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 […]
Have you ever toured a home and just wanted to run right back outside? Maybe something hit you negatively, but it could be easily fixed. If the location and price are good, updates could be the answer. Ask yourself: what would you do to make a creepy home warm and inviting? Improve lighting –Dark rooms can […]
Do homebuyers want the same things in their next home as they did before the COVID pandemic? In some ways, yes, and in others, no. According to the latest summer Realtor.com survey, post-COVID homebuyers are willing to spend more money on a home, have saved more money toward a down payment as they sheltered in place, and […]
Building equity in your home is like a savings account – the more you put toward it, the better. Your home’s equity grows with each mortgage payment you make and with time. According to BankofAmerica.com, you can calculate your equity based on current appraised value less any mortgages tied to your home. If your home is […]
One pleasure in buying an older home is the beauty of mature trees on your property and their dazzling display of fall colors when the weather turns cool. But, what happens to the leaves when they fall? What you don’t want is leaves clogging your gutters, preventing them doing their most important job – to […]
It’s typical for single-family home sales to surge in the spring and summer, but this year, there are some differences due to Covid-19. The pandemic is causing more urbanites to move out of the city say The New York Times, Forbes.com, NPR.org and other news services. Many of the attractions that make city living attractive, such as theater, shopping […]
In June 2020, average mortgage interest rates fell below three percent for the 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage – the lowest level in modern recorded history, according to Mortgage News Daily. What caused such a dip? A stock market sell-off sent investors to the relative safety of the bond market, wrote housing journalist Diana Olick. Mortgage rates loosely follow the […]
In June 2020, average mortgage interest rates fell below three percent for the 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage – the lowest level in modern recorded history, according to Mortgage News Daily. What caused such a dip? A stock market sell-off sent investors to the relative safety of the bond market, wrote housing journalist Diana Olick. Mortgage rates loosely follow the […]
Angieslist.com suggests that a typical asphalt shingle roof will last about 20 to 25 years, depending on variables such as the quality of the shingles, the professionalism of the installation, homeowner maintenance over the years, and, of course, the weather. Your roof should have several lines of defense or redundancies. If one part fails, such as […]
