WELCOME HOME

WELCOME HOME KAYLA HOUSTON Houston & Co Realty

WE CLOSED AND YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A HOMEOWNER ! NOW WHAT ... ? 1. SETUP YOUR NEW ADDRESS Inform your family, friends, the HR department at work, creditors, and the U.S. Post Office about the new address . 2. INSURE, THAT YOU'RE INSURED Your address can affect your car insurance, confirm with your insurance company that your car insurance is sufficient. 3. GET TO KNOW YOUR HOME In case of emergency, you definitely need to know where everything is ! The water shut - off valve , circuit box , etc. 4. SAFETY FIRST Make sure that before you move into your new home, you change all the locks , garage coples , and security codes. [email protected]

Seasonal Home Improvement Fall Maintenance Checklist Fall is the perfect season to tackle general home maintenance projects because the weather is generally dry and temperatures are moderate. Before you start your seasonal home maintenance checklist, examine both the interior and exterior of your home. Most of these tasks can be accomplished without the help of a professional, but it's always better to be safe and call for assistance if a project is beyond your abilities. Here are our seasonal home improvement recommendations for fall : Rake yard free of leaves. Check fireplace for damage or hazards, and clean fireplace flutes. Seal cracks/gaps in windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping; replace if necessary. Touch up exterior siding and trim with paint. Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks Power wash windows and siding. Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Mend cracks and gaps in driveway and walkway. Drain and winterize exterior plumbing. Tune-up major home appliances before the holidays Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon de detectors. Clean the carpets. Clean window and door screen Vacuum lent from the dryer vent. Inspect exterior door hardware, fix squeaky handles and lose locks. Wrap insulation around outdoor faucets and poes in unheated garages. Check water heater for leaks. [email protected]

Seasonal Home Improvement Spring Maintenance Checklist Once the ground has thawed and the trees begin to bud, it's time to prepare your home for spring. On top of your regular spring cleaning, you'll also want to consider these general upkeep tips. Use this spring home maintenance checklist to make sure everything in your home from the basement to the roof is in tip - top shape : Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks. Change the air - conditioner filter Clean window and door screens. Power - wash windows and siding. Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Have a professional inspect and pump the septic tank. Inspect sink, shower, and bath caulking for deterioration. Vacuum lint from the dryer vent. Inspect chimney for damage. Repair or replace caulking and weather stripping around windows, Remove the insulation from outdoor faucets and check sprinkler heads. Have air - conditioning system serviced Drain or flush water heater [email protected]

Seasonal Home Improvement Summer Maintenance Checklist When the sun is out and warm weather is finally here to stay , the last thing you should worry about is home maintenance. Use our quick summer home maintenance guide to get the hard work out of the way at the beginning of the season . Don't worry if the weather is already heating up ; most of these tasks are indoors : Oil garage - door opener and chain, garage door , and all door hinges Remove lint from inside and outside washer hoses Clean kitchen exhaust fan filter Clean refrigerator and freezer coils and empty clean drip trays. Check the dishwasher for leaks. Check around kitchen and bathroom cabinets and around toilets for leaks. Replace interior and exterior faucet and showerhead washers if needed. Seal tile grout, Prune trees and shrubs. [email protected]

Seasonal Home Improvement Winter Maintenance Checklist Winter weather can be harsh on your home. The below-freezing temperatures can cause a number of problems, including frozen pipes and roof damage. To prevent winter harm and avoid calling a professional in the middle of a blizzard, be sure to check these winter items off your home maintenance checklist : Cover your air conditioning unit. Inspect the roof, gutters, and downspouts, for damage after storms. Vacuum bathroom exhaust fan grill. Vacuum refrigerator and freezer coils and empty clean drip trays. Clean drains in sinks, tubs, showers, and dishwashers. [email protected]

TRUSTED VENDORS Appliance Repair Your Home Warranty Company Attorney Chavon D. Carr/281.501.0326/[email protected] Carpet Cleaning Karpet Kleaning and More / 832.407.3951 Contractors LG Contractors / Luis / 713.884.6486 Electrician Mustang Electric / Alan / 713.301.7891 713.992.1976 Handyman New Choice Handy Services / 281.995.2774 Heating and Cooling Allahar A / C / Glenn / 713.248.2055 House Cleaning Detail House Cleaning / 832.483.5721 Landscaping Houston Garden Lawn Care Services / 832.362.4586 Moving and Storage Green Light Movers / Robert Green / 832.929.6683 Painting Alfredo / 832.352.1207 [email protected] plumbing Got Flow Plumbing and A / C / 281.377.0810 **These are recommendations. Always properly vet any service provider

UTILITY PROVIDER [email protected] CONGRATULATIONS on your NEW HOME. Below are some utili providers specific to your area. Give them a call, get everything set up and let the NEW MEMORIES begin! ELECTRIC Energy Orge WATER City of Houston Neighborhood MUD District GAS Centerpoint Energy CABLE & INTERNET Comcast/Xfinity AT & T PHONE AT & T WELCOME HOME

HOMEOWNER MISTAKES AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID MAKING THEM Become a first-time homeowner is one of the most exciting and stressful times of your life, even after the closing papers have been signed and the key is in hand. Suddenly, you're faced with a whole new set of challenges on how to manage a home that's yours, not your landlord's. here are a lot of o opportunities to learn - and as you learn, mistakes will be made. Luckily, many new homeowner mistakes can be easily avoided with a little preparation. Don't let the following potential mistakes damper your excitement. Instead, plan ahead and keep these tips and tricks in mind as you learn the ropes of being a homeowner : 1. IGNORING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE You likely just did a walk - through with a licensed inspector during the home buying process , so you're aware of what issues need attention and which can wait . That's not where home maintenance stops . Home maintenance includes tasks you may have never thought of before, like cleaning the gutters , power - washing the house , prepping your pipes for winter and much more . The best way to avoid missing these critical tasks , which could lead to costly damage , is to set up a quarterly or monthly maintenance schedule for all of the areas of your home . This should include Indoor and outdoor maintenance as well as details like plumbing and electrical . 2. NOT BUDGETING FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES Moving can be expensive but there's always more to budget for - and these issues seem to pop - up out of nowhere, like a broken washer right after you need to patch a leak in the roof . Plan for the unexpected by putting away extra money for emergency house needs . It's suggested you put away 1 to 3 percent of your home's purchase price each year to develop an emergency fund . For example , if your home cost $ 300,000 , set aside at least $ 3,000 each year . Make one large deposit or spread the amount out in monthly deposits . 3. MAKING MAJOR RENOVATIONS RIGHT AWAY It's exciting to think about how you'll make your new home feel more like yours with renovation projects . While small changes are expected , major renovations should wait . Give yourself time to live in the home , see how it fuels, and determine what larger renovations are needed . QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP ? CALL ME TODAY ! [email protected]

HOMEOWNER MISTAKES AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID MAKING THEM Become a first-time homeowner is one of the most exciting and stressful times of your life, even after the closing papers have been signed and the key is in hand. Suddenly, you're faced with a whole new set of challenges on how to manage a home that's yours, not your landlord's. here are a lot of o opportunities to learn - and as you learn, mistakes will be made. Luckily, many new homeowner mistakes can be easily avoided with a little preparation. Don't let the following potential mistakes damper your excitement. Instead, plan ahead and keep these tips and tricks in mind as you learn the ropes of being a homeowner : 1. IGNORING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE You likely just did a walk - through with a licensed inspector during the home buying process , so you're aware of what issues need attention and which can wait . That's not where home maintenance stops . Home maintenance includes tasks you may have never thought of before, like cleaning the gutters , power - washing the house , prepping your pipes for winter and much more . The best way to avoid missing these critical tasks , which could lead to costly damage , is to set up a quarterly or monthly maintenance schedule for all of the areas of your home . This should include Indoor and outdoor maintenance as well as details like plumbing and electrical . 2. NOT BUDGETING FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES Moving can be expensive but there's always more to budget for - and these issues seem to pop - up out of nowhere, like a broken washer right after you need to patch a leak in the roof . Plan for the unexpected by putting away extra money for emergency house needs . It's suggested you put away 1 to 3 percent of your home's purchase price each year to develop an emergency fund . For example , if your home cost $ 300,000 , set aside at least $ 3,000 each year . Make one large deposit or spread the amount out in monthly deposits . 3. MAKING MAJOR RENOVATIONS RIGHT AWAY It's exciting to think about how you'll make your new home feel more like yours with renovation projects . While small changes are expected , major renovations should wait . Give yourself time to live in the home , see how it fuels, and determine what larger renovations are needed . QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP ? CALL ME TODAY ! [email protected]

ESSENTIAL TAX QUESTIONS FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS 1. CAN I STILL DEDUCT MORTGAGE INTEREST ? A popular and lucrative tax break for homeowners has always been the deduction for mortgage interest. Fortunately, although tax reform did modify it, the deduction wasn't eliminated. For homes purchased after December 15, 2017, mortgage interest on a total principal of as much as $ 750,000 on qualified residence loans can be deducted. For married taxpayers filing a separate return, the new principal limit is $ 375,000.For homes owned before December 16, 2017, the older limits are \" grandfathered in --that is, carried forward, so the maximum principal balance on which interest can be deducted remains $ 1,000,000, and marrieds filing separately can deduct $ 500,000 each. Any mortgage interest you pay will be reported to on the Form 1098 your lender. or servicer will send. 2. ARE MORTGAGE POINT DEDUCTIBLE ? The IRS has a flowchart that you can use to see if points are fully deductible. In general, you must have paid points to build, buy or improve your primary residence in order to deduct the entire amount in the year they were paid. Otherwise, they may still be deducted but on a prorated basis. Are points I paid to refinance deducted differently? This deduction is often overlooked, and it could be worth a lot. When you pay points on a refinance, they have to be prorated. For example, if you paid $ 3,000 in points on a 30 - year mortgage, you can deduct $ 100 a year for 30 years . But if you refinanced again this year and have prorated points that have not yet been deducted -- for example, you are 10 years into a 30 - year loan and have only deducted $ 1,000 of $ 3,000 in points paid -- you can deduct the remaining $ 2,000 in the year you refinance. 3. WHAT HOME EXPENSES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE ? When it comes to home expenses, from a tax standpoint, they're broken down into two categories: the cost of any improvements and the cost of any repairs. In general, you can deduct the cost of improvements. You can't deduct the cost of repairs. There are a number of home improvement expenses you can deduct from your taxes. Most big-ticket items, such as additions to the house, a swimming pool, a new roof, or a new central air - conditioning system, are considered tax- deductible. Other tax-deductible home expense items include adding an extra water heater, storm windows, an intercom, or a home security system. When you make home improvements, such as installing central air conditioning, adding a sunroom, or replacing the roof, you can't deduct the cost in the year you spend the money. However, if you keep track of those payments, they may help you reduce your laxes in the year you sell your home, as these improvements become part of your home's basis. Unless your property is a rental or investment, you don't get tax breaks for items such as insurance, Homeowners Association ( HOA ) dues, any principal payments you make , general closing costs like appraisal fees or title insurance or any local assessments to improve your neighborhood . 4. DO DEDUCTIONS PHASE OUT AS INCOME RISES ? he Tax Reform and Jobs Act eliminated through 2025 the income - based phase out itemized deductions . Formerly , deductibility was reduced for single filers with adjust incomes above $ 261,500 and $ 313,800 for married persons filing jointly and there we complicated components as well. [email protected]

HARRIS COUNTY Texas Homestead. Exemption: WHAT IS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION? 713.957.5210 www.hcad.org Homeowners who are sixty - five years or older on January 1 are also entitled to an over 65 homestead exemption with a LIBERTY COUNTY minimum reduction of $ 10,000 for school tax purposes. Once you receive an over 65 homestead exemption, you 936.336.5722 automatically qualify for a tax ceiling on your school taxes. If www.libertycad.com you don't add any improvements, your school taxes will never increase from the amount you owed when you first MONTGOMERY COUNTY qualified. even if the assessed value of the home increases. When a homeowner who has been receiving the school tax 936.756.3354 ceiling dies, the ceiling amount will transfer to the surviving www.mcad-tx.org spouse if the survivor is fifty - five years or older. The survivor must have ownership of the home and submit BRAZERIA COUNTY proof of age and proof of death of the deceased spouse. The surviving spouse must apply to the appraisal district for 979.849.7792 the tax ceiling, it will NOT transfer automatically. A www.brazoriacad.org homeowner, who meets the definition of a totally disabled person under state law on January 1, ordinarily qualifies for FORT BEND COUNTY the disability homestead exemption. ( You may, NOT claim BOTH over 65 and disabled person exemptions ) . A special 281.344.8623 form is needed to apply for homestead exemptions. The www.fbcad.org form must be completed and . returned to the appropriate appraisal office, not before January 1 but no later than April GALVESTON COUNTY 30. Once you receive a homestead. exemption, you will not need to apply again unless the appraisal office asks you to 866.277.4725 do so in writing. If you move to a new home. you will need to www.galvestoncad.org file a new application. If you pass your 65th birthday before January 1, you will also need to file a new application. For WALLER COUNTY additional information regarding Texas tax information, visit the State Comptroller of Public Accounts. website at 979.921.0060 comptroller.texas.gov, or call the office toll-free at 1-800- www.waller-cad.org 252-5555 If you have any questions about how to complete and submit this form , please contact your Realtor CHAMBERS COUNTY 409.267.3795 www.chamberscad.org For more tax questions and up to date laws, please refer to your CPA. How to File Your Exemption Contact the appraisal district or visit their website for the county you live in for more information.

FINANCIALS TIPS 1. GET CREATIVE WITH FURNITURE AND HOME DECOR One of the largest expenses a new homeowner incurs is decorating a new home. Furniture and home decor can be quite expensive, and they can add up quickly once you start Filling up room after room. You may want to buy some items used, shop sales, or seek out free items from friends and family to save money 2. MONITOR YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND USAGE You may not be used to the utility bills you will be responsible for as a homeowner instead of a renter. You'll have to pay for the utilities that your landlord may have been paying for. Plus, your home may be larger than where you used to live, and that usually leads to higher utility bills. Budgeting for this cost ahead of time will prevent any surprises later on . 3. HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND Now that you own a home, you'll want to establish an emergency fund. Emergency funds are wise to have. Having reserve savings means you can address a problem without taking on debt or stealing the funds from another priority - like retirement. An emergency fund can help ease you through tough times such as a leak in your basement a broken appliance , etc. 4. ALWAYS PAY YOUR MORTGAGE ON TIME Paying your mortgage on time is extremely important when owning a home. In some states, a home lender can foreclose on your home even if you are just two months late on your mortgage payment. You may also damage your credit score by being late with your monthly mortgage payment as well. By keeping these new homeowner tips in mind, you will be able to begin your new life on the right financial pat. Owning a home can be expensive. So , you have to think long and hard about it . It is wise to implement a budget and savings strategy after buying a home so you can continue improving your financial situation and not fall into debt. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME AS YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT First and foremost , congratulations on the purchase of your new home ! I am so honored to have been a part of your home buying journey . I know that there are many options for Realtors and I deeply appreciate you choosing to work with me ! If you have any questions or concerns about your new home ever , please do not hesitate to reach out . I will always be a resource for you ! If I don't know the answer, I'll help you find someone who can ! The best compliment is a referral , please consider me in the future for any real estate needs for Houston & Co Realty you or anyone you know , I would be honored to help! KAYLA HOUSTONCongratulations again; enjoy your new home !