Tips and Advice

Home Buying The ‘Big 4’ Red Flags to Avoid When Buying a House The ‘Big 4’ Red Flags to Avoid When Buying a House Emily Williams   Being aware of these warning signs can help you avoid costly repairs and unexpected renovations in the future.       Homebuyers often encounter unexpected renovations during the purchasing process, making it essential to recognize potential red flags. Here are four […]
Home Buying 10 Key Questions To Ask When Buying A House 10 Key Questions To Ask When Buying A House Sarah Li Cain     Finding the right home involves a lot of research about both your local housing market and your personal finances. When you’re ready to begin house-hunting, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure you’re making a competitive offer on a […]
Real Estate Investment Four Home Renovations That Are Worth the Extra Money (and Five That Aren’t) Four Home Renovations That Are Worth the Extra Money (and Five That Aren’t) Jeff Somers   Renovations are expensive, but some aspects of one will show every penny you spend—and some won’t.   Renovating or remodeling your house can be a disorienting experience. Between the mess, the strangers crawling all over the place, and the constant […]
Home Buying How Long Does It Take to Close on a House? How Long Does It Take to Close on a House? Barbara Marquand       Closing on a house is like the final act in a play with a happy ending. After months of shopping, negotiating and financial plot twists comes the resolution: You sign the final mortgage papers, get the keys to the house […]
Home Selling These 10 Features Help Homes Sell for More Than Expected These 10 Features Help Homes Sell for More Than Expected Morgan Noll     A decked-out backyard can make a big difference in raising the sale price. Selling your home at all is a feat, but selling it at a higher price than expected is a major victory worthy of celebration. So many factors—from paint colors to […]
Home Buying Should I buy a house now, or wait? Should I buy a house now, or wait? David McMillin     Buy now, or wait? That’s the question prospective homeowners have been struggling to answer in today’s housing market. Home prices have been skyrocketing recently, and the Federal Reserve’s work to tame inflation sent mortgage rates soaring, too. The combination has led many would-be […]
Home Buying Do I Really Need a 20 Percent Down Payment for a House? Do I Really Need a 20 Percent Down Payment for a House? Eric J. Martin     Eager to purchase a home? You’ll likely need to save up for a down payment. This represents the initial portion of a home’s purchase price, and you pay it upfront, so it’s not part of the amount financed […]
Home Buying Are Your Homebuying Tactics Out of Date? The New Rules for Buying a Home in 2024 Are Your Homebuying Tactics Out of Date? The New Rules for Buying a Home in 2024 Jillian Pretzel     For most of 2023, homebuyers faced a daunting real estate market marked by dizzyingly high mortgage rates. Combined with steep home prices and a severe shortage of homes for sale, it’s no wonder many struggled […]
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Home Buying 5 Top Homebuying Mistakes Millennials Make and How To Avoid Them 5 Top Homebuying Mistakes Millennials Make and How To Avoid Them Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy     It’s a rough housing market for first-time homebuyers. Between soaring mortgage rates, low inventory — partly due to the “lock in effect” of owners not wanting to let go of the homes they bought with lower rates — and high prices, many […]
Home Buying Homebuying Guide: 5 Expert Tips for Buying a Home This Winter Homebuying Guide: 5 Expert Tips for Buying a Home This Winter Leslie Cook       The real estate market in the final month of 2023 and into 2024 will be very different from other years.   The fall/winter months are when we typically see a slowdown in homebuying activity. The school year is in […]
Home Buying How Far Home Prices and Mortgage Rates Could Drop in 2024 How Far Home Prices and Mortgage Rates Could Drop in 2024  Mary Ellen Cagnassola       The new year could finally bring good tidings for homebuyers — or at least the beginning of improved housing affordability.   Historically high mortgage rates and housing prices that stymied homebuyers this year are expected to ebb a bit in […]
Home Buying How Long Does It Take to Close a Mortgage? Timeline to Close How Long Does It Take to Close a Mortgage? Timeline to Close Rae Hartley Beck   After months of searching and having several offers rejected, you’re finally under contract and can start bribing your relatives to come help you move. Congrats! But what day do you book the truck for? The timeline that it takes […]
Home Selling Dos and Don’ts of Selling a Home: A Guide for First-Time Sellers Dos and Don’ts of Selling a Home: A Guide for First-Time Sellers Peter Warden     Selling your home for the first time Just like buying a home for the first time, selling yours can be an exciting venture. Similarly still, it comes with a list of things you should and shouldn’t do in order […]
Home Buying Homeownership Is A Great Way To Build Wealth Homeownership Is A Great Way To Build Wealth Lorie Konish       When it comes to buying a home now, there are plenty of challenges. But homeownership can be a great way to build wealth and to maintain housing stability, said a certified financial planner and co-founder and CEO of a boutique advisory firm in […]
Home Selling How Much Is My Home Worth? How Much Is My Home Worth? Andrew Martins     Your home is an asset. Know how to find its value.   From the moment you sign on the dotted line, your home becomes perhaps your most important investment. As you spend time and money updating and maintaining your home, its value should grow. Know […]
Home Selling The Features that Can Help Your Home Sell for More Money (and Faster) The Features that Can Help Your Home Sell for More Money (and Faster!) Lauren Phillips     While plenty of people are wondering whether they should buy a home at all in 2023 in the face of challenging economic circumstances and an increasingly challenging housing market, the cycle of buying and selling homes ticks on. And there’s […]
Home Buying Bidding War Strategies for Homebuyers (and Sellers) Bidding War Strategies for Homebuyers (and Sellers) Sarah Li Cain     Not so long ago, when the housing market was so frenzied that homes would sell almost as soon as they were listed, bidding wars were a common occurrence. Things have calmed down significantly now, but housing inventory is still very low. So bidding […]
Home Buying Buying a House in 2023: What to Expect Buying a House in 2023: What to Expect Barbara Marquand     Despite elevated mortgage rates and a continuing shortage of homes for sale, the 2023 market has some bright spots for buyers.   The frenzied competition of the past few years has settled down, home prices are stabilizing, and properties are staying on the […]
Home Selling Should I Sell My House Now or Wait? Should I Sell My House Now or Wait? Mia Taylor       If you’re considering selling your home, it’s critical to understand the current real estate market dynamics. The volatility that dominated the market in recent years amid pandemic-related pressures is starting to ease, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still challenges.   For one […]
Home Selling 6 Landscaping Improvement Projects That Offer the Best and Worst Returns on Investment 6 Landscaping Improvement Projects That Offer the Best and Worst Returns on Investment Kathleen Willcox     What your house looks like outside is just as important as what it looks like inside—especially if you plan on selling it one day.   Boosting your curb appeal will not only elevate your enjoyment of—and confidence in—your […]