There’s something wonderful about winter, even if you live in a warm climate. Like bears in hibernation, we tend to slow down, stay home and relax more often in cooler weather. If you’re shopping for a home or recently purchased a home, these are the best features your new home can offer to help you […]
Red is the go-to color for drama, but it’s also a preferred color for hospitality. You can literally “roll out the red carpet” to make visitors feel welcome to your home. From joy (paint the town red) to love (my love is like a red, red rose) to bravery (red badge of courage), red suggests […]
Mortgage lenders check your credit history before approving a home-buying loan. Your credit scores are crucial to getting the amount you want to borrow at a good interest rate. Your income vs. your debt, your payment history, the length of time you’ve had credit, new credit you’ve opened, and the types of credit you owe […]
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, an HSF Affiliates LLC company, announced that the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate brokerage network ranked “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Repeat Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms” in a tie in the J.D. Power 2018 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction StudySM. The study, now in its 11th year, measured satisfaction with […]
Winterizing your home is one of the best ways to get comfortable and save energy costs. It’s not too late to get a few projects done before the holidays, so here’s a short weekend list of to-dos to help you. Check the furnace. Typically, a heating system has a heat/cooling source, distribution system, and thermostat, […]
This time of year is scary enough, with monsters and ghouls coming your way for tricks and treats. The last thing you need is for your home to be haunted by odors. Here are four things to keep in mind to ensure your house smells fresh and clean: Stuffiness. Energy-efficient homes lock in odors. Open […]
When you shop for a mortgage loan, you have certain rights that are guaranteed by the federal government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Knowing your rights will help you get the best loan possible. You have the right to: Receive equal treatment by the lender, so that a credit decision isn’t based on your race, color, […]
Equity is the percentage of market value that you own in your home. Your lender owns the rest, so your goal should be to pay the lender’s share (the principal) down and build your share (equity) up. You don’t need to go to extreme lengths to pay down your mortgage. Just follow these few easy […]
How do you know if you have your home insured for the right amount? Your lender may require insurance to cover the loan amount, but what you owe and actual replacement costs can be vastly different. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), replacement costs are the amount it would take to replace […]
Negotiations don’t necessarily end when you and the seller sign the contract to purchase. You have the right to have the home you’re buying inspected for soundness, which you can include as a contingency to your offer. That way, if the inspection reveals a serious issue, you and the seller can address it through renegotiations. […]
Crazy fashion trends do more than strain closet space. They can sometimes send the message that trendiness is more important than building wealth. Here’s how to save the money you spend on new clothes for something more rewarding – a down payment on your own home. Reduce your wardrobe. Consign, donate or give away clothes […]
Sometimes we see things that others do not. That has certainly been the case for Eugene (Gene) Strickland, Owner/Broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Great Smokys Realty. Gene has been eyeing 39 Island Street in downtown Bryson City for years. While some saw a tired HVAC storage warehouse and office, Gene saw a diamond in the […]
According to the Federal Reserve, the primary residence accounts for about one-quarter of all assets held by households, ahead of other financial assets, business interests and retirement accounts. It’s important to protect the value of your home by keeping it repaired and updated. Not only does an update make a home more attractive, it should improve […]
Whether you are purchasing in Western North Carolina or beyond, we’ve got you covered. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ updated residential and commercial network member maps displaying affiliates and locations across the globe are now available. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Great Smokys Realty covers Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania County, providing you with full-coverage and exclusive […]
If you find yourself saying any of the following to your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional, you may be hurting your chances of selling your home quickly and for the most money possible. “I’m not making any repairs.” According to the 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report from the National Association of REALTORS®, […]
Market conditions are like a weather report; they show you what to expect so you can make plans, pick your listing price and decide on your marketing strategy. One thing is certain: Markets are either going up or they’re going down, so as conditions change, you need to know the long and short-term trends. If […]
What should you expect when you buy a model or “spec home” from a builder? A model home features upgrades to show the builder’s floorplans to advantage. If you can wait until the builder sells all their inventory, you may get the model at the initial offer price and with more upgrades than other homes […]
As you browse listings on 4Smokys.com or realtor.com, you may find homes you like that appear to be unavailable, due to some kind of contingency. If you find the perfect home, but it’s labeled Active Kick Out or Contingent, should you pursue it or forget it? The reality is that contracts fall through sometimes. If you have […]
Older homes that served our grandparents and parents well may appear poorly planned for today’s families. They tend to be smaller with narrow lots, closed-off kitchens, and fewer bathrooms and bedrooms. On the other hand, older homes tend to offer character and quality craftsmanship that is unmatched today. So, should you tear down an older […]
Selling your home is one of the largest transactions you’ll ever make, so you want to make sure you sell your home quickly, for the most money and for the best terms possible you don’t want to start off on the wrong foot. Here are three things sellers should never do. Sell it yourself. A […]
