Dan Sells the Lake

There never seems to be enough time in a day to accomplish all of the tasks that you would like to get done. Well, this year we're all in luck, because the fact that it's a leap year means we get one whole extra day to work with. If you are looking to buy a house at the Lake of the Ozarks , you've got 24 bonus hours to house-hunt, go over contracts, or whatever other tasks that you have been trying to find the time to finish.  Leap Year Facts Have you ever wondered why we add an extra day to the calendar? Apparently, it takes slightly longer than 365 days to make a full orbit around the sun. Actually, it takes closer to 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, & 45 seconds to make that trip. Adding a leap day nearly every 4 years lets our calendar compensate for the extra time. The first leap year happened around 46 B.C. because Julius Caesar ordered his astrologer to simplify their calendar. It had 355 days a year with an extra 22-day month added every 2 years. T...

When you decide to buy a home , there are a few things that you can do before getting into the home loan process to increase your chances of getting the loan that you want. These are simple steps that only require a bit of preparation. A good real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks will point you in the right direction to get started.  Here is a great way to get the ball rolling.      Check your credit scores. You should get a good look at your credit scores before the bank begins looking into them.  Federal law allows you to receive a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the three credit reporting companies:  Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.  This allows you to check it for any inaccuracies that need to be corrected. Mistakes do happen, and you will want to give yourself 3-6 months before applying for a home loan to file a dispute and correct any problems you may find.   You will want to have at leas...

This Sunday is the national holiday in honor of love and romance, Valentine's Day. Many take this to heart and go all out to show the one that they love exactly how special they are.   In case you were curious, here are a few interesting facts straight from the office of Dan Sells the Lake for you to use when you are stumped for something to talk about this Valentine's Day.  I bet your Valentine doesn't know these fun facts!     1. The first box of chocolates specifically for Valentine's Day was produced in the late 1800's by Richard Cadbury.   2.  If you buy chocolates for your Valentine, you're not alone.  Over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of candy are sold for Valentine's Day.  I wonder if that includes the half-price boxes sold the next day? 3. On average, men spend double what the ladies spend on Valentine's Day, yet women purchase 85% of all valentines cards.     4.  In Japan, women are expected to give gifts...

February is Library Lovers Month , and living at the Lake of the Ozarks puts you in close proximity to some very impressive libraries.  When you buy a home that children will be living in, the school district is a very important factor in that decision.  Having a great library nearby can enhance their learning experience, plus offer many opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy the programs offered.  Camden County Library District The Camden County Library District serves a large portion of the Lake of the Ozarks Area.  It contains six branches. Camdenton Climax Springs Macks Creek Osage Beach  Stoutland Sunrise Beach  Every branch offers computers and WiFi to the public.  The Osage Beach and Camdenton branches have meeting rooms, and the Camdenton branch even provides computer classes and genealogy classes.  Library cards are available to more than just Camden County residents.  If you have a vacation home at the L...

It's never too early in the year to start thinking about filing your income taxes.  If you own a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , there are a few tax deductions that you may qualify for.  My Lake Ozark real estate office wants to make sure that you have the chance to utilize these possible tax breaks.   Tax season officially began on January 19, 2016, and this year there is a new deadline of April 18, 2016.  Washington D.C. will be celebrating Emancipation Day on the regular deadline date of Friday, April 15, which causes this year's deadline to be shifted to the following Monday.  In addition to those extra 3 days, you may qualify for other tax breaks.    1. Mortgage Interest Unless it was over one million dollars, all of the interest that you paid over the year on your mortgage is deductible.  That same interest is even deductible on property like an RV or a boat, provided that it has sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities...

Most new purchases that you make come with a manual explaining everything that you need to know about the item you have purchased.  If it doesn't, there is usually a link to an online manual that you can access.  Unfortunately, when you buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , no one is going to hand you a manual.  You may not be aware that you should know how to take care of something until it breaks and you have to learn the hard way.   Any Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent should be happy to answer any questions that you might have, but you need to know the right questions to ask.  As a child, you probably had no idea that your parents changed the air filter, and when you took a tour of your new home before buying it, the water shutoff valve probably wasn't something that was highlighted.  This blog offers a few pieces of advice that every homeowner should know, and also some easy fixes that can save you money.   1. How to locate the main...

When you begin thinking about buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , there are a few things that you can do that are in your best interest.  When clients work with me through Dan Sells the Lake , I always make sure that these tips are covered. Keeping them in mind will make the entire search for a home work to your advantage.     1. Make a "wants" and "needs" checklist.  Before you begin looking for a new home at the Lake of the Ozarks , think about exactly what you are looking for.  Next, decide which items are non-negotiable, and which ones would be nice but you could do without.  Every time that you view a house, take the list with you and make notes.  This will help you remember key points about each property after you have seen a few.  Don't just base the list on your life right now.  You will most likely be in your new home for years to come, so make sure that you consider any big life changes that may come along, like a new ba...