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You may not be living in the home you’re trying to sell, but you still have to be sure you are presenting adequate curb appeal to attract quality buyers. Your overgrown shrubs or lack of grass and color may be scaring away more potential buyers than you know. A few things you can do to…

New single-family home sales significantly increased last month to the highest level in over six years. The housing market continues its impressive rebound. New home sales increased 18.0% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 504,000 units. The chief economist at Mesirow Financial, Diane Swonk said, “this is welcome news in an otherwise mixed outlook.  We…

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, home improvements and remodeling costs have increased in the United States. $130 billion was spent last year on home remodeling; that’s the highest amount seen since 2007. Remodeling can be overwhelming at times, but experts have created new apps that can help make the process more…

Recent data suggests that housing market confidence remains high. Approximately 50% of Americans believe that home prices will rise over the coming year while only 8% believe home prices will fall. Bankrate.com’s chief financial analyst, Greg McBride said, “when home prices fall, everyone gets a little queasy – homeowners and renters alike. The expectation of…

Many deep-pocketed borrowers are paying lower rates on jumbo loans when compared to the average borrower. Jumbo loan borrowers have been experiencing interest rates that are at an all time low, and now many lenders are waiving mortgage insurance, lowering credit standards, and requiring minimal down payments as low as 10%. In some cases, the…

Fall is here, and many people will soon begin packing up outdoor furniture until next year. If some pieces appear damaged, don’t immediately assume they are ready for the trash. A few things you can do to save money and preserve your outdoor furniture for future seasons are: Brighten your light colored lawn chairs with…

With many millennials carrying around large student loan debt and lending rules getting tighter, the number of millennial homeowners is disappointing. Although, in the near future, experts expect the millennial generation will boost the housing market to record levels. Today there are approximately 13.3 million millennial homeowners; that number is expected to increase to 21.6…

Generally, brick siding on a home requires less maintenance than a wood-sided home, although brick still necessitates minimal yearly maintenance to keep the brick working efficiently and looking good. A few things one should do to maintain a brick home are: Yearly cleaning, use mild detergent and a brush to scrub off mildew and other…

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Application Survey for last week, mortgage applications increased substantially, jumping 7.9% from the previous week. This large increase made up for the 7.2% decrease during the week of September 5th. The Market Composite Index rose 7.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Refinance Index jumped 10%, and…

Home price appreciation is growing, and many baby boomers are intimidated by rising prices, causing some to stay in their over-sized family homes. Some experts forecast things to change over the coming years, expecting the baby boomer generation to move out of their current single-family homes and downsize to apartments, condos, and smaller homes. Data…