SBD Archives - SeattlebyDesign | Condos & Lofts, Houseboats, Waterfront, & Residential Real Estate

How To Buy A House With Cryptocurrency

Representation of various cryptocurrencies on a table — Cryptocurrency

There was a time when cryptocurrency was cryptic (pause for laughs and applause…continue), but now it is widely known and seems to be here to stay. It caught the attention of many an investor. It offered a way of making a good profit. However, as more people have started to take notice, there is a question that begs to be answered. What can you buy with cryptocurrency? In December 2017, a house in Essex was bought for 63 coins. Read that sentence again and imagine reading it back in 2008. There’s no reason why you couldn’t, now, buy a lovely property in Seattle in the same manner. The question is not can a place be purchased with cryptocurrency, but rather, how to buy a house with cryptocurrency? There are advantages and pitfalls, as there always are with these things, so let’s look at how it all works.

Before We Jump In

It could be wise to start with a quick recap of what cryptocurrency is. In essence, it is a payment system that aims to circumvent the need for a central bank or any other form of a third party. The idea is that crypto can be exchanged for goods and services just as readily as fiat money. We are not there yet, as many vendors have reservations about using such currency, but it looks like we are getting there. If you’ve heard of one type of cryptocurrency, you’ve heard of Bitcoin. There are others, of course, such as Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Litecoin. They are virtual currencies, and, as we have established, the real estate industry has sat up and is starting to notice it.

A golden coin with the letter B written on it on top of a hundred dollar bill — Paper money could become a thing of the past with the advent of virtual payments

Pros and Cons

As you can imagine, every type of payment has its advantages and drawbacks. To fully understand what you can do with your cryptocurrency, you need to understand what such transactions entail. Wouldn’t it be great if somebody took the time to serve up these pros and cons in the form of an easy-to-digest bullet point list?

Pros

Out with the volatile and in with the stable – Cryptocurrency is prone to daily fluctuations. The reason people get into real estate is that it offers a safer investment. Over time you can expect the value of your property to appreciate. If you’ve made good gains in the cryptocurrency game, it could be prudent to invest it in something more stable now as you think towards the future.
Time is money- I have written many articles about buying and selling homes, and I feel like the most space in each of them is taken up by the whole buying/selling process. There are a lot of steps—a lot of places where things can go wrong. Using cryptocurrency, just like bringing an all-cash offer to the table, can speed up the whole transaction.
Discount? Well, maybe- This depends on the seller. If they are interested in obtaining virtual currencies, they may find your offer more enticing.

Coins on top of a graph — They say what goes up must come down. When it comes to financial stability, real estate is the safer bet.

Cons

The other side of the bitcoin (pause for laughter and applause again and… continue) – The sellers also know that cryptocurrencies are volatile. If they are risk-averse, your offer will fall to the bottom of the pile.
Crypto what – The other problem is that many sellers will not know what you are offering them. Finding somebody interested in such a transaction is still a tricky prospect. However, the signs are there that this will change over time.

Let’s Start With the Obvious

Now that we know what to look out for, it’s time to look at how to buy a house with cryptocurrency. They say it’s better to start with the simplest ones first. Therefore, let’s start with actual cash. The easiest option is to convert your cryptocurrency into fiat money. Be sure to find a reliable real estate broker to help with the further steps once that is done.A couple of caveats here. Firstly, the money needs to stay in your bank account for at least a couple of months to be considered an asset. Secondly, this asset could be subject to capital gains tax, so get your financial advisor on the phone.

Bitcoins and dollar bills on a table next to a laptop and some papers — How to buy a house with cryptocurrency? Use it to acquire fiat money. Everybody loves cash offers.

Let’s Move on to the Slightly Less Obvious

As opposed to direct conversion, some companies will happily accept cryptocurrency as collateral to get a loan in fiat money. The same disadvantages are in play, though. The IRS could notice such a substantial amount of money appearing in your bank account. Furthermore, as you can imagine, the interest rates involved are higher than what you would get with a standard mortgage.

Direct Could Be the Best

There is an obvious way around the problems mentioned above. The new issue is that the answer is rare and still hard to come by. If you can find a seller interested in cryptocurrencies (they are out there, and there will be more and more), then a direct transfer of the crypto to the seller is the best bet. In the eyes of some sellers, your offer will be the shiny one that stands out from the pile if they are looking to acquire Bitcoins and such.

An Important Caveat

Assuming you have found a seller who is willing to accept cryptocurrency, the transaction is more than possible. However, while the home purchase may be made in crypto, some other expenses have to be dealt in good, old-fashioned real money. These include title and escrow fees, prepaid, and closing costs.

Although the most significant part will be paid with crypto, there will always be a portion of the transaction that must be made with liquid funds in U.S. dollars. This is typically between 4-8% of the purchase price.

Once the Deal is Done

Hopefully, one of the above methods will let you acquire that dream home. Once that is done, it could be time to move from a decentralized payment method to a more centralized database. What do I mean? It’s time to move to your new home, and for that, you will need a reliable moving company. To find one and make a good decision, you should check the top sites for business reviews that have all the info you will need neatly stored in one place. Here you can read up on feedback from other users to make an informed decision.

The Future Is Here

There you have it, how to buy a house with cryptocurrency! For any other questions, whether you are a buyer or a seller, you know who to contact for the most reliable info. The times are constantly changing; it’s in their nature. Cryptocurrency is here to stay, and with each passing year, we can expect it to be more and more common. At the moment, it may seem cool and even avant-garde to purchase a home with Bitcoins, but this could be commonplace in the not-so-distant future. It pays to know how to pay (final pause for a roaring round of applause sure to follow that comment… and continue) with your cryptocurrency!

Reviving Your Lawn After Winter

Image of a stressed lawn. — Frozen grass requires reviving your lawn after winter.

If you have prepared your lawn for winter, it will be that much easier to revitalize it in spring. But even if you haven’t, reviving your lawn after winter is a straightforward process. It will take some time and effort, though, so flex your green thumbs and learn how to bring back your Seattle lawn into shape.

Stages of lawn care after winter

Just as your home requires spring cleaning, your lawn craves attention after cold, snowy months. Mid-March is the optimal time to start reviving your lawn, although you should wait for a few dry days in a row to begin. Put the following lawn care tasks on your checklist:

● Raking
● Mowing
● Overseeding
● Aerating
● Weeding
● Fertilizing
● Watering

Timely preparation implies inspecting your gardening tools and confirming they’re in good working order. The best way to ensure every tool is functional and ready for the spring season is to learn the right way to store it over winter. Cleaning the tools and emptying fuel and oil containers is as necessary as dry and clean storage space. Which tools will you need?

● Lawn rake
● Slit seeder
● Manual core aerator (spike aerator) or aerating machine
● Long-handled weed puller
● Push mower, power mower, or mulching mower
● Soaker hoses, drip irrigation system, sprinklers, rainwater collecting system

Service the mower and repair all other tools that have visible signs of wear and tear. The perfect time to do it is while the temperatures are still low. Don’t let the spring surprise you!

Starting a spring cleanup: Raking

As soon as you can tie three dry days by the end of February or the beginning of March, start raking. By the time temperatures have risen enough to start gardening, your lawn should have exposed any potential problems like snow mold and thin spots.

A man and a girl rake the lawn. — Vigorous raking serves to remove the thatch and eliminate moss.

Thatch build-up is responsible for fungal diseases like pink and gray snow mold. Removing the mold is not only important for restoring the infected lawn patches but also for preventing allergic reactions. Although the snow mold dies out when temperatures go up, you can dispose of it sooner. Raking helps revive your lawn after winter by allowing it to dry sooner.

Overseeding bare spots

Raking should give you a clear picture of thin spots on your lawn and break down any large chunks of soil. The empty patches will develop in places where the grass died due to freezing or drowning. Even though you can’t influence how weather impacts your lawn, you can refresh the bare spots by overseeding them.
And although you don’t need any tools to do so, a slit seeder will expedite germination and increase its success. When overseeding your lawn, use native grass seed blends. Choosing Northwest-adapted varieties of grasses like Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass also improves your home’s energy efficiency by preserving water and fuel used for mowing. Should you need to replace the larger parts of the lawn, resodding service in the Seattle area costs between $1.53 and $1.85 per square foot, depending on the lawn size.

Aerating your lawn

Aeration will loosen the soil and allow the water and oxygen to reach the grassroots through aeration holes. Otherwise, if the soil is already too wet, aeration will help it dry. All you need to do is insert a spike aerator in the ground and wiggle it slightly to raise the soil.

A man inserting a garden fork in the ground. — If done on time, aeration will increase the success rate of compost and fertilizers.

Repeat the process at about every 6 inches until you aerate the whole surface of the lawn. Aerating takes time if your lawn is too big and you do it manually, but you have an option to partner with professionals. Aeration services in the Seattle area range from $80 to $120 per 1,000 square feet of lawn surface.

Fighting weeds and pests

There are a couple of ways to combat weeds in spring. By overseeding and growing a dense lawn, you bring in healthy competition. Use the weed puller to extract stubborn weeds’ roots. Bear in mind that it’s a lot easier to pull them out while the soil is still wet. The last resort is pesticides but be cautious when using chemical weed killers.

According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), improper lawn care in Seattle is responsible for the pollution of streams and excessive water consumption. If you do need to use weed killers and pesticides, apply the chemicals in the dosage recommended by the producer and spread it directly over the weed patches.

Grubs vs. Birds

Weeds are not the only ones interested in your lawn in spring. After the winter fasting, your lawn may become a feasting ground for crows and other birds. The good news is that birds will eliminate Chafer beetles and other harmful insects. The downside is that they leave ugly 1-inch holes behind and damage the roots. Metaphorically speaking, you can kill two birds with one stone if you eliminate grubs in the first place.

Chafer beetles have one more natural enemy – nematodes. However, the problem is that you can apply nematodes only once the temperatures rise significantly – in July. So, if you have a grub-infested lawn, prepare on time. Keep your lawn aerated, dethatched, and healthy. Purchase nematodes from April through June in a local gardening center. In the summer, apply nematodes as instructed by the producer and water the lawn regularly. Moreover, Fescue grass doesn’t attract grubs because it doesn’t produce thatch. One more reason to grow native varieties!

A crow on a bright green lawn. — Birds will damage your lawn by digging holes in turf, searching for (and finding) grubs.

Mowing and fertilizing your lawn: when and how

Ideally, you will mow your lawn on the highest setting as soon as it dries after raking. Grass clippings produced this way will not cause thatch build-up. On the contrary, they will get “grasscycled” into free fertilizer. Bi-weekly mowing at two inches is optimal.

The best time to fertilize your lawn is in late April or early May, when grass growth starts to slow down. Whenever you can, use compost, grass clippings, natural organic, or slow-release fertilizers to feed your lawn. If you wish to hand over the lawn care to local experts, know that the bi-weekly moving with fertilization service costs between $30 and $50 for every 1,000 square feet of lawn surface. Consider liming your lawn once every couple of years to restore the optimal pH value of the soil.

How to water your lawn and be eco-friendly

It IS easy being green, so to speak. Do your best to adopt an eco-friendly practice of recycling rainwater and save water you’d use for gardening. Seattle gets about 0.7 inches of rainfall during July and August and about 1.5 inches in June and September. This fact makes rain the most valuable resource for environmentally conscious lawn owners.

Take advantage of the fact that Seattleites can get rain barrels affordably from the SPU. With the right watering system, you will boast a vivid green lawn even during the dry summer season and protect the environment. Remember this while reviving your lawn after winter and collect rainwater while it’s available.

How to Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move

A family carrying boxes for relocation. — How to Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move

You have purchased a new home in Seattle, and now it’s time to continue onto this exciting chapter. However, most relocating experiences can be tiring, time-consuming, and stressful. Whether you do the work yourself or hire professionals, it can all seem overwhelming. You need to pack up and haul your entire life, often in a short period, and it isn’t easy to know where to start. But, with proper preparation, you can cross everything off your to-do checklist while still having time to sit back and breathe. For this reason, we have created a guidebook to help you organize, plan, and prepare for a move. You’ll be well equipped for the moving day and ready to settle into your new place seamlessly.

Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move: A guide

To move like an expert, you should understand that planning is essential. It’s easy to get disorganized with all the scheduling, arranging, and paperwork you’ll need to do in the coming weeks. These suggestions can help you stay on track with your upcoming relocation.

Devise a moving strategy

Early in the preparation stage, you need to decide if you need professional relocation services for your Seattle relocation. Reliable movers can help with every part of the process, as long as you do your research and check their references. Also, look at their website and see what options they provide. Before agreeing to anything, you should ask for a moving quote in advance.

Then, set up a plan for when you will carry out activities. Should everything be moved in one day? Are things to be moved to multiple places, such as a storage space and your new home? Do you have to throw out junk?

A mover next to a moving truck. — Movers are there to do the heavy lifting, which might make your portion of the work much easier.

There is also the matter of how far away your destination is. Any move that occurs within state boundaries is referred to as intrastate moving. On the other hand, interstate relocation involves crossing state boundaries. You may be subject to different moving rates depending on the sort of relocation you are planning. It is useful to do your research before even contacting the movers.

Have the necessary equipment

Make sure you have enough cardboard boxes, containers, etc. Check if you have something in the storage room or garage, ask friends and acquaintances, or visit the shops. A useful suggestion is to fill up baskets, suitcases, and other containers with items.

A couple sitting on the floor surrounded by moving boxes. — You will need A LOT of boxes.

Throw away, give away, and sell

Get your things in order BEFORE you pack. Sort everything that needs to be thrown away, given away, sold, and kept. Maybe you have some old furniture or clothes you can sell. Are you going to throw away the old dining table? Post it online, and a lucky family can benefit from it. If you do this a couple of weeks before the actual move, you will have less to move, less to clean, and you will feel that you have got off to a good start.

Take a systematic approach

Maintaining order during the moving chaos is not easy. For this reason, try to create a system – a good tip is to label the boxes with the contents and which room they should be placed in. This will save you time when you start unpacking in your new home. You can also use transparent plastic bags to pack clothes and bedding, so it is easy to identify the contents.

It may pay off to check if you are insured in case an accident occurs. To limit any damage, have plenty of bubble wrap, newspapers, towels, etc., to wrap fragile items such as glass and frames.

Packing fragile items

You should know the best way to wrap up and box your sensitive possessions so that they arrive in one piece at your new residence. Consider wrapping your valuables in plastic wrap and photographing your devices before disconnecting them.
Be careful when moving large and heavy furniture since it is easy to get scratches on both the furniture and the floors. If you are dismantling larger pieces, remember to fasten the corresponding screws to each piece of furniture.

If you have any precious artwork, like paintings and sculptures, you need to put extra special care into the process of getting them ready for transfer. Artwork can be big and bulky, and even the elements designed to protect it—the frame and glass—might damage it during relocation. You will need to match the artwork with appropriately sized boxes, secure it with paper and bubble wrap, and specifically mark the boxes so whoever carries them knows to treat them with extra care. As an added precaution, you can hire art movers who specialize in these types of items.

A couple preparing artwork for a transfer. — Fragile items, like artwork, often require a lot of special care.

Check the technicalities

Check deadlines for termination of various services related to your home. Services that may be worth checking are electricity and rent, internet, cable, and newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
If you have children, you also need to enroll them in a new school, which means doing research on the school districts is a must before the move.

Pack an essentials bag/box

After a long day of packing, the last thing you want is to look through all the boxes for essential items. Therefore, pack a box with a change of clothes, toiletries, toilet paper, coffee maker/kettle, and some plates and cutlery. This way, the first day in your new home will be much more comfortable.

The big moving day

Moving day is finally here, and you have hopefully completed the points above and are as prepared as you can be. Put aside plenty of time for the relocation, whether you are using a moving company or doing it yourself. It always takes more time than you think. Moreover, if any friends or family members are helping you relocate, make sure to treat them with some food or drinks. They will surely appreciate it and might even want to help the next time you decide to move!

Final thoughts

Having to organize, plan and prepare for a move isn’t a piece of cake, but it is very manageable and doable – with the right advice and a positive attitude. Once you’ve made it through the hard part, you get to design your new home however you envision it and enjoy all the wonderful things that await. Good luck!