Architects and interior designers strive to improve living spaces so their clients will be happier and more productive. One increasingly popular approach is called biophilic design, which “seeks to connect occupants more closely to nature,” according to Archdaily.com. Biophilia simply describes the affinity and love humans have for the natural world and its life forms. It’s the reason […]
Inside the Summer issue of Prestige, accompany Chef @fabioviviani as he takes us on a journey of how growing up poor in Florence, Italy encouraged him to build a culinary masterpiece. Then, escape to a mountain sanctuary – where retreats offer more than a second home destination and present experiences beyond the winter snow and uncover […]
For 2021, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac raised the maximum conforming loan limit for a single-family property from $510,400 in 2020 to $548,250. In high-cost areas, including parts of California, New York, Washington D.C. and others, the limit for conforming mortgage loan limits is 150% of that limit, or […]
National Homeownership Month is celebrated in June, the kickoff of the summer homebuying season. Homeownership is widely considered the foundation of civil stability and familial happiness – the American Dream. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) believes homeownership gives families more financial security, a better lifestyle, and stronger communities through supporting businesses, schools, and services making it […]
In April 2021, Bitcoin hit an all-time high in the price of its coins, virtual trader Coinbase went public with a valuation of $86 billion, and Venmo, owned by PayPal, announced it’s adding support for cryptocurrencies. All of these give access to customers who can now easily buy, sell and pay for items with cryptocurrencies […]
Home prices are going up, but in some areas of the country, it may be cheaper for you to save money for your own home by renting another year. According to Move.com, renters can save thousands on a lease in the nation’s largest tech hubs, compared to pre-pandemic prices. In February 2021, the U.S. median rent, […]
Moving up to a better neighborhood could mean compromising on space, so you may be tempted to convert the garage. Many older homes come with a two-car garage, approximately 20 by 20 feet, or 400 more square feet of living area. It’s already under the roof and walled on three sides, making it seem inexpensive […]
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 […]
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 […]
