According to Gilmour.com, weeds “compete with grass and garden plants for space, light, water and soil nutrients.” They germinate quickly and can carry diseases and insects that hurt your plants. Here are six ways to prevent weeds in your lawn and garden: Apply pre-emergent weed killer. Pre-emergent target specific weeds and their families. They’re activated with water, so […]
When you buy a home, plan on staying there for approximately five years. Why? You’ll need equity in order to sell the home without losing money. Equity is your percentage of ownership VS how much the bank owns. With any mortgage loan, the first few years of payments go more toward paying interest than reducing your principal. […]
The first two weeks of marketing are crucial. In that time, if your home has received few showings or offers, price is the most likely issue. It’s time to reduce the price, but do it the right way. Don’t panic. You may feel two weeks isn’t enough time, but the market has spoken. There’s a magic […]
Homebuyers are getting a lot of mixed messages this year. Interest rates are near record lows, but housing prices are still rising. So should you continue to rent or go ahead and take the plunge to buy? That depends a lot on both your needs and where you live. You may be wanting more space […]
By the end of 2020, the number of homes listed for sale in the U.S. reached an all-time low. Supply sank below 700,000 homes nationwide, according to realtor.com®‘s Monthly Housing Trends Report, and that was before the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. With consumers euphoric, it’s possible the spring homebuying season could have even less inventory available. If you […]
Typically, buyers include a home inspection contingency in their purchase offer that allows them to ask the sellers for repairs and get out of the contract if the seller refuses. The seller can respond in several ways. They can readily agree to fix the problem, no matter how expensive. They can agree to fix any […]
According to Freddie Mac, mortgage interest rates are still hovering at all-time lows, signaling that the COVID-impacted economy is still struggling. With interest rates well under three percent, it’s an ideal time to buy or refinance a home. Can you get an even better rate by paying points? When you’re quoted a rate like 2.73%, it […]
Many telecommuters notice their utility bills are dramatically higher. It makes sense if you’re using more lamps, cooking more, and using office equipment at home. You can check your thermostat, plug air leaks, replace worn insulation, and turn off lights when you leave the room, but there are other reasons your energy bills are higher. […]
Deciding what to pack when you’re moving isn’t easy. However, if you follow these simple suggestions, packing to move and unpacking to move into your new home will be much easier. Declutter: Decluttering serves two purposes. It makes it less expensive for you to move because you’re not paying freight to move things you no longer […]
There are pros and cons to all types of stone countertops. How do you choose which ones are best for your home? Knowing the properties of each type of stone will help you make the right decision. Granite – According to TheSpruce.com, there are over 3,000 types of granite. Despite its strength, granite is porous, which means […]
CHRIS STUART JOINS EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF INDUSTRY LEADERS WHO HAVE MADE NEWSWORTHY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY Irvine, Calif., (February 4, 2021) – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, one of the world’s fastest-growing residential real estate brokerage franchise networks, is pleased to announce that Chris Stuart, CEO, has been selected as an RISMedia 2021 Real Estate Newsmaker—a dynamic group […]
Decorating colors come and go, but few have retreated from the mainstream for as long as yellow. The Pantone Color Institute’s selection of “Illuminating,” a cheerful light yellow, paired with the calming “Ultimate Gray” for its 2021 Color(s) of the Year, may make yellow popular again. Pantone describes Illuminating and Ultimate Gray as “two independent colors that […]
According to StudentLoanHero.com, you can get a mortgage loan, even with high student loan debt. It’s all in how you manage the three most important factors in getting loan approval: Down Payment: Twenty percent of the purchase price of the home is the benchmark down payment, but it’s possible to get a loan with a down payment […]
It’s tax time and you may have questions if you own a second home and sold it or plan to sell it. Do you have to pay capital gains when you sell a second home? All that depends. A second home, says HRBlock.com, can include houses, mobile homes, condos, co-ops, trailers, and houseboats. When you sell […]
Great financial reasons to own real estate, advises Biggerpockets.com, are building equity, tax advantages that don’t exist for other asset classes, not having to pay rent, passive income from rental properties, among many others. One of the greatest advantages is that buying a home is a terrific hedge against inflation. Since 1913, the annual inflation rate […]
When you love something you want to protect it, improve it, and enjoy it. Your home responds to love, too. Here are a few ways to show your home love that will love you back. Refresh caulking – Discolored shriveled caulk has stopped doing the job of protecting your bathroom and kitchen from dirt, mildew and […]
Home security experts agree on one thing – intruders look for homes that appear easiest to break into and escape from quickly. The more obstacles you place in their way, the more likely they are to skip over your home and move on to someone else’s. Try these three tips to make your new home […]
Pent-up housing demand is likely to increase exponentially now that a COVID-19 vaccine is on the horizon. Homebuyers should prepare for what could possibly be the most competitive spring homebuying season in years. Here are a few suggestions that will put you ahead of other homebuyers. Have a family meeting. When your household is together, tell […]
Why are so many front doors painted red across the world? For fun, we’ve gathered some of the most interesting reasons why this is an important choice for many homeowners. Many cultures use red front doors to communicate something about their beliefs or status. Since the first Passover the red door has symbolized God’s protection, […]
In a fast-moving housing market, you may find yourself compromising what you want to what’s affordable and available to buy. Some wish list items you’ll be able to find, but others you can happily do without if you concentrate instead on choosing a home that functions for your household and budget. Size: Most homebuyers want more […]
