Real estate has three primary rules: Location Location Location When something has to be repeated three times for it to sink in, you know it’s an important issue. And, when it comes to determining a home’s value – now and in the future – location is king. When real estate agents, lenders and appraisers talk about location, however, they aren’t…

Your monthly mortgage payment, which includes the loan’s principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance, no doubt takes a large chunk of your take-home pay. Most homeowners just live with the pain, despite some concrete steps they can take to lower the payment. It’s not easy, and it does require effort on your part. But, you can lower your monthly…

If you’ve chosen your listing agent wisely, he or she will determine the most likely buyer for your home and then laser-focus the marketing materials to that pool of buyers. Various studies of what different types of buyers are seeking in a home help the agent figure out which of your home’s features will attract them. Now, there’s one more…

There’s a reason grilling takes center stage in summer. The weather demands it ― who wants to be cooped up indoors with all that glorious sunshine outside? Aside from that, I doubt there’s a barbecuing man or woman in town who doesn’t feel that his or her barbecue prowess kicks hiney over even our best barbecue eateries. To do it…

When the last time you bought a home was far enough back that your mortgage is paid off, or nearly so, can we give you some advice? A lot has changed in the real estate industry since the 1980s, in both the selling and buying process. First, you’re no longer looking for areas with good schools for the kids or…

June 17 is Father’s Day, the day set aside each year to show love and appreciation for dear old dad. So, just what is it that men want, truly, for Father’s Day? Naturally, we aren’t the only curious types so retailers and others have surveyed Dads and find what, in their heart of hearts, they crave for Father’s Day: A…

If your spring cleaning routine paid special attention to getting the deck ready for summer entertaining, we have a question for you: Did you check the deck’s safety while getting it all clean and gussied up? If not, you’re not alone. The estimated life span for a wood deck is between 10 and 15 years, according to the U.S. Consumer…

Although DIY home staging may seem an easy project, we see several common mistakes when homeowners make the attempt. Most go about the process as if it were just a matter of rearranging furniture or redecorating. There’s a lot more to home staging than that, however. The most important aspect is of it is knowing who your most likely buyer…