling. These systems are often hidden behind walls and under floors, so they’re easy to ignore. However, neglecting your home’s infrastructure can lead to inconvenient and costly repairs and can be hazardous to your family’s health and safety. There’s a reason home inspectors spend most of their time in attics and crawlspaces – the overall health of your home has less to do with aesthetics and more to do with what’s behind the scenes.
Storage
Storage is a consideration that can be easily overlooked when you’re imagining your dream living space, which is almost by design – practical and efficient storage is meant to be out of sight, out of mind. Whether you plan to stay in your home or sell in the near future, sacrificing storage space is a decision you’ll likely regret. If your remodel demands eliminating a hall closet, make sure you have a plan to reorganize and add that storage back elsewhere. It’s impossible to predict what life changes your home might need to accommodate in the future, and if you plan to sell, ample storage will be a plus for practically any prospective buyer.
Lighting
It can be tempting to see lighting as an afterthought, but in actuality lighting should be a starting point, as it impacts every detail in a room. Take time to research and create a lighting plan that best accentuates the features of your home, taking into account natural light and ways to implement accent lighting. When the time comes to implement your plan, you can’t go wrong with a licensed electrician who can ensure all changes are up to code.
Running the Numbers on Refinancing
Deciding whether or not to refinance an existing mortgage typically means running some numbers. You can do this on your own, but it’s helpful to get the professional assistance of a loan officer. It mostly boils down to how much you’ll save each month, but there are other considerations.
First, the change in rate isn’t everything. Old school rules say that it’s a good idea to refinance if current market rates are 1% or 2% lower than what you currently have, but the rate is only a part of it. The other component is the amount being financed. For larger loan amounts, a reduction of only 0.5% might make sense. For smaller loan amounts, 2% may not be enough.
Instead, calculate the monthly savings and then divide that amount into the closing costs associated with the mortgage. The result is how many months it will take to ‘recover’ the closing costs in the form of monthly savings. Pay less attention to the actual rate but instead how long it will take to get your closing costs back.
Take a loan amount of $300,000 over 30 years with a rate of 4.50%. The principal and interest payment works out to $1,520 per month. If current market rates are at 3.5%, the new payment would be $1,347 for a savings of $173 per month. If closing costs were $3,000, then it would take just over 17 months to recover the associated fees. Not bad. If the loan amount were $100,000 under the same scenario, the monthly savings would be $57 and recovered in 52 months, or more than four years. Probably not a good idea in that situation.
There are other considerations outside of month-to-month savings. Let’s say you’re less concerned about lowering your monthly payments, and you’re more interested in paying off your house faster. In this scenario, it may make sense to refinance at an even lower interest rate on a 15-year mortgage. You’ll pay more per month, but you can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
If you’re wondering whether a refi makes sense for you, reach out! I’ll be happy to answer any questions and can refer you to a mortgage professional when you’re ready to crunch some numbers.
