Home Tips

Moving Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

If you thought moving into your 900 square-foot apartment was tough, moving into your first home can be a real challenge. It’s hard to make the transition into your first home—knowing what items should be replaced and what needs to be purchased to fill a larger space.

Keep these moving tips (plus a helpful checklist) for first-time home buyers in mind for a smooth transition.

Why Now Is a Great Time to Tap Into Your Home’s Equity

If you’re a homeowner, you’re in luck. US homeowners are currently enjoying a boom in residential equity value. According to CoreLogic’s Homeowner Equity Insights Report, approximately 63 percent of US homeowners are experiencing an equity increase of more than 10.8 percent year over year between Q3 of 2019 and Q3 of 2020. That represents a combined equity value of more than $1 trillion in just one year. During the same period, negative equity fell by 18.3 percent year over year, resulting in greater security and financial stability for hundreds of thousands of homeowners.

Eco-friendly Upgrades That Pay for Themselves

Reducing your home’s carbon footprint has a host of benefits, from savings on the operation of your home’s systems to reducing their impact on the environment. However, many environmentally responsible choices are expensive and it can feel overwhelming to try to retrofit your existing home with eco-friendly changes.

New Year, New DIY Projects

The New Year provides us the opportunity to make positive changes, a blank slate so to speak. While many are busy making personal improvements, January can actually be an ideal time to tackle minor updates to your house.

With a little creativity and patience, these easy and affordable projects will give your living space a much-needed facelift this year.

Pandemic Home Renovation Trends

In the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, economists predicted that the market for goods and services would grind to a halt for months or even years to come. However, in reality, the real estate market, including both the selling of homes and the improvement of existing properties, has grown in strength over the intervening months. Even for homeowners who aren’t thinking about selling, home renovation projects are experiencing unprecedented interest and generating robust economic activity.

Why Now Is the Time to Upgrade Your Space

As recently as last year, industry observers saw the real estate market moving further toward smaller homes and predicted the demise of sprawling McMansions and large luxury properties. What a difference a few months can make in changing lifestyles and the types of activities taking place within the home.

Best Home Upgrades for Under $500

According to the latest statistics, right now is a great time to put your home on the market. In many areas, homeowners are fielding multiple offers within hours or days of going live on the MLS. How can you ensure that your home will be greeted warmly by buyers in your area? Often, it only takes a little bit of outlay to create big results when it’s time to market your property.

The Difference Between Home Staging and Decorating

Staging your home for an open house is crucial in adding appeal to buyers. However, many are unaware of the difference between full-on redecorating and simply staging a home to be presentable for showings.

Here is a breakdown of what home staging really means and how you can get your interior ready for the market.