Are you on the hunt for home renovations that will boost usability and value? Look no further than that unfinished basement. In this article, we'll show you how to turn that dusty cave into an amazing new living space. Note: finishing a basement isn't the easiest job. For most basements, it's a lot more than a weekend do-it-yourself project. If you're not comfortable with construction be sure to enlist the help of a professional. Step 1: Plan Everything Out The first step is to plan out how you're going to use the space. Are you going to make an office? A full suite? Is there any plumbing or … [Read More...]
Trusting another individual with your property can be nerve-wracking because it's difficult to gauge how well they'll care for their home from a viewing and rental application alone. However, there are several steps you can take to help ensure that you select responsible tenants that will take good care for your property while they live there. 1. Make Your Home Desirable When creating your rental listing, show your property at its absolute best and list its attractive features. The listing should be well written with proper capitalization and full sentences, even if it's only going on … [Read More...]
Last week's economic reports included readings on the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, Commerce Department releases on Housing Starts and Building Permits issued and weekly reports on new jobless claims and mortgage rates. Builder Sentiment Holds Steady, Demand for Homes Pushes Builders November's reading for the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index held steady with a reading of 65. Any reading above 50 indicates that a majority of home builders surveyed has a positive view of current and future housing market conditions. Tight supplies … [Read More...]
Real estate may be one of the most important things that you will ever invest in, but it can also be a useful means of increasing your financial well-being. If you're getting into the real estate game and are wondering how you can make use of investing in homes to improve your net worth, here are three ways you can successfully work towards a real estate investment portfolio that will make you proud. Home Equity Line of Credit Loan Also known as HELOC, this is the type of loan where a homebuyer taps into the equity of their home while they are still paying off their mortgage. As the equity … [Read More...]
According to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for November, builder sentiment was unchanged at a reading of 63. Readings above 50 indicate that a majority of builders are confident about housing market conditions. Readings for three sub-indexes used to calculate the Housing Market Index Readings for builder confidence in current market conditions and market conditions within the next six months were posted at 69. The reading for buyer foot traffic in housing developments was 47. Buyer traffic has not reached the benchmark reading of 50 since the peak of the … [Read More...]
Do you believe that humans are changing the climate? As of today, the debate over carbon dioxide and climate change continues to rage. But regardless of your political standpoint, there's always a case for reducing electricity use. Because who doesn't like saving money, right? Let's explore a few ways that you can save energy while reducing your home's carbon footprint. Leverage The Power Of Automation The technology behind home automation is improving at an amazing rate. Thermostats from companies like Nest make home heating and cooling simple. They learn from your use to automatically set … [Read More...]
