Take a look around your home. Do you feel that burning desire to renovate or upgrade certain areas? Perhaps it's the kitchen countertops or the décor in the master bedroom. Whatever the case, if you're itching to take on a home renovation project you'll want to ensure it's one that makes your life better – not worse! Let's take a look at four tips that will help you to avoid experiencing "renovator's remorse." Ask Yourself: Will This Project Add Value? If you're renovating to build equity in your home, you'll want to determine if the project is worth undertaking. There are many … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news included readings on sales of new and previously-owned homes, Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released, along with coverage of Fed Chair Janet Yellen's remarks at a conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Home Sales Lower in July According to the Commerce Department, new home sales fell to a seven-month low in July; 571,000 new homes were sold on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis in July. This reading fell short of the expected sales rate of 608,000 new home sales and June's reading of 630,000 sales. This was unwelcome news for … [Read More...]
If you're planning on selling your home, you've probably already started to consider how you're going to stage it. Staging is one of the most important parts of the selling process. The way you present your home is key to leaving a positive impression on a potential buyer. Let's explore a few ways that you can stage smaller outdoor spaces to make them feel like they're much more than they are. Go With Smaller Furniture Options If you're trying to stage a small patio, deck or yard area, you'll want to stick with smaller furnishings. Yes, that means packing up the enormous hammock or chaise … [Read More...]
Are you going to sell your house in the near future? If it's a bit of a 'fixer-upper' – meaning that it's in need of some renovation work – you may find some challenges in marketing it to potential buyers. Reducing the listing price is one option available to you, but there are other ways to highlight this kind of home. Let's have a look at three key areas that you'll want to focus on when trying to sell a home in less than perfect condition. Push The Customization Angle First, try to keep in mind that most potential buyers who are on the market for a fixer-upper are likely to be … [Read More...]
Are you shopping around for a new house or apartment? One of the key considerations you will need to make is figuring out how much you want to invest in your new home. Below you'll find our quick and easy guide to determining just how much "house" you can afford. Let's get started! Start By Making A Proper Budget The first thing you'll want to do is sit down and get a full budget put together. The easiest way to get the process started is to begin with two lists: income and expenses. For the income list, write down the amount of money your family brings in each month after taxes. If you have … [Read More...]
The negotiations are over. The seller has accepted your bid and the paperwork has been signed. Shortly, you'll be handed the keys to your new home and you can start moving in. But of course, the work doesn't end after the real estate closing process. In fact, it's just beginning! In today's article, we'll share a few essential tasks that you'll want to get to work on after the closing process is over. Backup And Copy All Of The Paperwork If you haven't bought a house before, you'll soon discover that there is a lot of paperwork involved in getting the deal done. From title deeds to tax … [Read More...]
