Ways to ‘Fireproof’ a House More than 1,000 structures and 260,000 acres across Southern California have been charred since massive wildfires broke out earlier this month. With the blazes still threatening 25,000 more homes, is there anything homeowners can do to protect their houses from a fire? You may not be able to fireproof a …
Category: Real Estate Tips
Dec 15
What Net Neutrality Rollback Means for You
What Net Neutrality Rollback Means for You Many real estate professionals and companies may now be at a disadvantage to deliver services to consumers online, as the Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to repeal net neutrality rules. The move allows internet service providers to restrict the content its consumers see and implement pay-to-play policies, giving …
Dec 14
44% of Retirees Still Have a Mortgage
44% of Retirees Still Have a Mortgage Many retirees are worried if they’ll ever be able to pay off their mortgage. Forty-four percent of 60- to 70-year-old retirees have a mortgage in retirement, according to American Financing’s 2017 Retirement and Mortgages Survey. Thirty-two percent predict it will take still take them more than eight years …
Dec 13
Festive Cities for Holiday Lovers
Festive Cities for Holiday Lovers For those who are full of the holiday spirit, they may find their fa-la-la-la’s in these cities. “For a city to be really attractive for the holidays, it needs to offer something for everyone—from kids to the grandparents,” says Kirsten Maxwell, founder of kidsareatrip.com, a family activities website. Realtor.com®’s research team sifted through …
Dec 12
FHA to Increase Loan Limits in 2018
FHA to Increase Loan Limits in 2018 Following on the heels of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Housing Administration announced that it will increase its loan limits in most areas of the country in 2018. The FHFA had announced new limits for loans eligible for purchase or guarantee by Fannie Mae and Freddie …
Dec 11
Reasons December Is Favorable for Buyers
Reasons December Is Favorable for Buyers Many home shoppers don’t think about purchasing a house during the holiday months—many even put their home search on hold. But Desare Kohn-Laski, broker-owner of Skye Louis Realty in Coconut Creek, Fla., offers some points to pass on to your clients, letting them know this is one of the …
Dec 08
Hardwood Flooring Is Top Preference
Hardwood Flooring Is Top Preference Hardwood flooring is dominating the main living areas of new homes, and engineered hardwood has been particularly catching on over the past decades, according to the latest surveys from Home Innovation Research Labs. Engineered hardwood floors are made up of layers: the top and bottom layers are natural wood, but …
Dec 07
The Deck Is Making a Comeback
The Deck Is Making a Comeback Nearly 24 percent of new single-family homes in 2016 included decks, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data from the National Association of Home Builders. The percentage is up slightly from 23.3 percent in 2015. New England and the East South Central region of the U.S.—which …
Dec 06
Stay Sane When You’re Overworked
Stay Sane When You’re Overworked Sometimes it’s easy to pretend to not have lives outside of work, but this is not true nor is it healthy. Everyone needs a good balance between their work life and personal life. Sue Hawkes, CEO of YESS!, a business coaching firm, has three tips for those who want to bring more sanity …
Dec 05
Pro Tips for a Top-Notch DIY Paint Job
Pro Tips for a Top-Notch DIY Paint Job When painting a room, the time, effort, and money you spend on the materials can make a big difference. Josh Max, a professional painter with 10 years of experience, detailed the “right” way to paint in a recent article in The New York Times. Gather the …
Dec 04
Overlooked Dirt Spots Buyers Will Notice
Overlooked Dirt Spots Buyers Will Notice Make sure your home sellers pay attention to several areas in a home that often go uncleaned but could stand out to potential buyers. Jan M. Dougherty, author of The Lost Art of House Cleaning: A Clean House Is a Happy Home, shared with HouseLogic several spots that homeowners are …
Dec 01
How Neighborly Are Americans? Not Very
How Neighborly Are Americans? Not Very Nearly 30 percent of Americans admit they don’t know their neighbor’s first name. But at least 90 percent have smiled or spoken to their neighbors—at least once, according to a new survey of more than 1,000 Americans released by Safehome.org, a home security systems review resource. Fifty-three percent of …
