Tag Archives: Rick Curtis

Buying Vs. Renting

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What’s better: buying or renting a home? It depends on you. My wife and I have done both at different points of our life. One advantage of renting is the convenience of not having to make a hard commitment to the area you are living in. Another is when you rent you don’t have to worry about the maintenance factors, (ex: furnace going out, appliances breaking, etc) because your landlord addresses these for you. You pay your rent and go about your day to day. However, you don’t develop any equity in your property. For example, at the end of 10 years renting, you have paid for the privilege of renting, without any equity in where you live.

If you decide to become a homeowner this changes quite a bit. All of a sudden you are responsible for everything. If the furnace goes out (and you know, this does happen!), you have to either fix it yourself or find someone to fix it for you. You become “Master of your Castle” and how you handle each occurrence is up to you. Hopefully you will start to develop equity in your home. Check out this Forbes article about the 7 financial advantages of home ownership.

Being a renter or homeowner is a matter of preference. If you are looking for a long term avenue for building equity, home ownership is a way to helping you accomplish this.

For more information about the difference between renting vs. buying check out the following:

Fidelity Rent vs. Buying

Nerd Wallet Rent vs. Buy Calculator

If you have questions about the home buying or selling process in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, feel free to contact me. Whether your purchase or sale of a property is in the near future or further down the road, I’m here to help you on your real estate journey. My name is Rick Curtis and I am an Associate Broker with Key Realty Delta County in Escanaba, MI. Call/Text (906) 280-6118 or email Rick@KeyRealtyUP.com

Days River Trail

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The Days River Trail is a great way to get your fix of nature, not too far from town. Near the river and lined with trees, you can have a relaxing walk or a fun bike ride in the summer. During fall you can take a stroll while checking out the leaves changing. In the winter you can cross country ski. Access the trail just northwest of Gladstone. Check out the Visit Escanaba link for more information.

Besse Park

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This park is one of my absolute favorites to bring the kids. It is family friendly for kids of all ages. One great feature is the rubber underneath all the equipment making falls less harsh. It is located at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 30th Street in a quiet part of town. There are baby swings, a tire swing, slides, climbing and more! We choose this park often and especially on the brisk days it is too cold to be right next to the lake. See this link for the informational handout from the City of Escanaba about this park.

Fishing dock in Escanaba

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Do you you love to fish? If so, the Escanaba area is the perfect place to buy a house. The fishing on the Bays De Noc is so good, several professional fishing tournaments have been hosted here. The Bays are known for the awesome walleye fishing. Other types of fishing include salmon, bass and whitefish. During the winter, you will see countless ice shanties on the bay as people additionally enjoy ice fishing. Click on the linked words above for more local information about fishing. Also, check out this guide from the DNR.

Reasons I choose to live in the UP

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My family has lived in different areas throughout the years. Soon after my wife and I had our first son we moved home to the UP. We decided to pack up and drive north to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. There are many reasons we were called home to build our life.

1.) The people- Yoopers are a very special type of people. The people who live here have your back. I once broke down in Crystal Falls on my way home to Hancock. A local repair garage owner, who I did not know, offered to drive me the hour and a half home. This is one example of many.

2.) Pace of life- this is huge for me, personally. Living in the U.P. offers a significantly slower pace of life I have come to appreciate. In the city, my wife and I both had long commutes in heavy traffic. Now we are both minutes from work and love the extra time we have with our boys.

3.) Nature- the vast amount of wildlife and landscapes are truly breathtaking. There is continually more to explore and appreciate. Locally around town we are always heading out on an adventure to a trail, park or beach to enjoy as a family.

4.) The “big lakes”- there is always something to do at the lake and this is where my wife says her “soul feels free”. Something about water as far as the eyes can see make me reflect on life.

Wells State Park

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Are you looking for an adventure that is not too far away from town? About 30 miles south of Escanaba you will find a beautiful Michigan State Park, Wells State Park. This park has a lot to offer. The park has a scenic campground with campsites so close to the lake, waves will lull you to sleep at night. There is an updated playground, rustic cabins and a sandy beach for your enjoyment. Take a walk down the beach or a nature trail to get your daily dose of the outdoors. After you close on your new home, pack up your gear and head out to play.

Updating Your Home

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Love it? Hate it? While searching for prospective homes, you will find homes with oak cabinetry. It is a beautiful wood, but paired with an outdated kitchen, it can make the home look aged. There are many ways to update a kitchen look without changing the look of the wood cabinets (whether you love it or not).

  • Backsplash – Add a modern backsplash to your kitchen. It is amazing how this can transform a space.
  • Paint – Choose a complementary paint color. I love the choices listed in this article.
  • Knobs/Pulls – Some oak cabinets have REALLY dated knobs or pulls. Update to a modern look.
  • Curtains/Drapes – Change out those 70’s curtains!

Whether you are the home buyer (have a vision) or seller (give a facelift) there are ways to upgrade a space without spending a fortune.