T H E B L O G
What Are Mortgage Points - And Should I Buy Them?
Buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make in life. Any way you can lower your mortgage payment is worth looking at, including buying mortgage points to lower your interest rate. This could possibly save you thousands of dollars over the length of your home loan. What ar
To Rent or To Own? That is the Question! Benefits of Owning vs. Renting a Home
Are you wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home? Buying a home most likely makes the most sense. Rental prices are increasing rapidly, and historically since 1988 rents have always trended up, so rental affordability is an increasing challenge. The median rent across th
Five Ways to Make the Most of Your Bathroom Renovation
Bathrooms have become our places of sanctuary, a respite at the end of a long day or stressful week. If you're contemplating remodeling your bathroom, be sure to avoid making some common mistakes. You want your new bathroom to be relaxing, not a source of anxiety. Here are things to think about when
Top 5 Tips to Prepare your Home for Spring Landscaping
It's a sure sign that winter is over when you see trees budding and flowers blooming. This magic of nature also means you must plan the next steps in your garden maintenance. What do you need to do to make your garden healthy this spring? Make necessary repairs to hardscaping Hardscaping refers to a
5 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Lower Energy Costs
Looking for ways to save energy and lower your energy bill? Here are five easy tips! Check for Air Leaks Unidentified air leaks in your home can waste energy and get costly. A common culprit is uninsulated switches and outlets. Athin metal or plastic switchplate isn't enough to prevent air from gett
3 Easy Steps to Spring into a Fresh Clean for a Quick Sale
It's the perfect time to do your spring cleaning - the trees are budding and flowers are peeking out of the ground to brighten the landscape and your mood! It's time to refresh inside your home to match nature's spring reawakening. Here are some tips to get you going. 1. Freshen carpets, mats, and u
What is a Credit Rescore?
Have you applied for a mortgage and been told it would help if your credit score were higher? Ask your lender if it is possible to do a "credit rescore" for you. It shouldn't take long to improve your credit score, with advice from your lender on just what you can do. The most common ways to quickly
Effects of Mortgage Rate Changes
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been bouncing around between 5 and 7 percent this year, creating anxiety for homebuyers and significantly impacting buyers' home affordability. It's good to know ahead of time exactly how a 1%, or even a 0.5%, mortgage rate shift affects your purchasing power. You
Add Space By Turning Your Deck Into A Sunroom!
Do you love being outside, soaking up sunshine and nature's views, but can't use your deck or patio for half the year because of cold, rainy or snowy weather? There's an alternative you should consider if you want to spend time on your deck or patio regardless of the season or the climate where you
Home Design Trends for 2023
Are you still looking at "Sea Foam Green" and "Dusty Rose" carpeting? Do you have flowered wallpaper borders across your dining room and bedroom? You're not alone - but that doesn't mean you can't do something to change things! Get rid of those outdated looks by implementing some of the top interior
Don't Make These Anxious Buyer Mistakes!
Buying a house can be exciting - whether it's your first house, your "move-up" home, a vacation home or your retirement home. You need to be careful, though, not to let your excitement cloud your vision. So keep these tips in mind! The house isn't your perfect vision. Don't forego looking at a house
Spring Home Selling Tips
Yes, it's that time of year - the Spring Home Selling Market! Are you looking to move and hoping to take advantage of the traditional high season of real estate? Here are some tips to help you get your home in show-worthy shape. Make It Inviting: - Open blinds and curtains to let the light in. Take
Spring is on the Way - Really!
The spring real estate season is almost here, so it's time to think about getting your home ready to sell. Today’s housing market has a different feel than it did 2 years ago and while inventory is still historically low, you'll need to do what you can to get the best price for your property from bu
5 Challenges of Running an AirBnB
Sometimes homeowners consider renting their current home when they purchase a new property. Usually, this means taking on a long-term tenant with a lease, but these days, many people are turning to short-term rentals. Does this sound like you? A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an al
What Are Closing Costs?
Just what are closing costs - and how much do they cost? Buyers know they need to save for a down payment when buying a house, but often the amount of closing cost funds needed comes as a big surprise, sometimes eating into the down payment savings. Here's some info on what closing costs are, and a
Choosing a Place to Retire
Are you thinking about retiring? There's a lot to do to prepare for retirement, including deciding where you want to live. When you retire, your needs change, and that's when many people think about moving to a place they've always loved, a place closer to family or closer to cultural activities or
Vacation Home Security
It's that time of year - winter vacation season! Home security has come a long way, even just in the past year or two. What are the best ways to keep your home secure while you’re traveling? Here are some ideas and products to help give you some peace of mind while you're traveling, and every day of
For Sale By Owner. Is It Really Worth It?
For Sale By Owner. We've all heard the phrase, otherwise known as a FSBO. Is it really that easy to sell a home on your own? Here are four reasons it really doesn't save a seller time and money to sell without an agent. 1. Do you really have the time and energy to devote to the sale? You may think y
Have You Applied For A Mortgage?
Looking for a home is an exciting time! There are some key things, however, to keep in mind while you're out there searching for your dream home. Here’s a list of things you need to avoid doing after applying for your home loan. Don’t Deposit Large Sums of Cash Lenders need to source your money, and
Are Rent Increases Stressing You Out?
In the past year, almost 75% of both current and new renters have seen their rent go up, at a quite significant rate. Traditional rent hikes average 5% per year, while this year's expected increase is 6.3%. If you’re a renter, you're likely facing an important decision: renew your current lease, sta