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Jan 29

Pricing Your Home for Sale

How to Price Your Home The most important factor when selling a home is pricing the home. An overpriced home won’t get attention and will lose its freshness in the first two or three weeks. After twenty-one days on the market, interest in a home wanes. Pricing a home too... read more →
Jan 29

How to Make an In-Home Movie Theatre

In-Home Movie Theatre Have you dreamed of having the big screen right in the comfort right in your own home? Here’s how to make your own in-home theatre. Choose the room A spare room with few windows and doors works best for a home theatre. The additional wall space means... read more →
Jan 29

Six Common Tax Return Mistakes

Tax Return Mistakes As you get ready to file your taxes, it can be tempting to fly through your return. But you shouldn’t! Rushing through your return can lead to mistakes, which can slow down the process or render your return invalid. Here are the six popular errors the IRS... read more →
Jan 26

10 Mistakes to Avoid During a Home Renovation

Home Renovation Mistakes A home renovation is a big project to take on. If you are planning on doing a renovation, here are ten mistakes you should avoid making. An unrealistic timeline Construction projects almost always take longer than expected. Usually, this is due to unforeseen obstacles, such as work... read more →
Jan 25

What is a Luxury Home?

Luxury Homes During your real estate search, you may have come across the term “luxury” or maybe you’ve been watching a lot of Million Dollar Listings. Either way, the term luxury seems to appear a lot, but what exactly does “luxury” mean? What makes a home luxury? In real estate listings,... read more →
Jan 24

Seven Questions to Ask When Purchasing a Flipped House

Flipped House Questions If you’ve ever watched HGTV, chances are you know what it means when someone says a home has been flipped. For those that don’t, a flipped house is one bought at a discount either because of the property’s condition or the seller’s need to move quickly. The... read more →
Jan 23

What to Do If You Get a Low Appraisal

Low Appraisal An appraisal is an estimation of a home’s value. But what happens when an appraisal comes in under the home’s selling price? Here’s how to deal with a low appraisal. Why do low appraisals happen? The first thing you must ask yourself is why the home appraised for... read more →
Jan 23

Seven Types of Doors

Types of Doors Doors are one of the most important factors in your home. Not only are they functional, but they can also add flair to a room. If you’re thinking of adding new doors to your humble abode, here are seven different types to consider. Hinged single door A... read more →
Jan 23

How to Choose a Contractor

Choosing a Contractor Are you thinking about remodeling a portion of your home? Before you do, you have to make sure you are hiring the right contractor for the job. To make sure you have the perfect person, follow these steps. Get recommendations First things first, get recommendations from trusted... read more →
Jan 22

What is a Tax Return?

Tax Return A tax return is the form or forms used to report income and file income taxes with the IRS. They allow taxpayers to calculate their tax liability and remit payments or request refunds. Tax returns must be filed every year for any individual that received income during the... read more →
Jan 22

How to Build an In-Home Gym

In-Home Gym Do you want to get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution to get healthier or have a spare room that you don’t know what to do with? Consider making an in-home gym! While it may seem like a big task to take on, it’s easier than... read more →
Jan 22

Home Inspection Mistakes Buyers Make

Home Inspection Mistakes A home inspection is an essential step in the home buying process that shouldn’t be overlooked or rushed. Here are some common mistakes buyers might make during the home inspection process. Not getting an inspection Most people know to get an inspection when buying a home from... read more →
Jan 19

Six Ways to Meet Your New Neighbors

Meet Your Neighbors Moving into a new neighborhood can be difficult. In addition to moving in all your stuff, getting to know your neighbors might be one of the most important steps of moving. If you don't know how to make the first step, here are six ways to get... read more →
Jan 19

What is a Buyer’s Representation Agreement?

Buyer's Representation Agreement An agent typically works with a buyer for several weeks to a few months, sometimes longer. They do a variety of things, including: Introducing the buyer to lenders and helping obtain preapproval letters Finding listings that fit the buyer’s requirements Call listing agents to determine availability Making... read more →
Jan 19

What Does It Mean to be House Poor?

House Poor House poor is a situation where a person spends a large portion of their total income on home ownership. This includes mortgages payments, property taxes, utilities, and maintenance. Individuals in this situation find themselves short on cash for other financial obligations, such as car payments. This usually happens... read more →
Jan 18

What is a 24-hour Notice When Showing a House?

24-Hour Notice When selling your home, one of the things that you may think about how you will make your home available for showing. In addition to a 24-hour notice, there are a few different notices you can employ for this. Call first, lockbox This is the method preferred by... read more →
Jan 18

How to: Save Up for a Vacation

Save Up For Vacation Are you already dreaming of the perfect 2018 vacation? Here’s how to save up to get the biggest bang for your buck. Before you start planning Open a vacation bank account An easy way to save for a vacation is to open a dedicated savings account... read more →
Jan 18

Five Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Agent

How to Become a Real Estate Agent People enter the real estate field from many different careers or as their first career move. No matter where you are coming from, your first question is probably going to be “How do I become a real estate agent?” Here are the steps... read more →
Jan 17

Four Factors Affecting Home Buying in 2018

Factors Affecting Home Buying in 2018 Are you looking to purchase a home in 2018? While a lot depends on where you live, new forecasts for 2018 show that this just might be your year to buy. Prices are climbing, but not too fast Over the past few years, home... read more →
Jan 17

How to Keep Cords From Getting Tangled

Keep Cords From Getting Tangled In this day and age, everyone has hundreds of cords from their electronics laying around their house. If they’re not already, they are bound to get twisted in a clump of cords. Here are some ways to clear all that cord clutter. Unplug, untangle, and... read more →
Jan 17

What is a Down Payment?

Down Payment A down payment is a type of payment made in cash at the beginning of the purchase of an expensive good or service, such as a home. The payment typically represents a percentage of the full purchase price. Most homebuyers pay 5 to 25% of the total value... read more →
Jan 16

Four Myths about Jumbo Loans

Jumbo Loan Myths A jumbo loan is a home loan that exceeds conforming loan limits. Jumbo loans are often used for larger homes. Not everyone who buys these large homes is wealthy and can afford a cash payment. Many need financing. However, there are many myths that surround jumbo loans... read more →
Jan 16

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui Feng shui is a practice based on the idea that the home is a mirror of what is happening inside us. It is an ancient Chinese art that developed over 3,000 years ago. Its purpose to balance the energies in any given space and to bring your environment... read more →
Jan 16

How to Choose a Tax Preparer

Choosing a Tax Preparer This year, tax season opens up on January 28th. By April 15th, individuals must file their annual tax return. One way that a person can do their taxes is by hiring a tax return preparer. What is a tax return preparer? A tax return preparer is... read more →
Jan 15

Four Home Maintenance Tasks That May Have Been Forgotten

Home Maintenance Tasks It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the chores you must do as a homeowner. As a result, some tasks may be forgotten. However, these tasks still need to be taken care of. Here are four home maintenance tasks that you may not think to complete to... read more →
Jan 15

What is an FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan?

FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan An FHA 203(k) rehab loan is also known as a renovation loan. It allows homebuyers to finance both the finance the purchase or refinance of a home along with a renovation through one mortgage. Requirements To qualify for this loan, a homeowner must meet certain requirements... read more →
Jan 12

E-Filing Your Taxes

Tax Season: E-File Your Taxes The time between January 1st and April 15th is tax season. During this time, individuals prepare their financial statements and reports from the previous year. By April 15th, individuals must file their annual tax return. One way to file your taxes is to e-file. What... read more →
Jan 11

IKEA Place: The App That Makes You an Interior Designer

IKEA Place Decorating a home can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure exactly what you want in your space. IKEA aims to help ease the stress with their new app IKEA Place. When introduced, the iOS 11 update brought with it a new ARKit Tech, which allowed companies to... read more →
Jan 10

The Essential Homeowner Toolbox

Tools Every Homeowner Should Have Every home should have a full toolbox, whether you are a new or seasoned homeowner. Here are what tools every house should have. Toolbox A toolbox is important for keeping your things organized. Large-capacity plastic toolboxes with a metal latch are best as they close... read more →
Jan 09

How to Insulate Walls Using Spray Foam Insulation

Spray Foam Insulation Insulation is an important step during the process of building or renovating your house. Insulation is important to increase the energy efficiency of your home, reduce your heating and cooling bills, and help to buffer sound. One of the most common forms of insulation is spray foam.... read more →
Jan 09

Decorating a Nursery on a Budget

Nursery on a Budget Setting up a nursery can be expensive. However, this doesn’t mean that it needs to be. There are many ways to decorate a nursery while on a budget. Here are a few tips to get you started! Convertible crib While a convertible crib may have a... read more →
Jan 09

What Does it Mean When a House Has “Good Bones”?

Does your house have good bones? When shopping around for a home, you may hear that a home has “good bones”. However, you may not be sure what this means. In general, a house with good bones means that while the outside of the home isn’t the prettiest, underneath it... read more →
Jan 08

Five Common Contingencies in Real Estate Contracts

Contingency Clauses A contingency clause is a condition that must be met in order for a real estate contract to become binding. To become part of the sales contract, both parties (the buyer and the seller) must agree to the terms and sign off on the contract. Some of the... read more →
Jan 08

PANTONE Color of the Year: Ultra Violet

Ultra Violet: Color of the Year Every year, the color experts at PANTONE release a color of the year, which is a color snapshot of what is taking place in the global culture. Previous colors include greenery, rose quartz, and marsala. This year, PANTONE has chosen the color, Ultra Violet.... read more →
Jan 08

How to Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt

Consolidating Credit Card Debt Credit card debt can be very worrisome. The average American household has roughly $16,425 in credit card debt. If you are one of these people and wish to consolidate your debt in 2018, here are a few ways that can help. Consolidate Debt to a Single... read more →
Jan 05

What is a Partition Action?

Partition Action Two or more people can own a property together. However, it’s possible that co-owners won’t agree with what to do with the property. In these cases, a partition action can be used to divide the property into separate shares. This can be done on a voluntary basis if... read more →
Jan 05

Ten Uses for Salt Other Than for Cooking

Other Uses for Salt in the Home Salt isn’t only for cooking. In fact, it can be used in a multitude of different ways all around the household. Here are ten new ways to use salt around the house. Sterilize your sponges All you need to do to sterilize your... read more →
Jan 05

How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing

Keep your pipes from freezing A real threat to your home during the winter is your pipes. When water freezes, it expands, which can cause your pipes to burst and your home to flood. The damage caused to your home can be monumental, and on average, amounts to about $18,000... read more →
Jan 03

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

Winter Storm Preparation Winter storms occur when the temperature is low enough that precipitation forms as sleet/snow, or rain turns to ice. They can make roads and walkways dangerous and can close or limit important community services. The term winter storm covers a variety of weather conditions, from freezing rain... read more →
Jan 03

Eight Design Trends for 2018

Design Trends for 2018 Everyone wants their home décor to stand the test of time. However, it is almost impossible to not let trends of the year influence how you decorate your home, which isn’t a bad thing! Some of the big trends of 2018 are: Tone on tone Tone... read more →
Jan 02

Costs Associated with Selling a Home

Selling a Home: The Cost Many people save for and anticipate the costs associated with buying a house. However, not everyone thinks about the costs associated with selling a home. Here are the common costs associated with selling a home. Real estate agent commission Most agents don’t receive a salary,... read more →
Jan 02

How to Fall Asleep

Tips to Fall Asleep Sleeping well directly effects your mental and physical health. If you are having trouble falling asleep at night or staying asleep, here are some tips to help you. Keep the same sleep-wake cycle Keeping the same sleep-wake cycle helps you to feel refreshed and energized. This... read more →
Jan 02

What is Value Range Pricing?

Value Range Pricing Value range pricing, or variable range pricing (VRP), is an alternative way of listing your home for sale. Instead of listing the home at a certain price, sellers put up a range instead. While this pricing method is rare, it’s growing in popularity. Benefits for sellers Home... read more →
Dec 29

Eight Design Trends to Ditch in 2018

Design Trends to Ditch in 2018 Design trends come and go. In 2018, here are the trends that should be ousted. Chevron pattern A basic chevron pattern is a simple zigzag pattern that incorporates two colors. The design has been exploding all over the design scene. However, the pattern can... read more →
Dec 28

How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors in the Winter

Hardwood Floor Protection Hardwood floors are durable. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t need extra care. This is especially true in the winter. Here are some ways to take care of your hardwood floors this winter. Wipe your feet There’s no reason to bring dirt into your home and onto... read more →
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