Your credit – including ensuring credit reports are correct, knowing your credit score, and acting to improve it – is among the most confusing topics related to personal finance. Yet it’s extremely important – particularly if you’re planning to buy a house, and especially if you’re a first-time buy

Call it the tiny house effect, or perhaps it might be considered a change in attitudes after the 2008 housing crash. Whatever the reason, small houses are continuing to gain in popularity with home buyers. As pointed out in a recent article by real estate industry news site RISMedia, some in the in

This year, if you’re looking to increase the value of your home but are unsure what home improvements to make, think curb appeal. According to a recent report from Remodeling magazine, curb appeal projects, such as changes to windows, siding, and doors, lead to a higher return on investment (ROI

Every seller wants to maximize his or her profit. Partnering with a real estate agent is a great start. Homeowners can further increase their bottom line with a few simple steps. To get the most out of your house, complete the following before you list. Hire your own home inspector. If a buyer’s

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), first-time homes are coming in smaller packages. The Association recently released the NAHB Home Builder Preferences Survey indicating that smaller homes are selling well, primarily to first-time buyers, such as the latest cohort – t

Spring home improvements can be stressful, especially when you’re living in the middle of it. Add children to the mix, and the tension increases. But you don’t need to take a vacation while your home is being remodeled – even if walls are coming down. Here are some tips on how to continue to liv

A question from home buyers, particularly first timers, is: “How much do I have to put down to buy a house?” The answer is: It depends. The most important of those factors will be your credit, followed by income. Conventional loans  These mortgages are loans obtained through Fannie Ma

Thanks to an exhibition organized by Japanese retailer Muji, we can peek into the home of the future. And according to a recent article in Houzz, we can expect to live with new materials, adaptable spaces, and open-concept floor plans. The exhibition, House Vision 2, introduced the ideas underly

When you’re getting ready to list your house, the goal isn’t just to sell – it’s to sell quickly! The longer your house is on the market, the less likely it is to fetch top dollar. Want to sell your house as quickly as possible? These tips are essential. Hire a Real Estate Agent and follo

For many millennials, the dream of homeownership feels far away, if not impossible. Salaries that haven’t grown with the cost of living, new mortgage rules, volatile housing markets, and a plethora of other reasons have made buying a home more difficult than it’s ever been for young people. A su

With the move to buyers’ markets in many areas, you’ll want your for-sale home to look its best. And that requires focus. Focused staging, that is. Staging your home can increase the offer amount by up to 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2017 Profile of Home Staging.

A beautifully lit home is warm and welcoming. A distinctive glow can set the scene, enhance a room, highlight a detail, or make a workspace downright workable. But lighting has a language all its own. Do you know the lingo? Flush, recessed, pendant, starbursts, pots … the list goes on. Where sho

Many people consider buying a home specifically for retirement. After all, your needs and desires for a house can be a lot different at 60 then they were at 30. The kids are gone, you may not want to walk up and down the stairs forever, and you may want to live somewhere you have always dreamed

One of the first, and most important, steps in the home buying process is getting approved for a mortgage.  Not getting approved for a mortgage before shopping for homes can lead to lots of wasted time, disappointment, and heartbreak. It doesn’t make sense to shop for homes before knowing how ex

Over the years, you’ve spent many happy summers at that lake, beach, or mountain resort. The kids think of it as a second home. Maybe it’s time to buy property there so the family can enjoy it for years to come. If that’s your thinking, you are not alone. According to the National Association of

It’s fall – a good time to take a fresh look at your bills to see if you can reduce them. For example, try these tips to cut your power usage and lower your electricity bills. Switch to LED bulbs. About four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, LEDs last for years. The “lumens” n

Redecorating a child’s room is enjoyable. Figuring out creative ways to make your kids’ spaces whimsical yet functional is a fun design challenge. And watching their faces light up when it’s all done? Priceless. Home design website Houzz conducted a survey of users who have “recently completed,

Green living isn’t limited to big projects like installing solar panels. There are simple and affordable ways to go green. The best part: Green living may also save money and make your home more comfortable. Here are three suggestions: Use green products: All that seems “green” isn’t necessarily

The first step in buying a home is deciding on a budget. How much house can you afford? Within what price range will you shop? A down payment is, unfortunately, only one part of that budget. To correctly determine the affordability of a home, it’s essential that prospective buyers consider the c

What do millennials want when it comes to housing? The answer: pretty much everything. The “Urby” – a mixed-use residential development that brings a little bit of city, a little bit of community, and a little bit of entertainment to a little apartment – may be the answer. Emphasizing “New Urban