Do’s and Don’ts of Downsizing Your Home

things buyers notice
Home Prices Hit 8-Year High (Getty Images) What Happened: The S&P/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index in October sat 5.2 percent above where the metric was a year ago, according to a report released Tuesday. The real estate pricing barometer now sits at its highest level since Oct. 2007. But price gains have largely been concentrated…
7 Home Staging Techniques That Will Make Your House Sell You’re putting your home on the market. But before you let buyers inside, you wonder – is your house ready to be judged? Is your furniture OK? Can you keep the homage to your favorite sports team in the basement? And exactly how clean do you need to…
Tips for putting your home on the market with young children. The idea of selling your home can be quite daunting. Add to the equation a young child and the task may seem impossible. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. Through careful planning, decluttering, and creating easy upkeep, the hassles of selling your…
The Best Improvements to Make Before Putting Your Home on the Market (that Won’t Break the Bank) One big dilemma for many homeowners who plan to sell the home is figuring out how to make the home look appealing to buyers, without putting thousands of dollars into repairs on a home they won’t be living…
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…
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…
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…
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…
How to get the right information in an inspection and use it in negotiations for your home purchase. Throughout the homebuying process, you will encounter a number of expenses including, but certainly not limited to, an appraisal, transaction fees and a survey – but none is more important than the home inspection. Dollar for dollar,…
Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security.