West Conshohocken (Conshy!)

Where to live, invest and possibly raise a family is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Everyone has different wishes and needs,  so it's difficult to pursuade someone why one particular town may be the BEST.  It's a very subjective and personal decision.
What factors should you consider? How do you start narrowing it down? MoneyCrashers.com put together a list of things to think about that I find helpful, especially if you're relocating to a new town.

1. Affordability

No matter what your pay grade is, living comfortably and within your means should be your first concern. Affordability includes more than just housing expenses; the prices for consumable goods, like groceries, vary greatly from town to town. The price of gasoline, utility services including electric and water, and taxes, also varies.

2. Taxes

Consider local sales tax, income tax, and tax credits and exemptions when you’re looking for the perfect place to live. Did you know that there are five states that have no sales taxes? That’s right: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon don’t collect sales tax for retail sales and some services. In addition, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming don’t collect individual income taxes.

3. Employment Opportunities

Do your research before you move, and ideally, find a job before you relocate. Employment opportunities vary from state to state and city to city, so spend some time researching the job markets in different areas of the country. Start by analyzing quality employment opportunities within your industry, then determine where the highest concentration of these jobs are located.

4. Real Estate Value

With real estate in a constant state of flux, it’s important to research current home prices, the length of time homes are for sale, the resale values of homes, and probable long-term value estimates.

In addition, carefully review local housing price trends. Websites like Zillow.com and Trulia.com can help you gain a grasp of the local real estate market. (and my website www.KellySteyn.com!)

5. Crime Rates and Statistics

By researching the crime rates and statistics for various areas, you can learn more about the safety of a town or neighborhood. You can also check out Crime Reports, which lets you review crime statistics for different neighborhoods.

Keep in mind that just because an area is safe today does not guarantee that it will be safe in the future. The long-term stability for a neighborhood can be a determining factor in how safe your surroundings are. Also, consider the future development of a particular location as you narrow down your choices.

6. Proximity to Family and Friends

Do you have a large extended family? Do you spend the holidays with your family and friends? These are important factors to consider when choosing where to live.

If extended family and friends are important to you, choose a place either within driving distance or within a reasonable distance by plane. 

7. Climate

The climate plays a large role in our lives as it impacts our hobbies, behavior, and sometimes even our jobs. Living in the climate in which you are most comfortable contributes to your mental health, so choose wisely!

8. Education System

Nonprofit websites like GreatSchools are a great source for parents looking for the ideal schools for their children. The quality of the public schools factors into your finances, too, since tuition for a private school can be extremely expensive.

9. Culture

If you crave constant cultural stimulation, you definitely want to choose a place that has a lot of cultural offerings. If you enjoy being around a specific religious or ethnic community with your same beliefs and interests, this should be a factor in where you choose to live.

10. Commute Time and Public Transportation Options

The length of time it takes to get to work can be a determining factor in the decision to move to a new locale. With gas prices rising and commute times becoming longer, utilizing public transportation options like light rail, train, or bus can be an inexpensive, time-saving way for you and your family to get around.

11. Food Options

If you’re a foodie, you may want to try to find a place to live near the ocean or near a metropolitan city center.

12. Town or City Size

If you enjoy a friendly wave from everyone you pass while driving to the post office, then a smaller town is definitely for you. If you wish to remain relatively anonymous, a larger town or a big city is better suited to your personality.

13. Healthcare Facilities

Easy access to good healthcare can increase your quality of life exponentially, so be on the lookout for towns and cities with good hospitals and medical schools.

14. Proximity to an Airport

If you travel a lot, you may need to live within close proximity of an airport. 

Read the full article:
http://www.moneycrashers.com/where-should-i-live-decide-best-places/

Recently, my town was ranked "Best Suburb to Buy a Home" but Niche.com. This was very exciting and I've been sharing with everyone! :)
Why did my husband and I decide to buy here? Top of the list was; property taxes, convenience to major roads, affordability, good schools and walking distance to things we like to do- restaurants & parks. The home needed work, but Location Location Location won us over!
Here are the Top 5 Towns that made the list:

Best Suburbs to Buy a Home

1. West Conshohocken, PA
2. Waukee, IA
3. Centerton, AR
4. Chapin, SC
5. Fishers, IN

For more rankings, check out: https://local.niche.com/rankings/?source=release

Own a House? You may want to own Life Insurance too

Buying a home is a large purchase, often someones most expensive purchase they'll make! You worked hard to save for your home, rental property or second home. So what happens if something unexpected happens to you? Your surviving family members will be emotionally stressed and grieving, having life insurance can hopefully eliminate any extra financial stress during this time.

I'm a worse case scenario person and I do think about the "what ifs'." (That can be good and bad depending on the situation, I know) I have many friends, acquaintances and colleagues that tend to block out the thought of unexpected illness and death. It is not pleasant to think about, but I truly believe it's necessary to be prepared.

Essentially you purchase mortgage life insurance so that in an event of sudden death, funds are available to meet your outstanding mortgage balance. This type of insurance can greatly affect your surviving spouse, partner and family options.

I'm not an insurance broker nor an expert. But I'm confident Alison Hartrum with New York Life can help you and your specific needs. There is no harm in asking!

Alison M. Hartrum

Financial Services Professional
Agent, New York Life Insurance Company

Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency

555 East City Ave

Suite 800

Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Cell: (908) 752-7646

Office: (610) 617-4493

Be sure to 'like' her Facebook page!

Smelly Smoke Houses

As a non cigarette smoker, you may not realize or believe people still smoke in their homes.  I've even spoken to smokers and some have stopped or never did light up in their home or even car. But trust me, over the years I've shown many smoke filled houses. 

While house hunting, have you ever walked in to a house and couldn't bear the smell? Maybe it's even turned you off from looking at the rest of the property. Honestly, it shouldn't be a deal breaker (maybe a negotiating tool though!) if you know what can be done to eliminate the smell. 

Smoke stays in furniture, clothes, window drapes and rugs. Once the home is vacant of those items, the smell honestly may not be too horrendous. 
I've researched some tips on getting the smell out of a home after it's empty:

• Walls Scrub your walls with a mixture of ammonia or vinegar and water.
• Carpet Spread a dry carpet cleaner with granules on your carpet and let it sit for an hour. When done, vacuum it up [source: Heloise]. 
  
• Furniture Simply sprinkle baking soda on your furniture, and allow it to sit for a while, soaking up the smoky smell. Vacuum up the baking soda after a few hours, and the smoky smell should be gone [source: Reader's Digest].
• House Place several bowls of white or cider vinegar, which have the strongest scent of all vinegars, throughout the house. The vinegar odor will permeate the house, and the smoke odor should be gone in less than a day. If you want to speed the process, soak a towel with vinegar and wave it around the room [source: Readers Digest].

Wiki also has a step by step tutorial:

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Smoke-Smell-out-of-Your-House