Tom Petty famously penned the words, “the waiting is the hardest part” in his early 80’s hit song The Waiting, and his thought process can surprisingly also be applied to individuals considering selling their homes today. Traditional thinking would suggest it may be best to wait until the spring to sell when there is a flood of buyers in the…

I don’t know about you, but my brain shuts down when the word “tax” is mentioned. I think many of us would rather have a root canal than talk taxes. So, let’s try to keep this light-hearted and hit just the basics. Property taxes vary by the local government that imposes them and are based on the assessed value of…

If you haven’t met your fair share of stink bugs this year, brace yourself. Although stink bug season is officially from March through September, the cooler it gets outdoors, the bigger the problem. Brown marmorated stink bugs infest both the interior of homes and the garden. In the garden, they feed on fruit and vegetable crops, causing spots and decay….

Will this be the year you buy a brand-new home? Don’t be discouraged by news reports claiming that “U.S. home building fell,” or “housing starts dropped.” The scary-sounding numbers are due to a drop in multi-family home building, not single-family. In fact, the single-family home construction market across the country is set to be just fine, with a surge in…

Sometimes (not often enough, in our opinion) money falls into our laps. Tax returns, bonus checks, gifts and an inheritance are just a few ways that we can come into a chunk of money suddenly. If you’ve been saving for a down payment on a home, the windfall will go a long way toward getting you closer to home ownership….

Whether you’re entertaining notions of buying or selling a home, you’re no doubt keeping up with housing news. And, what you’re seeing may concern you. Doom and gloomers, naysayers and, curiously, even some experts are claiming that they are worried about the housing market. The fact is, the real estate market is the one bright spot in the economy right…

2019 is half-way over. With a decline in interest rates as well as home price and wage appreciation, some are asking what the predictions are for the remainder of 2019. With the said concerns, here are few statements from the experts in the real estate industry. Ralph McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Economist for CoreLogic said “We see the cooldown flattening or…

As a homebuyer, unless you are buying direct from the owner, you’ll not negotiate with the seller of the home you have your eye on. That’s your real estate agent’s job. But he or she negotiates on your behalf. So, when we talk about buyer negotiations with sellers, we’re referring to indirect negotiations through your agent, as middle-person. Unless you’re…

🤔If you are thinking of purchasing a home and are on the fence, THIS is why NOW is the time.👍 👉Remember, the FED recently indicated flexibility in rates. ✅The nation’s Top 100 economists do not predict a recession coming in the next few years – ✅AND we are not in a housing bubble – homes are appreciating at what is…

The junk drawer. Love it or hate it, most of us have one and most of the time it’s in the kitchen. NPR’s Linton Weeks says they serve “as a Rorschachian reflection of your life.” That’s rather distressing, isn’t it? While the garage is the most cluttered room in the house, according to a Moen® Consumer and Market Insights Group…

One of the most common questions we hear from our listing clients is whether or not they should renovate or remodel their homes prior to putting them on the market. Whether your goal is to make more money off the sale of the home or to help it to sell faster, part of our services to our clients is to…

The one thing we think most of us look forward to after a day out in the winter elements is a long, steamy-hot shower or luxurious soak in the tub. Busy lives, however, put the thorough cleaning of tubs and showers on the back burner, making spending time in them less-than appealing. We’ve rounded up 4 brilliant hacks to keep…

We recently received an email from a former client. He’s considering selling his home and, like many home sellers do, he went online to see if he could figure out how much the home is worth. “Zillow values my home at $325,000,” he writes. “Yet, one of my neighbors recently sold his home, which is almost identical to mine, for…

After a few tries at indoor gardening, many people give up, assuming the thumb just isn’t green enough. The problem usually boils down to having chosen a high-maintenance plant and giving it low-maintenance care. We agree that having a plant in the house shouldn’t be like having another child around that you have to fuss over and take care of….

Unless you’re Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, your home purchase may be the biggest financial investment you make during your lifetime. Scary thought, isn’t it? Not if you approach this investment as the three wealthiest Americans would. Buying a home is a business transaction and, to avoid costly mistakes, it needs to be addressed as one. This means…

Home improvement projects can not only be fun, but they add value to your home as well. Whether you’ve decided to add improvements to your home before it goes on the market or are planning improvements to your new home, here are some creative ways to add sparkle. 1. Window Treatments Because windows are such a focal point, it pays…

That letter from the bank: You know the one — it says you’re approved to buy a home for a certain amount of money. It’s burning a hole in your pocket. Now it comes down to deciding what type of home to buy, within your budget. Condo or townhome? Existing home or a newly constructed house? The latter is a…

Three digits. They may be all that is standing between you and your own home or continuing to rent. Known as your “credit score,” those digits reflect how risky it will be to lend you money. The score may also impact other aspects of the homebuying process as well. How your credit score is calculated The road to your credit…

Wisteria blooms elegantly along the back fence, temperatures are gradually nudging their way up, grilling season is oh, so close and you’re ready to give your patio or balcony a shot of pre-summer sprucing. Few things in a busy life feel more luxurious than breakfast on the patio, deck or balcony on a gorgeous spring or summer day, so it’s…

Buying a home isn’t as easy as walking up to a lender and requesting a mortgage. You’ll need cash for a down payment and the loan’s closing costs, unless you’re applying for a VA or USDA loan. If you’ll be going after a conventional loan, you’ll typically (but not always) need 20 percent of the loan amount as the down…

Not all home improvement projects are created equal Trying to figure out which home improvement projects will give you the most bang for your buck? Check out these suggestions: Powered by WPeMatico

Last week I came across an article about the latest tech gadgets for the home. There is some pretty cool stuff out there, some of it new and some that has been around for a few years. If you’re in the market for home tech to help make life easier, read on. Alexa How can any homeowner get along without…

Real estate isn’t a game for the faint of heart. To ensure that you walk away from the deal with the maximum amount of money possible requires following a time-tested process. Unfortunately, not all real estate agents counsel their clients on the do’s and don’ts of selling a home so mistakes happen frequently. Let’s take a look at three of…

Hurricane season in 2018 was brutal. We saw eight hurricanes, with Florence and Michael producing the most significant damage. Hurricane season this year begins on June 1. Last month, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency in preparation for the 2019 wildfire season. The declaration allows him to waive environmental restrictions “to speed up fire prevention projects …”…

Tenants come in two “flavors,” affable and nightmarish. We hope, for your sake, that when it comes time to sell your rental your tenants are the former. The whole process will go much smoother. If they are disagreeable, you may want to take option 1 when deciding when to list your rental property. Timing the sale of your rental property…

Most of us homeowners consider spring cleaning as the project that clears the home’s interiors of winter’s nastiness. You know, the mud in the mud room, the stale odors, the fireplace scent clinging to draperies and rugs. The home’s exterior rarely gets our spring-cleaning love, but it should, according to the founder of Winkelmann Design & Construction in Akron, Ohio….

What’s old typically becomes new, right? Whether it’s fashion, music, dance styles or décor, never count a trend down and out, because the chances are good that it will see a revival. Scandinavian décor hit it big again a couple of years ago, especially in the midwest United States. And now, we’ve niched that down to a return to the…

The “Remodeling 2019 Cost vs. Value Report*” has just recently been released. A deep dive into which remodeling projects provide a homeowner with the best return on the money invested, the latest report is full of surprises. In last year’s report, the three projects with the highest ROI were all improvements to the home’s exterior. These included: Garage door replacement…

Owning a rental property poses tax considerations that are more complex than the residential property you live in and requires a more refinedtax strategy. Below is the tax information you need to know as well assome top tax tips for owners of rental properties. Rental Property Tax Considerations When filling in your tax returns, your rental property is listed in…

Designed by Cliff May in 1932, the ranch-style house was conceived specifically for California living. Mr. May combined elements of the Spanish hacienda and Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style design and expanded on them to include large windows to bring the California landscape visually closer to the home’s interior. Other identifying features of the ranch house include the long, low layout…

Now, before you turn your nose up at the topic, we aren’t talking about senior living communities – those group homes for baby boomers and their elders where they take a little bus to Walmart once a week and someone else does all the cooking. We’re talking about retirement communities – for boomers who are active and independent and want…

It doesn’t take much to diminish a credit score. Something as small as a 30-day late payment can cause it to plummet. If that payment goes another 30 days late, your credit score (which, for FICO, ranges between 300 to 850) will fall even more. Soon, you may be considered a subprime borrower (those with credit scores below 670). In…

Lush green lawns don’t happen without some serious help from the homeowner. Sure, grass may not die if not routinely cared for, but homeowners with a lawn-care schedule are the ones with the yards that are the envy of the neighborhood. Spring is the perfect time to set about creating a lawn-care schedule. Stick to it and if it ever…

Let’s face it, not many of us can easily envision the lifestyle that an empty room might provide. This is why paint stores offer clever apps that allow us to see how a new color will look in our space and why model homes and condos are staged. Yes, selling a vacant home is a bit more challenging than selling…

In all of our years in the real estate industry, here’s a truth we’ve learned: it’s the proactive homeowner who ends up having the smoothest home sale and, typically, makes the most money. If you start now, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your home (and yourself) for the spring market and be among those success stories. Will you…

Most homeowners can clearly recall that moment it became clear that they could, and would, buy a home. Ditching the landlord is a dream of many and when you can see that dream – grasp it – it’s intoxicating. It’s easy to jump right into the process and let the cards fall where they may, but it’s not wise. There’s…

Home improvement projects are missing from the list of Americans’ top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2019. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t undertake one or two this year, especially if what you do makes living in the home more relaxing. And changing up the color, even if it’s in small ways, can do just that. Intimidated? Intimidation is usually…

The National Association of Realtors tells us that 44 percent of homebuyers visit open houses. While most don’t end up buying the home, it gives them an idea of what homes in their price range offer. And, that’s a brilliant strategy. Even if you don’t plan on buying the homes you tour, it helps you get acquainted with neighborhoods and…

As huge fans of Pinterest, we’re always eager to read the year-end wrap-up and predictions of what will be trending on the platform in the new year ahead. The beauty of Pinterest is that so many of the projects on display are DIY-able, meaning huge savings over hiring someone to do the work for you. In fact, searches for DIY…

So, you’ve heard that home prices are falling, the inventory of available homes is beginning to grow and, if you look closely, you’ll see a crack beginning to form in that once-fiery sellers’ market. Whereas in the recent past, homebuyers were a dime a dozen, you may just be on the precipice of being an in-demand commodity and, with that…

If you’ve just purchased a home, putting all your “stuff” away is something you’re most likely not looking forward to. Unpacking boxes and then finding a place for everything can take a while. The good news is that if you make a vow to get organized now, instead of promising to do it later, it will make the unpacking a…

Too many home sellers feel that their listing agent is responsible for everything that comes after signing the listing agreement. Nothing could be further from the truth. The homeowner is an active participant in many aspects of the sales process, from settling on the listing price to preparing the home for the market and being flexible when buyers’ agents request…

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a new sofa whenever you wanted? Good news: when the seasons change and the urge to update your living room accordingly strikes you, you can have that “new” sofa, or at least one that looks new, with sofa slipcovers. Couch covers are a wonderful way to update your home’s decor. With the variety of…

It may seem like an understatement, but life completely changes when you have kids. They’re so tiny, yet so powerful that they impact our lives more than anything that came before. Years ago, you may have lived in an apartment, never thinking about buying a house. With kids, that changes, doesn’t it? They need room to grow, to play and…

Funny thing about houses – we often outgrow them. Especially in the throes of family-building, pretty soon a house is like our kids’ shoes – it gets tighter and tighter until it’s time for a new one. The new year promises to bring a different real estate market than we’ve grown accustomed to. Hopefully, multiple offers on homes are a…

Our clients often tell us that it was their dinky kitchen that prompted their decision to sell their condos to buy a house. While the kitchen may not be the “hub” of a home any longer, it is the room that most Americans spend the most time in, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And, those with tiny kitchens…

When you want to sell your home, don’t bother asking Alexa because when we asked Google how to find a listing agent it gave us more than 6.5 million results. Read some of the results and you’ll walk away only more confused. It seems like every real estate agent on the planet, even those who deal primarily with buyers, is…

As most homeowners understand, owning a home isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it kind of possession. It requires what sometimes seems like almost constant maintenance. While some of these tasks can be deferred, and often are, there are others that shouldn’t wait. Not performing these maintenance tasks can cost you dearly. We have a fresh, new year upon us, so why not resolve,…

The process of buying your first home involves a steep learning curve. From how to get started to understanding the roles of the various players in the process, it can be confusing. Probably the most misunderstood aspect of the home buying process is the mortgage. Sadly, it’s also the most important. We see far too many real estate consumers who,…

If there’s one thing we can guarantee during the home sale process it’s that you’ll walk away from the closing table with a sore wrist and a bad case of brain fog. The sheer volume of papers you’ll sign is mind-boggling. The time you’ll spend sitting in the chair will numb more than your rear end. But there is still…

From Ikea product hacks to painting kitchen cabinets and refinishing countertops, Americans are absolutely hooked on the DIY craze. There are some things, however, that only a pro should tackle and that includes determining a home’s current market value. In fact, a National Association of Realtors’ survey of for-sale-by-owners found that determining an accurate price for their home was the…

Sure, books aren’t exactly selling like the Instapot (2018’s hottest selling product on Amazon’s Prime Day in the U.S.), but if you’re of the opinion that something isn’t worth reading unless you can hold it in your hand, read on. Even if you consume your literature on Kindle, shelves holding books are an asset to your décor – especially if…

Moving is bad enough, but moving in wet, muddy, sloppy weather should be illegal. Alas, it’s not, and if you have no choice but to move during winter, do yourself a favor and hire professional movers. If that’s not possible, pay heed to 5 of the most important tips from the pros. 1. What will you do with pets and…

Have you ever stocked up on groceries for a week’s worth of recipes and then forgot which of them you’d intended to follow? If you owned an LG InstaView ThinQ Refrigerator, it would’ve reminded you. This smart ‘fridge was but one of the many home tech creations on view at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Some of…

After the boring stuff is out of the way – the loan application process, choosing a lender and then hiring a real estate agent, it’s time to go shopping, the truly fun part of buying a home. Have you started your wish list yet? The first section should be all about location – where you want to live, right down…

Pretend, for a moment, that it’s spring (yes, it will come). Although snow is still deep, temperatures are rising. What happens? The snow will melt, sometimes rapidly, creating lots and lots of flowing water. Add a spring rainstorm to the scenario and you may be facing a serious problem. Where will all this water go? Since the earth is still…

Whoever coined the phrase “Bridezilla” must’ve been referring to the bride (or groom) who was juggling wedding planning with homebuying. Believe it or not, many couples avoid the chicken and egg scenario (what comes first, the wedding or the house?) and decide to do both processes simultaneously. It sounds crazy, but if you have a system and some professional guidance, …

 Winter brings images of getting cozy in front of a crackling fire. Whether your image also includes a steaming cup of cocoa or a glass of crisp Chardonnay, it’s definitely something to look forward to. A house fire most likely doesn’t factor into your dreams of hearthside dreams. But the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) lists fireplaces as one of…

A Sacramento area HOA created a requirement that insisted homeowners keep their garage doors open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. If they refused, they would be fined $200. Apparently, the HOA hoped this invasion of homeowners’ privacy would prevent them from renting out their garages as living spaces. The requirement was later rescinded. An Orlando area…

There is a 65 to 70 percent chance that El Nino will be visiting this winter, so look for it to be a warmer than normal, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing winter storms; we just may not see as much snow in certain areas of the country. Take steps…

It may not be snowing just yet, but you can count on the white stuff in the near future. If your home is going to be on the market during winter snow storms, the time to prepare is now. Sloppy, slushy conditions are not only dangerous to folks trying to get to your front door, but they create messes –…

From recipes to timers, this year’s crop of Thanksgiving websites and apps are just about guaranteed to keep you from wishing you had five extra hands and three fewer kids while trying to get the Thanksgiving feast from the kitchen to the table. 1. The Bon Appétit Thanksgiving Headquarters Although Bon Appétit Magazine has been helping foodies navigate the kitchen…

First-time homebuyers know that they’ll need a down payment if they hope to get a loan. What they often don’t know is that they will also need cash to use as what is known as an “earnest money deposit” to submit with the offer to purchase when they find the home they want. This deposit takes its name from its…

It’s almost winter (it starts on December 21 this year) and that’s the perfect time to tackle some chores that you may typically put off for spring cleaning. Do them now, however, and you’ll not only be better prepared for the feast-heavy winter holiday, but ahead of the spring-cleaning game as well. Why now? Think about it: spring cleaning is…

Veterans Day this year is November 11 (observed on the 12th) but to us, November is Veterans Month. And what better time to remind those who have served our country and their surviving spouses that the best mortgage on the market just may be the one that was created for them? When comparing mortgages, especially when you’re short on cash,…

One of life’s most challenging aspects is watching our parents age. Then comes the day when you, and they, realize they’ve lost their physical independence. Whether they are downsizing into a smaller, less maintenance-intensive home or are moving in with you or to a care home, giving up a long-loved home is wrenching. Thankfully, they have you and you have…

We don’t need a crystal ball to tell us when to take the first step in determining if this is a good time to sell a home and buy another. While market conditions should play a role in your decision, the first step starts with you, and the state of your finances. Your Personal Finances How’s your credit? Lenders have…

If you leased a property with gas appliances in London, the landlord would be required, by law, to maintain the pipes, appliances and flues. Additionally, he or she would be required to have a gas safety check every year and supply you with a record of such within 28 days of it being performed. Those Londoners are pretty smart cookies…

When I bought my first home my priorities included a big backyard and the home had to be single-story. Yes, I was young, and obviously not too bright. I ended up with the backyard of my dreams in a single-story home that otherwise didn’t fit my lifestyle or tastes. What’s your hot button? Yes, it seems to be a simple…

Would it surprise you to learn that 1.2 million American children have elevated levels of lead in their blood? Lead poisoning sounds like something from out of the past, like polio or leprosy. But, apparently, it’s still very much in the present, and very, very dangerous. If your home was built before 1978 the paint on your walls may contain…

Unless you have a big stash of cash, you’ll need to borrow money to buy a home. Oh, you’ll still need some cash (for the down payment and closing costs), so don’t stop socking it away just yet. In fact, one of the things that confuses our clients most is the down payment they’ll pay when they get a home…

It’s hurricane season and even the most prepared among us may have let something fall through the cracks. Typically, it’s the pet’s needs during a natural disaster that are left unconsidered. We’ve seen the videos of dogs left chained in a yard, the flood waters quickly surrounding it. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is urging pet owners…

A few years ago, RealtorMag put out a list of the “Top 10 Most Common Home Inspection Problems.” They range from faulty wiring to roof problems to foundation flaws. Whether caused by deferred maintenance or just the aging of the home, the older a home is, the more likely it is to have issues. Most buyers of newly-built homes breathe…

It’s 2 a.m. and the phone is ringing.  You know before picking it up that within ten minutes you’ll be fully dressed and in your car, on the way to take care of an emergency repair at your property. It’s the nature of the beast, right? No matter how well you maintain your rental property, water heaters leak, air conditioning…

“In my experience, there is no correlation between houses we hold open a lot and houses we do not hold open at all and how fast or at what prices they ultimately sell for,” claims an unnamed real estate broker at zillow.com. Then, there is real estate “scientist” Tim Ellis’ analysis of a study performed by a large real estate…

This year we usher in the autumn season beginning on September 22. And, as we all know, autumn typically brings more than falling leaves. Many of us get lots of company as well. Instead of digging out the same old décor that you’ve used for the past decade (or more), let’s take a look at some of what the pros…

Ah, to be a fly on the wall as potential buyers traipse through your home for sale. You could watch them peer into your cupboards and closets and peek into the drawers in the kitchens and bathrooms. Don’t worry – most of them aren’t being snoopy; they are merely trying to figure out where they can store their “stuff” if…

It’s been a long, hot summer, and, we don’t know about you, but we can’t wait for fall. The cooler weather makes it more enjoyable to do the things we like to do, such as gardening. The only problem is that the days are starting to get shorter. But, hey, that’s a small price to pay to be rid of…

One of the most frustrating issues we’ve dealt with over the past few years is the confusion over private mortgage insurance (PMI). Folks on the internet aren’t helping clear the confusion; instead, many are feeding it with misinformation. The truth is, the average down payment on a mortgage is around 11 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s…

Paint is the miracle cure for a home that needs freshening. It not only adds color, but, if the color is chosen strategically, it can make rooms appear larger, smaller and even cleaner. The best part of painting as a home improvement project is that you can control costs by doing it yourself. The worst part is how much preparation…

OK, so you don’t have a warehouse full of designer furniture, accessories and home décor items or a degree from an interior design school. Don’t let that stop you from fashionably staging your home before you put it on the market. Staging isn’t merely the act of decorating a home; it is primarily an appeal to emotions. A lot of…

The reality that you’re bringing a new life into the world is never more evident than when the nurse rolls the bassinet into the delivery room, right? It’s at that moment that you realize (between contractions, most likely), that without a doubt, you’ll soon be a parent. It may also be when you begin to question whether you’re ready. In…

The best part of moving to a new town or city is the newness of the whole thing. Getting to know the amenities, finding a new favorite eatery, new parks, new people and a new lifestyle is exciting stuff. The most challenging aspect of relocating to a new area is finding a place to live, especially if your new town…

Although homeowners have been DIYing home improvement projects for more than a century, the growing popularity of HGTV has resulted in a surge of its popularity and an explosion of America’s home renovation and décor market. Last year, Americans spent $314 billion to upgrade their homes and that number is expected to grow by 7.5 percent in 2018, according to…

A home languishing on the real estate market is one of life’s more frustrating ordeals. Especially if you’ve owned the home for some time, there’s that emotional attachment that tells you, “Hey, this is an incredible house. It should sell really fast!” If you’re under contract on another home or if you need to relocate there is also the need…

“Deferred maintenance.” It’s a term that real estate professionals hear frequently. It describes a home that has been neglected and raises red flags concerning its condition. Putting off routine home maintenance can not only lead to big, ugly, expensive problems down the line, it causes a significant loss of your home’s value when it comes time to sell. Let’s take…

Sure, the results of an appraisal and the home inspection can stop a real estate deal dead in its tracks, but what if you never get that far in the process? What if the lender turns down your loan application – is there anything you can do to buy a home? That depends on why the lender denied your application,…

As a homeowner you know that the best way to protect your home’s value is by maintaining it. And, when it comes time to sell it, you’ll find lots of ways to increase its value. On the flip side, there are few folks willing to tell you how to wreck your home’s value. Until you met us, that is. Use…

“What’s the crime rate in this area?” It’s a common question and we understand completely why homebuyers want the answer. Unfortunately, real estate professionals are forbidden from answering it. So, when your question is met with silence, or you’re directed to the local police station or a website or two, please don’t think we’re brushing you off. The Fair Housing…

Back to pencils, back to books . . . we are getting closer to the day our students head back to class. This means it’s time to start gearing up for the fall routine ― the back-to-school shopping for clothes and school supplies, getting used to a new sleeping schedule and trying to get a handle on those transportation issues….

Look at three or four resale homes during your house hunt and you’ll start getting the feeling that, should you purchase one of them, you will be buying someone else’s poor design ideas, lousy home maintenance and lack of cleanliness. Yuck. It’s for this reason that many homebuyers choose a newly constructed home instead. Yes, they typically sell for more…

Planning for a vacation is distracting. Sitting at your desk at work, mentally going over what you’ll need to pack, visions of sandy beaches and cool water dancing in your brain – there’s not a lot of room to consider anything else. But you need to make room Crime rates increase about 10 percent during the months of June, July…

Selling a home looks so easy, doesn’t it? After all, what does a real estate agent do to get homes sold that you can’t do? Russel Baze, the winningest jockey in thoroughbred horse racing, makes his job look like a snap. If you pleasure-ride, you wouldn’t be the first to think you may have what it takes to do what…

In all the excitement of moving and trying to get settled in the new home, the last thing you want is a honey-do list, right? Some things, however, shouldn’t be put off but need to be taken care of now. So, push the boxes aside for a day or two and let’s get ‘er done! 1. Change the locks Although…

Not all homes are on city services – some have their own systems to deliver water and remove waste from the property. If you’re considering putting in an offer to purchase a home that has a septic system, read on for what you need to know. General septic system anatomy Whatever substances go down the home’s drains ends up in…

Sure, beer is the official beverage of the great American tailgate party. But it’s time to step out of the rut and add a little flair to this year’s festivities. Every tailgate crew has that one person who has a signature tailgate dish. Well, this year it’s your turn to take the spotlight. You’ll have people waiting all year for…

When we think of ticks and the diseases they spread, we typically think of Lyme disease. But, did you know that the nasty little critters also spread ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis? The former is more common in the southeastern and south central United States while the latter is caused by the same tick that spreads Lyme disease, in the country’s Northeast,…

Warning: We’re about to give you the creeps. It’s termite swarming season – that time of year when subterranean termite populations within colonies reach the carrying capacity and they swarm out in search of new digs. Although they may start out underground, a few strategically constructed and placed mud tubes will allow them entry into the home. They can also…

Whether you live in a condo with a water view or a multi-million-dollar beach house, there is an ever-present temptation to overdo nautical or other beach-related décor. Wicker, white and blue ― if this describes any element in any room in your waterfront condo, you’re living a cliché, according to Phoebe Howard, with Mrs. Howard and Max & Company. She…

There is no one answer and many, many things to consider when deciding about whether to sell or rent out a house that no longer suits you. First, I urge you to speak with your accountant or financial planner before doing anything else. He or she will be able to help you determine if keeping the home to rent to…

Did you wonder if grilling season would ever get here? Finally – a chance to get outdoors and polish that pit master image you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Even the pros seek out tips and tricks, however, so we’ve brought you some of their most brilliant. Grill a better burger Shopping for the right meat is half the battle…

When you list your home for sale or buy a home with the help of a real estate agent, get ready to sign a whole pile of paperwork. In most states, one of the first you’ll be asked to put your pen to is called the Agency Disclosure and we often see our clients sign it without reading and understanding…

Summer is almost here! Grilling, swimming, or just lazing away the day in a hammock with a good book or a snooze — some of the best ways to spend a summer day. Read on if your backyard could use a bit of summer sprucing to make it more conducive to relaxing. Install edging for a tidier look If that…

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…

In case you missed it, summer recently arrived. If you’re still making your summer getaway plans, and you have the means, you may want to consider the ultimate luxury vacation. A couple of years ago Spectrem Group conducted a study of the spending habits of people with a net worth of at least $25 million. What they found is that…

Ah, the need for speed in a real estate deal – we’re quite familiar with it. From clients who’ve taken a job out of town with an impatient employer to the need to sell a deceased family member’s home, “Should I sell my house as-is” is a common question. There are also the clients who tell us they aren’t the…

You see them all over the internet but nowhere online do gardening fallacies proliferate more than on Pinterest. For instance, we recently read a pin that described several ways to improve our garden soil, “naturally.” Among them was throwing a banana peel on the soil, or burying it, to supply potassium to your plants. For the record, “As soil microorganisms…

Think back to a time when you, or someone you know, sold or traded in a car. There was some work to do before advertising it for sale or taking it to the car lot, right? It’s a rare car seller who’ll leave all the fast-food wrappers, empty plastic water bottles and crumbs left behind by the kids. Why? Because…

You must admit, there’s nothing like a nice, hot shower at the end of a very long day. Standing under steamy water, you can almost feel the stress melt away. It doesn’t take much to kill the shower vibe. Weak water flow, a backing-up drain or moldy tiles can all make that end-of-day routine less pleasurable. We’ve gathered some tips…

Call them “red flags,” or “warning signs” or even “whoa, don’t-buy-this-house” signs, but there are certain symptoms of a sick home that you need to be aware of before you fall in love with a sexy fireplace or a to-die-for backyard. Once you’re smitten, it may be too late. Now, don’t get me wrong, most houses, even new ones, have…

You don’t need to be a professional interior decorator to update your your home’s interior. With a little creativity, and items already present in your home, you can transform it into a showplace. Here are 4 inexpensive ways to update your home’s interior design. 1. Paint The quickest and most inexpensive change you can make to your home’s interior design…

There was a time in our country’s history when discrimination in lending was blatant and rampant. In the 1930s, for instance, Americans of color were routinely denied mortgages. Several methods were used, the worst of which was redlining (denial of a loan based on the applicant’s address). Yes, we’ve come a long way in the nearly nine decades since then,…

While the average nationwide cost to replace a roof is $7,269, according to homeadvisor.com, costs vary by region, size of the roof and other factors. It’s a huge, expensive job, so it’s understandable that you want to hire the right roofer and get your money’s worth. So, how do you find this Waldo of the contracting world? Short of a…

“Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make,” is one of the first “tips” you’ll receive when surfing the internet for information about the process. The statement is ubiquitous, it’s also an understatement and so self-evident that it’s become a cliché. Most important, though, is that it’s a statement that induces panic. Don’t let the words…

In 2017, a total of 16 disasters in the United States caused an estimated $306 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Residents of Montana bore the brunt of wildfires that raged across more than 1 million acres. Californians suffered from fires, as well as flooding and massive mud slides, while hurricanes Harvey, Irma and…

There’s a road you will head down when you first decide that it’s time to buy a home. Before taking even the first step, you’ll encounter a fork in that road. Sadly, most first-time homebuyers take the wrong fork and end up disappointed. Not having a clue about your credit  Do you know what’s lurking in your credit reports? It’s…

Walking into your new home for the first time may be a bit jolting. Unless it was vacant when you purchased it, the home will look completely different. The walls will be empty, the floors exposed from corner-to-corner and the prospect of filling all that space may be overwhelming. It’s also exciting. Finally, there’s no landlord to dictate wall color…

After a long, grueling search, including several overheated bidding wars, Jim and Claire found the California home of their dreams. They were ecstatic when their offer was accepted and the transaction sailed to an effortless close. As summer settled in, it was time to crank up the air-conditioner. Curiously, they couldn’t find the thermostat for it. Sure, there was a…

Mold – it’s unsightly (when it’s visible) and it’s unhealthy – and, if it’s in our homes, it is present in every breath we take. Many of us only think of mold in the cold and damp of winter. But, spring weather can also cause a host of problems in our homes and mold is one of them. Not only…

Working with first-time buyers and those on tight budgets during last spring’s overheated sellers’ market was heartbreaking. So many offers made and so many passed over for someone else’s. One of the most frequently-asked questions we received was “Aside from increasing the amount of money we’re offering, what else can we do to win in a multiple-offer situation?” As we…

When the home you want to buy is merely a shelter to retreat to after a day spent ranching or farming the land surrounding it, you’ll find that the process is much more involved than buying a tract home. While we don’t have space here to get into the fine details of this type of real estate purchase, here are…

Ok, so you got an offer on your home. Although this is the right time to heave a sigh of relief, we’re not yet ready to pop open the champagne. We don’t mean to sound like Debbie Downers here, but there are several potential hazard areas on the way to closing. One that is seldom discussed is the title report. So,…

I have a friend in another state who wants to sell her home. And, whether a blessing or a curse, she has the luxury of taking her time. In other words, she doesn’t need to relocate for a new job, she’s not getting a divorce and she’s not in escrow on another home. So, suffering from “analysis paralysis,” she drags…

Don’t let a skimpy homebuying budget stop you from kicking your landlord to the curb. When even the most basic of starter homes soar in price, there’s always the trusty condo to fill the void. If you’re opposed to even the thought of condo living, consider the purchase a stepping stone – a way to build equity to use for…

In case you missed it, spring sprung on March 20. That means it’s time for the annual spring-cleaning ritual. And, although the exact origins of the ritual are in question, historians do know that it dates back thousands of years. Iranians perform the task on the first day of spring and call it “khooneh tekouni,” (تکان دادن خانه) which is…

March 20, 2018—the day those of us who love nothing more than getting dirty in the backyard have longed for. It’s the first day of spring and, although we’re ready, our gardens may not be. In fact, before stepping one foot onto your home’s landscaping, “give the soil the ‘squirt’ test,” cautions landscape contractor Roger Cook, at thisoldhouse.com. “Step down…

Powdery stuff on the floor near the wall. Tiny mud tubes on the wall. One- to two-inch round holes near the eaves, deck and siding. While easily overlooked, these are all signs of a wood-destroying pest infestation in and around your home. Overlook the signs at your own peril, as the damage caused by these tiny insects is expensive to…

The homebuying process is one that is full of decisions. Do you want a house or a condo? Should you shop for a new or an existing home? If you settle on a newly-built home, a whole new set of decisions enters the picture. Before you hop in the car to visit new home communities, however, there  are a few…

The best and quickest way to revitalize a room is with paint. It’s amazing what fresh paint can do. But, don’t stop there – especially if you’re thinking of selling your home. Simply changing the hardware on kitchen and bathroom cabinetry will complement those freshly-painted walls and make the room look complete. Best of all, it’s inexpensive and there are…

OK, truth time: There’s nothing more disruptive to home life than to have your home on the market. Chasing the kids around, nagging at them to pick up their clothes and toys, ensuring the dishes don’t pile up in the sink and the dirty laundry is tucked away, out of sight. And, if you have pets, it’s even more challenging…

Despite having decent credit, a good job and the ability to pay for a home every month, the dream of buying a home is somewhat elusive for those with little to no cash to put down. This is why our younger generation isn’t buying homes at the rate that previous generations did. With student loan debt weighing them down, there…

Whether it’s a long-distance move or you’re relocating within the same city, finding the right movers isn’t easy. Long-distance moves, however, add a whole new dimension to the search. Although the internet is great for finding where to have dinner on a Friday night, it’s not the place to find a moving company. In fact, moving pros say that the…

Didn’t they tell us years ago that we’d be a “paperless society” in the near future? Somebody forgot to tell the real estate industry. There must be a form for every single step in the selling process. In all fairness, real estate is fully in the 21st century, with online document signing and other tech wizardry. Still, the amount of…

Even the safest cities have crime. If this is of concern to you, consider starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood. What it is A Neighborhood Watch program is made up of a group of people who live in the same neighborhood who have the same goal: Make the neighborhood safe by helping local police to reduce crime. The…

Have you ever lived in a neighborhood where one of the homes for sale seems to sit for an especially long time with fewer and fewer people viewing it? It’s a nice enough home, right? Lots of curb appeal and you’ve seen the interior and it’s delightful. So, why isn’t it selling? In a word? Overpriced Even worse, if it…

It’s a fact that how your home looks from the curb will either repel or compel buyers. So, once you’ve got that out of the way, what else entices home shoppers to decide to make an offer on a home? It’s a combination of things, really. But, overall, emotions rule the day. Appeal to someone’s emotions and they may just…

Every winter, families across the country decide if this will be the year that they sell their current houses and move into their dream homes. That means YES, it’s time to say YES, to Listing your home – whether you are ready to move up to the next size home or downsize to a smaller more easy to manage home….

Professional decorators see the same decorating faux pas repeatedly. Hey, it’s only natural that those of us who don’t do it for a living are winging it. One of the mistakes most frequently made by novices is that we don’t pay attention to scale. Specifically, some of the items we use to decorate our homes are far too small, according…

We’ve racked our brains and the best thing that can be said about being a tenant is that you aren’t on the hook for repairs to the home. Unless you did the damage. And, only if you have a responsible, responsive landlord. Is there such a thing? The downsides to renting are numerous – not having the freedom to decorate…

Private mortgage insurance, also known as PMI, is cursed by homebuyers when, without it, many of them wouldn’t have been approved for the mortgage used to buy their home. Yes, it makes house payments higher and, yes, it sticks around far too long. Worse, although it’s called “insurance,” it does nothing to protect the homeowner. Its sole beneficiary is the…

Have you ever noticed that information and advice for first-time homebuyers is plentiful across the internet? What happens when you look for that same information and advice for first-time home sellers? Crickets While buying a home for the first time is somewhat confusing until the process is explained, selling one for the first time is even more so. This is…

Wire fraud is a very common problem these days. NAR General Counsel Katie Johnson provided a summary of the problem recently on realtor.org. She said, “Hackers are gaining access to e-mail accounts through captured passwords, and they’ll search inboxes for messages related to real estate transactions. Once they find a victim who’s in the process of buying a home, they’ll…

Insurance is a necessary evil – we buy it, hoping we’ll never need it. After all, it’s a hedge against catastrophe. The sheer cost of replacing a home with custom finishes, and the fact that high-end homes may contain priceless works of art, expensive vehicles and irreplaceable values, makes the process of insuring luxury homes far different from insuring other…

You know those gloomy weekend days when you just can’t stand the thought of heading outdoors and and Netflix has nothing new to offer? Have we got a job for you! Take a look at the grout in your tile floors. Rather gross, right? Unless you suffer from ablutomania (we’ll wait while you go look it up), those spaces have…

More than 1,500 years ago, a double-hulled canoe full of Polynesians landed at Ka Lae, on the southern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. If they came from the Marquesas Islands, as many archaeologists believe, it was a journey of 2,500 miles, using only the stars to navigate. It’s a safe bet that none of these first settlers ever…

If you’re one of those people who won’t buy a product or use a service until you’ve checked the online reviews, then you are as pleased as we are with the proliferation of review sites. Do you ever wonder if a lot of the glowingly positive reviews are fake? Hey, we don’t blame you – skepticism is healthy. And, thankfully,…

We all get complacent when it comes to safety factors in our homes, so let’s make 2018 the year we look at our sanctuaries with an eye toward making them safer. We’ve compiled some tips on how to prevent the three most common types of home injuries. Falls Falls are the most common accidents that occur in the home and…

Negotiating the successful close of a home sale begins with price and contract terms and doesn’t end until the deal closes. One of the most frequently negotiated items, after the aforementioned price and terms, has to do with the home inspection results. They’re also among the most contentious negotiations. Very few home inspections are “clean,” meaning there’s not a thing…

All those gorgeous windows that allow summertime sunshine to stream through the home are useless to view the winter wonderland outside if the glass is covered in fog. When that frosty outdoor air hits the heated glass of a window, it’s inevitable that the result will be condensation. There is a way to foil this natural process, however. What causes…

The real estate industry does a spectacular job educating first-time homebuyers. There’s so much valuable information out there that no buyer should go through the process uninformed. Buying a home in a new community – a brand-new home that no-one has ever lived in – is not only first-time homebuying on steroids, but the industry has left the homebuyer behind…

Winter home sales don’t have to be as challenging as you may think. Sure, the sun isn’t always shining and you may be contending with snow and ice in your landscaping, but we’ve got some hacks to help cozy up your home, making it über-inviting to winter house hunters. It may be winter, but curb appeal still matters What will…

Winter hibernation – that feeling that we should burrow our heads under the covers until spring — is typically fruitless. Since scientists warn us to “keep moving” to release endorphins which will help us keep “winter tiredness” at bay, we’ve come up with “exercises” that offer a bonus. They’re quick, they’ll get you moving and your home will look incredible…

Selling a luxury home is unlike any other real estate transaction. The marketing is different, the potential buyers are different and the entire sales process is as well. We hear from our luxury home clients that they found locating the right real estate agent to handle the sale the most challenging part of the process. So, we came up with…

Trying to find space in the oven for the bird and all the side dishes isn’t the most worrisome aspect of holiday cooking. Not when the CDC estimates 1.2 million cases of salmonella infection occur each year in the United States. And, salmonella isn’t the only bacteria in our meat and poultry The other common culprits causing food-borne illnesses are:…

Housing trends come and go – some we’re happy to see sitting at the curb, others we decide to keep around longer. Architects, designers and builders see these trends coming long before we do and we thought it might be fun to take a look at some of what we can expect to see in 2018’s new homes. 1. Not…

When Mom Nature throws wicked winter weather our way, the difference between being safe and stranded can often come down to how prepared you are. The following tips will ensure that you’re ready for whatever happens on the wild and woolly roads, and alleviate some of the anxiety of taking to the road in winter. Prepare your vehicle Ensure that…

If the homeowners have done their job, a home for sale has been cleaned up, gussied up and put on display to entice potential buyers to make an offer to purchase. Never is this more evident than in model homes in new housing developments. Carefully staged by interior decorators, every element — from the wall color to the appliances and…

Condos can be the ideal purchase for homebuyers who are on tight budgets. They’re typically lower priced than single-family homes, insurance is less expensive and ongoing home maintenance costs are kept to a minimum. There are some aspects of condo-buying that should never be ignored, however. These include: The periodic association fee and how much it will add to your…

In 2015, more than 10 million American households spent nearly $50 billion renovating their kitchens, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Organization. Since the kitchen is the most-used room in the home, and the most popular among homebuyers, it’s money well-invested If you plan on joining the renovators it’s time to learn about various kitchen design concepts so that…

The luxury home purchase process is different from buying a conventional or tract home. There’s more money passing hands, so naturally the risk escalates. The process is slower as well, so if you plan on purchasing a luxury home, and you won’t be paying cash, you’ll most likely need to obtain a jumbo loan. What is considered a luxury home?…

Black Friday – it’s right around the corner. If you’re in the market for new appliances, this may be the day for you to find a good deal, according to consumer expert Andrea Woroch at Clark.com. Yes, September and October are typically the best time to buy major appliances, but Black Friday deals abound. Before shopping, get clear on what…

The industry that brought you the iconic “location, location, location” has a new one for you: “multigenerational housing.” No, it’s not a new concept, but housing that caters to several generations under one roof is gaining in popularity. We started seeing the demand during the recession, when unemployment propelled younger workers back to Mom and Dad’s house. Then, there’s the…

It’s frustrating to have a decent-paying job, a bright earnings future and acceptable credit and still not be able to buy a home because you lack the thousands of dollars in cash needed for a down payment and closing costs. The dreaded down payment stops more potential homeowners cold than any other aspect of the loan process. To read articles…

Sure, it’s a slogan on a t-shirt, and nobody has yet to take credit for it, but it sums up how we feel. And, since Veteran’s Day – the day we celebrate our heroes in dog tags — is November 11, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind our current and former service members about the amazing VA home…

Outsourcing. Big corporations do it, so why not households? Delegating the mundane, routine household chores to an outside source may just be the key to a happy household. Whether you’re looking for some temporary help around the holidays or part-time or full-time household help, hiring a house cleaner requires a bit of preparation and a whole bunch of interviewing. Finding…

The winter and summer holidays are the two seasons we tend to get the most overnight visitors, with the former decidedly the busiest. Before you know it, the gang will be descending on you so take some time now to ready the guest room. Be A Guest In Your Own Home No, we’re not suggesting you pack any bags, just…

There are two phases of the home selling process that throw most homeowners for a loop: The home inspection and the appraisal. Both can have a major impact on the home’s market value and, thus, how much money can be realized from the sale. Repairs suggested on the home inspection report can be negotiated between the buyer and seller. While…

As retailers are so fond of reminding us, the holidays will soon be upon us. That means parties and family visits. If you start getting the house ready now, the run-up to your soirees will be less chaotic and you can focus on the finer points. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be offering you tips to get various parts…

One of the biggest obstacles standing between you and that house or condo you want to buy may be your credit worthiness. And, who is it that tells your lender whether or not you are worthy of getting a mortgage? Credit reporting bureaus — known collectively as “The Big 3” (Experian, Trans Union and Equifax), are the first to investigate…

Conflicted: It’s the perfect description of how homeowners feel when faced with the reality of relocating from one city to another. It’s both exciting and mind-numbing, frightening yet courageous and it brings up feelings of both melancholy and elation. Moving from one home to another is a life-disrupter, but moving from one town to another is a major upheaval. Watching…

Skip the corn mazes and haunted hayrides this Halloween and indulge in haunted-house pleasure in your own living room. In fact, if you work your way through our series of real estate-related Halloween flicks, you’ll think of them every time you view a home for sale, or put yours on the market. Now, some of these are serious thrillers while…

So, how was your garden this year? If it didn’t perform as you’d hoped it would, we have good news for you: Fall is the perfect time to ensure that next year’s spring garden is a winner. From soil fixes to curing diseases and dealing with garden pests, tasks you perform now are well worth the time and energy spent….

Like practitioners in any profession, real estate agents and brokers have a unique vocabulary, they usher their clients through a distinct process and provide industry-exclusive legal paperwork. Because agents and brokers use the latter, daily, they are so familiar with it that many tend to forget that their clients are not. None of us want to appear clueless, so…

When you’re shopping for homes you’ll be introduced to an entirely new vocabulary and I’ll be the first to agree with you that some of it seems downright boring. Take encroachments and easements, for instance. Though they sound ho-hum, they are both important concepts so today I thought I’d try to put them in plain English for you. What’s an…

Most offices recycle paper now – a few restaurants will and public areas have separate garbage cans for plastic/soda cans. BUT . . . How about at home? Are you are one of those casual recyclers or haven’t caught the ‘green’ train, you might want to reconsider. It’s pretty easy to toss a plastic cup in the trash or wrappers…

Since I was a kid, I have been in love with the ocean. Something about the sound of the waves was soothing and I loved the feel of the sea on my legs. I was a super lucky girl. My grandparents up and moved to Hawaii when I was 5 and I started school barefoot in Kailua. It was such…

Have you ever wondered . . .What number to use? What is the proper height is for your kitchen counter . . . or perhaps the ideal height of a back splash? Well, checking with my team and confirming with Carol Bass ThePracticalDecorator.com shared these numbers: 16 to 20 “ Most comfortable height for coffee table since most sofas have…

Have you ever wondered WHY you should use a licensed REALTOR® for your Real Estate transactions? Many people think they will have a go on their own whether buying or selling. They think if they are selling their property, of course, they will save a commission. And, if they are buying, they think they will be able to negotiate a…

Fall fell on us on September 22 and if you haven’t yet begun your fall home maintenance tasks, it’s time to get started. And, to help, we’ve gathered some tips. Smoke alarms save lives Fall and winter see an increase in home fires, according to the American Red Cross, and faulty smoke alarms were to blame for more than 20…

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…

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…

The sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. All people will someday die and, as long as you make a certain amount of money, you’ll always pay taxes. There are some things in life we cannot change, no matter how much we wish otherwise. Real estate, too, has its immutable laws and there are three…

It happens to the best of us – one day you’re gainfully employed and the next day you’re not. Despite the fact that the nation’s unemployment rate is at a 17-year low and job growth is strong, layoffs are still occurring. While unemployment rates have fallen in many other cities across the nation, in a dozen or so states they…

Want to make an extra $1,500 on the sale of your home? Paint the front door dark gray or navy blue, according to a study by Zillow. Nab another $1,500 by painting the home’s exterior greige (a mix of beige and gray). Or, you can leave that taupe or medium brown paint alone and take a chance on losing nearly…

Even if you aren’t considering selling your home in the near future, a finished basement offers more living space – something most homeowners dream about. If you are considering selling, you’ll recoup 70 percent of the cost of the remodel, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2017 Cost vs. Value Report. Furthermore, keeping your basement-finish budget to no more than 10 percent…

Writers have a target audience in mind as they peck away on the keyboard. Radio DJs are admonished to hold a mental image of their audience (one person of a certain age group, by the way) every time they open the mic. And, the key to success for professional marketers is to “know your audience.” The latter uses market research…

What on earth are you doing with all that stuff? You do know that you can make money by selling it, right? One man’s (or woman’s) trash is another’s treasure and a garage sale is the perfect way to feed that guy’s treasure craving. The most successful garage sales are planned and prepared meticulously. So, let’s look at some tips…

There are few things in life more frustrating than that longing to own your own home combined with the very real fact that your bank account is a bit on the skimpy side. The media is full of stories about shrinking home inventories and multiple-offer situations so there areobviously others who have found a way to swing the dream of…

When trying to forecast the future housing market, most experts look at pending home sales. If they’re consistently trending upward, we can comfortably look forward to a robust near-future. For most of this year, the pending home sale statistics have looked like a rollercoaster, with three consecutive months of declines until June, when they began increasing again. With ever-shrinking inventories…

The United States is home to more than 350,000 homeowner associations (HOA). This represents more than half of all owner-occupied homes in the country, according to HOA-USA. This means that the chances are good that the home you will fall in love with will be in a managed community (governed by an HOA). While not all HOAs are the evil,…

Americans love summer. Whether it’s because it presents the perfect opportunity for the annual getaway or because of the additional amount of sunshine on these deliciously long, summer days,summer, not winter, is truly the season to be jolly. The National Safety Council (NSC), however, reminds us that July and August are the deadliest times of the year. From heat-related illnesses…

That moment when you just can’t stand writing one more check to your landlord so that he can pay his mortgage payment. That is the moment you are emotionally ready to buy your own home, at least according to investment experts. We’d like to extend that list of moments to include the longing to get the kids a dog, drooling…

If you’re digging through sweatshirts and turtlenecks to reach your tank tops and shorts, it’s time for a closet makeover. It’s like eating an elephant The job is much easier, especially for those of us who tend to procrastinate, by taking one bite at a time. Schedule an hour every week to put a dent in the mess that you…

While the surgeon general hasn’t taken up labeling water heaters as possibly harmful to your health, they may be. In fact, any of the many components that make up a home’s plumbing system are rife with the possibility of breeding Legionella pneumophila, the rod-shaped bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease, according to a report at usnews.com. The bacteria Legionella is found…

The housing market is moving at warp speed, with homes that are in decent condition and priced right flying off the market in a matter of days. When it will end, nobody knows. One thing that is certain is that the percentage of homes on the market being sold by owner sits at around eight percent, nationwide. So, after being…

The real estate industry has done a bang-up job on letting consumers know they’ll need some cash when they purchase a home. Typically, it’s the down payment that’s mentioned. Seldom are closing costs brought up sothey end up a major surprise for homebuyers. Between the two of those huge chunks of money are other cash outlays you’ll need to consider….

If you need to sell your current home before buying that adorable bungalow you’ve had your eye on, you have your work cut out for you. Getting your house ready for the market requires work — cleaning, de-cluttering, repairs and maybe even paint. Those are just the interior tasks; the exterior may need some attention as well. You’ve no doubt…

Call it the “Murphy’s Law of Home-Buying” if you will, but there’s a good chance that shortly after you move into your new home the water heater will die. It may trickle as it gives up the ghost or it may gush, but for some reason, these contraptions choose this time to self-destruct. We in the real estate industry see…

Quick! What’s the number one reason that so many millennials aren’t getting into the housing market? No-brainer, right? It’s all about that stubborn student loan debt they racked up. In fact, a recent study by the Federal Reserve claims that the 12 million millennials in their 30s with student loan debt, owe more than those in their 20s. The average…

In all the excitement of choosing your lot, your appliance package and all the other extras that go into buying a new home, something important may fall through the cracks: your new home’s future resale value. Sure, it seems a bit early to be thinking of selling when you haven’t even moved into the home, but you should be thinking…

The weather folks are saying that residents of the eastern U.S. can look forward to warmer-than-average early-summer temperatures, while those in the west will have “well-above average” temperatures come mid-to-late season. Don’t even get us started with summer weather in our nation’s southwest. Suffice it to say that there, the sun is white-hot and even the sky is sweaty. Summer…

It’s Sunday evening and John and Mary Homeseller and Anita Deal, their real estate agent, are sitting at the dining room table, ready to confront a pile of purchase agreements. The Homesellers were smart to listen to Ms. Deal’s advice and decided to entertain all offers simultaneously, rather than have them trickle in, piecemeal. It’s a hot market, and the…

Across the country, inventories of available homes are suppressed and buyers in most price ranges are meeting stiff competition for homes that are in decent condition and priced right. As we climb the price range, however, the pace slows down and buyers can be more relaxed and pickier. Ah, what life must be like when money is no object. What…

Yikes! Doesn’t it seem that frigid temperatures greeted us in the morning just yesterday? Believe it or not, summer is knocking on the door. If you love entertaining outdoors during these glorious warm months, it’s time to turn your attention to your patio furniture, especially if you didn’t take steps to protect it during winter. Good foryou if you did…

big pile of the money. dollars usa Budgets: They reflect a reality that we either revel in or despise. If yours is reflecting the fact that, yes, you can afford to make a mortgage payment every month, but it will be tight, you have some tough decisions to make. These include the obvious, such as putting off the purchase until…

Caution: Taking action on a whim, without consulting your real estate agent, may be hazardous to your real estate transaction and, thus, your pocketbook. All questions, no matter how difficult to ask, or how small they may seem, should be run by your agent. Let’s take a look at three common scenarios and show you why you need your agent’s…

From the elderly couple who broke down in tears when they returned to find a pile of rubble where their home once stood, to the countless stories about brave and heroic neighbors, farmers, ranchers, veterans and complete strangers, wildfires make headlines. “We didn’t have a chance to react. It was here, and we got out with the clothes on our…

Of the many questions we field from homeowners thinking of selling their homes, the most frequent starts with “What’s it worth?” Of course they’re referring to their home’s value, but even after that is determined, the “What’s it worth” questions continue. Following are three of the most common questions about items that may, or may not, add to a home’s…

Remember that first day on a new job when it sounded as if your colleagues were speaking a different language? Most industries have their own jargon and real estate is no exception. In fact, this industry seems to be the King of Jargon. What’s worse is that those who use it assume that the rest of us know what they’re…

Sure, “tiny homes” are now a fact of life in the real estate world. No, they aren’t the rage some would have you think, but a minimalist lifestyle is on many American’s bucket lists. One doesn’t necessarily have to live in a dollhouse, however, to know the challenges of trying to furnish and live in and with tiny rooms. Homeowners…

Will they go up again? It’s the top-of-mind question for lenders, real estate professionals and real estate consumers. When interest rates take a hike, the complexion of the housing market completely changes. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you are no doubt following interest rates and the doings of the Fed. It’s confusing, isn’t it? Real estate industry jargon is bad…

You can make all the necessary repairs to your home, clean it, stage it, maybe even remodel it. But there are some factors that may impact the eventual sales price of your home that are out of your control. So, regardless of how impeccably you’ve maintained the home and despite its ideal location, one or more of these circumstance may…

In only three years, the number of Americans who claim to understand what a smart home is has jumped 53 percent, according to a Finn Futures survey. This doesn’t mean we’re all adopting connected home technology, however. In fact, the survey finds that 59 percent of Americans don’t plan on doing so soon and cite cost as the main barrier….

Most home sales go through without a hitch but there is always a chance that one will hit a snag somewhere along the line. Many of these are minor irritants, some are downright disappointments. Few of the latter compare to falling head-over-heels for a condo only to learn that the community isn’t HUD-approved so you can’t use your FHA-backed loan…

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day and, like many holidays, it took the work of one tireless promoter to bring Mother’s Day to life. Her name was Anna Jarvis and she was a devoted daughter, committed to finding a way to pay tribute to not only her own mother (who gave birth to 11 children), but all mothers, worldwide. The…

It’s safe to say anyone who was in the market to buy a home last year knows that 2016 was a hot and heavy sellers’ market across the country. We saw far more buyers than homes on the market to satiate the demand. And, while the conventional loan still remained the most popular among these homebuyers, the FHA-backed loan accounted…

Ah, May – it’s that time of year that our gardens explode and those of us itching to get out and get dirty are in gardening heaven. First things, first, though: that lawn needs your attention. Sure, this is the time to apply the first dose of fertilizer to warm-season grasses and the time to withhold food from their cool-season…

While the real estate industry is wringing their collective hands over how to attract millennials to the market, the boomer generation is actively buying and selling homes. The National Association of Realtors is, in large part, responsible for the disregard for the very real impact boomers are having on the industry. The latest Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report,…

Quick! What’s the first thing most homeowners want to do upon closing on a new house? If you said “move in,” you’re correct. Unless you bought a total fixer, moving into the new house is at the top of the list. But, slow down there, Skippy. You have a few things to take care of if you want to ensure…

Ah, the paradox of water. We soak in it to soothe tired muscles, we relax to the sound of it falling on the roof, we frolic in it on the shores of lakes, rivers and oceans. Water nurtures life – without it we can’t survive. Yet it can also turn deadly. When winter snow storms cease, the threat of flooding…

Kitchens and bathrooms are the workhorses of the house. Every member of the family spends time in each room, numerous times a day and, over the years, both can become worn and drab. Sure, they could use a remodel, but with the average cost of a bathroom remodel at $9,275, you may want to consider a DIY makeover instead. Whether…

Due diligence: it’s a fancy way of saying that a homebuyer should not depend on the word of the seller (even though, legally, the seller must reveal all known defects in the home) but has an obligation to thoroughly investigate the property. The due diligence period typically runs from the time the purchase contract is signed until a date mutually…

If you hope to begin your family in your newly-purchased home, you’ll no doubt cast an eye toward which room will serve as a nursery. We thought it might be fun to take a look at how other parents are designing and decorating theirs, so we turned to the experts for the 2017 nursery trends and some safety tips. From…

Impulse buying. Think it only applies to the grocery store? Sadly, folks who have a tendency to live for today often choose even financial investments impulsively. We see it frequently in the real estate industry—homebuyers that allow their emotions to rule the process instead of looking at a house for what it truly represents – an investment. Now, we have…

Garden envy – a common malady of the condo dweller who longs for a patch of dirt in which to work his or her botanic magic. The arrival of spring only worsens the symptoms but it doesn’t have to. Whether your condo has a balcony or a patio or even just a front porch, you can garden; it just takes…

When homebuilders stop building, inventories of homes for sale dwindle and we end up in a tight sellers’ market. While there are many reasons for the recent slowdown in new home construction (high material costs, unavailability of labor, etc.), there is good news on the horizon: they are building again. In fact, new home sales increased more than 6 percent…

Even brand-newmoms know to put those plastic things in electrical outlets and to child-proof cupboards that contain hazardous materials. What is less well known, however, is that the furniture in your home creates an enormous hazard to toddlers who love nothing more than to throw open dresser drawers to facilitate their scrambling and climbing endeavors. In January, NBC News posted…

One of the decisions you’ll need to make when you make an offer to purchase a home is the closing date. Yes, it goes into the contract and all efforts, from the time the contract is accepted by the seller until you’re handed the keys, are aimed at meeting this date. If you are the seller, by the way, you…

When looking at homes for sale, how much is privacy worth to you? If you place a premium on not feeling like you live in a fishbowl, but can only afford to purchase a home in developments where the builder obviously tried to cram as many homes onto the parcel as possible, we may just have a solution for you:…

Picture this: You find the perfect buyer for your home. The offer is clean, the buyer is making few demands and the transaction begins humming along. Then, the home inspection results come in. To your chagrin, negotiations begin anew and that formerly speedy progress toward closing comes to a screeching halt. This isn’t a scenario; it is the reality of…

With the official start of spring in less than one week, it’s time to fling open the windows, let out that stuffy winter air and repair the damage to the interior of the home. You know – the mud, muck and grime that accumulates over the harsher season. Spring cleaning is a huge job, but, like eating an elephant, it’s…

If your commute to work takes 25 minutes, congratulations – you’re average, according to a 2009 study by the United States Census Bureau. Commuting to work is a very real part of American life for lots of people, yet seldom considered when they’re shopping for a new home. Sure, it’s easy to get distracted by an amazing kitchen or a…

It’s hard enough to keep our outdoor plants alive during hot summers and frigid winters, but when our indoor plants start popping off it can be even more alarming. When symptoms arise, the first step is to check for evidence of a pest infestation. Lacking that, it’s time to reconsider how you’ve been caring for the plant. Since plants vary…

Paying for your homeowner’s insurance is a routine that, over the years, becomes habit. The experts at AARP warn that allowing this routine to continue mindlessly can be a costly mistake. As we reach retirement, our insurance needs change. You may find yourself scaling back on many things, including the contents of your home. This makes pre-retirement the ideal time…

Although spring doesn’t officially start until Monday, March 20, we did gain more than an extra hour of daylight last month. Sure, it’s still cold and sometimes wet outside, but when did that stop the avid gardener from trying to find ways to get a head start on the spring gardening season? Planting anything may be challenging right now, but…

There’s no secret to getting a home sold quickly – the more people that view it, the better your chances of a quick sale. Unfortunately, too many real estate agents take a “list and pray” attitude toward their home-selling clients – trying to get away with sticking a sign into the dirt, a lockbox on the door and two or…

If your bedroom is merely a place to sleep and to store your clothing — if it isn’t a sanctuary to help buffer you from the effects of a hectic day, it’s time to make some changes. Not only will our tips help you to sleep more soundly, but they’ll help you look forward to that moment when you switch…

February, in many parts of the country, is that month when spring fever starts to set in. The phenomenon is no old wive’s tale, either, Sanford Auerbach, M.D., director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Boston University, told Web MD. That itch to spend time outdoors and the increase in energy can all be chalked up to very real chemical…

The ability to pay your bills on time and still have money left over at the end of the month makes you financially solvent, important when considering the future purchase of a home. Being able to save money is vital, whether you intend on paying cash or using a mortgage when you buy. Proof that you pay your financial obligations…

Whether you refer to it as the loo, throne, potty or John, your toilet isn’t quite as indestructible as you may think. Sure, “toilets have an unlimited lifespan,” according to the National Association of Homebuilders, but only if the components inside the tank are maintained properly and leaks are attended to promptly. Let the maintenance slide, however, and you can…

One of the biggest fears of most homebuyers is that there is something wrong with the home and it’s waiting for after the move-in to rear its ugly head. It is this fear that brought about the birth of the home inspection industry in the early 1970s. Today’s professional home inspector performs a thorough investigation of a home’s components and…

I think it’s a safe bet that just about every home has a junk drawer. You know, that place you throw things because you can’t figure out where else to put them. Before long, the drawer is overflowing with rolls of tape, bag clips, pens, thumbtacks and other assorted odds and ends. NPR’s Linton Weeks calls them our “accidental time…

In a sellers’ real estate market when there are few homes available and a large pool of ready and willing buyers, many of those buyers get left in the dust. It’s aggravating to fall in love with a home only to learn that there are several other offers on the seller’s table. Competition, in this instance, isn’t healthy. Just because…

Just when you think the drain on your savings couldn’t get any worse, you close on your new home, unlock the door and move in. All is right with the world. Experienced homebuyers understand, however, that it takes living in a home for a few weeks to notice all those items that need fixing and those you simply wish to…

Landlords are a bit like dentists; folks typically try to avoid them as much as possible. But, it’s the dentist and the investment property owner who have the last laugh, all the way to the bank. For the latter to actually make bank, however, requires careful planning and a tried-and-true system. We’ll try to help you out with both of…

In the information age the chances are pretty good that your personal informationis in at least severaldatabases that you may not even be aware of. Auto and homeowner insurance companies, for instance, have a handy tool to help them make underwriting decisions – a database of previous insurance claims. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, also known as C.L.U.E., is generated…

In case you missed it, last summer Congress passed H.R. 3700, The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016. By the way, the bill passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate– not an easy feat, right? This law, among other aims, is supposed to help ease homelessness and improve “ . . . low-income tenants’ access to low-poverty…

If you can’t pay cash for your new home you’ll need a mortgage and, if you’re not in the market for a luxury home, you’ll need a mortgage created for those with a more modest income. Thankfully, the United States government offers several programs, including the VA loan, the FHA-backed loan and the USDA Rural Development guaranteed loan. If you…

Sure, we’re knee-deep in winter right now but before you know it, temperatures will warm, the garden will beckon and you’ll trade high heating bills for monstrous water bills. “Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day,” claims the EPA; a frightening statistic, when one considers…

Sometimes, it’s feast or famine in the house-hunting game. Depending on the market, you may find few, if any, suitable homes in your price range. Then there are times when you may find several that seem perfect. When that happens, how do you decide which home to pursue and which to leave behind? It’s an age-old solution, but one we’ve…

The holidays are officially over and millions of American’s are sitting, shell-shocked, in the massive mess left behind in their homes. From grease-spattered stoves and backsplashes to gift wrap and ribbon that needs to be stowed and a tree that needs to be un-trimmed, there’s work to be done to get your home back to normal. We’ve scoured the Internet…

Take a trip across the street and then take a good long look at your house. What you’re seeing is your home’s curb appeal, the lack of which can be detrimental to the successful sale of the home – at least for the amount of money you hope to make. Homebuyers shopping online want to see photos and they’ll…

Regardless of what went into the decision to sell your home, you most likely didn’t make it lightly. An addition to the family, relocation for a new job, divorce, downsizing, the death of a spouse and financial problems are just a few of the reasons Americans have for selling their homes. Your reason is, in real estate terms, your “motivation…

Sure, we’re knee-deep in winter weather right now and many of the tips to save money on heating bills include projects that should’ve been undertaken in autumn. But, if you’ve been feeling that your home is a bit draftier than it should be and the visions you have this holiday season are of dollar bills dancing away from your…

With the new year knocking on the door, one of the questions I hear most frequently is where I think the real estate market is headed in 2017. Buyers, especially, want to know if the market will morph into one a bit more favorable to their interests. Ah, if only I had a crystal ball and could cut right to…

Talking about older adults is a challenge. It’s not like talking about teenagers, or toddlers, who all pretty much like the same things. The group includes a broad range of ages, interests and living situations. Younger boomers sometimes bristle at being called seniors, especially if you call them that while they’re on a road trip on their Harleys or rock…

Don’t you find it odd that so many people take better care of their cars than they do their homes? While maintaining your automobile is important, your home is far more valuable and an investment equally worth protecting. Sadly, most problems in a home didn’t happen overnight but started out small and, neglected over time, reached the point where the…

Ok, so you know you need a big chunk of cash to pay the lender for a down payment on that house you want to buy. You may even know about the earnest money deposit; that smaller chunk of money that your real estate agent told you about. And, sure, somewhere along the line the words “closing costs” may have…

The winter holidays – love them or not – are a time to celebrate. With celebration, however, often comes complacency. It’s a time of year when we are more prone to relax and let our guard down, all in the spirit of the season. As wonderful as the holidays are, there is danger lurking behind some of the more common…

From urban penthouses with amazing views to rural equestrian estates, luxury home settings can be beyond spectacular. Right now, the luxury market in our state is full of homes with prices that start just under $1 million to more than $24 million. Prices at the high end of the market, by the way, are rising only half as fast as…

It’s a brave homebuyer who decides to go through with the purchase of a home, despite an ugly, torn, tattered and/or dirty carpet. Floor covering can be pricey, especially if you pine for what many homebuyers do – hardwood floors. Some of today’s flooring alternatives, while just as attractive as hardwood, aren’t quite as expensive and, depending on your circumstances,…

Remember when declaring bankruptcy was kept a dirty little secret? The social stigma was bad enough, but the impacts of bankruptcy included employers who refused to hire anyone that went through the process and, of course, the ruinous end result of a credit score in the gutter. The bankrupt were seen as irresponsible spendthrifts and offered little sympathy. The…

Compromise is good, especially when deciding what you want in a home as opposed to what other family members want. There are certain criteria, however, that you should think long and hard about giving up and adequate storage space should be at the top of the list. The average American home contains 300,000 items, according to Los Angeles Times’ Mary…

Have you made your list of must-haves for your new house? Like any shopping trip, a list of what you need and want makes the project a lot easier. Aside from the gourmet kitchen or the extra bathroom, consider putting “safe indoor air” on that list. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), because the average American spends more…

To many first-time homebuyers, one of the most confusing parts of the process is sitting across from the closing agent, who is tossing them pieces of paper from a huge stack, quickly explaining what each one means and asking for signatures. From real estate transfer documents to loan documents to title documents there are, what seem to the newbie at…

In a perfect world, the entire family pitches in every morning to clean last night’s clutter and mess before heading out to work/school. In the real world? Not so much. But when your home is on the market, it’s important that you strive to get as close to that perfect world as possible. A hassle? Oh, yes. Crazy making? Indeed….

Between the down payment and the closing costs for the mortgage, homebuyers aren’t left with a whole lot of money. Yet, there are still movers to pay and, quite possibly, appliances to purchase and minor fixes to perform. So, how will you furnish the new digs – especially if you can’t stand the thought of dragging your mismatched furniture…

Selling a home that reeks of tobacco smoke is quite the accomplishment and that you purchased it makes you one brave buckaroo. The accolades don’t help, though, when you come home from work, open the door and the stench hits your nose. The good news is that 20 percent fewer Americans smoke cigarettes now than they did in 2005 and…

We can think of several reasons why a homeowner would consider selling a home with problems, marketed in “as-is” condition. The most obvious, of course, is that there’s no money to perform the required work. This frequently happens in probate sales where the heirs inherit a home in need of work but lack the funds to put the home…

As you get close to closing on a new home thoughts tend to turn from dollar and cents, contracts and contingencies to furniture, paint colors, appliances and other décor. If you work from home, it will be important to get the office set up immediately so we’ve put together this handy guide to get you up and running quickly….

Good for you if you deliberately sat out the summer madness that is inherent in the current housing market. If you’re serious about buying a home, you’re hopefully about to save a huge gob of money. There’s another new housing market study out that confirms some well-known facts (for instance, “home prices peak in June and July”) and some tidbits…

From how we’re expected to file our taxes to a lack of paycheck stubs to sometimes wild swings in income, the self-employed are a different breed. Applying for a mortgage when you lack W-2s, doesn’t disqualify you; you’ll just need to work harder to meet the higher burden of documentation required of the self-employed. According to a study commissioned by…

We don’t blame you for wanting to squeeze every last penny out of the sale of your home. And, aside from just a handful of factors over which you have no control (location, foreclosures or sexual predators nearby, etc), there are some inexpensive cosmetic changes you can make that will appeal to buyers, raising the home’s perceived value. Even if…

It’s hard to consider that in just a short time we’ll be bundling up for another winter but it’s on its way and there’s one fall maintenance chore that should never be neglected: Winterizing outdoor irrigation systems and faucets. The time to do so is upon us, so if this is your first autumn in your new home, we’ll walk…

Consider this: a mortgage program offers certain Americans a home loan with a zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance requirement. In addition, closing costs are limited and if the home is newly constructed, the builder must supply the buyer with a one-year home warranty. Despite the obvious perks of the program, only 10.5 percent of the nation’s nearly…

Imagine you need complicated surgery and you have an amazing insurance plan that allows you to choose your doctor from among every surgeon in your city. Not only that, but you’ll pay the same amount for whomever you choose. Will you decide on the fresh-from-residency or part-time doc or the surgeon who has been slicing people open for decades,…

Like shopping for anything expensive, shopping for a home requires research and a game plan. When you have a list of steps to take, the process will be far less perplexing and far more enjoyable. You’ll also be more successful if you have a strategy, so let’s take a look at some of the initial steps to take to get…

Although experts in the real estate industry continually suggest the importance of seeing a lender before doing anything else with regards to purchasing a home, many buyers don’t. Instead, they merrily attend open houses, mine Internet real estate databases and hound real estate agents to show them homes that they may not even qualify to purchase. We want to help…

The phrase “Homeowners Association” may sound innocuous enough to some but it sends shivers down the spines of many. In books and movies this group of homeowners is typically portrayed as power hungry, meddling and suspicious. Think Big Brother meets Mussolini and you’ll have an idea of this group’s image. Is this reputation deserved? It’s hard not to believe the…

The seller of that home you are about to purchase no doubt thought long and hard about how much to ask for it. She consulted with her real estate agent who spent some time poring over statistics and the prices of recently sold homes in the area to come to a rough estimate of the home’s value. You made your…

It’s funny how a house doesn’t feel like an investment until it comes time to sell it. All of a sudden, after years of living there, the thought of its value hits you upside the head. Hopefully, you’ve practiced good home maintenance over the years and can now focus on cosmetic changes to increase value.And these won’t cost a fortune…

Ok, so, you didn’t set out to become an insurance expert – all you wanted to do was buy a house, after all. Yet, in the process, you ran up against at least four different types of insurance – and these are just the mandatory policies. We are willing to bet that you never dreamed you would learn so much…

Whether it was a foreclosure, short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, a job loss or just plain irresponsibility, there are some steps you can take to get your credit score back into the range where it is attractive to mortgage lenders and you can finally buy that house. Where does my credit score come from? Credit scores range from 300…

When homeowners ask how to get a home sold, there is typically more to the question. For instance, some really want to know how to get it sold quickly, some are wondering how to sell a home to get more money out of it while others have a home languishing on the market and just want to know how…

Once upon a time, in a sleepy little town in Minnesota, a man with big ideas and lots of vacant land decided to build a subdivision. The problem he faced was that his parcel was zoned for commercial development. City leaders, however, were more than accommodating when he asked for a zoning change on enough of the land to build…

It’s no secret that we all love our homes, and buying a new one can be an exciting investment. We put great effort into personalizing that home so that it represents who we are. Now the big question here is; should you live in a new home before renovation or renovate it before you move in? Basically, if it’s lighting…

The bathroom is arguably one of the most important rooms in the house, and among the most frequently used. However, it is easy for homeowners to overlook this space when it’s time to renovate or update. Updating the bathroom is a worthwhile investment which not only adds value to the homebut also increases the overall quality of your day…

According to a recent survey from bls.gov, the United States has created over 250,000 new non-farm jobs as of July, 2016. This, in effect, overshadowed the previous prediction of 180,000 that had been speculated by various economic tabloids. While to the average citizen this might sound like great economic news, that’s not necessarily the case for those eyeing fresh mortgages…

Setting your home’s selling price above its actual market value may seem like a great idea…right? You have room to deal with buyers who like to bargain aggressively. Plus, your agent can comfortably take his or her percentage without compromising what you’ll receive from the sale. Sounds like a win-win situation, right? Well, the process of property-selling goes deeper than…

There has been tremendous growth in the real estate sector in recent years. This has led to an increase in opportunities for home buyers with all kinds of budgets. More homes are becoming available in top-end locations. A large number of such homes are those that are in less-than-stellar condition and need some degree of work. As the real estate…

Retro home decor is making a comeback, and it’s doing it with style as many homeowners are now turning to the older days to give a new look to their house. When you think about retro decoration, what’s the first thing that crosses your mind? Is it the kitchen walls of avocado color? Or is it the classic shag carpets…

Are you ready to put your property on the market?You might want to double check this list first! When you decide you’re ready to sell your home, you will have to dedicate some time and effort to ensure that the carpets are clean, the garden is well kept, and that your home is optimized to make the best possible impression…

There has actually been an increase in older renters over the last 10 years. Those over the age of 55 actually contribute to about 42% of the rental market now. This percentage is projected to increase as Baby Boomers presumably follow the same path. It’s important to understand the pros and cons however of choosing between renting and homeownership….

If you’re considering retiring in the next 8-10 years then you might want to start considering your retirement home! If you buy it early there can be significant financial benefits. This is especially true if you’re planning on getting a mortgage. By doing so early you’ll be taking advantage of the current low-interest rates as well! 30 year fixed mortgages…

Most renters tend to make plans for the next 6 to 12 months. However, sometimes life throws you something unexpected that changes your whole life plan. You may have been offered a better job in a new state, or you and your partner may be expecting a new baby and need some more room.Whatever the situation,the thought of breaking your…

The required amount of your deposit varies depending on the local real estate market and the state itself. Usually, it’ll be anywhere from a few thousand dollars up to three percent of the agreed price of the property; some areas may even require up to 10 percent. The down payment shows the seller that you are serious about purchasing…

Many home buyers are very diligent when it comes to studying up before they make their purchase. However, far too often 6 very important things go overlooked. These common oversights can result in you losing money, wasting time, and cause unnecessary regret. Now, let’s make sure you know about these common oversights, so you can make sure they don’t happen…

Glaring and ugly choice of paint? Exercise equipment cluttering up the kitchen? Weird and unsightly family photos located all over the house? Don’t let it bother you or affect how you see a property. Ask your real estate agent and they will have plenty of stories about houses with a number of flaws. Filthy stained carpets, bathrooms that have cracksrunningdown…

You may see your new yard as a blank canvas, but make sure you consider your options before you start digging. So, you’ve finally had your bid accepted and you’re looking forward to getting to work on the vision you have for your new yard!Well, the bad news is that the green lawn covers dreadful soil and unsightly pipes…

When you’re looking for the right home you might find yourself with an endless sequence of choices. House or condo? Suburban or city centre? But there is one particular choice that bothers a lot of first-time buyers. Should I buy a starter property or a home to last for years to come? In previous decades, first-time buyers usually went for…

Home appraisal time, are you nervous yet? Don’t be, this doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience for you. If you use the right tools, and go into the process well informed this can be a pretty easy experience. The following information will also help you make substantial gains in your journey towards your next home. Did you study…

Whether you are revamping your own home or working on an investment property, renovating can be very expensive. Weigh up your home upgrade options There are not many homeowners with an endless budget to upgrade everything they want to in their home. A good starting point is to sit down and evaluate the property as a whole and then decide…

Compact housing options have actually gotten very popular in recent years, but if you could have the amount of space you were actually looking for at the price you wanted you’d be happy right? Exactly. You might be surprised by the different options available to you! So here are some ways you might be able to find some more space…

If you’re a seller and you have an agent, they’re obviously going to be spending a lot of time with you and your home. You can develop a very close relationship with your listing agent, and while that may be a great thing it can also result in a few frustrating stand offs. So, let’s break down some common things…

Nothing is more disappointing to a homeowner than when their property sits on the market without receiving any offer. This can be a worrying situation. However, worrying too much is not going to fix a thing. Rather, it is all about finding the solution to that problem. The solution is to identify the cause of your home sitting on the…

There are plenty of potential pitfalls with new construction; there are hundreds of nightmare stories of new homes that have gone terribly wrong. However, there are some steps you can take to ensure you do not suffer the same fate. Visit the construction site regularly There are lots of unnerving unknowns when it comes to new construction. Maybe your lumber…

Bring your home into the 21st century with some high tech home automation upgrades. Many people have already upgraded their property with home automation, but may be completely unaware that they have. You may already use products such as the Nest thermostat or theAmazon Echo, these products are in fact technologies that are part of the home automation revolution that…

Let’s face it! Every home owner wants the best deal when they finally decide to sell their home. It’s every homeowner’s dream to see a bidding war ensue. Unfortunately, most homeowners end up settling for average or even below-average offers according to most real estate experts. What most home sellers fail to recognize is; getting a great deal isn’t a…

Being a renter does have some advantages. No paying off the mortgage, no property taxes, and the landlord takes care of any maintenance and repair costs. However, renting your home does have one major drawback: You are spending money on rent without gaining any equity of the property. Many renters want to own their home, but struggle to find the…

Finding the right starter home can be quite a journey, it can also be emotionally exhausting. You have to establish what you’re looking for, needs versus wants. Consider pricing and narrow in on the right home for you. Remember though, if this is your first home it doesn’t have to be your one and only home. There will always be…

After successfully submitting an offer on a property and having it accepted, there is a stage, usually up to three weeks, before the deal is concluded. During the wait before the deal is closed, buyers are often advised to do their “due diligence on the property they have placed the offer. But what does “due diligence” mean? And what should…

Ever heard of homebuyers remorse? It happens,but we don’t want it happening to you! So here’s some ways you can be sure to avoidfeeling like this big purchase was anything less than perfect. We’ve all felt buyers remorse to a certain degree with something we’ve purchased at the store. The difference here being you have the ability to return or…

While the home buying struggles of unmarried couples are well known, the process is not straight forward for married couples either. After tying the knot, many newlyweds look forward to buying a home together. But before you start scanning property listings and searching for the perfect bathroom suite, make sure you sit down together and ask each other these house…

When you’re house hunting it’s very easy to focus in on certain attributes of a house that you find appealing. Unfortunately when you narrow your focus in on the things that are perfect about the house, you’ll often overlook some important things in the process. Make sure you thoroughly examine the exterior of your “dream home” before you go through…

Everynow and again you’ll come across things around the house that you never use but you can’t throw away or donate. These items can take up significant space in your home and become quite a hassle to store. If you find yourself in such a situation, using a storage facility is a great option to keep your possessions secure and…

Purchasing a home for the first time can be a daunting experience, and the closing day is perhaps the most daunting part of the buying process. Dealing with unexpected issues that may arise can be difficult. While some problems can be easily solved, others can derail a deal at the final hurdle. Disheartening walk-through surprises The final walk-through of the…

The rental market of today offers plenty of properties to suit the tastes of both city lovers and suburbanites. Renters just have to work out which location and lifestyle suits them best. Is your dream rental property a cool townhouse in the heart of a vibrant city center? Or are you more suited to the more relaxed lifestyle and spacious…

Too many people go through a tough time when they are trying to save up money to buy their dream home. One common challenge that makes the entire process stressful is the competition from other potential home buyers. The big fish out on the market target and the shallow pool of properties available. If you don’t have enough money to…

Property developers, home builders, and mortgage lenders are working hard to adapt to the growing trend of shared properties that are accommodating several generations of families and shared rental units. Statistics show that more families in the United States are now sharing a home, with reasons ranging from the cultural and economic, to those centered ob providing care to family…

Home buyers often make the mistake of assuming that a recently renovated home is the same as a brand new property. They see the newly renovated property as a problem free and ready to move in home. Newly renovated homes often sell for top price, due to the buyer’s belief that the property is turnkey and ready to move in….

Boost the interest inyour property by including additional key amenities and making the most of the buyer appeal of your home’s top features. Whether you have lived in your home for two or twenty years, when the time arrives to sell your home you must change how you view your property. You need to view your home as a product…

The rental market can prove to be a very intimidating environment. There are a number of sites to search through, legal jargon to research, and even misleading landlords to deal with. Obviously it can be a very rigorous process. However, there are certain decisions to make before you even consider entering the search phase of your apartment hunt. Making these…

Equipping your home with a geothermal system and solar panels may appear to be a major plus point when it comes time to sell your home, but will it really make a difference to potential buyers? Most of today’s home buyers like to hear about a property’s LEED certification, solar panels, geothermal systems, and Energy Star rated appliances. Likewise, today’s…

Many people love the idea of owning a chalet in the mountains, a beach house retreat, or a cool apartment in the city, but never take the plunge. Buying a second home is a big financial and life changing step that requires a lot of thought. By following the steps below, you can make then decision of whether or not…

Relocating to a different property can be very stressful. Below are the most common moving day problems and how to avoid them. Bad moving company Some moving companies are incompetent and can even be completely fraudulent. The movers don’t show up or arrive late The time you agreed with the company passes and after making a phone call you are…

Finding the perfect home can be a trying process to say the least. You’ll encounter a number of houses and people before you finally come across that perfect match. Also, you may find yourself in a situation where you want the home more than the seller wants you to have the home. As heart breaking as this may be, there’s…

In recent years, the rental market has been booming. Data from the most up to date U.S. census shows that, over a 10 year period, the number of renters has grown at its fastest rate since 1965. An increase of around 8.5 million renters in the last decade has seen the competition increase and the pressure grow on both renters…

Taking your first step into the housing market can be a daunting experience. Unfortunately, there is no completely watertight step by step process to make sure you’re purchasing the right house for you. However, if you keep reading you will see some of the biggest mistakes that first time buyers make and know what to avoid when it comes timeto…

In many areas of the country, the housing market is growing and its strength has lead to a competitive market for buyers and an easier market for home owners looking to sell. Below are some top tips for those looking to enter the property and also for those looking to sell in today’s competitive market. Seller Tip: Know your property…

In aneffort to ensure your home is running smoothly, it is important to have a clear list of household chores. Form the basics, including cleaning and cooking, which you should considerdoing yourself if you at all have the means and sufficient time by your side. If you properly establish a system, it is very possible to have a manageable…

Owning a home doesn’t come cheap, but it’s always great to know that some of your expenses are tax deductible. If you wantto know how you can minimize the cost of owning a home by maximizing homeownership write-offs, you’ve come to the right place. Please note that the information presented here isbased on the 2015 tax year. 1 . Mortgage…

Owning a rental property poses tax considerations that are more complex than the residential property you live in and will require a more refined tax strategy. Below is the tax information you need to know as well as some top tax tips for owners of rental properties. Rental Property Tax Considerations When filling out your tax returns, your rental property…

The Importance of Curb Appeal and First Impressions First impressions are important in every aspect of life. We dress to look our best when attending a job interview and some of us spend hours grooming ourselves in front of the mirror before a first date. According to research conducted by psychologists at Princeton University, individuals make up their minds about…

Tiny-house storage requires crafty ideas to get the arrangement right. Lofted beds and washer dryer combos can make a small room feel as accommodating as a large one. As a home grows, storage problems tend to plague spaces of all rooms, both large and small. Living in a tiny house means that you must find clever ways of keeping your…

You can use your tax refund in a varietyof different ways really. You can go for a vacation, buy a brand newTV, or some other luxurious ways you might have in mind. However, with a tax refund averaging $3,000, one of the most efficient ways of using it is to reinvest it back into your home. Regardless of the…

Before you advertise your house, you need to look around for a few things that might be somewhat discouraging to your buyer. They will without a doubt becomparing many houses and will readily push yours aside with the slightest provocation. You need to be aware of some common things that turn off potential buyers. Things That Turn Off Potential House…

Buying a home at any stage of life poses financial considerations and challenges to overcome. Buyers at the start of their careers tend to lack financial capital, while those more advanced in their careers have retirement savings and other financial demands to consider, and retired buyers have a smaller monthly income than those with regular pay checks. Each phase of…

The home buying experience that is usually portrayed in advertisements generally seems to concentrate on families and couples. But nowadays, only 40% of first time home-buyers are married, down from 52% in the late 1980s. The process of purchasing a home for a sole-owner might be similar to that of anybody else, but there`re several slight differences in how a…

In an ideal world, nothing external will influence your home’s value. As long as the market is on your side and you ensure that the place is in spick-and-span condition, you should not have any problem selling above or at the listing price- right? Just do not forget about your neighbors…. One bad apple can make selling your house a…

From when the Federal Reserve increased rates for the first time in nearly a decade, in Dec. 2015 to mid-Feb. 2016 mortgage rates decreased to the lowest level in 3 years. We carefully examined why the mortgage rates would decrease after a Federal increase, and since the downward mortgage-rate trend is continuing, here’s a refinance-reference guide. 2016 rate outlook…

Spring is almost here, and soon it will be home selling season. You will only get one chance to make a good first impression in real estate and if you want to stand out from the competition, maximize your sale price and sell quickly, your house needs to go on the market in tip top condition. As soon as the…

Buying a home is an emotional experience – it can be exhilarating, thrilling and even stressful. When the time comes to sign the paperwork, don’t be surprisedif you feel butterflies in your stomach, or even nauseous. You are likely making the biggest financial decision of your lifetime; hence it is perfectly normal to feel anxious about buying a home. Nevertheless,…

Managing money can be challenging enough on your own. You should take into consideration the following points before merging finances with your significant other. Whether you have recently moved in with your significant other or you are a newlywed, you there’sa lot to decide about the best way you should handle your household finances. Figuring out how you will divide…

Technology ismaking the process of getting a home loan more efficient than ever before, but can it remove the paper trail completely? Advances in technology have essentially re-invented TV, music, mobile phones and most other industries in the past 10 years. Currently advancesin technology are finally starting to modernize the mortgage process. As the tech savvy millennial generation prepares to…

You want a cottage by the sea, a chalet by a ski run or a lodge in the woods. But vacation homes are quite expensive, and most of us don’t have the time to care for a second home in addition to our primary residence? So, here is an idea: Split the financial obligations with a family member or friend!…

In tough real estate markets, buyers might take a gamble on a home that’s not listed. Here is how you should handle an out of the blue offer. It is the unexpected envelope in the mail or knock on the door. A complete stranger says he/she wants to buy your home, and for a wonderful price. It’seven quite common for…

One of the most important steps in the process of buying a home is the final walk-through. This is wherethe buyer can confirm the house is in the same condition he/she has agreed to buy it in. It’s also an opportunity to ensure that the agreed upon repairs, if any, were made as specified and nothing has gone wrong with…

Seeing something that you love (or hate) can cause you to blurt out all kinds of things, some of which you may regret. Because while you can (and should) at all times be upfront with your real estate agent, you might not want to be quite so forthright around the sellers (or the listing agents working for them). So before…

Buying a house is a dream come true for most of us. It is a practical and a financially wise decision as well. No wonder the real estate market is ever buzzing with activity this year. However, as much as we love the idea of buying a house, the high amount of money involved can make some of us weary…

When you’re ready to sell your house, you will need to get it in its best possible condition, especiallyin today’s competitive environment. An open house presents an opportunity to showcase the best features of your home and allows the potential buyers to get a feel for the property. If you ‘re a fist time home seller, you may think of…

Owning a home is a great achievement but at the same time, it comes with responsibilities. Repairs & regular maintenance are some of the things that you will now have to deal with as a home owner. However, many first time home owners are not always prepared for some of the issues they may run into with their utilities or…

While renting a home might seem the easiest way to manage your finances, actually owning the property is much more beneficial. The initial outlay is going to be quite steep, but the guarantee of ROI over the years will help validate such a steepinvestment. Being a renter means that you have to cope with bills that are not contributing to…

2015 is behind us now, but there are trends we saw developin the real estate industry, that certainly reflect key focuspoints for 2016. One of these key areas of conversation is relocation, where people moved within the united states. So who moved? Where did they move to? How much money did they pay to facilitate thismoves and what motivated their…

According to builder.com, first time home buyers in the United States take nearly eight years to save for a down payment for their dream home. The time frame is derived by factoring in the amount a renter pays for housing in each state and the required 10% down payment. Under this approach, buyers in South Dakota state take…

As the celebration of a new year has finally come and passed, right after the holidays, manyhomeowners tend toaccidentally neglect various aspects of their home maintenance. Although some of us may have enjoyed rather warm and pleasant weather this December, January and February will probably be a little different. That means, your home might be vulnerable to cold weather damage…

The year has drawn to a close, and the property you weretrying to sell in 2015just hasn’t budged. What now? You maynaturally be a little disappointed or frustrated, but don’t despair; you still have multiple options. In this article we’ll coversome expert advice on what your next step should be. We will clearly outline your options to help you make…

Your cash payment and non-contingent offer may not becutting it in a competitive market. Is it a good idea to reach out to the seller via letter? Is it going to help with the ten additional offers they have already received on the property in question? If you are a buyer wondering if this non-conventional means of outreach to the…

Regardless of what stage you’re at inyour life, it’s wise to consider settingmoney aside for your future. If you are planning on saving more funds in the coming New Year, then you need to develop a structured plan. At the various stages of your life you’ll be faced withdifferent financial responsibilities and those responsibilities will influence the decisions you need…

One of the most significant investments you’ll make in your life, will be the home you choose to purchase. The whole process can be quite daunting,especially because there’s alot of information to sift through. Apart from the fact that you will have to look for a means of financing the investment, you will also have to do a lot of…