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May 31
DIY demolition

Demolishing a House: How to Do It

How to Demolish a House Demolition sounds like a scary word that should stay with the professionals, but you can do it yourself and save some bucks! What to do first First things first, you need to look at the demolition as a project itself. Demoing a space may take... read more →
May 30
what do listing agents do

What Is a Listing Agent & What Do They Do?

When you are selling your home, you might want to hire a listing agent. A listing agent is a real estate agent who helps homeowners sell their home. A listing agent has many duties and responsibilities, but the most important is listing the home! A listing agent will place your home... read more →
May 30
when to buy a home

When to Buy A Home

When to buy a home is a question that is on the mind of any homebuyer. There are many factors that determine when you should buy, and we're here to point you in the right direction. FINANCES Your finances are a big part of the equation when it comes to... read more →
May 26
Organize Your Garage

How to Organize Your Garage

Organizing a garage can be a really daunting task to start. Many people’s garages tend to be on the messier side. If you are sick of your garage being messy, you’ve come to the right place. How to start organizing your garage: Start from the top and work towards the bottom... read more →
May 26
Home Closing Walkthrough

The Final Walkthrough Before Closing on a Home

Preparing for a Walkthrough Before closing on a property, you need to do a final walkthrough. As a buyer, here's some info to help you with the final walkthrough. Don’t do a final walkthrough on the day of your closing. A walkthrough can uncover repairs that should be made before... read more →
May 25
home closing process

The Home Closing Process: A General Overview

Home Closing Process After choosing a home, the closing process starts. This article provides an overview of the closing process. Step 1: Starting the Process First thing's first, a sales contract needs to be signed by the seller and the buyer and delivered to the closing agent. The escrow is accepted... read more →
May 25
Energy Saving Tips

Energy Saving Tips: How to Reduce Energy Usage in Your Home

Energy Saving Tips Saving energy saves you money! Here are some energy saving tips that you can employ into your every day life. Energy Saving Tips for Spring & Summer Set your air conditioner to 78 degrees or higher for the most energy efficient operation. Plant trees or shrubs to shade your... read more →
May 25
Childproofing a home

Childproofing Your Home: Your How-to Guide

How to Childproof a Home Before bringing a child into your home, it is important that you make your home safe, and always childproof each room. The Kitchen Install safety latches on all cabinets to keep children away from any household products. If you know of anything to be poisonous,... read more →
May 25
moving with pets

Moving with Pets: Things to Consider

Moving with Pets: Things to Consider When you move, your furry friends come with you. You should always keep your pets in mind when choosing a place to live. For those of you who have cats, make sure that your new space has plenty of room to build vertically, so... read more →
May 24
how to build a garden

How to Build a Garden

A summer garden is a great way to get fresh vegetables. Here’s a few tips on building the best garden you can. First things first, decide what vegetables you want to use! Really think about how much your family will eat because that dictates how much you are going to buy.... read more →
May 23
how to build a fire pit

How to Build a Fire Pit

Summer is coming, which means warm nights, gathering around a fire, and roasting marshmallows. What’s that? You don’t have a fire pit to roast marshmallows around? Well, never fear. That’s what this article is for! Let’s get ready to build a fire pit that’ll turn your backyard into an oasis.... read more →
May 23
Waterfront Property

Waterfront Properties: What to Look For

How to Choose a Waterfront Property Waterfront properties are a hot commodity, but what do you need to know before you purchase one? Here are some things to consider. Decide what body of water you want to be on The first step to finding a waterfront property is deciding what... read more →
May 22
Relationship Status and Mortgages

Tying the Knot Between Relationships & Mortgages

Did you know that relationship statuses can change the mortgage application process? Here's how: Are you single? When you're single, the decisions and choices are yours alone, and that includes when and where you want to finance a home. However, singles often have one source of income which can make... read more →
May 22
how houses have changed

How Houses Have Changed Over Time

As with anything, homes evolve over time. Homes evolve to meet the needs of the families of a given time period. On average, the typical home has grown from 983 square feet in the 1950s to 2349 square feet in the 2000s, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when... read more →
May 18
Basement bedroom ideas

Basement Bedroom Ideas

Do you need an extra room? Do you have a basement that’s just sitting there collecting dust? Use that space and turn the basement into a bedroom! Basement Bedroom Ideas The first thing you will need to do to convert the space into a bedroom is build walls. To start... read more →
May 18
Comparative market analysis

Understanding Comparative Market Analyses (CMAs)

The value of your home is difficult to predict. The best method for sellers to learn their home’s current value is through a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). The best part about a CMA, they're usually free! When Should I Ask for a CMA? Any real estate agent will want to... read more →
May 18
Prepare for a Home Appraisal

Preparing for a Home Appraisal

Home Appraisal Preparation So, you’re selling your home. Getting a home appraisal is an important step in the process that all buyers look for. The home appraisal lets the buyer know what your home is worth, comparing your home to others on the market and the overall condition of your... read more →
May 17
Home Appraisals

A Brief Overview of Home Appraisals

What is a home appraisal? A home appraisal is one of the first steps in the closing process. It is an unbiased opinion of a home’s value. In the United States, the median home value is approximately $213,800. Why is a home appraisal necessary? Many mortgage lenders require a home... read more →
May 17
Escrow

Escrow: What it is and How it Works

What is Escrow? Escrow is a bond, deed, or similar document that is kept in the custody of a third party (the escrow agent). An escrow takes place when a certain conditions have been fulfilled. An escrow account sets aside items, such as the buyer’s bank check and the purchase agreement,... read more →
May 16
Title Insurance

The Ins and Outs of Title Insurance

When you purchase a home, you aren’t handed that home, you are given a title. A title is the evidence that the owner is in possession of the property that was purchased. It is the owner’s right to possess the property and use it how they please. There are many... read more →
May 15
Buying a House

Buying a House: A Timeline

Buying a home takes preparation. Here’s your know-it-all timeline to help you in the buying process. Step One: Understand What You Can Afford Check your credit. A few months before you start looking for a home loan, get a copy of your credit score. Make sure that it is accurate.... read more →
May 15
How to Finish a Basement

How to Finish a Basement

How to Finish a Basement An unfinished basement is ripe with possibilities. Before you start building anything, make sure that you’re finishing your basement correctly. When finishing a basement, make sure to: Check for water issues Before planning anything, check for any signs of water issues. This includes pools of... read more →
May 11
Pre-listing Inspection

Pre-Listing Inspection

What is a pre-listing inspection? A pre-listing inspection is an inspection that the seller can pay for before putting their home on the market. If a seller chooses to do a pre-listing inspection, they can understand any issues a buyer might find in a home and reduce the likelihood a... read more →
May 11
Home Color Palette

Creating a Color Palette for Your Home’s Interior

When painting your home, you may want to create a color palette to help keep a balanced look. Creating a color palette can seem overwhelming. Have you seen how many shades of white there are? However, it can actually be quite simple. To start out, create a sort of blueprint... read more →
May 10
Inherited Home

Inheriting a Home? Here’s Some Info to Get You Started

Inheriting a home can be a heartwarming experience… or it can be nerve-wracking. Many times, an inherited property will be moved into by the person who inherited it, but there are times when the person decides to sell the home. Here’s some help if you’re planning on selling Tax Implications... read more →
May 10
Home Inspection Checklist

Home Inspection Checklist

Home Inspection Checklist Structure Inspecting the structure of the home includes looking over the floors, walls, roof framing, and ceiling of the home. From this, you’ll be able to know the foundation type, the materials used for framing, and the important sub-components of the home. Insulation and Ventilation The insulation... read more →
May 10
Housing After Retirement

Housing After Retirement: What’s the Plan?

Planning for Housing After Retirement When you are ready to take the step into retirement, that are many things that are important to consider. One of these things may be real estate. Here are some things that you may want to take into consideration if/when you are in this situation.... read more →
May 09

conventional loan

Definition: conventional loan A conventional loan is a mortgage that is not guaranteed or insured by a government agency.
May 09

rehabilitation loan

Definition: rehabilitation loan A rehab loan is a one-time opportunity to clean the default on a defaulted federal education loan and regain eligibility for federal student aid.
May 09

jumbo loan

Definition: jumbo loan Jumbo loans are given out for an amount that exceeds conforming loan limits established by regulations. In most of the United states, the jumbo loan limit is $417,000.
May 09

Investment loan

Definition: investment loan An investment loan is an amount of money lent to finance a project.
May 09

Primary Loan

Definition: Primary loan A primary loan is the first loan that a borrower takes out on a piece of collateral.
May 09

Refinance (home loan)

Definition: refinance (home loan) Getting a new mortgage to replace the original one is known as refinancing, and is done to help the borrower obtain a better interest term and rate.
May 09

USDA Loan

Definition: USDA Loan A USDA loan is a zero down payment mortgage that is made available to rural and suburban homeowners.
May 09

VA Loan

Definition: VA Loan A VA loan is a mortgage loan program provided to help veterans and their families obtain home financing.
May 09
first time home buyer

First Time Home Buyer Loans: A Brief Overview

What is a first time home buyer loan and who is a first time home buyer? A first time home buyer loan is designed to help people purchase their first home. The programs vary depending on where you are purchasing and what is available to you. A first time home... read more →
May 09
moving to a new neighborhood

Tips for Choosing a New Neighborhood

Considering moving to a new neighborhood? Here's a few things to consider. What type of home do you want? Are you interested in a single family home? An apartment? Maybe a townhouse? Knowing what type of home you want can help you immensely in your search for a new neighborhood.... read more →
May 09
how to choose a mortgage lender

How to Choose a Mortgage Lender

Some Tips on How to Choose a Mortgage Lender Finding a mortgage lender can be a difficult process, but one of the things that you need to get right. To start your search, get recommendations from others. An easy way to start your search is by asking trusted who they use.... read more →
May 09
Home Staging Tips

Home Staging: Tips for Staging a Home for Sale

What is home staging? Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for the real estate market. If you want to sell your home, and sell it fast, staging is what you need to do. Here are some tips and tricks for you. Bathrooms Get Rid of Grimy... read more →
May 08
Understanding mortgage rates

Understanding Mortgage Rates

Comparing mortgage rates is often the most time-consuming part of mortgage shopping. Mortgage fees include more than just interest rates, so make sure to check the details of all mortgage-related fees when shopping around for mortgage rates. Remember to take into account the quoted rate, points, annual percentage rate, closing... read more →
May 08

income

Definition: income Income is the money received, on a regular basis, for work performed.
May 08

creditworthiness

Definition: creditworthiness Creditworthiness is the valuations of borrowers by lenders that determines the possibility a borrower may default on their debt obligations.
May 08

asset

Definition: asset An asset is a property owned by a person that is regarded to have value and can meet debts and commitments.
May 08

loan application

Definition: loan application A loan application is a document the provides information, financial and otherwise, about the borrow that lenders use to make a decision about whether or not to lend money to the borrow.
May 08

lender

Definition: lender A lender is any organization, individual, or public group that makes funds available with the stipulation that the funds will be repaid, with interest or other fees, as a monthly payment or as a lump sum
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