It’s not too late to address a few home maintenance musts before winter fully sets in. Here’s a list of last-minute winterization tasks to knock out before you go into hibernation mode. Check and clean the gutters one last time. As the last leaves have fallen, take time now to make sure your gutters are completely cleared out. Blockages can create ice dams, which will damage your gutters and prevent...

Colder weather ahead doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your precious outdoor space. This year especially, you’ll want to enjoy your backyard or balcony as long as possible. Here are some tips to make the most of your space this fall and winter. Clean up ahead of winter Spruce up your yard to create an outdoor environment you’ll be motivated to enjoy. Take time to clean up and dispose of leaves and...

If you have a piece of wooden furniture you really like, or a tired thrift-store find with loads of potential, give it new life with a fresh coat of stain. Refinish is an easy, low-cost way to bring out natural beauty in wood furniture and make fine details shine. Materials + Tools to Refinish Wood Furniture spray-on paint stripper disposable shop cloths tack cloth mineral spirits...

The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 2.78% for the week ending Nov. 5, down from 2.81% the previous week and 3.69% the same week one year ago, according to Freddie Mac. Other mortgage products, including the 15-year fixed, FHA loans and jumbo mortgages, set new record lows for their average rates last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Volatility...

If you live in a house for two of the previous five years, you owe little or no taxes on its sale. Knowing the tax laws can make a considerable difference in the tax picture when you sell a building, whether it’s your residence or a property that was previously your residence. Betting on the house: Rules for property sales Real estate agent Shelley Bridge vividly recalls how a love affair once cost a...

If you're thinking about buying a house right now, you're probably wondering how best to go about it. The truth is, you can still do in-person tours in some places, depending on the local regulations, but many people are buying homes right now without stepping foot inside until the deal is done. Sight unseen deals are nothing new, but up until recently they were used mostly for foreign buyers,...

Fall in Love with your Home We’ve spent more time than usual at home this year, for better or worse. All the extra hours have meant more time to notice those projects you’ve been meaning to get to—for years. Some of us have managed to tackle a to-do list or two, as industry reports indicate. We spent our extra hours making improvements around the house, from creating home offices to building...

It took just 54 days to sell a home in September. That is the shortest time since realtor.com began tracking this metric in 2016. Back then it took 78 days. The median price of a home sold in September was $350,000, up just over 11% annually. Homebuyers hoping that a seasonal slowdown in the housing market would dampen rising prices can forget about it. More buyers piled into the fray in...

When COVID-19 moved into the city, many decided to move out. What's the real estate market look like now? The coronavirus crisis has changed almost everything about the way we’re living, and where and how we’re living is no exception. There’s a lot going on in the Greater Boston real estate market right now: Interest rates are entrancingly low, the rental market is changing, and the pandemic has...

Does your four-legged friend need a little more freedom? Pet doors offer animals independence and allow their owners more flexibility in their day-to-day schedules. Whether you're more of a traditionalist, or you're inclined to adopt the latest and greatest tech, there's something for you (and your furry friends). Classic flap We've all seen this one, a small opening with a flap that allows a pet...