Sunday, February 2, 2020

53 Crafty, Creative DIY Christmas Gifts

Many people in my family love gardening, but something I have noticed is that they never buy themselves pretty or more expensive gardening tools and accessories. That is why I think it would be so lovely to do that for them. I love that they have suggested adding lovely towels to this DIY, it is little details like that which will make the gift even more special.

creative ideas for making gift baskets

This one can be made at home in just a few easy steps. Afterwards, you'll have a lovely basket that can be used to hold blankets or anything else. You'll create your own marquee out of paper and then insert lights to make it glow.

Creative “Thinking of You” Gifts: Spa Care Package ?

Rather than cluttering a playroom with multiple toys, gift your toddler a baby walker. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. 6 – The dicer finally gets to unwrap one of the gifts that is in front of him. 4 – One of the gifts that is in front of the caster must go back under the tree. When it comes to Christmas decorations, there’s nothing quite like the warm and cozy look of handmade pieces.

Any art lover will be sure to love this gift from you. Use the free pattern provided to make your own felt roses in any color that you like. They make a unique gift that's better than fresh flowers because these will last for years.

Nourishing Homemade DIY Lip Balm Recipes for Beautiful Sweet Lips

A box of chocolates is the safe Valentine’s Day gift. Try a box of something different, something like a gift box, packed with items both traditional and unexpected. Maybe that’s because gift boxes demonstrate that you know and care about someone enough to find multiple items that speak to their personalities, interests, and needs. Get creative with some crafty DIY projects this holiday season!

creative ideas for making gift baskets

These bottle brush tree drink stirrers would make a great DIY Christmas gift. They can be used for the holidays and into the winter. They're a cinch to put together and really look great when grouped together. Show your pup how much you love them with this vintage bow tie dog collar. Working some magic with a vintage tie and a store-bought dog collar, you'll see how to make them work together to create this adorable bow tie. There are plenty of people that give gifts to their pets for Christmas, and this one won't disappoint.

Father's Day Gift Basket

My sister and I were bridesmaids for my aunt’s wedding, so we made her up one of these engagement gift basket ideas before the big day and it went down an absolute treat. I love always being busy and being out doing things, but I still definitely know the value of cozy days in. This cozy gift basket idea would be perfect for days like that.

creative ideas for making gift baskets

DIYs.com is an up-and-coming community of people specialized in high-quality and on-trend DIY projects and tutorials in home design, fashion, and crafts. Recognizing the value of the do-it-yourself movement of the last several years, DIYs.com is inspired by unique yet replicable ideas. Also include non-food items too like homemade hygiene goods (soap, shampoo, etc.), homemade arts and crafts , etc. Julie Blannermade a beautiful, elegant Mother’s Day gift basket that can provide a lot of great inspiration. Grab the details and make one up for your own momma soon.

Boxwood Avenueknows that you can theme your hostess thank you’s in an extra special way. This one was inspired by fall and filled with everything you need to make a scrumptious candied apple. You can get creative with bows without having to spend a lot of money on them, and the same goes for anything else that’s decor-related.

creative ideas for making gift baskets

Not only are creative homemade gifts cheaper to make, but they also show the recipient that you took the time and care to create something special just for them. I just love this large movie night gift basket that I found on Pinterest. I wish I knew the source of this tremendously creative gift basket idea. This simple and thoughtful gift basket idea from Hip 2 Save is so smart. It’s often tough to show your support for an ailing friend, but a gifted set of feel-better items is a thoughtful way to wish them well.

Creative Chocolate Gift Ideas to Make Any Day Special

Gift baskets and hampers are an absolutely genius idea. The best thing about them is how easily they can be personalized, for anyone from little girls who love sleepovers to men who are coffee obsessed. Your gift recipient will just love to receive a cute basket that you put together with them in mind. Think about the theme of your gift basket, and if one of the items could be a fun way to pull double duty as container AND part of the gift.

creative ideas for making gift baskets

Finish off the gift basket with a cute-fluffy slipper, nail polish/set, towel, stress ball, snacks, chocolates, and a bathrobe. Add a handwritten note and a personalized gift to make this a perfect gift basket. For this gift basket, go with the usual red wine, olive oil, honey, loaves, chocolates, brownies, lavender candles, a wooden chopping board, small plants, and some hand towels. Add a personal touch, attach a tag to these items and write a handwritten note. Since you are to meet some of your loved ones only once a year, a handwritten letter will be the most thoughtful gift you can give them.

Everyone loves pancakes and pancakes are a great way to celebrate so many different moments. From birthdays to anniversaries, a day started off with some chocolate chip flapjacks is a good day. Perfect for someone who needs a quick pick-me-up, this themed basket is just too adorable!

Sipping wine and nibbling flavorful cheeses in a small cafe with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower… Help your loved one turn that dreamy image into reality! Well, maybe not the Eiffel Tower part but definitely that robust glass of wine and those silky cheeses. Fill the basket with baby-friendly laundry detergent, stain remover, baby clothes, baby size hangers, and a closet organizer.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Colorado First-Time Home Buyer 2022 Programs and Grants

Once you reach an 80% loan-to-value ratio, you can also cancel monthly mortgage insurance payments. With a HomeReady® loan, you must have private mortgage insurance at the time of purchase. Once you’ve accrued 20% equity in your new home, you can cancel it. In addition, most programs let you use gifted money or down payment assistance to cover your down payment and closing costs. Depending on the mortgage loan you choose, you could potentially get into your new house with minimal cash out of pocket.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

In other words, if you’re taking out a $200,000 home loan, you’ll owe an additional $166 monthly payment for PMI. CHFA, CHAC, and NeighborhoodLIFT all require applicants to take a home buyer education class. But most first-time home buyers in Colorado or elsewhere should welcome all the knowledge they can absorb. You’d have to repay that loan in full when you sell, refinance, or finally pay off your first mortgage. Still, you don’t have to make any monthly payments in the meantime. DPA grants are intended to help home buyers not only save money upfront, but also have funds to fill and improve their new home and pad their savings accounts for the future.

Find Grants and Programs in your state

Colorado First Time Home Buyer specializes in down payment assistance programs and can provide the resources to get you into your first home. When it comes to homeownership, there is more than just monthly mortgage payments. Make sure you factor in homeowners insurance, property taxes and upkeep. In addition to CHFA income limits, you’ll also need to meet HUD’s income requirements. As with all CHFA loans, your income also must fall within % of the median for your area, including any benefits from federal Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs.

So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. If you’re a first time home buyer in Colorado and interested in the CHFA program, get in touch with a CHFA participating lender. The lender can determine eligibility criteria and which programs are the best fit for your circumstances.

CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant

So long as you’re a first-time home buyer with a credit score of at least 620 and have used Section 8 rental vouchers for at least one year, you could qualify. As with all CHFA programs, you also need to complete a home buyer education class online or in-person before you can sign any purchase contract. Saving a down payment is a huge burden for first-time home buyers.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

If you're eligible for a VA loan or a USDA loan , you may not need any down payment at all. We save your Personally Identifiable Information until your membership with us is terminated. If You terminate your membership, your Personally Identifiable Information cannot be recovered.

How We Make Money

You’ll need as little as $750 to put toward the purchase of the home, which can be your own funds or gift funds. If you sign up for automatic payments through the CHFA’s Automated Clearing House payment program, you could reduce the amount to $500. If you qualify for HomeAccess, you could also be eligible for an additional $25,000 CFHA HomeAccess Second Mortgage. That will help with your home’s down payment and closing costs. These are 97% LTV, or loan-to-value, indicating that your down payment will only have to be 3% of the home’s value.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

You cannot be a veteran who was discharged for any dishonorable reason. Your house must also fall within certain purchase price limits. Of all CHFA programs, SmartStep features the lowest mortgage interest rates. You can also pair the program with CHFA’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs or Mortgage Credit Certificate tax credit to keep even more money in your wallet. CHFA FirstStep provides access to 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages.

First-time home buyer loan programs in Colorado

Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

For first-time home buyers, it can feel like the dream is slowly drifting out of reach. CHFA down payment assistance grants provide up to 3% of your mortgage amount as a grant, which is money that never has to be repaid. The CHFA FirstStep and FirstStep Plus programs offer 30-year fixed-rate mortgages in the form of an FHA loan . A Native American Direct Loan is another mortgage program backed by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Colorado First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Grants of 2022

Rather, the information you provide will be utilized to match you with one of our team members or referred to a local broker and expert in down payment assistance programs. Minimum down payments are the lesser of $3,000 or 3% of the home’s purchase price. At least $1,000 of the down payment must come from your own assets. Considering typical down payments are 20% of a home’s value, this makes your home much more affordable. Plus, if you qualify for the SectionEight loan, you could also receive down payment and closing cost assistance via a CHFA grant.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

As you compare different loan programs and assistance options, keep an eye on the latest Colorado mortgage rates. Be sure to compare loan options from a variety of mortgage lenders, and if you see an attractive rate, lock it. If you’re ready to buy your first home and are interested in a Colorado Housing and Finance Authority program, register for an online homebuyer education course. Once you have your certificate of completion, browse different lenders through the agency’s website. In addition to meeting CHFA general loan requirements, the home you’re buying and your income must be within the program’s purchase price and income limits, respectively.

Working with real estate professionals

In addition to the mortgage, you can also qualify for down payment assistance programs. These programs give you funds, either through a grant or a second loan, that help cover upfront costs such as the down payment and closing costs. Homebuyers can also utilize CHFA down payment and closing cost assistance or second mortgage grants to make upfront costs even more affordable.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

Buyers must have qualifying income, meet at least 600 credit score and occupy as primary residence. Specialized grants are available that allow first-time home buyers to get into their home without saving up a large down payment. When you’re ready to buy, make sure you get rate quotes from at least three to five mortgage lenders.

First time home buyers in Colorado Division of Real Estate

While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. PMI is typically required by the bank if you put less than a 20% down payment on your home. The cost of PMI is usually between 0.5% and 1% of the total loan amount.

Aurora’s Home Ownership Assistance Program offers loans of up to $10,000 or the minimum down payment required for your mortgage, whichever is the less. And you must chip in at least 1% of the home’s purchase price from your own funds. If you’re a first-time buyer in Colorado with a 20% down payment, you can get a conventional loan — likely with a low interest rate and no private mortgage insurance . No advertisement or solicitation from firsthometime.com is meant to be a mortgage brokering activity or mortgage lending activity. All brokering or lending activities can only be completed by licensed real estate professional.

A Quick Note on Private Mortgage Insurance

Her byline has appeared in national business publications, including CBS News, Yahoo Finance and MSN Money. Help to understand and follow loan estimate, loan program, interest rate, monthly payment and cash to close. Purchasing a home in today’s fast-moving, competitive Colorado housing market can be difficult. After a decade of dramatic gains, metro Denver home prices are finally expected to slow, while many other areas are likely to continue rising.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

This will ensure you’re getting the lowest interest rate and fees available to you. These programs are often meant to help low-income home buyers, and many have income caps based on household size. NeighborhoodLIFT offers home buyer education programs as well as preferential help for first responders, military service members, and teachers. To qualify for assistance from CHAC, you will need to have a household income that’s no higher than 80% of the area median income where you want to buy.

The Bankrate promise

CHFA recommends taking the class early during your home search so that you are prepared to locate a lender and real estate agent who are the best fit for you. This is another “silent” loan, meaning you don’t make monthly payments or pay interest. And you have to pay back the entire amount when you sell the home, when it is no longer your primary residence, or when you refinance with cash out. Anyone with a CHFA mortgage loan should consider filing for the Mortgage Credit Certificate . An MCC allows homeowners to claim 20% of their annual mortgage interest as a tax credit on their federal return.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

Buyers must have qualifying income, meet at least 600 credit score and occupy as primary residence. Specialized grants are available that allow first-time home buyers to get into their home without saving up a large down payment. When you’re ready to buy, make sure you get rate quotes from at least three to five mortgage lenders.

New Mexico First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Grants of 2022

For example, if you are financing $200,000, you may qualify for up to $6,000. The median listing price in Aurora was $460,000 in March 2022, according to Realtor.com. The median listing price in Colorado Springs was $435,000 in March 2022, according to Realtor.com.

colorado first time home buyer reddit

Just remember that you’ll need to meet CHFA and HUD income, credit score, and profile requirements to qualify for these lowered taxes and increased savings. You must be a trustworthy borrower making median or below-median income. In addition, you cannot have owned or co-owned a home in the last three years.

The Department of Veterans Affairs insures VA loans from third-party mortgage lenders. The program began after many military members were unable to secure enough income or savings to apply for a mortgage once they completed their service. Like other CHFA programs, there are income and purchase price limits, but if you’re eligible, you can also obtain up to $25,000 in down payment assistance with your loan.

That ranges from advice and home buyer education programs to cold hard cash in the form of down payment assistance. Income limits on CHFA loans can be debilitating to some first-timers who need help affording their new home. Buyers still have to complete the education course and put at least $1,000 down at closing, though. And you still have to meet the CHFA’s designated income limits. In an added perk for the more financially comfortable, there are no home purchase price limits.

In addition to the mortgage, you can also qualify for down payment assistance programs. These programs give you funds, either through a grant or a second loan, that help cover upfront costs such as the down payment and closing costs. Homebuyers can also utilize CHFA down payment and closing cost assistance or second mortgage grants to make upfront costs even more affordable.

In order to save half off your home, it must be located within a HUD-designated “Revitalization Area.” You also must agree to make the home your primary residence for at least the next three years. The good news is that if you meet this term, you can sell the home and hold onto any equity and profit once the three years are up. Chang focused her articles on mortgages, home buying and real estate.

Char House displays $4 5 million renovation project

Table Of Content In the Living Room: Update Flooring Home Improvement Grants To Fund Your Next Repair Project Kitchen Remodeling Costs in Lo...