(Photo Credit: Christopher Burns)
In a normal housing market, whether you’re buying or selling a home, you need an experienced guide to help you navigate the process. You need someone you can turn to who will tell you how to price your home correctly right from the start. You need someone who can help you determine what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a low-ball offer.
We are, however, in anything but a “normal market” right now. The media is full of stories about an impending recession, a trade war with China, and constant political upheaval. Each of these potential situations could dramatically impact the real estate market. To successfully navigate the landscape today, you need more than an experienced guide. You need a ‘Real Estate Sherpa!’
A Sherpa is a “member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering.”&nbs. ...

Learning the lingo of home buying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home.  From APR to P&I, you need to know the acronyms that will come up along the way, and what they mean when you hear them.  
We are here to help you feel informed from start to finish, so here's a quick 'Home Buying Acronyms 101' lesson to increase your home buying confidence!

5 Home Buying Acronyms You Need To Know
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Annual cost of borrowing money based on the loan amount, interest rate, and certain other fees.
FRM (Fixed-Rate Mortgage)
Interest rate that doesn't change during the entire term of your loan.
DTI (Debt-to-Income)
Percentage of your monthly income that goes toward your monthly debt payments.
PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
Insurance that protects lenders from losses if a homeowner is unable to pay their mortgage. It's required for homebuyers who make down payments less than 20% of the home purchase price.
P&I (Prin! ...

(Image credit: Lark & Linen)

You might have heard she was voted 'Best Residential Real Estate Agent' in Eastern Jackson County the last three years in a row, but did you know our broker Amy Arndorfer has barista skills, too?  
Basic or not, Amy knows that when autumn rolls around, many of us dream of enjoying a tasty pumpkin spice latte from our favorite coffee shop.  She also knows it can be expensive to support that habit, so Amy's sharing a Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe with us.  Now, we can make our own how we want, when we want, and save some money.  Thanks for thinking of us, Amy!

Amy's Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus a bit for the garnish
Freshly ground black pepper 
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or more or less, to taste)
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk
1 or 2 shots espresso (about a quarter cup) or 1/3 to 1/2 cup of very strong bl! ...

Each year, our friends at Sandy's Restaurant make it their mission to donate 10% of their sales for 6 WEEKS to help meet specific needs of the amazing people in our community.  Their focus for 2019 is to raise $15,000 to pay off local student lunch debt and help participants in the weekend 'Meals on Wheels' program.
Premium Realty Group is so honored to sponsor this wonderful, community-centered event!  
The big kick-off is Saturday, October 12, so stop by Sandy's Restaurant between 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM to get your car "striped" to show support, see the DARE car, meet & greet with local celebrities, see a car cruise, and more.  Oh, and enjoy a hearty meal, of course.
Remember, when you dine at Sandy's between Saturday, October 12 and Saturday, November 23, you're giving back to those in need.  So gather your family and friends and head on over to Sandy's as often as you can during those 6 weeks to help them meet that wonderful goal for our community!


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Purchasing a home is most likely the largest financial investment most of us will make in our lifetime, so it's essential to be wise during the process.  Consider these 10 strategies to set yourself up for a successful home-buying process... and a smart long-term investment.  


1. Buy for the long haul
A home is a BIG investment.  Buy a home you'll want to live in for at least five years; a home equipped (or soon to be equipped) with the features and space you need, both now and in the future.

2. Buy to improve your life, not speculate with money
Your home is more than a financial investment; it’s where you eat, sleep, host friends, raise your kids... it’s where your life happens!
The housing market is too unpredictable to buy a primary home purely because you think it will net a large short-term financial return.  You'll most likely be living in this home for several years, regardless of how it appreciates, so your first priority should be f) ...