Home improvement pros and DIYers tout a fresh coat of paint as a favorite among low-cost home upgrades that can make a huge impact. But what else can you do to accessorize and decorate? Sometimes the little things can make a bigger difference than you’d think.  Professionals share the following easy and low-cost home upgrades to add a designer’s touch all around the house. These projects may even help increase your home’s perceived value.  For the Bathroom 1. Frame It Estimated cost: starting around $100 That edgeless, builder-grade mirror hanging above the bathroom vanity may be pri ..read more

You may be selling a home in a competitive market — for example, with low inventory and high demand. And you may be thinking “Yay!” or at least “Whew.” You know you’re likely to have more interested buyers, better offers, and a quicker trip to contract than you’d have otherwise. But along with that good news comes the need to manage your expectations by understanding what determines house prices and home sales. Factors include the right real estate agent, local market conditions, buyer preferences, seasonality, and mortgage rates versus inventory. Work with the Right Real Estate Agent to ..read more

Whether you’re shopping for new bed sheets or a new car, the drill is usually the same. Hit the reviews, check with friends, and scope out the best deal. After all, who wants to buy a car that racks up repair bills right away? Yet when picking a mortgage loan, borrowers don’t always think about comparison shopping. In a Bankrate survey of recent home buyers, 12% of millennials said they believe their mortgage rates were too high. Some buyers may think that when mortgage rates are low, they don’t need to shop for the best offer. But even a few basis points can make a difference of tho ..read more

Outdoor patios are an extension of your home, perfect for gathering with guests, getting lost in a good book, or even working out. But the fun shouldn’t stop when the sun goes down. You can spend more time doing what matters most by adding the perfect patio lights to your space (dinner under the stars, anyone?). If you’re ready toshine some light on your outdoor space, we’ll dive into five great options for outdoor patio lights. Then, we’ll explore different approaches to setting up your patio lighting for all you DIYers. Let’s jump in! Patio Lighting Ideas How you illuminate your patio can de ..read more

An egress window looks like a regular window but opens fully to allow a person to escape a building in an emergency — for example, a house fire. In fact, these windows are essentially escape hatches. Most local building codes require them to be installed in finished basements, especially if the upgraded space will include a bedroom.    In addition to providing an escape, egress windows can increase natural light and ventilation in your basement. And the ones with attractive interior trim can make your basement living space look more appealing.  What Is a Window Well? A ..read more

Is now a good time real estate for sale? Traditionally, spring is one of the busiest times of the year for real estate. However, the coronavirus outbreak—and subsequent stay-at-home orders—led many buyers and sellers to put their moving plans on hold. In April, new listings fell nearly 45%, and sales volume fell 15% compared to last year.1 Fortunately, as restrictions have eased, we’ve seen an uptick in market activity. And economists at Realtor.com expect a rebound in July, August, and September, as fears about the pandemic subside, and buyers return to the market with pent-up demand from a l ..read more

There are a lot of sellers out there who are considering selling their Montana home, but there is one thing that seems to be holding a lot of people back, regardless of their circumstances:  Where will we go? There are several options to consider, even in a tight real estate market. The seller should first establish if they are staying in the immediate area or is this the time to move somewhere else? Is it time to downsize? The first option for the seller to consider is to lease the home back from the buyer to allow the seller more time to find housing.  Another option is the sellers ..read more

There are a lot of things to consider when you decide to buy a home in Montana, whether it is your first home, a recreation property or a second home.  As active local area realtors in Columbus, MT, we can offer you some help.  Keep in mind that real estate in different areas of the country are not the same as they are in Montana.   The first thing on your list should be your finances.  You need to decide what your budget is and what you are pre-approved for from a bank if you are not paying cash.  Your local bank that you use is a great place to start.  B ..read more

10 Ways to Give Back to Our Local Community This Holiday Season This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. It truly “takes a village” to keep a community functioning effectively, whether that’s by keeping our waterways clean, feeding the hungry, teaching our kids, or supporting small businesses.  With the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place we call home. You might want to focus your efforts near home, expand to our larger community, or even help support ..read more

5 Secrets Buyers and Sellers Must Know About Virtual Home Tours For years now, virtual home tours have helped real estate buyers far and wide find the perfect home. From long-distance military personnel being relocated, to investors expanding their portfolio, to homeowners looking for a vacation getaway, this technology makes finding a house that’s a bit out of driving distance much easier. And for real estate agents, virtual tours have been a useful way to help buyers with their home search and to assist sellers in creatively marketing their listings. Because of the pandemic, virtual home sh ..read more