Buying Multi-Generational Home
National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that the share of multi-generational home buyers rose to 14% in 2022––close to an all-time high. Here’s a closer look at multi-generational living, along with tips for finding a home that’s suitable for a diverse group.
Home Staging Tips to Attract Buyers and Sell Faster
Home staging tips are important for a successful sale. Selling your home quickly and at the right price takes more than just listing it online. To draw in potential buyers and secure top offers, your home needs to stand out. That’s where home staging comes in.
By strategically preparing your home—through redecorating, repairing, and making it look its best—you can make a lasting impression and significantly increase its appeal.
Top 4 Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Mortgage
The key to finding the right home loan for you is to look for one that you’ll feel comfortable with long after you’ve closed on your new property. In addition to comparing term lengths and mortgage rates, also consider how the loan will fit your daily life and preferences.
Florida Back to School Sales Tax Holiday for Florida July 29 – August 11, 2024
Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday begins Monday, July 29, 2024, which means shoppers won’t pay sales tax on most of the things found on a student’s supply list! Sales Tax Holiday ends August 11, 2024.
How To Increase My Home’s Value: 7 Weekend Projects
Increase Your Home’s Value with These 7 Weekend Projects.
Relocation Guide for Florida
The peak moving season is upon us. According to Move.com, almost 70% of U.S. moves occur between May and September. Thinking about a relocation? This guide is for you.
10 Pro Tips for a Smooth Home Move
Whatever your circumstances, the road to the closing table can be riddled with obstacles — from issues with showings and negotiations to inspection surprises. But many of these complications are avoidable.
Save Money on Florida Home Insurance
This 7 strategy article presents expert advice and practical solutions to navigate Florida’s evolving insurance landscape, empowering homeowners to secure comprehensive coverage without breaking the bank.
Downsize Your Home To Optimize Your Life
Downsize your home to optimize your life. It may be time to trade unused square footage for a smaller, more manageable space. Included are tips to make this adjustment much easier for you.
Real Estate Market Forecast: Opportunities for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2024
Real Estate Market Forecast: Trends for this year show many opportunities for home buyers and sellers in 2024. Look for interest rates and the number of houses listed to change.
Investing in Real Estate As a Landlord
Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans’ favorite ways to grow their wealth. Read the Pros & Cons of Being a Landlord with Income from rental Properties.
My Home Didn’t Sell… Now What?
My Home Didn’t Sell… Now What? We’ve outlined the top five reasons a home doesn’t sell—and action steps you can take to overcome each of these issues.
10 Tips to Attract the Best Offers for Your Home
Several articles have been released concerning home design trends in 2023. We have chosen ten of these designs that you could try, as a do-it-yourself project, to update your property this year.
How to Avoid Home Buyer’s Remorse
Several articles have been released concerning home design trends in 2023. We have chosen ten of these designs that you could try, as a do-it-yourself project, to update your property this year.
Renovate or Relocate? Tips To Help You Decide
Does your current home no longer serve your needs? Should you renovate or relocate?
Home Sellers: How to Get the Highest Price For My Home
In this article are some tips to get the highest price when selling your home. It is all about preparation, pricing, and promotion to get the top dollar for your home.
Florida Hurricane Preparations Checklist 2023
Hurricane Season starts June 1 & goes through November 30, 2021, and is predicted to be about average with number of storms. Be Prepared with these Check Lists & Tips.
First Time Home Buyers: How to Budget For a House
It’s not easy being a first time home buyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low. Here are some workarounds to consider as you plot your first home purchase.
Stress-Free House Cleaning: 30 Practical Tips for Busy Households
House cleaning and keeping an orderly home is a challenge for many of us. Between busy work schedules, social obligations, and family commitments, it’s tough to keep up with daily chores—let alone larger seasonal tasks. The effort is worthwhile!
Selling Your Home: Sellers Checklist
If you want to maximize your sale price, it’s still important to prepare your home before putting it on the market. We have included a check list for your convenience.
10 Home Design Trends to Try In 2023
Several articles have been released concerning home design trends in 2023. We have chosen ten of these designs that you could try, as a do-it-yourself project, to update your property this year.
10 Tips for First Time Home Buyers
Making the leap from renter to first-time home buyer can be a daunting process. With so many steps and decisions to make, it can seem overwhelming at times. But it doesn’t have to be!
With the right guidance and preparation, you can make the leap from renter to first-time home buyer smoothly and successfully. In this article, we’ll offer our top 10 tips for first-time home buyers so you can make the transition without any hiccups.
Sellers: How to Get Highest Price For My Home
In this article are some tips to get the highest price when selling your home. It is all about preparation, pricing, and promotion to get the top dollar for your home.
8 Strategies to Secure Lower Mortgage Rate
8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate This year, mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. Even the experts are divided about where rates are headed next1 when it comes to predictions. There is hope for you in that you might get a lower mortgage rate. This climate has been unsettling for some homebuyers and sellers. However, with proper planning, you can work toward qualifying for the best mortgage rates available today – and open up the possibility of refinancing at a lower mortgage rate in the future. How does a lower mortgage rate save you money? According to Trading Economics, the average new mortgage size in the United States is currently around $410,000.2 Let’s compare a 5.0% versus a 6.0% fixed interest rate on that amount over a 30-year term. Mortgage Rate (30-year fixed) Monthly Payment on $410,000 Loan(excludes taxes, insurance, etc.) Difference in Monthly Payment Total Interest Over 30 Years Difference in Interest 5.0% $2,200.97 $382,348.72 6.0% $2,458.16 + $257.19 $474,936.58 + $92,587.86 With a 5% rate, your monthly payments would be about $2,201. At 6%, those payments would jump to $2,458, or around $257 more. That adds up to a difference of almost $92,600 over the lifetime of the loan. In other words, shaving off just one percentage point on your mortgage could put nearly $100K in your pocket over time. Therefore, how can you improve your chances of securing a low mortgage rate? Try these eight strategies: 1. Raise your credit score. Borrowers with higher credit scores are viewed as “less risky” to lenders, so they are offered lower interest rates. A good credit score typically starts at 690 and can move up into the 800s.3 If you don’t know your score, check with your bank or credit card company to see if they offer free access. If not, there are a plethora of both free and paid credit monitoring services you can utilize. If your credit score is low, you can take steps to improve it, including:4 Correct any errors on your credit reports, which can bring down your score. You can access reports for free by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Pay down revolving debt. This includes credit card balances and home equity lines of credit. Avoid closing old credit card accounts in good standing. It could lower your score by shortening your credit history and shrinking your total available credit. Make all future payments on time. Payment history is a primary factor in determining your credit score, so make it a priority. Limit your credit applications to avoid having your score dinged by too many inquiries. If you’re shopping around for a car loan or mortgage, minimize the impact by limiting your applications to a short period, usually 14 to 45 days.5 Over time, you should start to see your credit score climb — which will help you qualify for a lower mortgage rate. 2. Keep steady employment. If you are preparing to purchase a home, it might not be the best time to make a major career change. Unfortunately, frequent job moves or gaps in your résumé could hurt your borrower eligibility. When you apply for a mortgage, lenders will typically review your employment and income over the past 24 months.5 If you’ve earned a steady paycheck, you could qualify for a better interest rate. A stable employment history gives lenders more confidence in your ability to repay the loan. That doesn’t mean a job change will automatically disqualify you from purchasing a home. But certain moves, like switching from W-2 to 1099 (independent contractor) income, could throw a wrench in your home buying plans.6 3. Lower your debt-to-income ratios. Even with a high credit score and a great job, lenders will be concerned if your debt payments are consuming too much of your income. That’s where your debt-to-income (DTI) ratios will come into play. There are two types of DTI ratios:7 Front-end ratio — What percentage of your gross monthly income will go towards covering housing expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, and dues or association fees)? Back-end ratio — What percentage of your gross monthly income will go towards covering ALL debt obligations (housing expenses, credit cards, student loans, and other debt)? What’s considered a good DTI ratio? For better rates, lenders typically want to see a front-end DTI ratio that’s no higher than 28% and a back-end ratio that’s 36% or less.7 If your DTI ratios are higher, you can take steps to lower them, like purchasing a less expensive home or increasing your down payment. Your back-end ratio can also be decreased by paying down your existing debt. A bump in your monthly income will also bring down your DTI ratios. 4. Increase your down payment. Minimum down payment requirements vary by loan type. But, in some cases, you can qualify for a lower mortgage rate if you make a larger down payment.8 Why do lenders care about your down payment size? Because borrowers with significant equity in their homes are less likely to default on their mortgages. That’s why conventional lenders often require borrowers to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) if they put down less than 20%. A larger down payment will also lower your overall borrowing costs and decrease your monthly mortgage payment since you’ll be taking out a smaller loan. Just be sure to keep enough cash on hand to cover closing costs, moving expenses, and any furniture or other items you’ll need to get settled into your new space. 5. Compare loan types. All mortgages are not created equal. The loan type you choose could save (or cost) you money depending on your qualifications and circumstances. For example, here are several common loan types available in the U.S. today:9 Conventional — These offer lower mortgage rates but have more stringent credit and down payment requirements than some other types. FHA — Backed
Home Sellers: Avoid These 7 Costly Mistakes
Whatever your circumstances, the road to the closing table can be riddled with obstacles — from issues with showings and negotiations to inspection surprises. But many of these complications are avoidable.
Overcome Inflation With Real Estate Investments
The Top Home Design Trends for 2022 are represented in the above photo. Key words: warm, inviting, minimalist, back to nature, rounded, earth tones, variety of textures. These design trends will be covered in this article.
Higher Rates Short Supply Real Estate 2022
A high offer price gets attention. But most sellers consider a variety of factors when evaluating an offer. With that in mind, here are five tactics you can utilize to sweeten your proposal and outshine your competition.
Write A Winning Real Estate Offer
A high offer price gets attention. But most sellers consider a variety of factors when evaluating an offer. With that in mind, here are five tactics you can utilize to sweeten your proposal and outshine your competition.
Real Estate Market Trends Palm Beaches 2022
What’s the state of housing market in SE Florida 2022? Home prices soared in south Florida by a record 29% between January 2021 – January 2022, a history maker.
Top Popular Home Design Trends 2022
The Top Home Design Trends for 2022 are represented in the above photo. Key words: warm, inviting, minimalist, back to nature, rounded, earth tones, variety of textures. These design trends will be covered in this article.