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15 Gift Ideas to Give New Homeowners
Whether you’re attending a housewarming party or sending a gift to a new homeowner from a distance, finding the perfect item to welcome your loved ones into their new space may not be easy. A bottle of wine can feel cliche, or even out of line if they don’t drink alcohol. So how do you…
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16 Questions To Ask a Home Inspector Before, During, and After a Home Inspection
If you’re buying a house, you know that your home inspector will check it out and make sure it’s in decent shape. But if you want to get to know your home beyond its pretty facade, you should pepper your inspector with questions—a whole lot of them, in fact! But when you ask those home inspector…
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The Guide to Understanding Your Home Value
You know how much you paid for your home, and you likely factor the work you’ve done and the memories you’ve made there into your idea of what it’s worth. But while your home may be your castle, your personal feelings toward the property and even how much you paid for it a few years…
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What’s the Difference Between a Deed and Title?
As you approach closing day for your home purchase, you’re going to hear a lot of discussion about the deed and title of your property. Both are an important part of owning real estate, but it can be hard to distinguish between the two. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between the…
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How to Declutter Your Home
Unless you’re a minimalist, chances are your home is more cluttered than you would like. Disorganization at home is a common problem and can range from a little messiness to a chronic hoarding disorder. And regardless of how untidy and disheveled your space is, decluttering can be a challenge. We’ve broken down the best tips…
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Mortgage rates hold steady heading into holiday weekend
Mortgage rates paused ahead of Friday’s employment report and the Labor Day weekend. According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average ticked up to 2.93 percent with an average 0.8 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount and are in…
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Why Single-family Houses Make Better Investments than Apartment Buildings
One of the first decisions a real estate investor has to make is whether to purchase single-family houses or apartment buildings. I’d like to make a case for why a single-family house or a portfolio of houses often make better investments, particularly if you’re just getting started. Lower purchase price Depending on where you invest,…
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Home Prices Reach Record High
The median sales price for an existing home reached a record level of $304,100 in July, going above $300,000 for the first time in history, according to the National Association of Realtors. July’s median sales price increase was the 101st month of gains when comparing year-over-year prices. Price jumps are a reflection of high demand…
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With the economy sputtering, why is real estate soaring?
Q: Do you think unemployment will skyrocket when the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) money runs out? I know many business owners who will pay employees with PPP money for eight weeks then lay them off. I will be doing that with 25 percent of my employees. Can you guess at an unemployment rise number as…
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How reliable are those online reviews of real estate agents? A consumer group reviews the reviews.
While about 90 percent of home buyers and sellers work with a real estate agent, consumers don’t always do their due diligence when choosing that agent. Among first-time buyers, arguably the people who could benefit the most from an agent with extensive expertise, the majority (69 percent) interview only one agent before signing a buyer’s…