Vacation. It is relief, escape, rejuvenation, a way to shut out the daily problems, let the race go to the rats for a while, and find inner peace. Vacation isn’t always about a geographical location; frequently, it’s about an emotional location. If it is geographical, that place holds an emotional meaning or the possibility of something more than the regular day offers. One of the troubles with a vacation is the where. Where do we go, what will we find, and how much will it cost? A vacation home answers a lot of those questions and offers some fantastic opportunities. Here are some benefits o ..read more

Over the past year and a half, the prices of homes in the United States have skyrocketed. On top of that, with the pandemic, building supplies have been scarce, and the number of houses available is far fewer than the number of buyers looking for a home. This means that many folks are paying higher than the asking price to secure the home they want, and it also means that a number of homeowners have significant equity in their homes. Because of the tight market, these homeowners are tapping into that equity, and one of the most popular ways to use equity is to get a second mortgage. In this a ..read more

After being forced indoors and away from people, the summer is an opportunity to shake off some dust and rediscover the wonders of your backyard. The backyard is having a major resurgence: cookouts, badminton, or just lying in a chair and letting the sun fill you with vitamin D. Maybe you’re looking out your back window, sipping your morning coffee, and thinking, I really have no desire to spend any time out there. If that’s the case, it’s time you spruced up the backyard so you can take advantage of the summer to its fullest. With that, here are ten great and relatively easy backyard landsca ..read more

Covid-19 has had many repercussions on our lives. From the way we socialize to the way we shop, adjustments have been made. Some may have a longer-lasting impact. In the real estate world, there is a rise in multigenerational living. Younger and older family members have chosen to love together to fight hardships due to the lack of employment and even moral comfort during these uncertain times. However, as the pandemic begins to slow, the rate of mother-in-law, or granny flats, seems to be rising. What are mother-in-law apartments, are they a good investment, and where will they be headed in ..read more

Moving is great! Moving is a nightmare. Moving is an adventure! Moving is a royal pain in the tuchus. Moving is a new start! Moving is a dead stop to your life. And so it goes. No matter the reason, moving is never going to be just one thing. It can be an adventure, but one that comes with a lot of stress. It can be a new beginning, but one tinged with trepidation. However, if you have to move, for work, for military duty, or just because your circumstances have improved and it’s time to get out of your parent’s basement, there are ways to manage the stress of moving so that it’s not such a l ..read more

The pandemic and the insane housing market have created a perfect storm for one industry, the home improvement market. According to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, the home improvement market reached $281 Billion in 2021. Now, with the way the housing market is showing fewer houses available at higher costs, more people are thinking about remodeling, renovating, or just changing things up in their homes rather than seeking a new home altogether. That means the home improvement market will not be crashing any time soon. If you really love your home but d ..read more

Legend has it that the Contemporary Hotel, one of the first built on Disney’s Florida property, has rooms designed to be slipped in and out like dresser drawers so that the floor plans could be adjusted and changed periodically. However, as the legend goes, the rooms slid in, and the building settled, and the rooms were trapped like ancient mosquitos frozen in amber, never to have their floor plans updated again. It’s a good story, but it is not factual at all. The rooms were indeed built complete, almost like in an automobile assembly line, then trucked complete with plumbing and electrical ..read more

Have you ever been driving down a suburban street and noticed a uniquely designed house and wondered, what is that style of house called? You’re not alone. There are many different house designs, and most of them we just look at and think, that’s a cute house, and that’s just fine. However, if you’re in the market for a new house, knowing what you’re looking for and being specific about the style of the exterior decor can help narrow down your options and get you closer to the home you’ve always had in your dreams. Maybe you’re remodeling your current home or just upping the curb appeal, know ..read more

You’re building a home in Utah; congratulations, that’s a big step and one you should go into with equal amounts of excitement and caution. Excitement because it marks a new period in your life and caution because you want to do it right and not have worries down the line. The success of your new custom-built home depends on getting the right builder, one that you trust, has the experience, and provides you with open, honest, and continuous communication. This relationship will last from six to twelve months, so; you want to make it a good one. To make that choice easier and more successful ..read more

Covid-19 has been a nightmare for all of us; our lives have been turned upside down, and we’ve learned that being disconnected from friends and family may have been nice for a few weeks, but now, it’s basically intolerable. When it comes to buying a new home or building a custom home, Covid-19 has been a double-edged sword of good; lowest mortgage rates in history, and bad; home prices are skyrocketing. According to the National Association of Realtors, we ended 2021 short between 5.5 and 6.8 million housing units. That includes single-family detached houses, townhouses, condos, and rentals o ..read more