Blogs

Residential Buyers or Seller

How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget

It's not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle… Continue reading How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget

Residential Buyers or Seller

Stress-Free Home Cleaning: 27 Practical Tactics for Busy Households

  Keeping a clean and orderly home is a challenge for many of us. Between busy work schedules, social obligations, and family commitments, it’s tough to keep up with daily chores—let alone larger seasonal tasks. The effort is worthwhile, however. A sanitary environment can keep you and your family healthier by minimizing your exposure to… Continue reading Stress-Free Home Cleaning: 27 Practical Tactics for Busy Households

Residential Buyers or Seller

My Home Didn’t Sell! Now What?

When it comes to listing their home, most home sellers want three things: 1) to make a lot of money, 2) to put in minimal time and effort, and 3) to sell quickly. But the reality is, selling a home is rarely that simple. And homeowners who try to do it themselves—or receive bad advice—can… Continue reading My Home Didn’t Sell! Now What?

Residential Buyers or Seller

Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023

Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most. But… Continue reading Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023

Residential Buyers or Seller

2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)

Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation.1And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly. Both demand… Continue reading 2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)

Residential Buyers or Seller

Home for the Holidays: How To Stretch Your Budget in a Season of Inflation

You don't have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style—even in this season of inflation. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still plenty of opportunities to eke out extra savings. For example, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can save… Continue reading Home for the Holidays: How To Stretch Your Budget in a Season of Inflation

Residential Real Estate Sellers

7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price

Over the past few years, a real estate buying frenzy bid up home prices to eye-popping amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled. 1 Consequently, home sellers who enter the market today may need to reset their expectations. The reality is, it’s no longer enough to stick a “for sale” sign… Continue reading 7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price

Residential Real Estate Buyers

Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home

Deciding whether to jump into the housing market or rent instead is rarely an easy decision – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. But in today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership. A real estate boom during the pandemic pushed home prices to an… Continue reading Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home

Residential Buyers or Seller

8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate

  Mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride this year, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. And even the experts are divided when it comes to predicting where rates are headed next.1 This climate has been unsettling for some homebuyers and sellers. However, with proper planning, you can work toward… Continue reading 8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate

Residential Buyers or Seller

What Would a Recession Mean for the Housing Market?

What Would a Recession Mean for the Housing Market? According to a recent survey from the Wall Street Journal, the percentage of economists who believe we’ll see a recession in the next 12 months is growing. When surveyed in July 2021, only 12% of economists consulted thought there’d be a recession by now. But this July, when polled,… Continue reading What Would a Recession Mean for the Housing Market?