The best part about these DIY home projects is that they don’t require any special skills or knowledge. Whether you’re looking to update your furniture, add some color to your walls, or just want to try something new, these projects are perfect for anyone who wants to get their hands dirty and have fun. Get started on one (or all!) of these DIY home projects today! Trust us; you’ll be so glad you did. DIY projects are a great way to personalize your home and make it feel your own. With just a few supplies and some elbow grease, you can completely transform any room in your house. And the best ..read more

Mortgage rates are one of those numbers that most people don’t pay any attention to unless they happen to be trying to get a mortgage—a loan to buy a house. Then, mortgage rates become pretty critical! In April 2022, the mortgage interest rate for a fixed-rate, 30-year loan rose to above 5%. It’s the first time mortgage rates have climbed so high in more than a decade, since 2011.  So what does that mean if you’re trying to buy a house? It depends on where you are in the process. To determine how mortgage rate shifts could affect your buying power, answer the following questions.   A ..read more

Open houses are a real estate tradition, and sometimes (in an era of hot home sales and strong seller’s markets, especially) they might be a buyer’s only opportunity to walk through the house they end up buying. As a seller, the pressure is on to ensure your home looks its best, which is why working with your real estate agent on an open house plan is critical to success. What should you expect from the open house? What are your responsibilities as the seller, and what should you leave to your agent? This quick guide to organizing an open house with your agent will help set reasonable expectat ..read more

If the coronavirus pandemic taught us anything, it’s that when you spend a vast amount of your time in your house, that house is going to start to feel … smaller. Maybe too small!  As our ways of life have shifted—going out less and working from home—you may discover that you need more room to breathe. When you own your house, this can be as simple (or as complicated) as adding more livable square footage to your space. But how exactly can you do that? What are your options?   Talk to an agent! Real estate agents are not general contractors, but they do see lots and lots of houses in ..read more

Winterizing your house might seem complicated, especially if you’ve never done it before. Follow these tips to be ready for snow, sleet, or hail before you know it (or at least before it actually arrives).       1. Inspect your roof Your roof gets a lot of battering from Mother Nature. Inspect any issues and fix them before winter arrives.   2. Clear your gutters Full gutters and a rain or snowstorm add up to a really great way to damage your roof.   3. Check windows, doors, and vents for air leaks  When a house feels drafty or too cold in the winter, it’s almost ..read more

A really good real estate agent will manage these tasks and activities for a client. How does yours measure up?     For Buyers:   1. Ask you about homeownership needs and hopes 2. Recommend a mortgage broker 3. Get you pre-approved 4. Talk about schools 5. Give you feedback on neighborhoods 6. Help you find a home 7. Help you pick an inspector 8. Attend the home inspection 9. Attend the appraisal 10. Stay on top of the mortgage 11. Offer help finding contractors For Sellers:   12. Price your home correctly 13. Market the home well   For Both:   14. Nego ..read more

Anyone who owns a home has wondered whether it’s worth the time and effort to list your home on Airbnb. Here are 25 things you have to do before and after listing your home.     Research Learn about occupancy requirements Obtain necessary permits Check with your HOA or co-op Decide how much of your property to rent and when to rent it   Sorting out finances Look at other homes listed in your area to benchmark price Calculate your break-even and profit margins Make a plan for paying taxes Does your homeowners’ insurance cover short-term rentals? Secure additiona ..read more

There are a lot of perks to owning a condo that you don’t find with a single-family home in the suburbs, and also some drawbacks that can be deal breakers. Here are 19 tips for condo-buying before you sign any contracts or hand over any money.   Tips: 1. Consider the social aspects You’ll be sharing common areas with neighbors, running into them at HOA meetings, seeing them in the hallways, dealing with individual properties that have adjoining walls, and more. What’s your comfort level with a more social lifestyle?   2. Determine your ideal building size How big is too big, how smal ..read more

How do you know if a home’s price is competitive as either a buyer or a seller? The only way to know for sure is to talk to a professional — either an appraiser or a real estate agent — but if you want to do some research on your own, here’s where to start.   Online calculators Tools (such as Zillow’s Zestimate) estimate home value based on data and proprietary algorithms Pros: These are cheap (free!), easy ways to assess a home’s value Cons: They aren’t always reliable; if the home’s information is outdated or it’s a neighborhood outlier, the value will be off   Size and features Wh ..read more

Upgrading your house isn’t exactly a dollar-for-dollar investment. You probably aren’t going to make all of the money back that you sink into an improvement. So think about how long you’re likely to stay in the house and which upgrades you’ll enjoy the most before you start renovating.   Kitchen Average remodel cost range: $22,000-$24,000 New appliances New (laminate) counters New flooring Updated cabinet fronts/hardware For $64,000: New appliances New (laminate) counters New lighting New flooring New wood cabinets New island New sink and faucet $80,000-$126,000 ..read more