5 Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Mortgage
Buying a home is a major financial commitment. It’s exciting, but can also be confusing and overwhelming. Choosing the best mortgage that fits your needs is an important first step and first-time homebuyers in particular should research the many options and know the right questions to ask. Here...
Marrying Households: 7 Savvy Moving Tips for Newlyweds
Launching your pad: 7 savvy tips for newlyweds planning a move If you’re planning a wedding or you’ve just tied the knot, congratulations! Getting ready to start the next chapter of your life with the one you love can be an exciting time, filled with anticipation about your future together. That...
Make Your Mom Happy with These Landscaping Projects Tips on Mother’s Day 2018
Home improvement projects aren't constrained to a single season like Mother's Day, but during these warmer months, your focus is no longer simply on your home's indoors. Now there’s outdoor yard work to do as well, and if you're looking to recreate your outdoor space, your outside projects may...
Insider Tips and Tactics for Buying a Home in a Seller’s Market
Whether you're a millennial looking to buy your first home or a boomer thinking about downsizing your empty nest, you're probably aware that it's a seller's market out there. Homes are selling at lightning speed, bidding wars are commonplace, buyers often have little to no room for negotiation and...
The Secret Places Pests Are Hiding in Your Home
Pests can be hiding just about everywhere — whether you can see them or not. When you know where to look, there are preventative measures you can take to help avoid a pest infestation problem in your home. Terminix shares details on the unexpected, “secret” places pests can be hiding. Sinks and...
4 Ways Hardscapes Can Add Value to Your Home
Outdoor hardscape projects add resale value to a home as well as bring extra enjoyment to homeowners while they are living in the home, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features” by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape...
The Most Common Causes of Homeowners Insurance Claims
The value of homeowners insurance is often thrust into the national spotlight when natural disasters happen. The devastation and financial loss they can cause reinforces the importance of making sure you have adequate insurance coverage to rebuild if disaster strikes your home. In 2017 alone, the...
Do the Math: Homebuying Now May Save a Lot
It is a common misconception that a 20 percent down payment is required to buy a home. Advice to wait and save a large down payment is often based on the theory that the cost of mortgage insurance (MI), which is required when you buy with a smaller down payment, should be avoided. This may not be...
4 Tips for Protecting Your Home This Season and Beyond
Winter is in full swing and extremely cold temperatures continue to grip much of the U.S.; which mean hats, gloves, and high home maintenance bills could be in your future. According to recent data from the Insurance Information Institute, in 2016 severe winter weather cost homeowners more than...
Creating a Dream Home with Cypress
Transforming the unremarkable into the extraordinary need not be an impossible task. More and more homeowners are finding that lavish looks are both attainable and affordable. Their imaginative design professionals are making it happen, using cypress to create their clients’ dream homes. “Wood is...