Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

Plus, a printable four-week plan to help you get it all done. The days are a little shorter, the nights are a little cooler and the kids are back at school — fall is here, and you know what that means if you’re a homeowner: It’s time to get your house in shape for the […]

Find out which strategy a loan expert says is the easiest for cutting costs over the long term. With inflation tightening household budgets and rising rates making refinancing less attractive, it’s no wonder many homeowners are seeking other ways to lower their mortgage payments. Here are eight smart strategies — straight from mortgage professionals — […]

Tallying all the costs involved in home ownership can give you a true picture of affordability. The best time to get a sense of the costs involved in home ownership is before you begin to look for one. While most prospective buyers are familiar with big ticket items such as mortgage payments and property taxes, […]

Plus, four tips for making maintenance more manageable — do two of these before you even move in. Owning a home can be joyous, bringing you immense pride and a sense of accomplishment. But we won’t lie; achieving that sense of bliss sometimes requires repainting your kitchen ceiling. Or repairing a leak in your shower […]

Trust us when we say you’ll want to think this through. t’s true whether you’re committing to a 30-year mortgage or a year-long lease: you can update your surroundings with a renovation or removable wallpaper, but you can’t change your neighborhood or location. So how do you make sure you don’t overlook the importance of a […]

Three out of four homebuyers in a Zillow survey report having at least one regret about the home they bought. Follow these tips to avoid buyer’s remorse. In a hot seller’s market, it’s easy to get so caught up in the search for a home that you overlook the home’s shortcomings. Or, you may fail […]

If you were deterred by stiff competition in spring and summer, know that things may look a little different in fall 2022. Fall tends to be a good time for buyers, and this year could be especially good for buyers sidelined by fierce competition and a shortage of homes over the past two years, according […]

You don’t have to be selling your house to appreciate these tips. Curb appeal, that first impression your house makes from the street, is a big deal. If you’re selling your house, curb appeal attracts buyers. If you’re keeping your house, curb appeal makes your place so much nicer to come home to. Here are […]

Seasoned homeowners weigh in on what caught them off guard, what delighted them and what lessons you can learn from them. Let’s cut to the chase: If there’s one thing that seems to take first-time home buyers by surprise more than anything else, it’s maintenance. This includes the amount required to keep a home functioning, […]

Learning the best ways to find an apartment in a competitive rental market can save you time and money. Use our tips to make your search easier. Finding an apartment when everyone else seems to be looking for one, too, can test anyone’s optimism. Knowing how to find an apartment for rent quickly and with the […]