One of the big decisions facing homebuyers is whether to purchase a home, or to buy a condominium. Just to be clear, as used here, a condominium is a type of housing where a buyer owns a specific part of shared property. Typically, ownership is of the individual unit and a percentage interest of the […]
Spring Cleaning
Now that the weather is finally warmer and spring really seems to be here, it’s time to tackle some of those nasty cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off. If you’re planning to put your house on the market, or getting ready to leave a rental for your newly purchased home, take on these projects now. […]
Marketing Your Home Out-of-Town, Out-of-State, Out-of-Country
In a tough sellers’ market, homeowners looking for the best possible sale sometimes consider marketing to out-of-town, out-of-state and even out-of-country buyers. So, how do you attract buyers from out of your area? Relocation Services Statistically, homes most often sell to local buyers. But if you are in a prime growth area with new industry […]
Is Fall Well Anticipated in Your Home
How do you welcome fall at your home? Do you pull out the hay bales, carve up the pumpkins, welcome the howling wind and wait as the leaves fall to the ground, casting a perfect look of disarray on your normally well-kept lawn? Perhaps you prefer to focus on stocking up on treats for soon-to-be […]
Selling Your Home Over the Holidays
Keeping your home on the market over the holidays can be a tough call. Many experts think that it is not worth it because sellers will seem desperate. Most offers coming in over the holidays are generally lower than asking price, and few buyers want to brave the harsh winter weather to go view homes. […]
Ideas for Dry-Scaping
You’ve decided to make your new home as ecologically sustainable as possible. You’ve changed out the toilets for low-flow versions and added insulation, installed bamboo flooring, energy-efficient windows and natural gas appliances. Now, it’s time to tackle the yard. Before you tear out that water-guzzling turf, make a plan to replace it with an aesthetically […]
Is Your House the Right Investment to Fund Retirement?
For many people, your home is your largest asset. Like your parents, and grandparents before them, you expect your home—in some way—to fund your retirement. For some of you, that means selling the home near retirement and using the funds to purchase a smaller home with money left over to live on. For others, you […]
How to Choose Lights for Your New Home
It’s not just about wattage anymore. Light fixtures and light bulbs come in myriad types, sizes and colors. Do you want LED? Should you use “soft” bulbs? And what is the difference between watts and lumens? With the phase-out of the traditional incandescent bulb, the lighting choices you grew up with are not the same […]
Seven Small Home Benefits
You bought a starter home that gave you entre into the world of home ownership, but now, your requirements have changed … you’ve added a spouse or children, you’ve moved your office home, or you’ve started a hobby that requires more space than you have. Now, you want to sell your beloved home, but all […]
Is this Neighborhood Headed Up? Or Down?
When searching for a home on a budget, you’ll often find great deals on the edge of up-and-coming neighborhoods. But how do you tell if a neighborhood is headed up? Or, if it’s on its way down? Of course, the first consideration might be financial: Are the home prices going up but still affordable? Are […]