12 Confessions of a First-Time Home Seller
Tips to Prep Your Home for the Spring Homebuying Season
If you want to sell your home during this year’s spring selling season, now is the time to get moving. Sellers can rest assured, homebuyers are already looking. Today’s buyers, particularly younger ones, have high expectations. They are looking for a home in excellent condition, with all its best features showcased. “It’s the HGTV effect,”…
How Much Can a Full-Service Real Estate Agent Do to Help Sell Your Home?
Get the best service you can when selling your home, but avoid going overboard. With the abundance of real estate information on the internet and the rising popularity of home improvement shows in recent years, homebuyers and sellers are more tapped into the market than ever. But having greater access to housing data and home…
Easy, Affordable DIY Projects to Increase the Value of Your Home
Consider tackling these jobs before crunch time. Looking to sell your home soon – or even a few years from now? Whether or not you’re planning on moving, there are several ways to increase the value of your home. In fact, the earlier you take on these projects, the better, so that you’re not rushed…
There’s No Better Time to Be a Real Estate Investor
Real estate investors may have never had it so good. A classic alternative investment in a volatile stock market, real estate also just got a boost from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with landlords among the biggest winners. The law’s new provisions especially favor rental properties. “Real estate investors have historically been given preferential…
6 Smart Home Features That Have Caught On, and a Few That Will Soon
Most homeowners have yet to embrace smart homes, but the newest wave of devices could change that While there is a lot of talk about smart homes, few of those high-tech features are actually being incorporated into today’s homes. We are not yet living in the land of “The Jetsons.” But homeowners are moving toward…
When Does It Pay to Rent, Even When the Numbers Say It’s Cheaper to Buy?
Buying a home may not be wise if your life is in flux or dealing with repairs frightens you. If you’re wondering whether you’re better off financially renting or buying a home, you can easily find an app for that. Calculators at Bankrate.com, The New York Times, Zillow and Realtor.com all let you input the…
Real Estate May Be a Safe Haven in a Bear Market
Rental properties can help level out the peaks and valleys in your portfolio. Is a bear market on the way? That’s the question experts and investors alike have been debating for months. Given the cyclical nature of the market, it’s unrealistic to expect the current bull market to continue its run forever. What’s uncertain is…
Home Sales Surge to 10-Year High
Sales of new and existing homes unexpectedly spiked to their highest levels in years last month. America’s housing market appears poised to go out like a lion this year, as a pair of real estate reports this week showed home sales climbed to their highest level in a decade. Sales of new houses clocked in…
Should You Factor Solar Power Potential Into Your Home Purchase?
Weigh the pros and cons before adding a future upgrade to your list of must-dos for your next house. Whether you’re aiming to reduce your home’s energy usage throughout the day or you’re simply looking to see a little less of your paycheck go to utility bills, installing solar panels on your roof has likely…