It’s a toss-up whether the home inspection or the appraisal induces more nail-biting. Homebuyers, sellers and the agents involved await the results of both with a mixture of anticipation and fear. The latter, at least statistically, is unfounded. “Nationally, [only] 3.9 percent of sales failed in 2016,” according to Forbes staff writer Samantha Sharf. She doesn’t mention the reason for…
Whether it’s your first time buying or selling a home, one of the most confusing aspects of either process is learning the lingo. Fixtures, encumbrances, contingencies – real estate jargon starts flying fast and furiously. The various players in the process, their roles and responsibilities, seem to confuse consumers the most and the title company sits at numero uno. In…
Are you or someone you know part of the 84% of Americans who believe that purchasing a home is a good financial decision? This is the highest percentage since 2007 – before the housing crisis. It’s interesting to note that a renter’s net worth is $5,000 and a homeowner’s net worth is $225,000 – a whopping 45 times greater. According…
You don’t have to be an impeccable housekeeper when selling a home – you just need to look like one. That’s the beauty of staging a home for sale – it gives buyers the perception of “impeccable,” and perceptions sell. In fact, staging has been shown to increase a home’s perceived value. “A consumer’s perceived value of a good or…
Across the country, leaves turn crimson, the air gets crisper and thoughts turn to the end-of-the-year holidays. It can be downright distracting which is why, perhaps, that fall is when the country experiences the largest number of pedestrian fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA). While adults older than 64 account for the largest number of pedestrian…
When shopping for a mortgage, have you noticed how much lower the rates are for a variable mortgage than a fixed? For example, as of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-mortgage rate is 3.69 percent, while the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, is 3.09 percent, according to BankRate.com. Despite this, many borrowers shy away from…
Sure, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and hubby Justin Theroux and Jay-Z and Beyonce own drop-dead gorgeous homes in Los Angeles’ swanky Bel Air community. But, theirs don’t hold a candle to the newly-crowned priciest home in the U.S. right now. History Back in the 1960s, there was barely an adolescent girl in the country that didn’t want to be Elly…
Nature is good for us, according to psychologists. In fact, there’s an entire branch of their profession devoted to studying how nature impacts our happiness and well-being, known as environmental psychology. When we incorporate natural elements in our home’s décor, we are practicing what is known as “biophilic design.” Adherents subscribe to the belief that “humans are hard-wired to need…
Atlantic hurricane season: June 1 through November 30. Wildfire seasons vary, depending on region. Earthquakes have no season – they strike without warning. Depending on where you live, natural disaster preparedness may be a vital undertaking, but stocking food and water only takes care of one’s immediate needs. What happens if your roof is blown off, your walls collapse or…
Recent Comments