Searching for your dream home and wondering if it’s worth buying a fixer-upper and making it your own? Here’s what you need to know. While the process of buying and renovating fixer-upper homes has increased in popularity due to fix-and-flip home improvement TV shows, not everyone is cut out for major renovation projects. In fact, […]
Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes
Real Estate Contingencies: What Is A Contingent Offer and How Do They Work?
If you’re in the process of buying a home you may have heard the term “contingency.” These are clauses in your contract that give you an out if something unforeseen arises from the time you make an offer until you close. Real estate contingencies protect you from losing your earnest money if you walk away from the transaction and […]
5 Tips for Navigating Supply Chain Issues When Renovating a House
2022 is proving tough for all aspects of home renovation, from hiring contractors, to buying supplies. Here’s what to expect — and ways to cope. If you have plans to renovate your home — or if you’re shopping for a fixer upper to buy, you might be wondering whether now is a good time to remodel […]
How to Reduce Pet Dander in Your Home
11 pet-friendly maintenance and decor tips that can help keep your house a sneeze-free zone. You love your pet, but you don’t love it when your pet triggers your allergies. If cat fluff and dog dander give you a scratchy throat and watery eyes, you don’t have to live an animal-free life. You can still have […]
A Guide to First-Time Home Buyer Programs
About 46 percent of home buyers are purchasing a home for the first time, and with that first home can come particular financial hurdles around saving for a down payment, and paying for closing costs. About two-thirds (64 percent) of first-time buyers put less than 20 percent down on their first home, and a quarter put down 5 percent […]
Waiting or Saving to Buy a Home? Here’s How to Prepare Your Finances
Even if you’re just window shopping, these 10 steps will help ensure your finances are ready when the right house does come along. As springtime approaches and the home buying frenzy begins, many people have homeownership on their minds. But buying a home right now might be challenging — a shortage of homes and a highly […]
16 Alternatives to Buying a Single-Family House
From purchasing a home with friends, to buying a yurt (yes, a yurt!), there are numerous alternatives to buying a single-family home. Here is our list. If you’ve spent time looking for homes online, you’ve probably come across a place that blows away your understanding of what a home can be. Maybe it was a […]
How to Know When You’re Ready to Buy a House
Use this decision tree to answer financial and lifestyle questions that can help you determine whether buying a house is right for you. Determining when to buy a house isn’t only about your financial readiness, though it is definitely one aspect — a house is probably one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make. Beyond the […]
How to Pay Off Debt
Debt is money that you borrowed and are obligated to repay. Examples of debt include mortgages, student loans, auto loans and credit cards. Zillow research found that 69% of renters have some type of debt, and a quarter of renters said they were denied a rental agreement or home financing due to their debt level. Debt impacts not only the type […]
Writing a Love Letter to The Seller of a Home: Risks and Legal Considerations
There are more effective strategies for capturing sellers’ attention than letters. After seeing the home of your dreams sold to another buyer, you may be looking for ways to stand out the next time a desirable home comes on the market. Some of you may be thinking of writing a so-called “love letter” to the seller […]