While smart-home devices can add a considerable amount of convenience and comfort to your home, they can also help you save money on your home insurance. There are a wide range of smart-home devices that you can have installed in your home - everything from smart thermostats to smart speakers. Before you purchase any of these devices, you should know which devices might save you some money. Policy...

Summertime is the perfect season for adventures, vacations, and spending time in the sun. Once August rolls around, however, it's time to start getting ready for back-to-school season. Here are a few simple tips to get you and your children ready for the new school year. Set a Routine for Your Family One of the first things you should do to get everyone back in the habit of waking up early and heading...

Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is part of the millennial generation. For many years, millennials weren't buying homes at the same rates as previous generations. In 2019, only 43% of millennials owned homes, which was well below the national average of 65% when taking every other generation into account. Even though millennials were old enough to purchase homes in 2019 (23 to 38 years old), there are...

If you've been paying any amount of attention to the real estate market, you may have noticed that mortgage rates have been steadily increasing throughout most of 2022. In fact, the average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage is over 5% as of early August. When the Federal Reserve first lowered national interest rates at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, buyers essentially flooded the market. Now...

Now that interest rates and home values are increasing at a somewhat steady rate, you might think that market conditions would start favoring the buyer. Despite recent changes, the market remains highly competitive among buyers. When market conditions are favorable for buyers, you likely won't encounter much competition while you search for a new home. On the other hand, a competitive buyer's market...

Now is the time of year when lawns come out of dormancy - a time many gardeners eagerly await. This is also the time of year that we trade large heating bills for sometimes equally large water bills. As you consider your gardening plan this summer, why not resolve to conserve water? We use a lot of water The US Environmental Protection Agency claims that, across the country, watering our landscaping...

Buying a home is almost always a great investment, and of course it’s exciting to find and close on a home that you will get to call your own. That feeling of joy and confidence can fade quickly though if certain things are overlooked during the process. 43% of homeowners have at least one regret about buying their home, and that number jumps to 64% for millennials, according to a recent Bankrate...

If you've followed the news lately, you've probably seen quite a bit about inflation. The consumer price index jumped 1.2% in March, bringing the total increase over the last 12 months to 8.1% – this is the largest annual jump in the last 40 years. So, how does inflation affects the real estate market? The Inventory Issue Interest rates have been kept low for so long it's created a bubble for...

If you’re buying or selling a home this year, you’re likely saving up for a variety of expenses. For buyers, that might include things like your down payment and closing costs. And for sellers, you’re probably working on a bit of spring cleaning and maintenance to spruce up your house before you list it. Either way, any money you get back from your taxes can help you achieve your goals. Using a...

From contract contingencies to encumbrances, the home sale and purchase processes bring with them a new vocabulary. One of the processes that most first-timers find confusing is the title company’s role in a real estate transaction. Let’s try to clear up the confusion. A title company serves two main functions in the real estate transaction. Its first role is that of facilitator for the closing. A...