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FHA Changes Make it Easier To Buy Your Home
If you have recently lost your home in a foreclosure, short sale, or bankruptcy, and are looking for a second chance at purchasing a new home, you’ll be excited about this news. Last month the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), recently…
Color the Path to Your Home with the Right Umbrella
Fall is right around the corner, and that means rain will be hitting near your home. While the earth can use all the moisture, the gray skies can get a little wearing. Brighten your rainy season and your home with…
Thinking About Purchasing a Condo as Your Home?
If you’ve been trying to decide how to finally own your home, buying a condo can be a good first step out of renting and into home ownership. There’s good news about condos right now, too. The National Association of…
Downsizing Your Home – Moving To a Condo
A condominium can be a great choice if you are considering downsizing your home. There are special rules that apply to condos, though, so be sure you know exactly what they are before you buy your condo. A good real…
Is Fall Well Anticipated in Your Home
How do you welcome fall at your home? Do you pull out the hay bales, carve up the pumpkins, welcome the howling wind and wait as the leaves fall to the ground, casting a perfect look of disarray on your…
Real Estate Terminology: Appraisal vs. Assessment vs. Market Valu
In the vocabulary of real estate, there are three terms that indicate a home’s valuation: the Appraised Value, the Assessed Value and the Market Value. Rarely are these three values the same amount, so it is easy to confuse them…
Can You Purchase Your Home During the Government Shutdown?
If you are in the process of purchasing your home and are worried about the government shutdown, recent news from Freddie Mac may have you sleeping a little better. The announcement, effective October 8, 2013, allows lenders to use signed…
Maintain the Plumbing in Your Home Before Guests Arrive
There are many great things about owning your home, but dealing with plumbing problems is not one of them, especially as holidays approach. The good news is that there are several simple and inexpensive steps you can take to keep plumbing…
Smart Selling to Today’s Homebuyers
If you’re considering selling now that the housing market outlook is improving, take a few moments to consider how buyers have changed what they look for in the home buying process. During the past six years, changes in how buyers…
Steps to Winterizing Your Home
Autumn is in full swing, which means it’s a good time to start winterizing your home. Start off the season by getting your furnace inspected and cleaned if necessary. It’s wise to change the filters on your furnace every month,…
Dress Up Your Home with a Costume Party
Halloween is just around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to make plans for throwing the best costume party in your home. A costume party can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. With creative costume ideas and…
Real Estate Terminology: Ratios, the Third in a Series
In the vocabulary of real estate, various ratios help buyers and mortgage services determine the viability of a purchase. A ratio is a way of expressing the relationship between two values or amounts. Usually, ratios compare how much of one…
Keeping Your Home Debris Free
There’s definitely a chill in the air, and we are even starting to experience the first storms of the season. Now is a great time to clear away any debris from the exterior of your home. If you have spider…
Will Your Home Weather Winter Storms Well
Though we haven’t yet gotten to Thanksgiving, many parts of the country are already experiencing winter storms. Now is a good time for getting ready for snow outside your home. You don’t want to be caught unprepared by the first…
Clearly Seeing Windows in Your Home
Updating the windows in your home can be a big investment. However, it can be a great way to improve your energy efficiency, especially as cold weather approaches. Here are a few things to consider as you weigh updating the…
Organize Your Home to Make Room for Holiday Memories
It is never too early to begin preparing your home for holiday gatherings. Be sure to think about how many guests you will be having well in advance so you can prepare enough seating and clean and organize the rooms…
Unwrap Relaxation at Your Home This Season
Planning an adult only holiday party in your home can be a wonderful way to de-stress this holiday season. We all know that this time of year is full of joy, but also filled with crowded malls, whiny children, and…
Easy Curb Appeal Upgrades You Can Do On a Weekend
Sometimes the idea of getting your home ready to sell can seem daunting, and you might be tempted to sell it “as is” instead. Adding a little curb appeal, however, will help your home sell faster and for more money.…