Real estate professionals point to curb appeal as a critical factor in attracting offers and increasing resale value. While a well-manicured lawn and flowering gardens are wonderful assets, homeowners may also want to consider investing in backyard improvements. Too often, homeowners spend weekends laboring in their front yards and hire contractors to remodel the interior of the home....

Photo by Tayeb Mezahdia via Pixabay When you start looking for your dream home, you need to know how much mortgage you will qualify for. Your real estate agent might ask you to get a pre-qualification letter. However, just because you are pre-qualified doesn’t mean that you will get the loan. You need a pre-approval for that, and...

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels When homeowners invest in renovations or luxury items, many prefer to get a significant return on investment. That frugal mindset makes a great deal of sense considering a house generally stands as the single largest purchase in a person's life. New bathrooms and expansive kitchens may reliably improve property values. But what...

Multi-purpose furnishings are always budget-friendly, especially when you make them yourself. With only a few inexpensive materials you can make a trendy and modern-style concrete stool that doubles as a plant stand. Here is all the information you need to make your very own DIY concrete plant stool. What You’ll Need A bag of concrete mixPlastic bucketWooden dowelStirring...

Image by InspiredImages from Pixabay When you plan on getting a mortgage, you have some choices. There are conventional, FHA, VA and other options. One term you'll likely hear is a conforming or a non-conforming loan. If you aren't sure what that means, you could end up confused about the kind of loan you're actually getting for your...

Photo by CongerDesign via Pixabay You recently purchased a home, and as a new homeowner, you’re itching to get moved into your new kitchen so you can get settled and start entertaining. Wait! Before you get caught up organizing your pots and pans, do a little preventative care. If you want a kitchen you can entertain in hassle-free,...

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Smart home technologies can be as simple as a lock, light or appliance you can activate with a voice, token or smartphone. But this can be as in-depth as whole household management systems that can regulate the comfort, security, and more for those who live there. If you’re considering buying or building...

Image by Pexels from Pixabay Virtual reality (VR) may not be in every household in the country, but it's becoming more mainstream by the day. And contrary to popular belief, it's not just video game experts who want to get their hands on the latest technology. See how VR can inspire better offers from motivated buyers, leading to...

Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay Most homeowners have a mortgage against their house, and homebuyers who purchase existing homes usually secure a traditional mortgage before closing. When building a new house, however, you’re likely to need a construction loan before getting a home mortgage. Here’s a breakdown of each, including how they’re used in the new home building...

Image by 영훈 박 from Pixabay One of the great benefits of having a home of your own is being able to host friends and family. If it’s your first time living in a house that’s big enough for more than just you, you’ll want to make sure you plan out the best way to keep people comfortable...

Although adding solar energy systems to single-family dwellings can reduce utility bills and improve property values, a large installation's price tag sometimes proves prohibitive. Spending tens of thousands of dollars on state-of-the-art panels, wiring and equipment necessary to convert the sun's rays into lighting can easily exceed one's budget. However, increasing your renewable energy footprint does not necessarily...

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay If you're looking to buy a new home, there's no reason you should be limited by your geographic area. In today's digital world, buying a home in another city, another state or even in another country has never been easier or more convenient. Additionally, when you buy a home remotely, you're not limited...