This year may be the ideal time to go solar. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) otherwise known as the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit is a federal tax break that allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of buying and installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. Unless a financial stimulus policy says […]
There’s no reason to miss out on the advantages of homeownership simply because you’re not married. You can partner with anyone to buy and occupy a home, including a significant other, best friend or close relative. If you do things the right way from the beginning, you’ll build on a great investment as well as […]
On May 2, members of the Connestee community came together to Pack the Pavilion for Bread of Life and Sharing House in Brevard. The community stepped up in a remarkable way and the outpouring of both monetary and food donations was overwhelming. Jan Newsome, REALTOR® at BHHS Great Smokys Realty, contributed canned vegetables, apple sauce, […]
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices received the highest numerical Equity Score and the highest numerical score relating to Trust and Love among Real Estate Agency brands included in the 2020 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study, which is based on opinions of 39,100 U.S. consumers ages 15 and over surveyed online between January 1 and January 30, 2020. “Highest […]
In mid-March, borrowing rates were slashed to banks to nearly zero percent and announced it would buy at least $700 billion in government bond purchases, channeling about $200 billion of the stimulus into mortgage-related bonds. Not since 2008 has the central bank made such a dramatic move to stave off the effects of a pandemic […]
A seller’s home is their private sanctum, and that should remain true even when it’s on the market. You’ll enjoy showings or open houses more as well as protect the seller’s home with these five courtesies. Sign in. Sellers and listing agents need to know who’s been in the home so they can ask for feedback. […]
All homeowners wonder at some point what their home is worth, but there’s a big difference between planning to sell and simply satisfying your curiosity. You can get a ballpark idea of what homes in the neighborhood are fetching by going online, or you could contact your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional for a comprehensive […]
There are certain rules to the marketing of real estate that are designed to prevent buyer confusion and to protect sellers from misrepresenting their properties, but sometimes real estate isn’t so black and white. Here are some areas to question. Additions. Added square footage such as a bumped-out first floor master or den should have […]
In 2019, the National Association of REALTORS reported that 18% of home buyers were single females, compared to nine percent of single males. From this data, it’s clear that single women see homeownership as an important way to provide themselves with more stability and financial security. Here’s some helpful advice to help single women meet […]
Home buyers and home sellers want to know one thing – how much a home is worth. Fair market comparable data, assessments and appraisals are all relevant ways to determine value, but all values are not the same. So what are the differences? Fair market value. This metric is used to help determine asking and […]
Companies use color trends to boost brand awareness and product sales, but the research behind colors and how they impact consumers is anything but arbitrary. Color trends aim to appeal to emotions caused by world events, history and cultures, the economy, and the human need for change. Consider Tiffany’s aqua blue, recognizable the world over […]
Sometimes, buyers and sellers can behave like adversaries. Both sides want to “win,” often sabotaging the transaction irreparably. No one wins if the home doesn’t sell. So how can you win and keep things civil? Sellers: Be thoughtful and reasonable. Price your home to appeal to buyers and get stronger offers. Make your home easy […]
Fortune 500 recently released their 2019 list of The World’s Most Admired Companies and Berkshire Hathaway holds the current #5 All-Star Rank! Click here to read the complete Fortune 500 article. Key Attributes of Reputation: Ranks Innovation: 3 People Management: 1 Use of Corporate Assets: 1 Social Responsibility: 10 Quality of Management: 1 Financial Soundness: […]
Don’t call them decorators! Interior designers are trained, degreed and licensed professionals who do far more than choose curtains. Their job is to transform the interior of your home to make it more functional and beautiful. If your home could use more space, better traffic flow, better lighting, or an additional room, an interior designer […]
Here’s a case for buying a less expensive home than you secretly want. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends approximately 37% of his or her income on housing. Notably, the top 20 percentile earners spend only 29.9% of their income, while the bottom 20% pay 39.9%. So what do high […]
In this environmentally ‑correct age, you can’t throw an old appliance out with the garbage anymore. Most areas require that you place household and yard waste in separate containers, and that you deliver hazardous items to collection centers. So what are the rules in your area? Trash pickup dates. Your city’s website will offer a garbage […]
You’re almost done! All that’s left to do is to pack up and move in to your first real home. Here are a few tips that will make your moving day as a new homeowner easier. Sort your belongings. Moving can be more expensive when you cart along items you don’t really want or need. […]
You may be feeling fairly flush these days, with a bigger salary, job security, appreciating homestead and other wise investments. Now might be the right time for you to buy a vacation home. According to the 2019 U.S. Vacation Home Counties Report compiled by the National Association of REALTORS, the median price of vacation homes […]
Have you ever taken the time to stroll the marketplace in your neighborhood or the city simply for the pleasure of observation? Then you might be what the French call a “flaneur.” The flaneur was first described in the writings of 19th century poet Charles Baudelair as one who casually wanders, watches and chronicles the […]
Some mortgage terms can be confusing, none more so than the similarities and differences between prequalification and preapproval. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things to lenders, real estate professionals and home sellers. Prequalifying is a rough-idea process that tells you how much money you’ll likely be able to […]
