Today's Current News, Opinion & Advice
Just because the wave of summertime homebuyers seeking to be settled in time for the start of school has receded, it doesn’t mean sellers have lost their big opportunity! In fact, with its turning leaves and traditional family get-togethers, autumn not only embraces the concept of “home,” it marks a period of market opportunity for…
A new home appraisal rule just went into effect—the first time in 25 years that “federal regulators have increased the property value limit of the homes that require an appraisal as part of the selling process,” said REALTOR® Magazine. The rule exempts some home sales priced at $400,000 and below from requiring an appraisal. That…
If you’re feeling the pull to be more socially conscious, you’re not alone. A Cone Communications study on corporate social responsibility (CSR) found that “76% of those surveyed said they would decline to do business with a company if it held views and supported issues that conflicted with their beliefs,” said Forbes. In addition, “78%…
By the time the housing bubble burst in the mid-2000s, the real estate industry had started calling some mortgages “liar’s loans,” and a study from CoreLogic in 2018 reports that mortgage fraud may be making a comeback. In the interest of protecting the typical consumer, we put together a brief post about the basics of…
You would think that compiling housing data would be a fairly straightforward process, but in Canada it’s been anything but. You’ve probably heard this one before: “There are three types of lies – lies, damn lies and statistics.” – attributed to Benjamin Disraeli. Or how about this one: “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are…
When it comes time to find a real estate agent, there are all kinds of ways you can go about it: Ask a friend. Call a number on a “for sale” sign in your neighborhood. Do a Google search. But, no matter which route you choose, there are some things you’ll want to look for—some…
Like in any modern organization, real estate agents can utilize social media channels to effectively conduct their day-to-day business. Indeed, recent research conducted by the National Association of real estate agents® tells us that this is already happening, with 77% of real estate businesses using social media to market their portfolio or conduct business in…
Selling your home can be a thrilling and very lucrative experience. But for the first-time home seller, it can also be nerve-wracking and deflating. That’s because selling the largest investment of your life can be counterintuitively expensive. Getting your home ready to be scrutinized by strangers takes a lot of cash and elbow grease. As…
Moving to a retirement residence could be the answer to senior housing thata you’re looking for. Older seniors who are considering the next stage of their retirement have a lot of reasons to downsize into a retirement residence. Today, housing options like these offer benefits such as: >> Active living & social lifestyles >> More…
Ants can be small in size and potentially harmless, but it can create a lot of problems in your house. They can invade your house if they find a good source of food and water in your house. You need to get rid of the ants to keep your home and foods safe. The ants…
Worried you missed your window when it comes to selling your home this year? It’s true that spring and summer are the hottest (literally) seasons of the year, with more buyers out there looking to purchase a home and get settled before school starts. Also, there is some recent data out there that says that…
Homeowner Association property management can be a daunting task; however, there are ways to make it easier. One of the most efficient ways to make managing an HOA easier is to add maintenance tracking to your program of maintenance. The reason why maintenance tracking is efficient for HOAs is that maintenance tracking allows you to…
Come the first of October, we start pulling all the ghosts and goblins and bats and skeletons out of storage and stocking up on pumpkins and gourds. Who’s with us? After a long, hot summer, the arrival of fall and everyone’s favorite candy-hoarding holiday is a welcome gift. But if you’re getting ready to sell…
Are you planning to downsize in the future? Moving to a smaller, more manageable home can be a good way to make the most of your retirement. To make the most of your downsizing move and avoid any added stress, you need a solid plan from start to finish. Missing little details can cost you…
Be afraid. Be very afraid. That new home you’re thinking of buying might not be as perfect as you think. Danger lurks behind every wall. Or maybe just one. Either way, it’s probably something you should know about. Buying a home is full of challenges, and the one that might be the most frustrating of…
It’s not you, it’s them. If you shop for a newly-built home and feel unappreciated, disoriented, or overwhelmed by the new-home buying process, it’s them—home builders—not you, who are off-track, according to home building industry experts in a recent webcast for home builders hosted by BUILDER and Meyers Research. “There is no mystery to what…
Perhaps the single biggest obstacle to home ownership is coming up with enough money for a down payment, closing costs and cash reserves. While some loan programs don’t require a down payment, such as the VA and USDA programs, others do. For example, FHA loans ask for a minimum down payment of just 3.5 percent…
In 2017, Americans spent over $6,600 per homeowner on home improvement projects. Perhaps it’s because of the popularity of HGTV shows, but this has been on the rise. People are fascinated with having nice homes. What about when it’s time to sell? Is it worth remodeling or renovating your home before putting it on the market? …
It can be hard buying a home in a different state than where you live in. Not only is the area new, but the people are too. To help you buy your home out of state, follow our tips below, to get yourself started in the right direction. Buying a Home Out of State The…
TV shopping has become quite the animal. There are so many features to choose from, brands vying for your dollar, and stores doing the same. Here’s a list of options to consider when shopping for your next TV. Size According to Digital Trends, modern TVs are now incredibly consistent when it comes to picture quality…
You’d be surprised about how much it takes to get a loan from application status to final approval. There are multiple steps involved and many of these steps can’t be taken unless a previous step has been completed. To help, borrowers can take on some of the load to help streamline the entire process. There…
Wallpaper. It’s the word that still makes some people shudder from long-held memories of those god-awful, old-fashioned designs that were permanently affixed to Grandma’s walls. “Wallpaper is one of those things that fell out of the zeitgeist—hard,” said Stylecaster. “After pervading the home decor trends-sphere in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, wallpaper became the stuff…
Paint your house. Almost every homeowner hears that piece of advice when they’re preparing to sell. After all, adding a fresh coat of paint is a fast — and inexpensive — way to spruce up a home for prospective buyers. But before you buy gallons of paint at the hardware store, it’s important to choose…
It’s safe to say that most of the talk in today’s real estate industry is focused on millennials. But some compelling stuff is happening among Baby Boomers, still the largest percentage of homeowners and a group that is nearing—or reaching—retirement age in greater numbers every day. PropertyShark.com conducted a generational survey and found that, overall,…
