Tax season doesn’t have to be all about stress and expenses. Homeownership can unlock valuable tax benefits — like deductions, credits and more — that could save you money. From property taxes to energy-efficient upgrades, here are a few ways your home could help lighten your tax burden this year. 1. Property Tax Deductions Property… The post 4 Ways Your Home Can Lower Your Taxes appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Paying more for home insurance? You’re not alone. Home insurance premiums are on the rise, leaving many homeowners feeling the financial pinch. Rate increases occur for a variety of reasons, many of which are out of your control. But there are a few things you can do to minimize your financial burden. Here are three… The post How to Fight Rising Home Insurance Costs appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Waiving contingencies is a strategic way to gain an edge in a competitive market. But one contingency you should think twice about waiving is the inspection. While skipping a property inspection may save time and money upfront, the long-term risks can far outweigh the initial rewards. Here are five reasons why a third-party property inspection… The post The Hidden Value of a Home Inspection appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Preparing for an upcoming move? Need to clear your home of valuable yet unwanted clutter? Want to make a few extra bucks to put toward the holiday season? If you’ve answered yes to one or more of these questions, it may be time to consider hosting a garage sale. But to ensure your sale goes… The post 4 Tips for Hosting a Successful Garage Sale appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Designing a living room layout that balances comfort, functionality and aesthetics can be a challenge, especially when the space serves multiple purposes. Whether it’s watching TV, hosting gatherings or creating a play area for kids and pets, here are four layout tips to help you get it right. 1. Plan With Precision Start by measuring… The post How to Redesign Your Living Room Layout appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

With the fall season in full swing, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. Performing year-end maintenance now will help ensure that your home is as safe and energy-efficient as possible once temperatures start to drop. To get you started, here is a quick list of essential tasks… The post How to Prepare Your Home for Fall appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Securing a home loan with bad credit can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. While eligibility criteria and terms vary, improving your credit score can work in your favor. Why Your Credit Score Matters Your credit score gives lenders an idea of how reliable you are at repaying debts. Higher scores suggest that you’re likely… The post How Credit Scores Impact Mortgage Loans appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

Buying a home can be stressful, but it gets even more challenging when you’re also trying to sell your current property at the same time. It’s a lot to manage. But it doesn’t have to be as stressful as it sounds. With proper guidance, timing and financing, you can streamline the process — and hopefully… The post How to Buy and Sell a Home Smoothly appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

The road to homeownership is littered with buzzwords, acronyms and other industry jargon. Luckily, not all of those terms are as complicated as they may initially sound. Take amortization, for example — simply put, it’s the process of paying off debt on a set schedule (e.g., a 30-year mortgage). But when paying off a home… The post Amortization Explained in Simple Terms appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more

House flipping has become a popular practice in recent years. Investors purchase older, often rundown homes and restore them to their former glory with a little DIY magic. While these stories make for good television, they don’t always have a happy ending for the buyer though — in the real world, quick flips can correspond… The post 4 Ways to Identify a Quality House Flip appeared first on Kevin Oto | Green Haven Capital Inc ..read more