While spring is still in the air, the warm weather and cooler clothes of the summer season are just around the corner. As a result, you might be thinking about making some design changes to your home to welcome the season and indulge in its brilliance. If you're looking for some new color schemes and how you can use them to amp up your home, here a few brightly-colored suggestions to try out for yourself. Sky Blue With the reminder of the sea and the sky, few things are akin to summer like bright blue. Instead of going overboard with this shade, try adding an accent like a side armchair, a … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news was slim, with few scheduled reports released. Job openings for April, along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims were released. Job openings rose in April, while weekly jobless claims were lower. The headline event last week was a further decrease in fixed-rate mortgage interest rates. Mortgage Rates Lowest in Almost 7 Months Freddie Mac reported that average rates for fixed rate home loans fell again last week. Mortgage rates typically follow 10-year Treasury yields, which also fell last week. The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate … [Read More...]
Along with the family vehicles, the garage may be the place where all of the things you don't want in your house go to disappear. However, you might not be aware that there are a number of DIY hacks you can use for your garage that will instantly make it a more useable space. If you're wondering how you can fit more in while improving the aesthetic appeal of your garage, here are some tricks to test out. Give Your Garden Tools Space The pile of garden tools that often sit in the corner of the garage is generally unpleasant to look at and potentially dangerous, so instead of leaving them around … [Read More...]
There's often so much enthusiasm that goes along with buying a home that the idea of leaving the old one behind is left in the dust. But, while you may love both your old home and your new home, it can be difficult to leave what's old behind. If you're struggling with adjusting to your new dwelling place, here are some tips for how to make it feel like it's where you belong. Purchase A New Piece In all likelihood, you'll be moving a lot of your old furniture into your new home, which means it will have all of the likely associations of your old home. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, … [Read More...]
In many cities around the country, real estate prices are on the rise and potential buyers are working hard to find a home they can feel good about. However, finding the right home in a tight market can be even more of a challenge when it comes to striking the right balance. If you're hedging around the market in the hopes of finding the perfect home, here are some things you should do to ensure you don't miss out on a good opportunity. Keep An Open Mind When wading into the real estate market, it can be very easy to get so enamored with the kind of house you want that you don't see what's in … [Read More...]
Every open house involves so much cleanup and de-cluttering that it's often easy to forget about the first thing your guest will see when they arrive; the exterior! Instead of foregoing the first impression, here are some tips for fixing up your yard and all of its vegetation so you can make a positive impression on potential homebuyers. Get Out The Pruning Shears There are few things that will wreck the overall look of your home like an overgrown shrub or an unruly patch of bushes, so instead of letting nature take its course, do some scaling back. While you'll want to make sure you retain … [Read More...]