Your home is your castle — enjoy it, customize it, make it reflect your taste and values. But, there’s one area where being too individualistic carries risk: landscaping for curb appeal. That’s why homeowners associations often have exacting rules about landscaping. And it’s not just HOAs that care. Most home buyers seek landscaping that adds […]
Gorgeous Landscaping for Your House Means More Than Just Looks Read More »
This checklist gives you carte blanche (well, almost) when viewing potential homes. Ah, house hunting. It may technically be shopping, but it can feel more like breaking and entering. Even though you know the seller wants you there, does anyone really want you traipsing through their bedroom? Or looking through their closet? Or digging around in their
6 Ways to Totally Snoop the House You Want to Buy Read More »
If you upgraded one or more of the following systems last year, you may be eligible to take a tax credit — up to $500 — on your return. Biomass stoves Heating, ventilation, air conditioning Insulation Roofs (metal and asphalt) Water heaters (non-solar) Windows, doors, and skylights Advanced main air-circulating fans (the blower motor that
How to Claim Your Energy Tax Credits Read More »
A home purchase isn’t complete until you make it to the closing. Until then, the transaction can fall apart for many reasons. Here are five tips for avoiding mistakes that cause a home sale to crater. 1. Be truthful on your mortgage application. You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when
Keep Your Home Purchase on Track Read More »
You’ve worked hard to get your home ready for sale and to price it properly. With any luck, offers will come quickly. You’ll need to review each carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks and pick one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers. 1. Understand the process. All offers are negotiable, as your
6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer for Your Home Read More »
This being my last article until after the New Year, I want to wish all my friends a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and most of all a Very Happy and Healthy New Year. I hope you all get everything you wish for. This post is being written to remind you when decorating for the holidays
Safety First When Decorating for the Holidays Read More »
When lenders take over a home through foreclosure, they want to sell it as quickly as possible. Since lenders aren’t in the real estate business, they turn to real estate brokers for help marketing their properties. Buying a foreclosed home through the multiple listing service can be a bargain, but it can also be a
5 Tips for Buying a Foreclosure Read More »
Buying a home can be emotional, but negotiating the price shouldn’t be. The key to saving money when purchasing a home is sticking to a plan during the turbulence of high-stakes negotiations. A real estate agent who represents you can guide you and offer you advice, but you are the one who must make the
Negotiate Your Best House Buy Read More »
When you’re ready to close on the sale of your home and move to your new home, you may be so close to the finish line that you coast, thinking there’s nothing left for you to do. Not so fast. It’s easy to waste a few dollars here and for mistakes to creep into your
Improve Your Money Buy & Sell 7 Tips for a Profitable Home Closing Read More »
If you’re having trouble making your mortgage payment, there are a billion reasons to check out the latest federal government mortgage assistance program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, now running in 27 states and Puerto Rico, will dole out $1 billion in interest-free loans to about 30,000 homeowners
Tough Rules but this New Program will Help Homeowners Read More »
