Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor

Buying a home is a numbers game, but it’s also an emotional game. That’s why from the get-go, I encourage buyers to only consider homes they can confidently afford. ⁣
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Setting aside what lenders say, buyers should take the time to “try on” various mortgage payments and find the one that fits the best and feels the most comfortable.⁣
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That said, some guidelines can provide a starting point for answering the question: How much home can I afford?⁣
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Most financial experts say housing expenses should be no more than 28% of your total pre-tax income. This includes your monthly P&I mortgage payment, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and PMI payments (if applicable).⁣
For example, if your salary is $55,000 per year, your gross monthly income is $4,583 ($55,000 divided by 12). Your total housing costs (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) shouldn’t exceed $1,283 per month (28% of $4,583).⁣
Keep in mind that total debt should be under 36% of your total pre-tax income. This includes housing costs mentioned above and credit cards, car loans, personal loans, and student loans.⁣
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Save this post for later, or share it with anyone you know who has plans to buy this year. And, of course, reach out if I can answer any questions that come up along the way!
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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OPEN HOUSE!! These sellers have kept this home in immaculate condition as the first owners. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be the next owner of this 4b2b 2000+ sq ft beauty. Only $415k!
MLS #1168832
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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✨FEATURED LISTING✨
Built in 2020, this 3b2.5b beauty has so much to offer!
✨Fully fenced, large yard
✨Covered front and back porches
✨Laundry room + chute
✨St. Johns county with no CDD or HOA
✨Upgrades galore!
Contact me for a showing!
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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[Listing Courtesy of Abraham Chatila, Florida Homes Realty] MLS #1163248

Allow me to reintroduce myself!! What are your fun facts? Tell me in the comments! ✨
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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✨FEATURED LISTING✨
Oooh baby - don’t miss out on this one!! A beautifully renovated historic home in Riverside! Walking distance to all your fave places, tons of natural light, a gorgeous sun room that could be used as your home office, and more! Let’s go see it- contact me for a showing!
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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[Listing Courtesy of Patt Flynn, Yellowbird Realty] MLS #1160043

Are you dragging your feet to buy or sell this spring? Listen up, procrastinating pals!
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NOW is the time to BUY, and NOW is the time to SELL. Here’s why:
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BUYERS: Mortgage rates are inching upwards. That means now is the time for you to lock-in current rates before they creep higher and, at the same time, scoop up the home you've been dreaming of!
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SELLERS: Cash out on that equity! Your house is probably worth more than you think. Contact me if you are interested in seeing what you could potentially sell your house for!
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Ready to get going? Call me!
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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In all your HGTV watching and Instagram scrolling, surely you've done it. I know I have. You’ve daydreamed about your next home—what features you’d be willing to check at the front door and what would be your line in the sand non-negotiables. ⁣
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Now, it’s time to put those lofty thoughts out there for the world to see! Ready? Let’s do it. ⁣
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Besides bed and bath count, what are your 3 must-haves in a home? ⁣
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Maybe an in-ground swimming pool, hand-scraped wood floors, and a walk-in master bath shower?⁣
Or could it be lofted ceilings, a private office, and an out-of-sight playroom for the kids?⁣
How about several acres to romp and roam, a lazy-day front porch, and a driveway lined with shade trees?⁣
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There's no right or wrong—it's simply what works for you! So go on. Comment your 3 must-haves in a home below.
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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Want a quick calculation on how much you can expect to profit from selling your home? Just take the selling price and subtract 10% to account for expenses.⁣
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For example, say you sell for $300,000. You can expect to pay roughly $30,000 leaving your profit around $270,000 (before your mortgage payoff). Wondering what’s in the $30,000? Scroll to see an overview of what is included!⁣
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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Did you know I work primarily with first time home buyers? That’s right, almost all of my clients are jumping into this exciting adventure for the first time. If this is you and you have no clue where to start, it’s right here.

Whether you are looking to buy now or a year from now, shoot me a message! I will walk you through the process, let you know everything you need to know, and answer any questions you may have. (No question is a stupid question!)

I can’t wait to meet you! 🏠✨
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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Take a look at the numbers from March! Not too shabby 😌 Who’s gonna contribute to the April stats? Give me a call! 🔑
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realtor® 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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Got questions about selling or buying in 2022? Give me a call! I’m here to give you all the tips and tricks to score you the perfect new home!
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Morgan Rutledge, Keller Williams Realty 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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SOLD! 🔑 The Anderson’s are officially homeowners!!! 🏡🪴 So so excited for these two to finally have closed on their very first home. They were so patient in this crazy market but ultimately ended up exactly where they needed to be. I can’t wait for y’all to experience homeownership and to make many, many memories! 🏠
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How cute is this living space!? 🙌🏼 If you’re looking for the perfect rug, my [non-local] go-to has always been either , , or .... buttttt I’ve been eyeing for awhile and might have to go with them next time I buy a rug...👀🤩 // *The pictured rug is from *
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U N D E R C O N T R A C T !
So excited for these sweet friends to finally find their first home! 🤩 Their perseverance has paid off! Looking forward to closing next month! 🏡

205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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TIP OF THE DAY 💡
You might not be quite ready to buy or sell yet, but did you know you can start working towards it NOW!? 🤗 If you want to eventually buy, go ahead and start up that savings account. Work hard to make sure you are paying all your bills on time and being financially smart! If you want to eventually sell, continue working to keep your home in the great condition it is! Fix things when they need to be fixed, keep things up-to-date, and you’ll be so happy it paid off in the long run.

When you think you might be ready, you know who to call! 🙋🏼‍♀️🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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A lot more goes into buying a house than just going on showings and closing on a cute house! As your realtor, I want to make sure you are fully aware of everything that goes into this process. SO today I explain a little bit of this in my stories- go check it out!
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Text or DM me all your questions! 🏠🔑
205.837.0604
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Bored by the way your space looks? I have a few simple, inexpensive ways for you to completely change up the look of your space, and these can be done in ANY room 🤩
✨Change light fixtures
✨Paint! (A wall, kitchen cabinets, your dresser, etc.)
✨Switch out hardware
✨Add a rug
✨Rearrange your furniture

Orrr you can always just buy a new house too! 🤪 205.837.0604 // [email protected] 🏠
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Most buyers are in search of a single family house, but have you ever considered a townhouse? 👀 Here are just a few reasons you should look into one:

•Great value for money / more affordable!
•Most likely in a convenient location
•Less maintenance work

Think you might wanna consider a townhouse? Let’s connect! 205.837.0604 // [email protected] 🏠
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[Listing Courtesy of Tamara Smith, RealtySouth]

A lot more goes into buying a house than just going on showings and closing on a cute house! As your realtor, I want to make sure you are fully aware of everything that goes into this process - financially, emotionally, the whole sha-bang. Call/text/dm me if you have any questions or want to set up a time to chat! 🏠🔑 205.837.0604
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If you’ve been tossing around the idea of selling or buying, here’s your sign to go for it! 🤪🏠 Whether you’ve done it 10 times or have no clue what you’re doing, I’m here to help you through the process according to your own needs! 🔑 [email protected] // 205.837.0604
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Got backyard space you aren’t sure what to do with? Here are some creative DIY ideas! ☀️🍂🪴
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Morgan White, Keller Williams Realty 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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✨FEATURED LISTING✨
Gotta love a rancher, especially when it’s as luxurious as this one! I can’t even decide what my favorite thing about this house is: the open space, the office, kitchen with large island, quartz counters, fireplace, coffee bar, spa-like tub, HUGE shower, room-sized closet, all the design elements…! Did I mention there’s a very spacious in-law suite downstairs?! Oh, and it also has its own fireplace. Don’t miss out on this beauty! Listed at $499,900.
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Looking to sell or buy? I’m here to help! 🙋🏼‍♀️🏠
Morgan White, Keller Williams Realty
205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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[Listing Courtesy of Tami Hallman & Mario Neavez, ERA King]

✨FEATURED LISTING✨
When I saw this house for the first time, my jaw DROPPED. 17+ acres & over 3,000 sq ft of complete mid-century/modern BEAUTY!! Extremely spacious rooms, huge walk in closets, and y’all....the TV above the bathtub!! 🤩🤤 Go look up this listing yourself to see all the pics. Just these 10 don’t do it justice! It also has a large laundry room, another bedroom, more bathrooms, room for storage, and lots of gathering space out back to entertain family and friends! Listed at $550,000.
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Looking to sell or buy? I’m here to help! 🙋🏼‍♀️🏠
Morgan White, Keller Williams Realty
205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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[Listing Courtesy of Josh Vernon Group, Keller Williams Vestavia]

Curious what your first steps to buying a house are? Look no further! A pre-approval is where it all begins. 😊 Got questions? DM me!

Morgan White, Keller Williams Realty 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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🔑 S O L D 🔑
Introducing the newest homeowners on the block...the McCoy Fam! 👏🏼 They found me on Instagram and wanted a place to call their own- now here they are! Homeowners at last! Thank you, Ashley and Blake, for trusting me to help you find your new beginning.
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Who else is ready for a place of their own? We can make it happen starting now! 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
Morgan White, Keller Williams Realty
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So I’ve noticed a trend among both my past & present clients as far as what all of their biggest “wants” are in their new homes! The 3 main things are:

✨flat backyard
✨updated/renovated
✨at least 3b2b

What’s on your wish list?! 👀

(P.S. If you’ve got a home with these 3 things, I’ve got several couples in line!) Call me today! 🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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Is it important to you to have a realtor that knows the area you want to buy or sell in? Well you’re in luck because this realtor was born and raised right here in Birmingham, AL! 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 There’s no other place I know better than the streets of good ole B’ham ☀️ ••• I’m licensed for the entire state, but the areas I know best go from Gardendale down to Calera, and then from McCalla alllll the way out to Pell City & Lincoln (I’ve got a lake house out there😉)!
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I can’t wait to start working with you to find your new home! 🏠 In the meantime, message me all your questions! 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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✨FEATURED LISTING✨
Alright guys, so here we have a 1,500+ sq ft condo right on the golf course at Inverness Country Club! 😱 If you enjoy peace and quiet, this home is for you. This condo is so spacious and includes a stone fireplace, beautiful hardwoods, and newer appliances! Listed at $215,000.
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If you’re ready for a showing, you know who to call! 🙋🏼‍♀️🏠 205.837.0604 // [email protected]
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[Listing Courtesy of Beth Jones, Keller Williams Vestavia]