‘Tis the Season: 5 Reasons Why Winter is a Great Time to Buy or Sell a Home It’s a common misconception that you shouldn’t try to buy or sell a home during the fall and winter months. This is generally considered the “offseason” in real estate. Many sellers mistakenly believe that the cold weather will…

No one likes to think about disasters. Severe weather, fire, theft—or even a seemingly small issue like a broken pipe—can wreak havoc on your home and result in thousands of dollars in damages. Fortunately, a good homeowners insurance policy can offer you peace of mind that you and your family will be financially protected if…

Renters for a Weekend or a While: What’s the Best Use of Your Investment Property? The residential rental market is now the fastest-growing segment of the housing market. In the United States, the demand for single-family rentals, defined as either detached homes or townhouses, has risen 30 percent in the past three years.1 And in…

How to Avoid the Top 8 Home Inspection Mistakes It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of buying a home. Once you’ve had an offer accepted on your dream house, you’ll probably be anxious to move in. However, before you make a significant financial commitment, it’s best to know exactly what you’re buying.…

Real Estate Relocation Guide: 7 Steps to a Seamless Move Whatever your reasons are for relocating to a new area, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re moving across across town or across the country, you’ll be changing more than your address. Besides a new house, you may also be searching for new jobs, schools,…

10 Staging Secrets From the Pros for a Quick Home Sale at Top Dollar According to the National Association of Realtors, staging a home prior to listing it can result in a faster and more profitable sale.1 In fact, the Real Estate Staging Association estimates that professionally staged properties spend 73 percent less time on…

HOUSE CARE CALENDAR: A Seasonal Guide to Maintaining Your Home From summer vacations to winter holidays, it seems each season offers the perfect excuse to put off our to-do list. But be careful, homeowners: neglecting your home’s maintenance could put your personal safety—and one of your largest financial investments—at serious risk. In no time at…

The Home Buyer’s Guide to Getting Mortgage Ready Don’t wait until you’re ready to move to start preparing financially to buy a home. If you’re like the vast majority of home buyers, you will choose to finance your purchase with a mortgage loan. By preparing in advance, you can avoid the common delays and roadblocks…

As we head into a new year, the most common question we receive is, “What’s the outlook for real estate in 2018?” It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners also want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is that a strong U.S. economy, coupled with low unemployment…

20 Home Gadget Gift Ideas to Fit Any Budget Looking for the perfect present for a loved one this holiday season? We’ve rounded up 20 of our favorite gift ideas. And since we work in real estate, we focused on items that add enjoyment, comfort and, in some cases, major value to your home. From…