Building Your #FamilyWealth

As the economy continues to improve, more and more Americans are seeing their personal financial situations also improving. Instead of just getting by, many are now beginning to save and find other ways to build their net worth. One way to dramatically increase their family wealth is through the acquisition of real estate. For example,…

How Long Does It Take To Save For A Down Payment

In a recent study conducted by Builder.com, researchers determined that nationwide it would take“nearly eight years” for a first-time buyer to save enough for a down payment on their dream home. Depending on where you live, median rents, incomes and home prices all vary. By determining the percentage a renter spends on housing in each…

Make Anything A #KitchenBacksplash

From traditional tile to trendy glass — and shiny metal to rustic wood — there is seemingly no end ofchoices for kitchen backsplashes today. “Tile is still the most popular backsplash material, with natural stone a fast-growing second,” says John Morgan, 2013 National President of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. “But with the right…

Your #WinterHome Maintenance Checklist

Fluffy snow and sparkling icicles may make for a winter wonderland, but they can also bring on drafts, fallen tree limbs and worse. Avoid spending your holidays handling winter-related disasters with a bit of preventative maintenance. Keep your home and yard safe and running smoothly as temperatures drop and activity moves indoors.

Expected #PriceGrowth Over 12 Months

In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, NAR asks REALTORS® “In the neighborhood or area where you make most of your sales, what are your expectations for residential property prices over the next year?” The map below shows the median expected price change in the next 12 months for each state, reported in the October…

Know The Difference Your #InterestRate Makes

Some Highlights: Interest rates have come a long way in the last 30 years. The interest rate you secure directly impacts your monthly payment and the amount of house that you can afford. Experts predict that rates will increase by 3/4 a percent over the next 12 months. Secure a low rate now to get…

#HomePrices #MortgageRates Update

The monthly mortgage payment on a home is determined by two elements: the price of the house and the interest rate you pay on your mortgage. Recently released reports are revealing that the experts expect both elements to increase in 2016. HOME PRICES CoreLogic has projected a nationwide 5.2% home value appreciation for the next…

Unique #HomeBuyingTrends

Active military and veterans comprised 21 percent of all home buyers in 2015 ̶ a sizable subset worth exploring their purchasing preferences, according to NAR’s 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report released in November 2015. Let’s take a quick look at the demographics for these two groups combined. The median age for this…

#HomeStaging: Pro Tips for Appealing to the Senses

Staging a home for sale is all about inspiring your buyer, and their senses are the avenue by which you connect with them. French novelist Honoré de Balzac once wrote “love is the poetry of the senses,” and specifically touching on each sense when staging a home creates atmosphere that inspires just that kind of…