Recent Articles

  Excerpts from Southern Living Magazine The holidays are filled with special moments spent with family and friends from near and far; Time to get planning a memorable holiday this year and maybe make a few new traditions.   Bake Dozens of Christmas Cookies If you think you’ve made enough, make another batch or two.…

    This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito.  You can get some great advice from this article and wanted to share it with you.  Don’t forget to talk with me too.  I always have my finger on the pulse of real estate in Peoria and surrounding areas. You’ve probably heard that the real…

October 27, 2022 Commercial & Investment Real Estate By: Melissa Dittmann Tracey Many under the age of 40 are looking at real estate as a means to generate income rather than looking for their own home to live in, a new survey shows. A growing number of young adults are charting a different path toward building…

Homeownership is a big responsibility. There’s the financial commitment of a mortgage, taxes and insurance, but there’s also the responsibility of maintaining your home. Tasks like HVAC tuneup, landscaping upkeep and gutter cleaning help you avoid the cost and stress of unexpected repairs. It can be hard to keep up with maintenance when you own a home, but we…

HOW CAN I MAKE MY FRONT DOOR MORE ATTRACTIVE?  Written By: Jennifer Ebert The term ‘curb appeal’ refers to the attractiveness of a home’s external appearance, particularly the way it looks when viewed from the street – that all-important first impression that molds the opinion of every visitor. Designing a home with universally aesthetic appeal…

5 Things You Can Do While You Wait For Your Home to Finish Closing BY BRITTANY ANAS published July 23, 2022 Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Homebuying involves a lot of “hurry up and wait” intervals, especially during the closing process. On average, it takes 49 days to close on a home. So, if you’re a first-time buyer, you’re probably…

Here’s How a Seasoned Real Estate Investor Says You Can Compete with All-Cash Offers byBARBARA BELLESI ZITOpublished APR 17, 2022   Image: Stockvault.net   Cash is king in real estate, which is bad news for many first-time home buyers trying to break into this super-competitive market. An all-cash offer — even when it’s lower than asking price is…

Written by Rebec Staff/ Photo by Shutterstock You aren’t just a homeowner. You are a household manager! Running a household isn’t that different from running a business. Everything in your home is inventory. Anything that comes through the door will have to be stored, organized, and maintained. So, the less that comes in, the less…

5 STEPS FOR TACKLING SPRING YARD CLEANUP AND GEARING UP FOR SUMMER By: REBAC Staff Temperatures are inching up! With winter weather in the rearview mirror, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get a head start on yard projects. Follow these five critical steps in anticipation of enjoying more time outdoors! Step 1.…

What to Know About Your Credit Before Buying a Home It’s not just whether you pay your bills on time that matters. Image: Cavan Images/Tanya St/StudioBarcelona/Getty CONTRIBUTED BY This article was contributed by financial expert and blogger Mary Beth Storjohann, CFP, author, speaker, and founder of Workable Wealth. She provides financial coaching for individuals and…