Lovebirds Building New Nests
By Maureen Griffin, Tara Stark Real Estate Group - Keller Williams Realty
F
ebruary is the month of love; creating the
busiest time of year for florists, jewelers, and
chocolatiers. The last month of winter ushers
in the start of Wedding Planning Events and
Bridal Fairs galore. Most wedding advertise-
ments feature blushing brides and handsome
grooms, in their early 20’s, leaving their parents’
house and starting life in their own space. Real-
life lovebirds come in all ages and all stages
of life, and so do their real estate needs. Tara
Stark, owner and founder of Tara Stark Real
Estate Group – Keller Williams Realty, shares
the commitment her team has to an exceptional
and personal experience for each client, “It is
a privilege for us to walk through an important
life-change with our clients. Whether it’s first-
time buyers or empty-nesters looking to down-
size, there’s vital steps we guide them through
to ensure a smooth transition.” Here are some
words of wisdom for lovebirds looking to find
their new nest this season.
Young Love, First Nest
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The most important thing for younger newly-
weds to watch is their finances, most notably
their credit health. The first step in finding
a family home is getting pre-approved for a
mortgage loan. “Everyone starts looking for
their new home online and driving through
desired neighborhoods, but the true first step is
getting a pre-approval letter from a reputable
lender. Choosing a mortgage partner is just
as important as a real estate professional, you
want someone who goes the extra-mile during
the entire process,” advises Stark. A qualified
pre-approval letter shows the seller that your
income, employment and credit health have
been verified and that under the information
provided, you are pre-approved for a specific
loan amount. The loan pre-approval amount
combined with cash out-of-pocket, will deter-
mine the market price range you can shop for.
Young loves, perhaps a perfect date night is
gathering your financial information and sched-
uling to meet with your trusted real estate advo-
cate; your future home awaits!
New Love, New Nest
Blended families comprise nearly 50% of
all marriages in the United States. Combining
households can take many different shapes
and forms. A spouse may be moving from a
townhome where they lived solo and now,
they will need a 5-bedroom, 3-bath house
for everyone. Or perhaps all the children are
grown but a parent is moving in for assisted
care. “We are blessed to be part of our client’s
transition team,” says Lauren Glass, Director
of Operations and Marketing for Tara Stark
Real Estate Group, “it is a joy for us to share
their property’s legacy, when it’s time to sell,
and find another family home to begin their
new journey.” The key to a happy new-family
home is for all members who will live there, to
discuss their needs. Of course, five children
probably won’t get to overrule two parents
(sorry kids!), but it is important for everyone
to share their ideas. Maureen Griffin, Client
Care Coordinator for TSREG, and a blended-
family member, advises “creating an our-family
home is very beneficial for blended-families,
it helps for everyone to feel like they’re part of
the team. Plus, the planning process is great
in learning to work together and creating a
common goal, it’s truly win-win!”
Long-term Love, Empty Nest
Celebrating years of wedded bliss is a joyous
occasion! Families gather from near and far