akurtz/Getty ImagesBuying a home—especially if it’s your first—can be a lot like losing weight in the sense that people end up doing, well, some pretty dumb stuff in the process. But while desperate dieters might waste money on “magical” weight-loss pills or silly exercise equipment (remember the shake weight?), misguided home buyers could be doing far more serious damage—like undermining their ability to purchase a house at all
EpicStockMedia/iStockBalancing trendy touches with classic appeal can be tricky in your home and even trickier in your outdoor spaces. After all, you can always repaint a wall, but no one wants to tear up their entire hedge every year.Luckily for you, we consulted with experts on the top landscaping trends that homeowners are loving right now—and that won't go out of style any time soon. So take a good look at your landscaping and decide whet
Dena Everman in Marietta, Ga., was about to close on the sale of her home of 11 years when she discovered that a family—not the buyers—had already moved in. Everman, who had moved out of the home weeks prior, encountered the occupants when she stopped by the property the day before closing to check on it one last time. The closing that was set to happen the next day on June 26 with the rightful buyers continues to be put off as Everman strug
Besides discussing the home’s layout and physical characteristics, come to your open house prepared to respond to these other common questions. Coldwell Banker recently featured some of the most common questions potential buyers may ask a real estate professional at an open house. Here’s what you need to be ready to answer:1. How many bids have you received on the home?Buyers may want to gauge the true price of the home and see how much co
Average mortgage rates are moving up, posting increases for the second consecutive week.“After fully absorbing the sharp increases in Treasury yields over the past couple of weeks, the 30-year mortgage rate has cleared the psychologically important 4 percent mark for the first time since May,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending July 13
Now that we are halfway through the year, it’s time to take a quick moment to check in on the business.Remember that success plan you put together at the end of 2016?Take it out, and see if you are on track. If you are, great! If you’re not, let’s get that fixed.Whether you are closing 10 deals a week or only one in the past six months, make sure the second half of this year is extremely productive.
Tense situations with clients can sometimes get heated. When this happens, it’s important to remain in control of your emotions. A recent SmartBrief column by John Stoker lists important tips for keeping your cool and preventing a damaged relationship.Do a physical checkJust breathe—slower and measured breathing helps the brain’s amygdala from stopping logical thoughts. Stoker suggests taking a brisk walk, climbing some stairs, or even taki
The availability of building materials, particularly framing lumber, is rising on the list of concerns among home builders, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Twenty-one percent of single-family builders reported a shortage of framing lumber.“It is certainly concerning that we have seen such a large jump in reported framing lumber shortages in a relatively short period of time,” say
Homeowners are bracing for the July heat as they prepare for some of their steepest utility bills.Energy costs in the U.S. consume from 5 to 22 percent of families’ total after-tax income, according to a new analysis by WalletHub, a financial resource.“And lower energy prices don’t necessarily equate to savings,” WalletHub notes in its study. “Where we live and how much energy we use are a big part of the equation.”For example, elec
Rooftop solar power installations are booming, says Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. The panels may have a more affordable price tag than in previous years, but the installations are coming with another price: leaky roofs.The Solar Energy Industries Association says many homeowners are not using professional roofers to install their solar panels and that’s causing growing reports of “messed-up
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