One of the most common questions from home sellers is, “do I really need to put my family pictures away”? The short answer is “yes,” but maybe not for the reasons you assume. The general principle is that buyers need to be able to visualize their own lives in the home...

If you’re ready to buy a new home, you know that a good FICO score is critical to the process. Your FICO affects not just your ability to buy a new home, but the interest rate and fees you’ll pay for the new loan. Often, buyers are shocked to realize their credit...

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days. With rampant inflation and soaring energy costs, everything is costing more than it was a year ago. The good news is that in most areas, home values rose along with everything else, and many homeowners have...

Having good credit is essential for a number of aspects of your life, ranging from the interest rate on a car loan or credit card to background checks for employment. Poor credit can be incredibly expensive, costing you thousands of dollars in higher interest rates...

The New Year is here and as soon as the holiday decorations are stored, it’s time to revive the living room space. New Year, new beginnings; your home is ready for an update just like you! Fortunately, you can get a fresh look for your living room without major...

The real estate market is shifting. In some areas of the country, it has flipped to a strong buyer’s market. Sellers challenged by this change are looking for creative ways to attract buyers. In addition, buyers suddenly in the driver’s seat are asking for more...

For most people, the only effort they place into the ceiling design is removing the old popcorn treatment. While this is certainly an important first step, there are many ways to use the ceiling to add interest and impact to any room. Considered the “fifth wall” by...

One of the best things a homebuyer can hear is, “we have ‘clear to close.’” It’s one of the biggest milestones in the mortgage lending process and means the underwriter has cleared the application to move forward to document signing and close of escrow. While a...

A brand-new home! Who hasn’t dreamed of creating the perfect home from scratch and moving into a space that no one has ever lived in before? There’s something special about a fresh home, but remember, new doesn’t mean perfect. And it certainly does not mean that there...

Homebuyers have had a rough time lately. First, the frenzied housing market stymied so many offers and caused frustration due to a lack of inventory. Now that the pace and prices are starting to drop, interest rates have ticked up to alarming levels. While some buyers...

The most important aspect of listing your home for sale is the asking price. Unlike many other items we purchase, home prices are based on what a willing and able buyer would pay for the property. Sounds complicated, right? This is why real estate agents bring comps (...

Prefabricated homes have become very popular in recent years as more and more people look for creative ways to build their home environment. These homes can take the form of a tiny house, manufactured home, or Airstream. The demand for vacant land has increased...