It seems to be universally accepted that home staging will help your home sell faster or for the best price—it’s been the common practice in the real estate business for a long time, and on the surface it seems like a no-brainer. Of course potential buyers will be more interested if a home is properly […]
HOME STAGING: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Read More »
Will staging increase your home’s value? It’s obvious that you want your home looking as good as possible when you’re trying to sell it. You want to give buyers a great first impression, and there’s a long-held belief that professional home staging will lead to buyers paying more for a house. However, that may not
STAGING: YES OR NO? Read More »
The start of the year is a great time to review your finances. As 2014 starts—hopefully with a bang—it is an ideal time to take a look at all of your bills. As the past year cruised by you may have added cell phone plans, changed cable and internet subscriptions, and signed up for trial
START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT BY REVIEWING YOUR BILLS Read More »
If you have an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage, consider these factors about refinancing. The federal reserve recently raised interest rates, and if you have an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), it may be a good time to consider refinancing your home. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether your should refinance, so here are a few of the main
REFINANCING: THE RIGHT MOVE? Read More »
You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually
WHICH DOWN PAYMENT STRATEGY IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Read More »
We all know that searching for and viewing potential homes is the fun part of the home-buying process. The not-so-fun part? The mortgage. But if you don’t pay attention to the details, your mortgage can end up dragging down the enjoyment of your new home and cause some major regrets. Here are a few mistakes
AVOID THESE TWO BIG MORTGAGE MISTAKES Read More »
We may be a little removed from New Year’s Day, but it’s not too late to make some 2016 resolutions for your home.
FIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR HOME Read More »
Technology is most helpful when it makes daily tasks easier and more efficient, and that’s most certainly the case with robot vacuum cleaners. It’s especially true if you’re in a climate that lends itself to lots of dust on your hard-surfaced floors or in your carpet. Robot vacuum cleaners typically retail from $100 to about
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU’RE BUYING A ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER Read More »
Rental rates throughout the country rose for the 18th consecutive quarter, with the average rent in the second quarter of 2014 coming in at $1,099—a 0.8 percent increase from the first quarter and a 3.4 percent year-over-year increase. The data comes from real estate research firm Reis Inc. Rent rose in all 79 areas that
RENT CONTINUES TO RISE Read More »
Monitoring your credit report and credit rating is important, especially if you’re considering purchasing a home. Here are five tips for improving your credit. It’s not about quick fixes, but responsible financial activity over time. 1. Get a credit card: OK, this may seem counterintuitive, but let me explain. When used correctly, a credit card
FIVE TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT Read More »
