Are you a homeowner who is searching for ways to make your home a bit more eco-friendly? Equipping your home with "green" improvements can save a substantial amount of energy and money, especially over the long term. In today's post we'll explore a few projects that handy do-it-yourselfers can undertake in order to make a home a bit friendlier to the local environment. #1: Focus on the Windows Depending upon the time of year, windows have an impact on both heating and cooling costs. In the summer, older windows can drastically heat up a home causing cooling costs to skyrocket. In the winter, … [Read More...]
There's a whole lot to learn when buying one's first home, an investment that can bring joy, but sometimes, grief. A competent real estate agent can assist in locating those homes that meet the home buyer's needs and can advise on factors such as market value of the home and neighborhood services. The agent will help the buyer through the negotiation and purchase process. But the buyer should take responsibility to make sure that the steps below are taken. Home Inspection Contingency Included in Purchase Offer At the point where the buyer finds a home and decides to make an offer, the contract … [Read More...]
With many young homebuyers entering the market, it is important for those looking to sell a home to think about the features that the younger generation is looking for. With numerous people between the ages of 18 and 34 getting ready to purchase their first home, what are they looking for? There are a few important factors to keep in mind. An Open Floor Plan Is A Must Work-life balance is one of the most important priorities for the younger generation. Their home will have to cater to this. They plan on spending a tremendous amount of time with family members and friends and this means … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic news included Commerce Department readings on construction spending, labor sector reporting on public and private-sector job growth, and the national unemployment rate. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Construction Spending Driven by Housing Sector in December The Commerce Department reported a one percent gain in construction spending in December to a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of $1.49 trillion. Residential construction drove spending for the seventh consecutive month with a 3.10 percent gain in spending. Construction for … [Read More...]
Your home is your castle, your own little piece of the American dream. But lately, your little corner of the world has been feeling cramped and you find yourself eyeing those larger homes. Is it time to pull up stakes and move on from your starter home? Growing Family If you've added to your family in recent years, you may have more bodies than bedrooms. A two-bedroom home may have been a great idea when it was just you and your spouse, but with two kids, you're starting to have turf wars over the play area. Overflowing With Stuff From an overflowing toy chest to closets packed so tightly with … [Read More...]
There are a lot of people who are looking for ways to get the most money out of their property when they put it on the market. One of the tricks to doing this is to update the home before it goes on the market. Unfortunately, this can also be expensive. Even though it is true that many homeowners will be able to recoup the price of the renovations when they list the home on the market, we still need to pay for these updates out-of-pocket. This can be incredibly expensive and could take money from other important areas, such as a car or someone’s education. Fortunately, there is a way for … [Read More...]
