Details can be tricky. Double-check yourself with these tax rules affecting homeowners. Like most homeowners over the past couple of years, you may have discovered that you can no longer write off your property taxes or claim the mortgage interest deduction. That doesn’t necessarily mean your taxes went up. The change is because the standard […]
Can I Claim the Mortgage Interest Deduction? Read More »
Feeling insulted is normal. But don’t let it get in the way of what might be a good deal. You’ve invested a great deal in this house. So when the time comes to put it on the market, you expect potential buyers to recognize its true value. But sometimes, you get an offer that’s so far
5 Suck-It-Up Questions to Ask Before Spurning a Lowball Offer Read More »
How to make sure your craft beer hobby and monthly mortgage payments can co-exist. This article was contributed by financial expert and blogger Mary Beth Storjohann, CFP, author, speaker, and founder of Workable Wealth. She provides financial coaching for individuals and couples in their 20s to 40s across the country, helping them make smart, educated
Can You Afford That House? 6 Easy Ways to Find Out Read More »
How to figure out exactly what you want, and how to work with the experts who’ll help you get it. Selling, a famous salesman once said, is essentially a transfer of feelings. You love and cherish your home. You want the next owner to fall in love with it, too — through photos, through words,
The Everything Guide to Selling Your First Home Read More »
Once you know where the mortgage loan problems are, you can easily get around them. Mortgages don’t have to be scary. After all, they’re just business transactions, albeit big ones. Yet, a survey by mortgage website Freeandclear.com found that 75% of home loan applicants compared the mortgage loan process to an annual physical or a dentist visit.
6 Ways to Avoid Mortgage Mistakes Read More »
Here’s what you can do to get your home ready for its big reveal. Editor’s Note: As restrictions related to COVID-19 continue to fluctuate, the National Association of REALTORS® is encouraging virtual home showings, regardless of whether in-person showings are allowed by states or local communities. If you’re considering holding an open house, your agent will have an
9 Tricks for Showings That Make Buyers Say “OMG, Wow!” Read More »
Start looking for that contractor NOW if you want your project done by summer’s end. Whew. The holidays are done. The new year has rung in. That’s when smart homeowners know it’s time to do these five things that’ll save time, money, and hassles all year long. #1 Organize Your Seasonal Storage Space Packing away
5 Tasks Every Homeowner Should Do in January Read More »
These simple cleaning tips will give you a clean house to celebrate when you host for the holidays. In getting ready to entertain for the holidays, a random approach may get you random results. Probably not what you’re going for. That’s why it’s smart to have a plan. But instead of using boilerplate steps, you
Holiday Entertaining: Home Cleaning Checklist Read More »
Walk-throughs, closing costs, and other items to check off your list before the big finish! Closing time. The end of the road. The last hurrah — and hurrahs are in order. If you’re here, then you’ve found a buyer, negotiated home repairs, and are ready to move out — and on. But before you can
What Every Seller Needs to Know About Closing Read More »
With these tips and tricks, your house will be swoon-worthy in no time. All the world’s a stage, said the Bard. That includes your house. Which is for sale. And thus needs to look bee-yoo-tee-ful. Staging entails hiring experts with a flair for interior design. They reimagine your living space and give your house a
Staging Your Home: How to Make Buyers Fall in Love Read More »
Even in a seller’s market, home sales depend on certain factors that may require you to be flexible. You may be selling a home in a competitive market — for example, with low inventory and high demand. And you may be thinking “Yay!” or at least “Whew.” You know you’re likely to have more interested
Understand What Goes into House Prices in a Competitive Market Read More »
Your guide to hiring the listing agent who can set you up for success. Your home is where you’ve lived and loved, where you’ve laughed and cried, where you’ve cuddled and snuggled. You’re the pea, your home is the pod. And you’ve been through a lot together. Now that it’s time to put it on
How to Find the Right Person to Sell Your House Read More »
Drive off with the laundry. You don’t want buyers’ noses to detect your dirties. When your house is on the market, keeping it picture-perfect can be a wee bit stressful. But it is possible to keep your home show-ready while life goes on. Here are seven cleaning tips on how to do it. #1 Invest in Clear Bins
7 Cleaning Tips for Keeping Your Home Spotless When Selling It Read More »
Keep your emotions in check and your eyes on the goal, and you’ll pay less when purchasing a home. Buying a home can be emotional, but negotiating the price shouldn’t be. The key to saving money when purchasing a home is sticking to a plan during the turbulence of high-stakes negotiations. A real estate agent
How to Negotiate Your Best House Buy Read More »
What to expect, when to negotiate, and how to deal when things don’t go your way. Most people have deeply personal reasons for wanting to buy a home. Maybe it’s the bathroom that feels like a dreamy, modern spa. Or that two-tiered deck just made for parties. Your lender doesn’t care about the freestanding tub.
Hey, Buyers: These Home Appraisal Tips Are for You Read More »