After April showers come May, with weather too wonderful to be stuck inside, but just make sure not to spend too much of your time relaxing, but also keep up with your home maintenance and improvements that will prepare your home for the hotter months ahead. Of course, getting it ready for your summer barbecues and outdoor entertaining is also part of the deal.  Here are a few things you should do for your home in May while enjoying more of the sunshine:   Check your home's electrical system. May is National Electrical Safety Month, which is the perfect time to check on your home ..read more

Renting a storage unit is a convenient option for people who need extra space for their extra possessions, for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to store seasonal items, such as holiday decorations, costumes, gear, and lawn equipment. Maybe you haven't closed on your new home yet but need to move out of your old home, a rental storage unit can house your stuff till the move can be completed.  If you're a homeowner whose home will undergo major renovations, you can protect your belongings and provide clear space for the makeover by keeping your furniture and other items in a facility u ..read more

When you put an offer on a home, you'd want to do everything you can to make your bid more competitive. One way to do this is through earnest money. But what is it, exactly? And how much do you need? Since providing earnest money deposits is an essential part of the home buying process, here's what you should know about them.   Earnest money is an upfront deposit that a buyer makes when planning to purchase a home, showing that they're making a serious offer. It’s also called a “good faith deposit” because the buyer is proving to the seller that they have every intention of buying the p ..read more

Home Prices Continue to Rise Despite Higher Mortgage Rates The real estate landscape in 2023 witnessed a fascinating tug-of-war between supply and demand. While mortgage rates climbed, home prices remained remarkably resilient. Let’s break down the key takeaways: 1. Steady Appreciation According to the CoreLogic Case-Shiller indices and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), U.S. home prices continued to appreciate in 2023. However, the pace of growth slowed compared to previous years. Get a FREE analysis of your home! Find out your home value, home equity, refinance and mortgage redu ..read more

While it's a cliche that communication is key among successful couples, it couldn’t be any truer and more crucial if you’re planning to buy a house together. Not only are you going to make one of the most fulfilling purchases of your life—but you’re also going to experience the joy and hardships of homeownership with the person you love. So before you start poring through real estate listings and begin your next chapter together, you and your significant other need to have an open and honest conversation in which you ask yourselves and each other these key questions.   1. Where do we wan ..read more

If you’ve been holding off on selling your house to make a move because you felt mortgage rates were too high, their recent downward trend is exciting news for you. Mortgage rates have descended since last October when they hit 7.79%. In fact, they’ve been below 7% for over a month now (see graph below):  And while they’re not going back to the 3% we saw during the ‘unicorn’ years, they are expected to continue to go down from where they are now in the near future. As Dean Baker, Senior Economist at the Center for Economic Research, explains: “It also appears that mortgage rates are no ..read more

Home renovations can be a great way to improve your living space, comfort, and functionality. But not all home improvements are created equal when it comes to increasing your home’s value. Some projects may actually cost you more than they add to your resale price, making them a poor investment. Here are 10 home renovations that have the worst return on investment, according to experts. Get your Free Home Health Report! The housing market is always changing and so is the financial situation for your home. Get real time updates and cost saving ideas to help you manage one of the largest assets ..read more

Mortgage rates have been on the rise recently, and there are several key factors contributing to this trend. The first is inflation1. Inflation decreases the value of the US dollar and reduces the demand that investors have for mortgage-backed bonds1. When demand drops, the costs of mortgage-backed securities drop, resulting in increased interest rates for all types of mortgages1. This means that getting a mortgage can become more expensive as higher interest rates translate into higher monthly mortgage payments1. What’s Your home equity? Get a free analysis of your home, including estimated ..read more

I wanted to bring to your attention some significant changes announced by the FCC that will impact lead generation in the real estate industry starting from 20241. Here’s a summary of the key points: The FCC ruling will directly impact the core business model of major real estate platforms and those who rely on their leads1. New real estate leads will become exponentially more expensive, and the volume of new leads will be drastically reduced when enforcement begins this summer1. There will be a crackdown on lead sharing. Selling consumer information to multiple sources will be prohibite ..read more

The decision on whether or not to sell your beloved home is already a difficult thing to process. But knowing and understanding when to sell — it's another critical point that can affect your decision and would-be profit, especially when the housing market feels unpredictable.  Aside from the housing market having a significant impact on the sale of your home, it's also important to evaluate your situation and reasons for selling. To provide you with some guidance, we’ve laid out six factors that you should consider before putting your house on the market.   In general, the spring ..read more