Tag Archives: buying a home

Analyzing a New Neighborhood

For qualified buyers, now is a great time to purchase a home. There are many homes available on the market, and the prices are good. There are still plenty of reputable mortgage companies that are offering mortgages for qualified buyers. Will all of the choices to make before buying a home, one of the most important ones is exactly where you will live. You want to make sure that once you move in to your new home, you will like the neighborhood. One of the best ways to be sure that you will fit in to your new neighborhood is … Continue reading →

More Reasons to Move

Are you contemplating making a move to a new home? It can be a scary time to move because of the rising cost of food and gas can eat into your budget. And selling a home may be difficult or take longer in today’s market. Still, don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t move when you want to move. The experts may advise against trying to sell a home right now, but the truth is that there are very good reasons to sell a home, and selling your home right now could be the best thing for your family. … Continue reading →

Reasons to Move

With the media constantly talking about the housing market, people wonder if they really should move, selling their old homes and or buying new homes. I get these questions a lot. While the house market can be scary, the truth is that sometimes you have a good reason to move, and that reason may overshadow any downsides to selling a home right now. And the truth is that even though you may take a hit on your current home, you can still purchase another home for a good price, so things may just even out. I have three friends at … Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Gated Communities

Is a gated community right for you? According to recent US Census data, gated communities are one of the fastest- growing forms of housing in the US. Take a look at the pros and cons of living in a gated community before you decide. What is a gated community? Gated communities have been around for longer than you might think. They center around a development or neighborhood in which the only way in or out is through a gate. The level of security, (privacy and protection) offered in a gated community can vary from an unmanned gate that is operated … Continue reading →

Test Drive Your House

You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it first, right? Well, why on earth do we forge ahead, buying homes without trying them out? A house is much more of an investment, and it generally has a much larger impact on your life than does a car. Wouldn’t it be great to spend a night or two in a home that you are considering buying? I know from first hand experience that no matter how many walk-throughs and inspections you get, there are always some surprises that come your way after you move in to your home. Wouldn’t be … Continue reading →

Three Tips for Staging your Home

Staging a home is much like setting a stage for a play. Instead of a play, you set the “stage” to sell your home. Some people don’t realize that it often takes a lot of effort to stage the home just right for an open house or a private showing. There are a few simple things anyone can do to make a home more appealing to the largest number of people. Try the following tips if you’re trying to sell your home: Not just Neutral While you will often hear that you should paint the walls neutral colors when selling … Continue reading →

Some Decorating Tips for New Homes and Temporary Residences

Don’t have much money left for artwork after purchasing a new home? Afraid to hang anything on the walls lest you’ll be forced to spend hours patching holes when moving from a temporary residence or rental? Try some of these ideas: Glossy magazines, books, and calendars often contain great photos and other images that can be used as artwork. Add some glitz to an inexpensive frame with a quick coat of shiny paint and frame a great picture from an old calendar, coffee table book, or magazine. Art magazines are also great sources for prints. This idea also works well … Continue reading →

Buying a House

When you begin looking for a new home, you might find youself a little overwhelmed. Not only are their lots of details that you may not be aware of (or may have forgotten if you purchased a home long ago) but the prices of homes may provide an overwhelming amount of “sticker shock.” If it’s been a while since you bought a home you may soon find that there’s a big difference in the value of homes today. That’s good news for you when you sell your existing home, but you may find that you can’t afford as much house … Continue reading →

The Hidden Expenses of Moving

Are you planning a move? Watch out for these hidden expenses that can leave you short! There is no doubt that moving is an expensive thing to do. Not only do you have the normal costs associates with a move, such as movers, truck rentals, etc., but a few other “hidden” expenses can crop up. Be aware of these expenses so you can find frugal ways to reduce your moving cost. Boxes Yes, you can pay more than $100 to buy boxes and packing supplies. Of course, you can get these boxes for free. You can read all about that … Continue reading →

Are You Ready to Buy a Home?

So, you’re thinking about buying a house. Congratulations. Buying a home can be a very exciting experience. The process can also be rather stressful, especially if you are unprepared. There are a few things you need to know and do in order to make the process simpler. Start by getting a copy of your credit report a few months before you actually start looking for a home. Make sure that everything on your credit report is correct and then check your credit score. If you’re looking at it for the first time, it may not mean much to you. All … Continue reading →