As you've all likely recognized, lighting plays a key part of the overall feel of your home. Between the number and types of fixtures to the style and actual amount of light in your space, lighting can define the look of your home, even if you don't... (Read More)
Perhaps it starts with a few odd sounds in the night from your furnace room, and ends with a shockingly cold shower the following morning. You begin to question the stability of your hot water heater and don't really know how to determine what it's... (Read More)
A pre-purchase home inspection is a recommended part of the home buying process. An investment of about $300 to $500 can help you avoid an unexpected defect that could cost thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands, after you sign on the... (Read More)
Ever woken up to a tap-tap-tap-tap-tapping sound outside your window? Chances are that persistent drumming sound is the performance of a woodpecker.
There are 16 kinds of woodpeckers in North America that peck away at trees for a few different... (Read More)
Ready to buy your first home? Your first step is to visit a mortgage lender to see how much house you can afford. But be prepared for the paperwork that comes with it. Here are the documents you'll be asked to provide as part of the loan application... (Read More)
Buying your first home? Here are three real estate professionals you'll come in contact with during the weeks ahead as you make the leap from renting to owning your own home:
Mortgage loan officer. Before you look at a single home, you should get... (Read More)
Have an appointment with a title company to close on the purchase of your home? Here's what you'll need to bring with you on that big day:
Money: At closing, you'll be paying for your share of the closing costs and any down payment. Since... (Read More)
It doesn't matter which housing report you look at. Whether it's home sales, home building activity or the inventory of properties for sale, the housing recovery has finally arrived. Here are the opportunities that people are cashing in on right... (Read More)
Refinancing is a great way to get a lower mortgage rate. But there are other benefits to swapping out your home loan for a new, lower-rate one. Here are a few to think about:
Trade out an ARM. If you plan to be in your home for a while... (Read More)