Why an Investment Property Should Be Your First Real Estate Purchase Not ready to buy a home for yourself but want to take advantage of great market conditions? Consider buying an investment property! It's a trend that's taking over real estate, as savvy investors look to put their money in an appreciating asset. Here are five reasons to consider it. 1. Rates are crazy low. Lower rates mean more affordable lending, or more for your money if you choose to reach higher. 2. B

Thinking of Buying an Older Home? Here Are Some Things to Keep in Mind When searching for the next house to call home, there's a lot to consider. Opening your home search to older constructions can increase your options, however older homes may be harboring issues beneath the surface. Here are some things to consider (and have inspected) when purchasing an older home. Foundation and Structural Issues Due to their age, older homes should be inspected thoroughly for foundati

Becoming a Home Maintenance Pro: Tips for Homeowners By Dixie Somers Many homeowners don't think about home maintenance until something breaks, but that's not the best way to take care of your home. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been settled for years, it’s never too late to cultivate some home maintenance habits. Here are three tips to help you protect your investment and keep your property in good shape for years to come: Create and Follow a Home Maintenance Schedu

You can’t go wrong with these kitchen upgrades. You may have heard that investing in upgrading your kitchen may yield a return when it comes time to sell. Here are three easy updates you can make that may boost the value of your home: 1) Give your cabinets a facelift. Instead of gutting your cabinets and starting from scratch, keep everything but the cabinet doors. New cabinet faces are an inexpensive way to give your kitchen an updated look. Go for a classic Shaker finish fo

Be prepared in the event of a natural disaster Natural disasters can strike without warning. Take steps to prepare in the event that your home is impacted by a flood, hurricane, tornado or any other unexpected event. Use these four steps to assemble your disaster-readiness plan: 1) Ask yourself the big questions. How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings? Where will you shelter in your home? Where would you go in the event of an evacuation? How will you communicat

Do You Have Home Improvement Envy? You’re Not Alone​ Have you found yourself longingly peering into the yard next door to check out their new water feature only to start drawing up the blueprints for your own a week later? If you answered yes, turns out you’re just one of the many who experience jealousy—and a little competitive drive—over others’ home improvement projects. In fact, a recent survey from The Home Depot conducted by Wakefield Research not only revealed what

How to care for your garden and yard in every season. A garden can help you save money on groceries, while beautiful flower beds can add value to your home. Here are a few tips for maintaining your yard year-round. Spring Now is the time to sow seeds and take care to prevent a late-spring frost from killing your plants. Divide and plant any leftover fall perennials. Plant vegetables that turn over quickly, so you can get more than one crop over the summer. Aerate and fertil

...Start Saving! Replace traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescents Opt for desk or reading lamps to avoid unnecessarily lighting an entire room Raise the thermostat on your air conditioner by 10 percent when you leave for the day. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers increase a refrigerator's energy consumption by 14-20 percent. Clean the coils on your refrigerator. If you need a recommendation for local professionals who can increase your home's energy efficiency, w

Small projects with a big impact on your home. Even if you don't have the funds or the energy for a big improvement project or remodel, small changes can make your home a more enjoyable place to live, increase its value, and help you command the best possible price when you sell. Exchange light fixtures for ceiling fans. A stylish new ceiling fan instantly updates a room and can add value to your home. Choose fans that create a rustic vintage look or add a cool island vibe to

Your step-by-step guide to regular home maintenance. Regular maintenance is an important contributor to the value of your home. The following steps will help you create an actionable maintenance calendar, so you feel confident your home is being cared for and kept in the best condition possible. 1. Make a list of what needs regular maintenance. Walk through the house and yard and jot it all down on a list. Write down small things like weeding the garden beds and big things li

Have you fallen out of love with your home? Here are six ways to rekindle the romance: 1. Play musical chairs Rearrange the furniture. 2. Let it grow Potted plants add appeal with little maintenance. 3. Less is more Ditching clutter relieves stress. 4. Do a deep clean Scrub those baseboards, and clean those windows. 5. Make a list Decide what needs improving and prioritize your projects. 6. Give a room a mini-makeover Add new hardware to your cabinets, or pick up

"Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go ..." Or maybe for your family, holidays signify a cruise to tropical destinations or a chance to hit the slopes at a ski resort. Wherever you're heading this holiday season, keep your home safe in your absence with these three simple tips: 1. Keep the lights on. Pick up a few inexpensive light timers. By programming different lamps or light fixtures to come on at different times, you can create the illus

A brighter home can help to create a more spacious appearance and potentially contribute to a higher resale value if you should ever put your home on the market. Here are a few easy ways to brighten up your home and let the sun shine in: Keep your windows sparkling. Deep-clean your windows and screens to make sure sunlight is able to find its way in. After removing any dust and debris from the window, spray a mixture of vinegar and water and allow it to soak in. Wipe clean wi

Know your risk What An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth, caused by the breaking and shifting of subterranean rock as it releases strain that has accumulated over a long time. Initial mild shaking may strengthen and become extremely violent within seconds. Additional earthquakes, called aftershocks, may follow the initial earthquake. Most are smaller than the initial earthquake but larger magnitude aftershocks also occur. Earthquakes may cause household it

Cleaning out and reorganizing your garage space