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Real Estate - Home » Christmas » Page 2

Articles about Christmas and the Holidays

Articles about Christmas and the Holidays.

Topics include gift-giving, our top picks for Christmas movies and Christmas songs, along with the Guthrie Christmas Tree Farm.

An Insiders Look at Creating Christmas Wreaths

December 18, 2018 By Ken Guthrie Leave a Comment

In case you weren’t aware, my brother Brian and his wife, Robin own and run a Christmas tree farm in Foresthill, California. The Guthrie Tree Farm is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada mountains in Placer County. Every year, Libby and I go up to visit and make Christmas wreaths for our clients. This year […]

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Filed Under: Seasonal Tagged With: Christmas, Holidays, Winter

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guthriegrouphomes

Libby Guthrie, Realtor
@ Keller Williams 865-966-5005
🏡 Helping You Make the Move to Knoxville
📱 Cell: 865-364-0200
🏡 Good People, Great Homes!

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 😱⁣ ⁣ Think yo 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 😱⁣
⁣
Think your mortgage payment is locked in? Think again. 🔒⁣
⁣
While your fixed-rate mortgage provides payment stability, the escrowed components—taxes and insurance—aren't so stable. As of December 2025, the average insurance premium for a new policy rose 8.5% year-over-year. Climate disasters, higher rebuilding costs, and insurer risk recalibration continue driving these increases with no signs of reversing.⁣
⁣
Property taxes aren't truly fixed either. The average reached $4,271 in 2024, with many homeowners seeing increases of 16% or more. Even where tax rates stay flat, rising home values keep actual bills climbing—creating the irony that your home's appreciation increases your annual expenses.⁣
⁣
The reality: A homeowner can receive a letter from their mortgage servicer saying their payment is increasing $200-300 because insurance premiums rose and the property was reassessed—without moving, refinancing, or renovating. No action taken, yet annual housing costs just jumped $2,400+.⁣
⁣
💡 Takeaway: When budgeting for homeownership, expect these "fixed" costs to rise. True stability requires planning for volatility.⁣
⁣
Link in Bio⁣
⁣
Libby Guthrie, REALTOR® 🏡⁣
Cell: 865-364-0200⁣
Keller Williams 865-966-5005⁣
GGHKnoxville.com⁣
Libby@GuthrieGroupHomes.com⁣
⁣
⁣
#RealEstate #Homeownership #PropertyTaxes #HomeInsurance #RealEstateTips #HomeBuying  #HousingCosts #knoxvilletn
Your mortgage payment is only part of the story. 🏡 Your mortgage payment is only part of the story. 🏡⁣
⁣
Most homebuyers focus exclusively on their monthly mortgage payment when calculating affordability. But here's the reality: that payment typically represents only 70-80% of what homeownership actually costs each month.⁣
⁣
The average cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S., excluding the mortgage, is estimated at around $21,400 in 2025—roughly $1,800 per month. When you factor in these costs, a $2,500 monthly mortgage can grow to over $4,000 in total housing costs.⁣
⁣
💡 Key takeaways:⁣
⁣
-	Nearly 45% of homeowners report post-purchase regrets, most commonly due to higher-than-expected maintenance and hidden costs⁣
-	Insurance and property taxes continue rising annually—sometimes jumping $200-300/month in a single year⁣
-	Home maintenance now averages around $8,800 annually, with first-year owners often facing higher costs⁣
-	The solution? Budget for mortgage PLUS approximately $1,800 monthly in carrying costs⁣
⁣
True affordability isn't what a lender approves—it's what lets you sleep well at night when the water heater fails or insurance premiums spike.⁣
⁣
Link in bio⁣
⁣
Libby Guthrie, REALTOR® 🏡⁣
Cell: 865-364-0200⁣
Keller Williams 865-966-5005⁣
GGHKnoxville.com⁣
Libby@GuthrieGroupHomes.com⁣
⁣
⁣
#RealEstate #Homeownership #HomeBuying #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #RealEstateTips #HomeownershipCosts #RealEstateAdvice #HousingMarket
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Hours & Info – Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate

Location
191 Sand Creek Rd #100,
Brentwood, CA 94513

Contact Us
info@guthriegrouphomes.com
Office: (925) 628-2436

Broker:
Keller Williams East County

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