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You’ll find our blog to be a wealth of information, covering everything from local market statistics and home values to community happenings. That’s because we care about the community and want to help you find your place in it. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. We’d love to talk with you!

Sept. 27, 2021

10 Ways to Know Your New Neighborhood is Safe

Finding a safe neighborhood to call home is an important priority for most shoppers. It's always wise to get an idea of a neighborhood's safety before you buy a home.

Living in a safe neighborhood means more opportunities for recreation, more chances to get involved in the community, and less stress when you spend time away from home. Our real estate agents know what it takes to spot a safe neighborhood, and we've put together 10 proven tips to help you do the same.

10 Signs to Tell You if a Neighborhood Is Safe

  1. Kids Playing Outdoors
    Families are especially interested in safe neighborhoods, because they want their children to be able to play outdoors, and make friends with others in the area. So if you see a lot of families hanging outdoors, that's a positive sign that you're in a safe neighborhood.
  2. A Healthy Local Business Scene
    If you arrive in a neighborhood to find a ton of closed businesses and abandoned storefronts, you may learn that those businesses chose to leave for a reason. If you find an active, thriving local business scene, you may have found a safe neighborhood.
  3. Police Presence
    When it comes to the police presence in a neighborhood, it's often more promising to see a small, consistent force on patrol. Too much police presence could be a sign that a neighborhood is less than safe.
  4. Crime Rates
    While crime rates don't tell you the whole story, they're easy to look up and can tell you quite a bit about a neighborhood before you visit. So if one of the neighborhoods on your list has sky-high crime rates, it may be best to cross it off.
  5. Friendly Neighbors
    Enjoying time with friendly, welcoming neighbors is one of the perks of buying homes in Columbia, MO, and friendly neighbors are also a sign of a safe neighborhood. If those neighbors often organize community, all the better.
  6. Neighborhood Watch
    An active neighborhood watch is a strong sign that the people living in the neighborhood care about safety. It's nice to know that others are looking out for the neighborhood, whether you're home or on the road.
  7. Real Estate Trends
    When you arrive in the neighborhood, is every home on the block up for sale? That is likely a sign that something is wrong, and an unsafe neighborhood will often prompt residents to sell in large numbers.
  8. Strong Schools
    Families love shopping in neighborhoods with strong school districts and a large number of families is frequently an indicator of a safe neighborhood. Bonus points if families in the area are happy to tell you all about the school district, and the neighborhood.
  9. Home Insurance Rates
    Speaking with your home insurance agent is a great way to get feedback on neighborhoods because insurance is all about managing risks. So it will often cost more to insure a home in an unsafe neighborhood, and less to insure a home in a safe neighborhood.
  10. A Grand Tour
    There are different tools you can use to spot a safe neighborhood, but there's no substitute for visiting first-hand. Make time to explore the neighborhoods on your list – both during the day and at night – to form your own impressions.

Shopping for a safe neighborhood in Columbia, MO? We'd love to lend a hand! Contact Columbia Real Estate to buy, sell, and learn about homes in the Columbia, MO area.

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Sept. 13, 2021

How to Sell Your Home for the Most Money

Pro Tips to Sell Your Home for the Most Money

When you put your home on the market, it's natural to want it sold fast and for the best price possible. Of course, a profitable home sale doesn't just happen. From the moment you decide to sell, you should consider your home a full-time project. You must follow a step-by-step readiness plan until your sale is a done deal.

Our real estate agents are seasoned professionals. We understand that no agent can guarantee a maximum profit, but these suggestions can help you sell your home for the most money possible.

Find the Right REALTOR®

It's easier to sleep soundly at night when you're working with the right realtor. You never want to find out six months into the marketing process that your realtor doesn't have the experience to meet your needs from pre-listing to closing.

  • Pre-listing recommendations
  • Home staging assistance
  • Home photography
  • Initial pricing and listing details
  • Open house hosting
  • Online and offline marketing
  • Bid, buy, sale, and closing document execution

Create Curb Appeal

If you plan to put your home on the market sometime in the future, get started right now on curb appeal. Find a realtor with the expertise to advise you on necessary maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. Tidy and beautify your grounds and landscaping. Repair and seal damaged walkways and driveways. Add inexpensive landscape lighting to give your home elegant nighttime appeal. DIY the tasks or schedule professionals to make sure you get the work done.

Charm buyers with great staging

When you've lived in a home for a long time, you accumulate a lot of stuff that distracts buyers from seeing the value in your home. Get rid of the clutter and personal items before the first home buyer walks in the door. Consider hiring a staging expert to lighten, brighten, and redo your interior or seek your realtor's advice on what to keep and what to pitch.

Price Appropriately

Overpricing may run potential buyers away when you're hoping for a quick sale. Too low a price might have them wondering what's wrong with your home. To avoid pricing pitfalls listen to your agent and do comparables research so you can price your home right on the first attempt.

Acquire Open-House Flexibility

If you want to sell your home, you have to let potential buyers inside to see what you're offering. If you're too busy to schedule an open house or private showing, buyers might decide you're an open house snob or too busy to be bothered. Work it out with your realtor. before you miss out on a sale.

Respond Promptly

If a qualified buyer asks a critical question or makes a legitimate offer on your home, they probably don't want to wait too long for you to get back to them. Buyers usually want fast feedback. You must answer questions and say yes or no to offers so your agent can negotiate a deal.

Be Ready to Close

If a qualified buyer wants to sign a sales contract right now, then close and move in next week, just do it! If they're offering the price you want and your agent can arrange the details, schedule the closing, hire some movers, and get out.

We Are Experienced Professionals

Selling your home can be complicated and time-consuming, but we can make it easier. Contact Century 21 Community if you're buying or selling a home in the Columbia area. If you're not quite ready to put your home on the market, visit our Home Selling Guide for tips on selling your home. We'll be ready when you are.

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Aug. 30, 2021

7 Steps for First-time Home Buyers in Columbia

Buying your first home is a life-changing event. For most people, it's the culmination of a long process. And the sooner you get start planning the process, the better. There's a lot to do when you're buying a home, but it can all be done one little bit at a time.

  1. Start Saving for a Down Payment
    For access to some of the most favorable home mortgage loans, you need to be able to offer at least a 20% down payment. In fact, many of the best programs only become accessible to buyers with about a 30% down payment. The bigger your down payment, the more you'll save in the long run, even if some of these higher figures aren't in your budget.
  2. Review Your Credit
    Your credit history is maintained by a number of credit reporting bureaus. As the recent huge data breach at Equifax shows, they can make mistakes! Review your credit history by accessing a copy of your credit report, which you can get free of charge once every calendar year. Take a look at this information to make sure your credit isn't adversely affected by mistaken identity.
  3. Find First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs
    Even if you can't muster a big down payment, there are many programs especially for first-time home buyers that will help you achieve your goals. Some of these are federal programs, while others might be available in your state or city. When comparing different lenders, be sure you are working with one who can offer the type of program you are interested in.
  4. Compare Mortgage Rates and Options
    If you are using a first-time home buyer program, then you might have only a single mortgage package to consider. In most cases, however, you'll want to compare several different options to make sure you are enjoying the best deal. In particular, you'll want to be certain you are getting the lowest Annual Percentage Rate (APR) possible. Also, consider 15- versus 30-year mortgages.
  5. Narrow Down Your Neighborhood and Other Options
    It might not be time to start looking at individual listings yet, but you can still get an idea of what's out there. You can start by coming up with a list of amenities that your home absolutely must have: Not just features of the property itself, but the local area. Taking this step now and doing research into potential neighborhoods could save you weeks of effort down the line.
  6. Get a Mortgage Pre-approval
    Pre-qualified just means you have an estimate of how much a lender may be willing to offer you based on your income and debt. If you want the flexibility to move forward on a home, the next step is pre-approval – a solid, written commitment from a lender that includes an amount and rates. You aren't committed to taking on the loan, but sellers will take you much more seriously.
  7. Engage the Right Real Estate Expert
    In this fast-paced world of online self-service, finding the right home isn't a job you should tackle by yourself. A good local real estate agent will accelerate the process and help you ensure that you get the best deal possible at every step. Ultimately, you could save thousands of dollars and cut months off your timeline – and that can make the difference in getting your dream home.

Our real estate agents are experienced professionals who have helped people from all backgrounds and walks of life to find amazing homes in Columbia. Contact Century 21 Community today to get your home search started.

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Aug. 16, 2021

Buyers Beware: Last-Minute Credit Checks Are Real

Have you already done the hard work to secure a mortgage, find the right home, and negotiate a deal that works for all parties? Then the last thing that you want is for a last-minute hitch to throw a wrench in the process. One of the final hurdles to clear is the last-minute credit check that lenders do before closing, and it's important to be prepared. Lenders want to protect themselves from default, and the last-minute credit check is one final test to make sure you're ready to pay your mortgage. Our real estate agents are here to help you prepare for the final credit check, and move one step closer to owning your next home.

How to Prepare for Your Final Credit Check Before Closing

If you've scouted Columbia homes for sale, gotten pre-approved for a mortgage, and negotiated a deal for your target home, then you're already close to the finish line. The last-minute credit check is one of your final milestones to clear, and taking the time to prepare is the key to passing this final test.

Why Do Lenders Require a Final Credit Check?

Since there can be a long gap between the time you get pre-approved for a mortgage and the time you close on a home, lenders want to make sure that your credit is still in good shape at closing. Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio helps lenders decide whether you're prepared to make mortgage payments, and lenders typically want to see a DTI of 43 percent or less. So the final credit check is a way to make sure you haven't added significant debt – or had other credit issues – in the time between pre-approval and closing.

The final credit check is one more chance for lenders to avoid a mortgage with a high chance of default, and negative changes in credit can result in higher interest rates or even cause the lender to pull the offer. Fortunately, there's no need to stress as long as you're prepared for the process.

Simple Tips to Prepare for Your Final Credit Check before Closing

Since you've already gone through the process of pre-approval, passing the final credit check is really about avoiding the things that lenders don't want to see. If your DTI is already hovering around that 43 percent mark, it's especially important to make sure your credit will be ready to pass the final test.

  • Avoid Big Purchases with Credit – Taking on more loans before closing is likely to raise red flags with lenders, especially if you're financing a major purchase. So if you're thinking of buying a vehicle, an appliance, or something else big, then your best bet will be to wait on making those purchases until after you've closed on the home.
  • Don't Open New Lines of Credit – No matter how appealing the initial terms, opening new lines of credit before closing could put your loan in jeopardy. Again, it's simply best to wait until after you close.
  • Inquiries Matter, Too – Even if you don't open any new lines of credit, lenders may check to see if you've been inquiring about major financing for other purchases. These inquiries show up on your credit report and may cause the lender to think twice if you're already close to the DTI limit.

Are you shopping for a home, and searching for a real estate team who will be there to help during every step in the process? Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Columbia, MO area.

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Aug. 2, 2021

Home Buyer Advice: How to Write a Winning Purchase Offer

Use These 5 Tips in Your Buying Strategy to Close on Your Dream Home

You are about to make a major financial investment and a life-changing decision by purchasing a home. Once you've found that perfect home, approach the offer-making stage of the process with a sound strategy, and find yourself closing the deal with confidence. Understanding the market is what our real estate agents do best, and we're here to help you find your ideal property and share the following insights into making a sound and successful offer to purchase.

  1. Do Your Homework
    It's advisable to know as much as you can about the home you intend to buy before you put your initial offer on the table. A Comparative Market Analysis or CMA will give you an in-depth look at the home's value in relation to comparable properties in the area. The CMA is a valuable tool, as it considers not only homes that are currently on the market, but also properties that have recently sold as well as those with pending sales. Having the home inspected is important not only to validate the value it holds but to also identify any potential repairs that should be considered when making an offer.
  2. Have Your Documents In Order
    Knowing what you can afford is a must, and for many prospective home buyers, the best way to firm up your budget is to obtain a pre-approval from your lending institution. Once you have that, you'll want to present this verification on paper to the seller along with your initial offer. Bank statements, proof of income and funds availability for down payment, and an official underwriting approval are other documents you should have ready to submit as well. Letting the seller know that you are able to back up your offer goes a long way in the negotiation process.
  3. Think Your Decision Through, But Don't Hesitate Too Long
    Time is of the essence when making an offer on a home, especially when that home is the one you've got your heart set on now. If you've prepared yourself with a pre-approval and researched the home well, you're ready to make your move. There's no guarantee that someone else won't beat you to the punch and submit an unbeatable offer. Get your offer out there quickly to ensure that it's seen and seriously considered.
  4. Get The Seller's Attention
    Letting the seller know you mean business begins with an offer that says you're ready to buy. A low ball offer will probably send a message to the seller that you aren't a serious buyer and may even take you out of contention without further consideration. Give the seller a respectable and realistic offer that you both can live with while leaving yourself a little room for flexibility in case of a bidding war with other potential buyers or a counteroffer from the seller.
  5. The Power Of Personal Connection
    The seller may have an emotional connection to the home they're selling, and believe it or not, may be more willing to deal with someone who recognizes that attachment and is willing to express their own connection to the property. A cover letter sent along with your offer can be used to express why you love the home and how you envision your future life there. Often this simple yet personal touch may put your offer in a much better position for consideration and acceptance, giving the seller the assurance that their home will be as special for you as it is for them.

Contact Century 21 Community, and we'll show you the best in Columbia homes for sale and make finding your perfect home a priority.

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July 19, 2021

Seller Advice: Find Out the Benefits of a Prelisting Inspection

Avoid Home-Selling Surprises with a Prelisting Inspection

The home-selling process can undoubtedly be full of surprises, but investing in a prelisting inspection will potentially save you both time and worry as well as helping you avoid some of those surprises. Prospective buyers interested in Columbia homes for sale will know that you are confident in your home's value when our real estate agents are able to present them with the results of the inspection. Here are few advantages of a prelisting inspection.

Uncover Potential Problems Before You List

Having the inspection performed before you list could save you time and money. Any needed repairs or improvements that are found during the inspection can be completed before you list, and likely at a more affordable rate than the buyer might assume. Instead of negotiating the cost of repairs to be reflected in the selling price, taking care of it yourself may help keep money in your pocket. It may also save you the stress of trying to take care of the repair quickly during negotiations with a buyer.

Firm Up Your Asking Price

A home inspection is another resource that will help you decide the true value of your home. If there are potential issues and you choose not to take care of them in favor of letting the buyer do the repairs, this may give you a reason to lower the asking price. It's possible to have the inspection show that your home is in better condition than you had assumed, and if so, you may actually be able to adjust your listing price upwards. Either way, this step will give you extra information to help you stand confidently behind your asking price.

Build Trust and Confidence

When a potential buyer sees that you have taken the time to have the home inspected, it will likely give them a good impression. It tells them that you want to be open and honest in disclosing the inspection results and that you are basing your asking price, at least in part, on the prelisting inspection. Assuring the buyer that they will be working with a trustworthy seller goes a long way in getting your home sold.

Make Your Home Easier to Market

Your real estate agent is trained to market and, of course, sell your home. However, a prelisting inspection actually helps your agent do his or her job. They'll have the inspection results readily available to share with interested buyers, saving time and extra expense. Our real estate agents can even assist you in deciding how best to deal with any issues found during the inspection.

Ready to sell? Contact us at Century 21 Community, and let our courteous, professional team show you just how simple it can be!

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July 5, 2021

Seeing Double: Buying One Home and Selling Another

There is little doubt that buying a new home can be a huge undertaking, and if you are a homeowner who is planning to sell your current home during the same time frame, you are likely already feeling overwhelmed. Ideally, you don't want to find yourself paying two mortgages. Our real estate agents understand the pressures of buying and selling simultaneously, and we strive to make the experience as simple as possible for you. To help get you in a successful frame of mind, we've put together some ideas for you to consider as you begin the buying and selling process.

Facts and Figures First

It's wise to approach home buying and selling with a plan and armed with accurate information. Now is no time to be assuming when it comes to important numbers. Take your time and thoroughly research the housing market both in your current location and the area you are targeting for your next home. Knowing whether the market favors the buyer or seller in each area will help you define your strategy and set realistic goals.

Getting your home appraised by a professional before you list it gives you the advantage of knowing your home's true value. Of course, your home might be worth more than you think, but if it appraises for less than what you have in mind, it's better to know beforehand so that you have plenty of time to adjust your plan for selling and your budget for buying.

Before listing or making an offer is also the time to assess your budget and overall financial situation. This may seem complicated, considering the variables of changing markets and timing issues, but knowing what you are willing to accept for your home will ultimately affect what you are going to invest when you buy.

Explore Available Options

While timing is important, especially trying to bridge the gap between selling and buying or vice versa, it rarely works out perfectly. If you sell your home before buying, you won't have to worry about a double mortgage payment, but you may have to consider interim housing options until you are able to purchase your new home. A short-term rental may be a viable solution if you haven't found the home you want to buy before your home sells. Another option is negotiating a rent-back agreement with the buyer of your home, which would allow you 1-3 months of staying in your home until you are ready to move and simply paying the new owner rent.

In the event that you buy a new home before your current home sells, you will need to have a strategy in place to account for the cost of mortgage payments on both homes. One idea to consider is a contingency option, that makes your new home purchase dependent on the sale of your current home. This works well if you are fairly certain the home will sell quickly. Explore the idea of a bridge loan with your lending institution to offset the burden of a down payment and mortgage payments until your home sells. This type of loan is short term and typically requires that the proceeds from your home sale be used as repayment. It may be a perfect solution if the timing between buying and selling isn't quite what you had anticipated.

Selling and buying at the same time is seldom a smooth experience, but being prepared both financially and mentally makes it much easier. Contact Columbia Real Estate today to discuss your goals, and discover why we are the experts in Columbia homes for sale!

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June 21, 2021

Buying a House in Columbia: What is a Contingent Offer?

Learning the Lingo Makes Home Buying Easier 

When you are ready to enter the home buying arena, it can quickly become overwhelming and downright confusing. Possessing a basic knowledge of real estate terms and concepts gives you more confidence during the buying process.

One often misunderstood word in the real estate world is "contingency." A contingency in a listing status or contract means that a particular condition must be met to proceed with the sale. Our real estate agents are here to guide you through the buying process, and we want you to know what this term means and how it could be a game changer. As you familiarize yourself with the different types of contingencies, you'll see how they could potentially work to your advantage.

  • Financial Contingency
    A financial contingency is run-of-the-mill, and it means that the home sale is contingent upon the prospective buyer's ability to obtain financing. With proof of mortgage loan approval from the buyer, the seller can break the purchase agreement without consequence.
  • Appraisal Contingency
    Obtaining a home appraisal is standard when purchasing a home, and an appraisal contingency puts the deal on hold until the appraisal results are in, and can either void the agreement or reopen selling price negotiations. If the home appraises for less than the initial agreed upon price, the buyer may ask the seller to lower the listing price to reflect its estimated value.
  • Inspection Contingency
    Along the same lines as the appraisal contingency, an inspection contingency allows for a home inspection before closing. If there are issues found with the home, the buyer may negotiate with the seller to make needed repairs before finalizing the sale.
  • Title Contingency
    Most buyers write a title contingency into the purchase agreement as protection if the property holds open liens. When the property has no issues with the title or "deed," both parties can move forward and into the closing process. Otherwise, the buyer can terminate the agreement.
  • Active-Kick Out
    The Active-Kick Out contingency means that the contract is only valid if the buyer can sell their current home typically within a short, specified time frame. This condition allows the seller to continue showing the home but still gives the buyer priority, although they usually have to act quickly to avoid voiding the agreement.
  • Active-First Right
    Commonly known as a Right of Refusal, an Active-First Right listing is another type of contingency. This instance happens when the seller makes an agreement with the prospective buyer, giving the buyer the option of matching any subsequent offers made on the home. A buyer uses this type of contingency when they must sell their current home before closing on another.

Columbia Real Estate Home Buying Professionals

Century 21 Community strives to make your home buying process as stress-free and efficient as possible, and our team of professionals is excited to speak with yo

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June 21, 2021

6 Reasons Why a Buyer Says No to Your Home

Selling your home is an important decision and our real estate agents can help guide you throughout the entire process. However, many people struggle with selling a home in a timely fashion because of a few common mistakes. If you are struggling with selling your home, here are six reasons why a potential buyer may not be interested in purchasing your home.

  1. Overpriced
    One of the main reasons that homes stay on the market for an extended period is due to the price of the home. An overpriced house is much more likely to remain on the market for an extended period, which makes the entire home selling process that much more difficult. However, you can avoid this scenario by contacting your real estate agent to discuss a competitive price that will allow you to renew interest in your home, while still getting a good deal.
  2. Unwilling to Negotiate
    It is always a good idea to have an open mind with buyers and be flexible enough to negotiate the price of your home or if you need to perform any additional repair work. Your real estate agent can advise you on the best course of action that will help you accommodate the requests of a buyer, which will ultimately lead to a successful closing.
  3. Too Much Clutter
    Another common reason for low interest in purchasing a home is due to too much clutter. Potential home buyers do not want to walk inside a house that is filled with personal belongings in every available space. Instead, it is much more effective to minimize the clutter and allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in the house without the added distractions of too many personal belongings.
  4. Unpleasant Odors
    Any unpleasant odors can make it much more difficult to sell your home. It is very easy to get used to the smell of your home if you smoke or own pets. However, it is essential to freshen up your home before you give interested home buyers a tour of your home. It is also a good idea to avoid cooking strong smelling food and to dispose of all garbage to ensure that your house will smell as fresh as possible.
  5. Negative First Impression
    The outside of the house and the yard is the first thing that prospective buyers notice. An overgrown lawn or messy yard can give a negative first impression and make it much more challenging to spark interest in your home. If the paint is peeling off the outside of your home, it may be a good idea to invest in painting your house to ensure that you give a good first impression with potential home buyers.
  6. Poor Lighting
    Poor lighting can make it much more challenging to sell your home, and it is a good idea to open up the window shades to provide as much natural light as possible. If a potential buyer is viewing your house at night, it is important to ensure that all of the lights are on for each room to provide as much lighting as possible to showcase your home.

Using these tips can help you sell your home much quicker and make the entire home selling process less stressful. Columbia Real Estate has years of experience in the real estate industry and can help you sell your Columbia home. If you are interested in selling your home and wish to learn more about our real estate services, contact us today.

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June 7, 2021

Home Buying Budget: Additional Fees Other Than Your Down Payment

If you think a down payment is all you need to seal the deal on your choice of Columbia homes for sale, you might be astonished by the financial surprises coming your way. The costs aren't exactly hidden, but with your new homeowner's euphoria, they're easy to overlook.

To minimize the financial surprises, our real estate agents want to share what we know to help you prepare for the additional costs you might not anticipate.

Crunching Your Home Buying Numbers

Closing Costs

Your financial surprises begin popping up before you finalize your offer. A Buyer's Inspection makes sure you didn't miss any home condition issues. You'll owe for lender-required services: an Appraisal to assess your home's value, a Land Survey, Credit Check, Underwriting and Origination fees, and Discount Points to lower your interest rate.

You'll also cover Document Preparation and County Recording fees. You'll foot the bill for insurance premiums: Title Insurance to cover title problems, Homeowners Insurance for home damage and personal liability, Mortgage Insurance for when your down payment is less than 20%, and Flood Insurance if you live in a floodplain.

Your mortgage company may require Escrow Fees to fund insurance, Property Taxes, and other annual costs. If you live in a condo, a co-op, or a neighborhood with an association, you may have to pay your annual fee assessment at closing.

One-Time Expenses

The closing is your introduction to your new world of fiscal obligations. As you prepare to move, you'll have several additional one-time expenses.

  • Moving costs
    Moving expenses vary depending on what you move, the distance to your new home, and your moving method. A truck rental/DIY is an easy way to trim your mounting costs. It can work as long as you have help and don't have to move too far. Otherwise, you'll need to contact a moving company for estimates and prepare to pay another big fee.
  • Home furnishings
    If you're moving from a small apartment to a much bigger home, you'll have space to fill. You probably shouldn't attempt to do it all at once, but you'll want at least enough furniture and accessories to minimize your home's unoccupied look.
  • Locksmith
    It's reasonable to feel uncomfortable when you know someone else has a key to your front door. You don't have to justify changing your locks.  It is an additional one-time homeownership cost for which to budget.

Forever Costs

Once you settle into your home, you'll have to budget for the additional costs you can expect to pay as long as you own the house.

  • Utilities
    Sign-up for utilities before you move. If you've never had water, electricity, or gas in your name, utility companies may require a one-time deposit before putting you on a monthly billing plan. Your service providers can estimate your home's average utility costs.
  • Security service
    If you want a local security company to set up a system in your home, you'll pay for equipment, professional installation, and a monthly fee. When you order an internet-based DIY security system, it is often less expensive.  You order the needed equipment, install it yourself and pay a monthly monitoring fee.
  • Landscaping
    Grass keeps on growing. Depending upon where you live, you may need to budget for winter snow removal. You can DIY your yard or hire a pro.
  • Emergency repair fund
    You'll need an untouchable fund for unexpected repair and maintenance costs. Experts recommend a total of one to three percent of your home's purchase price.

Your Columbia Real Estate Professional

Our real estate agents turn homeownership dreams into a reality. Contact Century 21 Community to buy or sell homes in Columbia.

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