Climate change concerns are in the headlines every day, and young people around the world, like Swedish teenage-environmental activist Greta Thunberg, are challenging world leaders to take action to address these issues. All 8th grade students at Warren Middle School recently participated in the Capstone Challenge, which focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals around Climate.  The students collaborated in groups to research how these challenges impact the communities which 10-13 year olds live and go to school in, and created an action plan for how they could make a di ..read more

You've bought your first home—congratulations! It’s a huge milestone you finally accomplished after what could be years of saving up for the down payment. However, once you’ve moved into your new home, that’s when it hits you. Your house now requires far more furniture than the tiny apartment you rented. And the furniture is expensive.  You've factored in other costs with owning a home, including maintenance costs and even property taxes but how about your furnishing needs? The last thing you’d want is to blow your entire budget and incur debts just to save your rooms from being lonely a ..read more

The coronavirus pandemic turned the real estate market into a frenzied rollercoaster ride for both buyers and sellers. Especially because of the historically low mortgage rates coupled with the inventory shortage.  But with the pandemic subsiding, the burning question is, what will happen in real estate in 2022? Housing experts forecast the market could calm down this year and ease up a little, especially for many first-time buyers. While no one knows what the future has in store, here we have compiled a list of five real estate trends that home buyers and sellers should be aware of as t ..read more

A roof is one of the least thought of components of a home, but it's undoubtedly one of the most important. That lovely front porch or lush garden may be the first features that catch your attention when you drive by a home or during house-hunting. However, you shouldn’t fail to notice the roof as well, considering that it makes up a third of the exterior view of your home (or even more) and is a huge part of your curb appeal. And we're here to tell you four reasons why having a healthy, well-maintained roof over a home is critical, and how to tell if it already screams maintenance and extra ..read more

Just how much do we love our pets? Several surveys showed how much pets are affecting the homebuying process. Pets influence many buyers on the types of homes and neighborhoods they search for, becoming the biggest reason their favorite humans decide to become homeowners. A 2021 homes.com survey of 1,600 homeowners who are also pet owners showed that 68 percent of respondents who weren't already living in a pet-friendly home said they have moved for the sole purpose of accommodating their pets. Another joint survey from Rover and Zillow found that 62 percent of pet parents consider moving to a ..read more

Every homeowner is faced with a huge truth: their home's systems and appliances don’t last forever. Every major appliance has an average life expectancy, although it depends greatly on its usage and maintenance. And with many of us spending more time at home in recent years due to the pandemic, extra use may shorten their lifespan even more. Once their parts stop working, they’re bound to require some costly repairs and replacements, which could be agonizing to any homeowner. Contractors and builders calculate an average lifespan for each appliance, based on experiences on when systems and ap ..read more

Selling a home is a serious venture for any homeowner. The process could be both time-consuming and emotionally challenging, more so if you've never done it before. You’d get anxious just thinking about all the steps it takes to list and sell your home. Or be overwhelmed by the fact that you have to remove most of your personal belongings to make your home ready for showings. The process is unlike any other financial transaction in your lifetime, which is why it’s easier to make risky decisions that could sabotage your home sale. Remember that many of these blunders are easily avoidable with ..read more

If you're looking to make buying your first home your biggest goal this year, it’s crucial that you lay the groundwork as early as you can. And it’s important, especially in today’s competitive housing market. Fortunately, there are some pretty simple but huge steps you can take to get into the home-buying game on a strong footing. By understanding the ins and outs of the process and doing as much preparation, you’ll be empowered to make the best decisions to be able to purchase your dream home.   1. Educate yourself about the home buying process. There are many avenues where buyers, esp ..read more

Most New Year's resolutions are about self-improvement—learning a new skill or hobby, eating healthier, or hitting the gym. If you’re a homeowner, it’s a no-brainer that you also want to improve your home and keep it in its best shape. Your living space has a much bigger impact on your life than you might realize, so what better way to improve your life than by making your home more appealing and comfortable? In the spirit of new beginnings, we've come up with a list of goals you can adopt to make a lasting difference in your home and eventually, in your life.   1. Start an emergency fun ..read more

The home buying and selling journey is a massive undertaking for anyone. It takes plenty of time, expertise, negotiation, patience, and sometimes, even a little bit of luck. And as far as luck goes, many follow these superstitions still, even when it comes to real estate. And since it's the season of holidays and festivities, we thought we’d touch on a lighter but equally interesting topic around the subject.  Let's take a look at these ten most common beliefs and traditions that anyone might be curious about, even those who aren’t superstitious. Are you familiar with any of these?   ..read more