T H E B L O G
Fall Home Maintenance Tips
It’s the perfect time for home maintenance. Changes in the air bring new challenges for homeowners and you’ll want to be ready when the first cold snap arrives! By spending a pleasant autumn afternoon on home maintenance, you can stay warm inside without worry throughout the cooler seasons. Here’s a
Should You Buy Flood Insurance
With the recent storms across the nation, and particularly local to the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts where flooding occured in areas it never has before, you may be thinking about getting flood insurance. As the name suggests, flood insurance is a type of insurance policy that will pay out if y
Protecting Your Home While You're Away
The kids are back in school and thoughts of fall foliage and pumpkin spice are in the air! Are you thinking of taking a trip? While you're away, your empty home can attract unwelcome attention. Here are a few ways you can protect your home while you travel: Make it look like someone is home One of t
Does House Shopping By School District Matter?
For many homebuyers, the quality of the local school district is often a primary concern, regardless of whether they have children or not. Why, you may ask? The school district impacts not only the education of the residents but also the value of the homes in that district. When it comes to buyers w
Beautiful Design and Sustainability? Yes!
Yes, homes of the future - and now - can have both beautiful design and sustainbility! There are many ways to incorporate eco-friendly architecture and interior design. You have many options You can make your home more sustainable through your design choices, such as: Simplify your yard. Choose low
Choosing New Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances make your space function, but what happens if you need to replace them? How do you choose the best appliances for your kitchen? Here's a look at how to choose the major appliances for your kitchen. Stove and oven There are many options for stoves and ovens. Some designs split the
Price It Right
You may be confused about all you're reading regarding the state of the real estate market. Are homes still moving quickly? Yes, but only if they are priced right. Those homes are still selling quickly and receiving multiple offers. If you're thinking of selling and want to get the best price, and
Is it a Weed or Grass?
Nutsedges are perennial weeds that are aggressive and difficult to control. While the weed may look grassy, it is not a grass or a broadleaf weed but a sedge.Sedges have triangular stems and three rows of leaves. They grow at a much faster rate than turfgrasses, making them very noticeable in yards.
Ways to Use Your Home Equity
Have you built up a lot of equity in your home? Home equity is the difference between the value of your home and how much you still have left on your mortgage. If you purchased your home several years ago, you just may be sitting on a pile of available money! For example, if you have a home valued a
Reasons to Buy a Home Before Summer Ends
The start-of-the-school-year timing Even if you don’t have any kids that you’re hoping to have settled before the first day of school, this could still make an impact on your move because the sellers may be hoping to be out before the back-to-school frenzy. They may have kids they're looking to get
Mortgage Preapproval vs. Mortgage Prequalification
Wondering what the difference is between a Mortgage Preapproval and a Prequalification? When you decide to buy a home, you’ll have to go through an extensive lending process. For many homebuyers, this can be unfamiliar territory, leaving you with questions about the difference between mortgage preap
3 Key Factors that Matter More than Interest Rates when Selling and Buying a Home
While mortgage rates are an important factor when deciding to purchase or sell a home, there are other reasons that may make you decide to take the plunge. Mortgage interest rates have climbed significantly from the record lows of the past few years, so you may be hesitating to give up the lower in
4 Ways to Increase Light in a Dark Kitchen
Kitchens are one of the most essential spaces in a home, but a poorly lit kitchen can be a big turn-off for potential buyers. A dark kitchen is not only unattractive but also makes it difficult to cook and work efficiently. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase light in a dark kitchen. In
Is Clutter Overwhelming You?
Is a messy house getting to you? Do you need to get clutter under control before a summertime celebration or milestone event hosted in your home? Here are a few things you can do to reduce the chaos in your home and your life caused by too much clutter! A Place for Everything The best way to tame cl
Top Five Ways to Reduce Pool Energy Use and Save on and Energy Costs
Pools are wonderful for relaxing sun and fun, right at home, but the energy costs that come along with your backyard oasis can really add up. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help lower those summertime energy bills. Here are some cool pool tips for saving energy. Pool Pumps: Inefficient, si
Energy Saving Tips for Your Appliances
As homeowners, we are always looking for ways to save money. One way to do this is by reducing our energy costs. Many of us are unaware of the amount of energy our household appliances consume. One of the things you can do to save on energy costs is to use energy-efficient light bulbs. LED light bul
In the Market for a Dream Home? This Andover Turnkey is just for You.
$999,900 6 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,936 SqFt 305 S Main St, Andover, MA 01810 Active If you're in the market for a new home in Andover, Massachusetts, you won't want to miss out on this listing at 305 S Main St. This turnkey colonial has been fully renovated and is in pristine condition, making it the per
Save On Computer Energy Use
Here are some simple ways to lower your computer energy costs by making a few adjustments - Choose "sleep" over "screen save." While effective in preserving your computer monitor, screen savers require the same amount of energy as when you use the computer. - Let it hibernate. Set up your computer t
What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) provides an alternative option to the traditional fixed-rate mortgage. In an adjustable-rate mortgage, your initial interest rate will be fixed for a set number of years. After the fixed-rate period has ended, your rate and monthly mortgage payment can fluctuate. AR
You Found Your Dream Home! Now What?
You found your dream home. Now it's time to start the loan process. You're going to need to work with your loan originator (mortgage lender) to gather all sorts of paperwork to be able to submit your mortgage application. What kinds of paperwork? Here's a pretty comprehensive list! Identity & Income