A Few Home Improvements That Can Help Sell Your Home

When it comes to listing your home on the market to sell, there's a good chance that you'll have a rather large to-do list. When preparing your home for sale (and purchasing another) it's important to ensure that you perform regular maintenance as needed to help it sell. Studies show that homes sell faster and at a higher price when they look fresh and well kept. As the best mortgage lender at Lake of the Ozarks, Team Lasson understands the wants of the buyer and sellers in these types of situations. So, we're here today to give you a few relatively easy tasks that can enhance the selling experience of your Lake home.

A Fresh Coat of Paint/Stain

Over the years a home's paint can become faded, nicked, scuffed and more. By restoring them to their glory with a fresh coat of paint or stain you can really impact the visual appeal of your home. Consider redoing the cabinets, walls, decks/patios for the best, blended results. Many people love the idea of a turnkey home and doing these simple and cost-effective renovations can really go a long way in drawing their attention and making them feel good about the home.

Updated Light Fixtures

Since you've now got a fresh coat of paint/stain throughout the home, showcase it with some great lighting fixtures! Having old and outdated lighting can really spotlight the years on your home. You'll want to ensure that you have clear, bright lights that highlight the great features around your home and make it feel vibrant and inviting. Here are a few styles of lighting fixtures to consider:

• Mid-century modern
• Vintage Edison-style bulbs
• Soft gold finishing's
• Large shades
• Retro & industrial 

Landscaping

Curb appeal is essential when selling in today's home market. While adding a roof may not be within your immediate budget for sale, a little landscaping can go a long way to enhance the appearance of your home from the road. Plus, it will make the photos of your home even more enticing, making potential buyers stop and want to check out your home. Consider mulching flowerbeds, adding rock or stones, trimming shrubs, and ensuring that the yard is well manicured. 

Updated Flooring

Flooring gets a lot of wear and tear over the years. Replacing your flooring can be a great way to finish out your home renovations. It will go great with the fresh paint/stain and the new lighting will really make it shine. The labor required in this also gives you the opportunity to really identify any other maintenances that may be beneficial such as trim, baseboards, etc.

These typically inexpensive upgrades can be a great way to instantly increase the appearance of your home and therefore its appeal to potential buyers. So, now that you're more prepared to sell your current home, it's time to consider where you'll be living next - if you haven't already. Team Lasson is ready to help you finance your next home purchase with a mortgage at Lake of the Ozarks. There are many beautiful lake homes to choose from, and with the best mortgage lender at Lake of the Ozarks backing you, you can't lose! Contact us today to see how we can help make your dreams of owning a lake home a reality!

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Tips to Help Speed Up the Mortgage Process

The mortgage process can often feel like a long and daunting event, but it doesn’t have to be. While there are always aspects of the mortgage process that can’t be controlled, there are so many things that you can set the pace for. Team Lasson wants to help you purchase your Lake of the Ozarks Vacation home, and we want to help you get everything in order as fast as possible. This real estate market has been busy, to say the least, so anything that you can do to help speed it up on your end is going to be very helpful.

Gather Your Documents

This is one of the first things you can do to get a head start and help speed up the mortgage process. Getting your loan approved will require a series of documents, and if you have them ready at a moment's notice, the pre-approval process will be much smoother and faster. Here are a few documents that you will want to dig out of your files.

Personal Information:

• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Current driver’s license or photo ID
• Current and previous addresses (two year history)
• Names and information of any co-signers or co-borrowers

Income & Employment Information:

• Most recent two years W-2
• Current paycheck stub reflecting a year-to-date income of 30 days or more.
• Present employer’s name, address, and phone number. Length of employment, position, and salary. If employed less than two years, please provide a previous employer’s name, address, and phone number to cover two consecutive years. Exact dates are required.
• Last two months’ bank statements for all accounts. Please provide explanations of any deposits larger than a normal paycheck and please include all pages, even if blank.
• If self-employed or paid any commission or have any business income, please provide complete copies of your federal tax returns along with all schedules and W-2s for the past two years. Include corporate or partnership returns, if applicable, for your business. Also, include a year-to-date Profit & Loss statement.
• Verification of other income needed to qualify, such as retirement, rental, interest, or dividend income. If receiving Social Security or pension income, you will need to provide the current award letters.

Get Pre-Approved

This can speed up your mortgage process exponentially. When you have a pre-approval letter in your hand while house hunting, you are essentially saying “this is how much my lender is willing to lend me right now.” This means that your lender has reviewed your information and has decided that you would be approved based on some initial basic information about your financial status. You can apply for this pre-approval on our website (www.YourLakeLoan.com), and while we are a mortgage company based out of Lake of the Ozarks, we can assist you anywhere across the country with your next mortgage.

Finalize Negotiations Quickly

This will be done with your real estate agent, but it can really slow down the buying process if both parties aren’t communicating quickly. There will be a variety of negotiations that happen between the buyer and seller, and as you get these notifications from your agent, it’s important to respond quickly and not let these things sit around for too long. Properties are selling quickly these days, and it’s important to keep this process moving - there are plenty of other buyers ready to swoop in.

Schedule the Inspections

Your home will require a variety of inspections. If you schedule these well in advance of the closing date, you are giving yourself plenty of time to react to these inspections.

Avoid These Slow Downs

There are a few things you can do that will really slow down the mortgage process. If at all possible refrain from doing any of these things while purchasing a home:

• Changing jobs
• Applying for new credit cards
• Changing bank accounts
• Missing payments or bouncing checks
• Transferring money within your accounts
• Make large deposits
• Co-sign on any new accounts
• Pay off or close debts

Don’t Forget to Stay In Touch

When you are in the process of purchasing a home, one of the most important things you can do is stay in touch with your mortgage lender at Lake of the Ozarks. We want to help you close on this home as quickly as possible, but if there are delays in communication, this can slow things down.

If you are ready to buy a home at Lake of the Ozarks, we are ready to assist! This has been an amazing time to buy and refinance homes - and if you are looking for a good rate, it may be worth it to do it now. You can visit our website to submit an application or learn more about our company, we look forward to working with you, and helping you close as fast as possible!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Decorating Tips for Your Vacation Home

As Summer gets closer, now is a great time to think about your vacation home’s design and maybe update it. Your vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks is a respite, a place to escape, and where worries do not exist, and the design should reflect that. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start dreaming about those Summer days in your Lake of the Ozarks property and thinking about the way you decorate it!

Choose a Vibe Over a Theme

Instead of choosing a theme for your vacation home, like shells or boats, aim for a vibe. Trying to find the items that create a theme is going to not only take a lot of time and money, but you can also lose the unique style you bring to the table in search of the pieces to make this style. Instead, try to think a bit more outside the box and tap into your own style and the way you want to feel when you enter the home. Instead of filling your walls with matching style decor, choose one or two pieces for the home, and then look for something that is a bit outside of the box. Find a vintage map of the lake and frame it, or locate a cool piece of driftwood to turn into wall art.

The Vacation Vibe with Wall Color

It is amazing what kind of tone a wall color can set for a home, and your vacation home is no different. A great rule of thumb is to bring the colors of the outside to the inside, and then add complementary colors against them to create a beautiful and subtle combination of colors, shades, and textures.

There are many different ways you can choose the paint color, whether going for something bold and dramatic or neutral and natural - but the walls of your home can easily tie everything together and really make the space feel vibrant and fresh.

Invest in Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces are becoming more and more popular, and the lake area is not exempt! There are so many reasons to focus on your outdoor living spaces, and one of the best ways to invest in them is to add a little light. Adding some cafe lights can take your home to a whole new level and can help create a space that everyone will want to enjoy all Summer long. The Bohemian look is also in for beach homes, so it can work for lake homes as well. You can easily build furniture from scrap wood and embody the whole rustic and weathered look!

Scale Back on the Furniture

You will want to include plenty of furniture outside of your vacation home, but it is okay to keep things light and airy indoors. This means that you do not have to dedicate your entire budget to the indoor furniture and can feel free to mix and match things until you find the right look. Simple, eclectic, spacious, and clean can all be words you use to think about your space. Think about the items you really do need, like comfortable beds and couches, and steer clear of other items like big bulky dressers that you will not fill for short-term vacations.

Creating a New Space

Now is a great time to really hone in on what you want to achieve in the look of your vacation home! Summer will be here before you know it, and you will want to have a home that is functional, clean, and stylish. If you are still looking for the perfect lake home at the Lake of the Ozarks, there is still time to make your purchase. Team Lasson is here to assist you with financing your new vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks. We look forward to welcoming you down here and enjoying this wonderful area together!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Types of Mortgages to Consider - Part 1

Whether you’re purchasing your first home or you have several scattered around in your favorite locations - purchasing a house will always be a big decision. For a large number of the population, getting a mortgage is the fastest and easiest way to complete your purchase, and that is where Team Lasson comes into play! Because there are so many different components to a mortgage, from the interest rate to the terms of the loan, it’s important to have a mortgage lender at the Lake of the Ozarks who you can trust. Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind as you work through the mortgage process, and how we can help!

Fixed vs. Adjustable Interest Rates

This will be one of the first major decisions you make in your mortgage process. Knowing how your interest rate is treated is going to make a difference in the long run, so you want to make sure you understand before moving forward. Here are a few pros and cons to the different types:

Fixed-Rate Mortgages
The pros of this type of mortgage are that the interest rate stays the same for the entire time it takes you to pay off the loan. This means that the size of your monthly payment stays the same, and it’s easier for budget planning. The cons are that should mortgage rates lower at any time during the term of your mortgage, your rate is going to stay the same throughout the term.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
Pros can include that ARMs offer a lower interest rate (which can mean a lower monthly payment) for the first few years. However, the cons are that while the low-interest rate at the beginning is appealing, there is a risk of higher interest rates down the road.

Mortgage Terms

Your mortgage term refers to the length of the loan in years. This is the agreement you make with your lender on the maximum amount of time it will take you to pay off the loan in full.

15-Year Mortgages
Pros are that a 15-year term can keep you on track to pay off your home quickly, and it can often have a lower interest rate and even cost less in total interest compared to other loan options. Cons are that this term comes with a higher monthly payment compared to options with a longer term.

30-Year Mortgages
A pro is that you will have lower monthly payments with a 30-year term, compared to a 15-year term. A con is that you could end up with a higher interest rate, and could end up paying more in interest than you would have with a shorter term.

Securing Your Mortgage at the Lake of the Ozarks

Team Lasson looks forward to helping you buy the home of your dreams at the Lake. From a primary residence to a vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks, we have done it all. Now is proving to be an AMAZING time to lock in your interest rate and get your mortgage or refinance finished up. If you have questions about this, we would love to chat with you! Start by visiting our website (www.YourLakeLoan.com) and filling out the application - we look forward to helping you buy the home of your dreams!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

3 Home Improvement Tasks When Selling a Home

If you’re considering putting your home on the market, it will instantly feel like you have a to-do list a mile long. With preparing your home for sale, as well as purchasing another home - the next few weeks and months are going to be busy. Studies regularly show that a home will sell for more when regular maintenance has been performed. Here are a few easy tasks you can do to give your home a fresh look before it hits the market.

Paint The Kitchen Cabinets

Changing up your kitchen cabinets can work wonders if you are trying to make your space look more modern. You can either strip and re-stain wood cabinets or give them a new coat of paint. If you want to do something trendy, blues, whites, and grays are the most popular colors in 2019. Specifically, navy blues seem to be the most common, especially in a two-tone style with one color on the bottom cabinets and another color on the top. Matte textures are still favored over glossy, but the raw wood grain is also gaining popularity as well. Really want to make an impact? Update the fixtures on your cabinets as well! Sometimes those can date a kitchen even more than the color of the cabinets. You may also notice that not using hardware at all is very popular these days. If you will be repainting your cabinets, you may be able to fill in the holes from the hardware and paint over them for a really fresh new look.

Update Light Fixtures

Old light fixtures can really show the years on your home. If you are looking for a fast way to improve your home’s style, brighten things up with new track lighting, recessed lighting, beautiful hanging lamps, and more. Aren’t sure what you should look for? Here are a few styles that are trending right now:

• Soft gold is a popular finish
• Retro and industrial styles are coming back
• Vintage Edison-style bulbs are very in
• Mid-century modern and art deco styles are favored
• Clean lines are a must
• Large statement shades can really catch the attention

Add Fresh Paint to the Walls

A new coat of paint can do wonders for a space. Just be sure that when you choose the paint color that you are choosing something neutral and shaded properly for the space. While you (and even many others) may love red in the kitchen, it could be a huge turn-off for a buyer. Stick to colors like gray, white, and tan when choosing new colors, and opt for lighter colors that brighten a space rather than shades that are too dark.

If you have trouble choosing a color, you can visit your local hardware store and ask someone in the paint department to help. You can also get several samples of shades that you like and paint them on the walls to see how they look. Just be aware that even the samples can be a bit misleading because it is hard to imagine how they will look covering the whole space.

Selling and Buying a Home at the Lake of the Ozarks

If you are considering selling your home, it is also time to start thinking about the home that you are going to move into - if you have not already! Team Lasson is ready to help you buy your next home with mortgages at the Lake of the Ozarks. Buying and selling at the same time can be a little overwhelming, but choosing a team who can help you navigate the purchase of your new home can help make part of the process easier! Visit our website to learn more about our mortgage services at the Lake of the Ozarks or to submit your application. We look forward to assisting you on this next part of your journey!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors at the Lake of the Ozarks - Part 1

June is Great Outdoors Month, and there’s no greater place to enjoy it than the Lake of the Ozarks. With many different types of scenery and activities, a vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks would not be complete without some outdoor activities. Whether you enjoy several trips to the Lake Area or are only visiting occasionally, here are a few things you MUST add to your list to enjoy this month.

By Land

The big hitter is obviously the Lake, but enjoying the great outdoors by land is also a fantastic way to see a different aspect of our area. There are so many great ways to enjoy the land surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks, so here are a few popular ones, as well as a few that may not come to mind.

Cycling

Did you know that the Lake Area offers a variety of riding for cyclists? There is something for everyone, including road cyclists, mountain bikers, and recreational riders - but all must bring their own bikes. The Lake of the Ozarks State Park offers a 16-mile single track trail for mountain bikers, while casual riders and can enjoy up to 9 miles of paved multi-use trail starting at the Village of Four Seasons.

Hiking

There are over 32 hiking trails at the Lake of the Ozarks, for varying skill and interest levels. There are 12 trails at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, 11 trails at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, as well as other locations and businesses with private trails for customers and clients. These trails are beautiful in all seasons and worth checking out.

Hunting

Did you know that many people come to the Lake for hunting? The most popular species to hunt in this area are deer and turkey, and they thrive because of both the wooded areas and farmlands. There are some hunting preserves around the area, but the other two popular options are to makes friends with someone who owns private land or find a landowner that offers a land-lease package for hunting.

Bird Watching

Watching the birds can be a relaxing and educational way to enjoy the outdoors. It also requires very little equipment and can be done from just about anywhere. The Lake of the Ozarks is a natural water environment that is a feeding and resting ground for many species of wildlife, including a wide variety of birds. A few to keep your eyes peeled for are the great blue heron, hawks, ducks, wild turkey, pectoral sandpipers, cliff swallows, terns, American goldfinches, ruby-throated hummingbirds, robins, bobwhites, whippoorwills, cardinals, blue jays, wood thrushes, eastern meadowlarks, phoebes, belted kingfishers, pileated woodpeckers, and the turkey vulture.

Caves

Missouri is known as the cave state, so it shouldn’t surprise you when we say that there are four beautiful show caves at the Lake of the Ozarks. Of course, there are wild caves as well, 300 wild caves to be exact! The difference between wild and show caves is that show caves have been “tamed” and are easier to walk through and enjoy.

Our four beautiful caves that you can visit are Bridal Cave, Jacob’s Cave, Stark Caverns, and Ozark Caverns. If you need more information about these locations, FunLake.com provides great information.

Golf

If you want to hit the greens while you’re at the Lake of the Ozarks, there are plenty of amazing courses for you to try. The Lake of the Ozarks is actually the Midwest’s premier golf destination, because there’s nothing quite like playing on a course designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Fred Farley, Ken Kavanaugh, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Jack Nicklaus, or Von Hagge/Devlin. With the many different courses, you will be able to enjoy the great outdoors and also improve your golf game.

It’s Time to Get Outside!

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the amazing Lake activities - we’ll be featuring those in another blog this month! When you come to the Lake of the Ozarks, if you find yourself spending most of your time on the water, take a look at this list and pick a few items to enjoy by land. The Great Outdoors Month is the perfect chance to get outside, even at your own vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Don’t have a vacation home yet? Team Lasson is ready to assist with all of your mortgages at the Lake of the Ozarks. We specialize in both second homes, primary residences, and more. Visit our website to learn more about our mortgage services at the Lake of the Ozarks, or to fill out your application to get started. We look forward to assisting you one of the most fun adventures you can enjoy! Stay tuned for part #2 - we’ll share some great ways to enjoy the water.

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Interesting Things to Know About Mortgages

Mortgages are one of the best and easiest ways to get a home. With funds for a down payment, it can be easier than ever to apply and get approved. This can be great news for second home buyers looking to purchase a vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as for first-time homebuyers looking to settle down at the Lake of the Ozarks. As you start making plans and considering your next steps for buying a Mid-Missouri home, keep these interesting facts in your back pocket.

The Lowest Mortgage Rate - It was LOW!

In late 2012, the average interest rates for a 30-year fixed, rate mortgage hit 3.31%. The rates for 15-year mortgages were below 3%.

The Highest Mortgage Rate - It Was HIGH!

In late 1981, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan hit 18.45%! If you are not sure how this would affect your mortgage, think about it this way. If you have a $200,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (for a $250,000 home), a 3.31% interest rate would be about $877 a month. An interest rate of 18.45% would take the monthly payment to $3,088 - go ahead and pick your jaw up off of the floor.

Paying Additional Funds Each Month Can Shave Years Off of Your Loan

It’s not rocket science, making extra payments can help build equity and reduce your debt faster, but do you know the real effect that it can have? By taking your principal and interest payment for the month and dividing it by 12 and adding that amount to your monthly payment as additional principal each month, you can reduce your 30 year mortgage by more than 11 years.

What Was the Most Expensive Home Ever Sold?

Currently, the record goes to 521 Round Hill Road in luxurious Greenwich Connecticut. The property features 8 bedrooms, 8 full baths, 4 half baths, and 17,603 square feet on 40.26 acres. it sold for $49,895,000 - just shy of $50 million! If the undisclosed buyer took out a mortgage for that home, 20% down would be around $10 million, and their estimated monthly mortgage with taxes and insurance would be around $243,930!

Automate Your Monthly Payment

Did you know that you can automate your monthly mortgage payment? Set up automatic money transfers from your bank account or paycheck to go directly to your mortgage servicer. This helps eliminate the risk forgetting to pay a bill.

A Good Credit Score Can Help

Your credit score is a very important part of the mortgage puzzle. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your credit score.

Know What Your Loan’s APR Rate Is

Compare your annual percentage rates (APRs) when you are looking for your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage. While it’s easy to focus on the interest rate that you’ll be getting, an easily forgotten aspect is the closing costs. The APR reflects the true cost of your loan.

Your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage

Now is a GREAT time to buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, and Team Lasson would be honored to help. From buying a vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks to buying your first home, we are here to assist. Visit our website to learn more about our mortgages at the Lake of the Ozarks, or give us a call at the number below - we look forward to helping you get your home.


For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.