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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

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

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

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

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 Get rid of those outdated looks by implementing some of the top interior

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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

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

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

Deciding to sell your home can be an emotional decision. Keep these tips in mind to feel confident you're making the right decision for you at this time. 1. Price Your Home Right The housing market shifted in 2022. Homes aren't necessarily flying off the market with multiple over asking offers in a

Are you drooling with envy at the bathrooms you're seeing in magazines and on tv? Remodeling your bathroom with some trendy designs and fixtures is sure to make it look more modern and inviting. It's is a great way to add character, comfort and value to your home, too! Walk-in Showers A walk-in show

There's a lot to understand when buying a home, starting with some of the key terms you'll hear from your Realtor, Lender and Bank.  So what do they mean? Credit Score Your credit score helps your lender determine the likelihood that you'll repay your future debts, including your mortgage. Scores ra

Are you thinking of selling this winter? We can give you time-tested advice on what to do to maximize your return on your home sale, but get a jump on things by doing these tasks: - Clean vents and baseboards, and replace furnace filters - Check lightbulbs and replace as needed, using the most energ

While mortgage rates are higher now than they were last year, you still may be thinking about buying a home soon. Higher interest rates will impact how much it costs to borrow money for a mortgage, so it's imperative to come up with a plan and be mindful of your "must haves" and "would like to haves