Value-Added Outdoor Improvements As the days get longer and temperatures start to rise, it’s time to turn your attention to your outdoor spaces. Whether you are updating your home for a quick sale or just want to choose a project that will contribute to increased equity down the road, it’s importan

  Why Selling in Summer Can Be a Gift Summer is generally considered to be the best time to sell your home. Prices and buyer demand both tend to be higher, creating a competitive market that leads to homes selling quicker. Here are several benefits to consider if you are thinking of selling your ho

Planning for a Successful Summer Home Sale In many markets, spring is prime time for new listings. However, summer can also be a popular choice, providing unique opportunities for both buyers and sellers. If you are thinking of selling your home this summer, follow these tips to initiate a successf

How to Market Your Summer Vacation Home Whether you have a second home you occupy for only part of the year or want to dip your toe into real estate investing, renting out a vacation property can be a highly lucrative summer venture. And as with any potential source of income, investing time and fu

How You Can Celebrate Your Housiversary Owning a home is a big milestone in your life. Whether you’re marking the first year in your new home, the fifth, or the twentieth, there are many fun ways to celebrate your housiversaries. Take photos Who doesn’t love a good photo op? Use the fall foliage t

Finding Your Ideal Mortgage When it comes to mortgages, it’s essential to understand that there is no universal solution that fits everyone. For instance, lenders often try to entice borrowers by offering appealing deals like low-interest rates, advantageous closing costs, and extra incentives, but

  Finding the Right Neighborhood  If you want to buy a home, you probably have a wish list of must-haves, such as an updated kitchen or a private backyard. However, do you know your neighborhood needs and wants? You should also consider these, because even if a home checks all the boxes, you will

First-Time Homebuyer Programs  For those who’ve never owned a home before, buying one can feel like an impossible dream—but it doesn’t have to be. Several first-time homebuyer programs are designed to help broaden the pool of qualified buyers through government-backed loans and mortgages funded by

Get Creative with Your Curb Appeal Homeowners spend a lot of time and energy on improving their home’s interior. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are among the top renovations people make in an effort to enhance their home’s livability and resale value. In fact, Google trends showed that “kitchen remo

How are Millennials Redefining “Neighborhood”? Statistics show that the new generation of home buyers are the least likely to know any sort of basic info about their neighbors, but they are more likely to care about the physical environment. Why is this? This, of course, is in stark contrast to wh

Getting Your Financial Ducks in a Row Purchasing a home can be an exciting time, and as you begin to put the wheels in motion for starting your home search, there are elements to the prepurchase process that you will want to consider. As lenders scrutinize your finances and purchase habits, they wi

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell  If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you may believe there isn’t anything you can do to make it better. However, even though you think it’s perfect, it is essential to view your home through the eyes of a potential buyer. Before you list your home

Home Selling Tips for Pet Owners There’s no doubt pets play an important role in our homes. They wait for us to come home after a long day, they protect our property, and they are there to comfort us when things go wrong. Use these tips to ensure that you can enjoy your pet and sell your home at th

Homebuying Tips for Military Families  Among the many changes that joining the military brings, a frequent change in location is sometimes part of the territory. For families, moving often can make it difficult to feel settled in a home, or to even make the commitment associated with homebuying. Bu

Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty Buying a home is a big decision and investment. Just like any other purchase, you want to make sure you take the steps to properly protect it. Homeowners insurance and a home warranty are two ways to look out for your investment. They both provide an extra lay

Homeownership for Millennials? Millennials, also known as Gen Y, are now the largest population group in the United States at seventy-two million people, making up 22 percent of the population. They’re also not that young anymore; older millennials (OM), born between 1980 and 1989, are starting to

How Rising Mortgage Rates May Affect Homebuyers Home mortgage rates are on the rise, with the thirty-year fixed-rate mortgage reaching a height not seen since the end of 2018. But while these higher interest rates could result in higher monthly mortgage payments for some homebuyers and make it more

How to Balance Emotion and Logic When Buying a Home Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned veteran, the homebuying process can elicit a range of feelings, from excitement and anticipation to frustration and confusion. This can sometimes make it challenging to know if you are making the rig

How to Get a Home Loan When Self-Employed Purchasing a home when self-employed may not be as difficult as you think. Mortgage lenders still require much of the same information for corporate employees as they do for self-employed individuals. However, as a self-employed person, it’s essential to un

How to Keep Your Home Spotless While Selling It When you’re selling your home, cleanliness should be a top priority. From the living room to the bathroom, you’ll want potential buyers to be able to focus on the best qualities of your home, not a pile of laundry or dirty dishes in the sink. While ke