Shopping for a mortgage, you might encounter lenders who pre-qualify you for a higher loan amount than you expected. Many lenders work with standard debt-to-income ratio calculations which don’t take into account other costs of home ownership. If you take
10 Beautiful Small Towns in America Worth Moving To Today
Are you looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life? Does the idea of a laid-back lifestyle sound appealing to you? If you answered yes, then you should consider moving to a small town. Small towns across the
How to Prepare for a Home Appraisal: 9 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Value
The home appraisal is your last chance to ensure your home’s value comes in as high as possible, which is especially important since most offers you’ll receive will be contingent on the buyer acquiring financing from a mortgage lender. Basically,
The 10 Best Drought Tolerant Plants for Homes in Dry Climates
The Ten Best Drought Tolerant Plants If you live in a dry region or one that suffers from high drought risk, such as the southwestern United States, choosing the right plants for your yard or garden can be difficult. Fortunately,
How Does Climate Change Affect Property Values?
Dramatic weather events such as wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, drought, and storms are on the rise all over the world due to climate change. As a result, all of these climate-related events are posing an increasingly large risk to real
7 Steps to Take When Your Basement Floods
Owning a home is a big investment. And being a homeowner means preparing for unforeseen events that may threaten your home – including a flooded basement. A flooded basement can be caused by a variety of events, like an unexpected
11 Warning Signs Your Home Has Foundation Problems
The foundation is one of the most important parts of any home, if not the most important. The foundation is what supports your home, keeps moisture out, resists movement, and insulates from the heat and cold. Foundation problems can create
How to Calculate the Square Footage of Your House
A house that sounds roomy and spacious online may actually have 800 of its square feet contained in a four-foot-tall dirt-floor basement. What’s up with that? In Washington DC, clients are often confused at the square footage discrepancy between what’s
When Was My House Built? How to Search the Property History for a Home
With all the steps you’re required to take during the homebuying experience, you may be forgetting to ask some very important questions, like when was the house built and what exactly is its history? So, before you strike a deal
5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home in Wildfire Territory
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or seasoned property owner on the hunt for a new home, you may be familiar with the process of vetting a house for potential issues. Doing your due diligence upfront can help prevent any future
Is My House in a Flood Zone? Search FEMA Flood Map by Address and So Much More
Considering all that’s happening with climate change and the potential risk it brings to homeowners, you may be wondering if your house is in a flood zone. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, looking to sell a vacation home, or
What is a Mother-in-Law Suite, And Does it Add Property Value?
What is a Mother-in-Law Suite? A mother-in-law suite is a residence or addition built for an in-law or relatives. The suite is either connected to or built on the same lot as a home that’s occupied by other family members.
10 Ways To Give Your House a Facelift Before Selling
First impressions are everything. So when it comes to selling your home, even the smallest details are important. While little things such as paint chips or mismatched hardware seem like minor cosmetic changes you may not have to worry about,
7 Home Insurance Myths Debunked
You never know when a disaster will strike and damage your home – whether it be storm damage, fire damage, or a burglary. One way to ensure you have financial protection in case of an emergency situation or unexpected event
Listing Agent, Selling Agent, Seller’s Agent: What’s the Difference?
Keeping track of the differences between a listing agent, selling agent, seller’s agent, and even buyer’s agent can be a bit challenging, so learning to quickly recognize what these terms refer to in real estate can help you move forward
What Do Home Appraisers Look for In a House to Determine Its Value?
You found the house, and you and the seller have agreed on a sale price. Congratulations. Now it’s full steam ahead to closing, right? Not so fast. Some very important steps to the home buying process are just ahead, and
How to Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent
While it may not be for everyone, it’s possible to buy a house without a realtor. Whether you’re looking into buying an investment property or are a first-time homebuyer, here are questions to ask when buying a house without a
Selling an Inherited House: The Stress-Free Guide
Inheriting a house from a loved one can be a wonderful gift and a challenging situation to navigate all at the same time. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a few options on what you can do with the
What is an iBuyer? What to Know Before You Sell Your Home to One
When the time comes to sell your home, there are several decisions you’ll be faced with – including which type of transaction works best for you. Should you hire a licensed real estate agent, sell your home without an agent,
Should You Sell Your House for Cash? What to Know About Cash Offers
There are numerous reasons why you may be thinking about selling your home, whether it’s because you’re moving to a new city, downsizing to a condo, or wanting to tap into your home’s equity. But if you’re looking to sell
Creating a Podcast Room? 10 Expert Tips to Help You Get Started
For the podcast enthusiast, having a dedicated, comfortable, and quiet space to produce audio and video clips is essential to creating a successful podcast. From renovating a space to include noise buffering material to selecting the right equipment to achieve
How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?
If you’re thinking about selling your house, you’ll want to know how much it’s going to cost you to do so. The average cost of selling a home in the US is approximately 10 – 15 percent of your home’s
What Does Homeowners Insurance Typically Cover in Fire-Prone Areas?
When you buy a home, you’ll need to have home insurance to cover a variety of unexpected events that could do damage to your home. Typically, your homeowner’s insurance policy includes coverage for repairs in the event your home is
Go for Gold USA: 3 US Summer Olympic Games Host Cities You Can Move To
The 2020 Summer Olympics are finally here. While the coronavirus pandemic delayed the games by a year, the time has come for thousands of athletes from around the world to gather in Tokyo and compete for their countries. Since the
