When closing on a house, contracts typically close within 30 to 60 days. In that time, you’ll need to accomplish certain things: resolving contingencies outlined in your purchase contract, meeting contractual deadlines, getting your financing ready, and making sure paperwork is in order. Your agent will] help you navigate the timelines and stay on top […]
Multigenerational houses are popular, but you should consider the pros and cons, options, and features before making a decision. Grandparents are sometimes moving in. Young adults are boomeranging back after college or sticker shock from rental rates. As a result, the empty nest may be a fading concept. The multigenerational home has emerged as a […]
Adding decorative molding around your home can add an extra touch of elegance. Install molding to the ceiling by capping walls, columns and cabinets, or add chair molding lower to the ground. With detailed molding you can add character to your rooms while also making them feel taller and more finished. You can also take […]
If you can’t sell your home, there are improvements you can make that actually reduce your tax bill. Qualifying improvements are those that increase your home’s value or prolong your home’s life, including: a fence, driveway, a new room, addition, swimming pool, garage, porch or deck, built-in appliances, insulation, new heating/cooling systems, a new roof, […]
Projects that may increase your home’s value include: Jacuzzi (4 jets or more); permanent hot tub; in-ground pool with nice deck area; security system; sprinkler system; substantial out buildings such as a two-car garage or finished workshop; and vaulted or trey ceilings. Think twice about the following projects however, as they may not add value […]
The top ten remodeling projects undertaken to increase your home’s value and what percentage of your remodeling investment is recouped at resale are: Minor kitchen remodel (88%) Bathroom remodel (85%) Major kitchen remodel (81%) Family room addition (80%) Deck addition (77%) Master suite (75%) Attic bedroom (74%) Siding replacement (73%) Window replacement (69%) Home office […]
If prospective buyers walk into your house greeted by the smell of cat litter, cigarette smoke, mildew or pet accidents, there is little chance that even a reduced sales price will persuade them to buy. So the first thing to do is: Clean, clean, clean. This includes walls, floors, inside closets and cabinets – everything. […]
Closing costs vary wildly and depend on the type of loan, the amount of the down payment, and a host of other factors. Unfortunately, this lack of information frequently causes real estate deals to disintegrate. To avoid this particular problem, pay attention to all communications from your lender. First, you will receive a form called […]
The real estate industry does a great job of reminding homebuyers that they’ll need a down payment – typically from 3 percent to 20 percent of the total loan amount – when they purchase a home. What they often fail to inform real estate consumers about are the loan’s closing costs – the money you […]
The current economy is a key factor affecting the real estate market. Broadly speaking, when the economy is sluggish, so is real estate. Rather than look at the glass half-full, we choose to take the opposite tack—when the economy is humming along, the housing market is at its most attractive. When job growth is robust, […]
