Should You Fix Your House Up or Sell Now?
With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing up and moving out of the house, maybe leaving for college or taking a jump into the working world. Parents are finding themselves…
What FICO® Score Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage?
While a recent announcement from CNBC shares that the average national FICO® score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for potential buyers is that you don’t need a score that high to qualify for a mortgage.…
What to Expect from Your Home Inspection
You made an offer and it was accepted. Your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Agents often recommend you make your offer contingent upon a clean home inspection.This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price…
5 Homebuying Acronyms You Need to Know
Some Highlights: Learning the lingo of homebuying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home. From APR to P&I, you need to know the acronyms that will come up along the way, and what they mean when…
Homeownership is the Top Contributor to Your Net Worth
Many people plan to build their net worth by buying CDs or stocks, or just having a savings account. Recently, however, Economist Jonathan Eggleston and Survey Statistician Donald Hays, both of the U.S. Census Bureau, shared the biggest determinants of…
4 Tips to Improve Your Home and Save on Your Energy Bill
As a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only to save money, but also to help the environment thrive. October 2nd is Energy Efficiency Day, a perfect time to think about making some key upgrades that…
Agents: Benefits of Working with a Real Estate Agent
The benefits to working with a Real Estate Agent are plentiful. Certainly there may be some attractive qualities to selling or buying "by owner". However, I assure you those perks are easily outnumbered by the many positives a real estate…
9 Things to Do Before Buying a Home
1. Set a Budget and Only Compromise If You Have ToIt’s so easy to go over budget when buying a home, especially if you’re trying to buy in an urban location. There’s nothing wrong with setting a budget, and sticking…
Light Fixtures: Lighting Part II
Choosing light fixtures for the home can be a daunting task. In the previous post, you read about light bulbs and how lighting can change the mood in your home. Now that you have an idea of lighting needs in…
Lighting: Choosing What You Need
Lighting: Choosing the Right BulbLighting is everything. It enhances color, brightens space, and changes an environment. However, it’s no easy feat to install the perfect lighting in various rooms of a home. Approximately 140 years ago, our world changed. The telephone,…