Twelve days before Thanksgiving, Mark Meaney and his wife, Sue, decided to put their 109-year-old house on the market. They looked at comps of similar-sized homes near their St. Paul neighborhood, agreed on a price with their agent and waited anxiously for their first offer to roll in. Continue reading
A well-staged home can make the difference between a quick sale or a long, drawn-out one. If you don’t declutter and present your property in its best possible light, a prospective buyer might not be able to picture the home as their own. Here are some hacks to get you on the right track: Continue reading
The 2018 real estate market is hot. Buyers are facing a shortage of inventory and sellers are selling their homes faster than previous years. Some markets are experiencing even greater real estate success with increasing home values, more interested buyers, and an influx of new residents. These are a few of the top booming real estate markets so far in 2018. Continue reading
Glenn Stein and his team at Realty Executive in The Villages have had a busy year impacting their community.
They help wherever they see a need, donating approximately $18,000-$20,000 to different local charities each year including Combat to Careers. Most recently, they hosted a musical bingo tournament which raised funds for children in need and are preparing to help host the Vietnam Wall Memorial in The Villages over Veteran’s Day.
However, Stein’s main focus is to help underprivileged children, a cause he holds close to his heart. Continue reading
Getting construction work done is always an exciting prospect, but it can also get very stressful . What could lessen the stress, however, is if you hire a good contractor for your project. To make sure you’re hiring the right contractor, you will need to ask certain essential questions. Here are a few: Continue reading
Usually, the only thing you’d think about when moving is location, location, location. However, when you’re moving for retirement, it’s never the same thing – you have to consider several factors because things will never be the same once you retire. For one, you won’t be earning the same money you usually earn from a regular day job. This means that when you retire, you should be keen on your expenses. Healthcare will also become a necessity during this phase of your life. To ensure that your move during retirement will become beneficial to you in the long run, consider these questions: Continue reading
A few of the most common features that buyers look for when buying a house include the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, and whether or not the home has a garage. Then, there are the few important features that often get pushed to the bottom of the list. Don’t forget the following important features when choosing the right home for you and your family. Continue reading
It’s no secret every homeowner eventually wants to add value to their home. Not only does it boost the resale price, but it can create a more inviting and cozy space. When you stop and think about a home renovation, an overwhelming wave of stress overcomes you because all you can think about is the price tag. Well you’re in luck; adding value to your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
One good option to pay for your home updates would be to take out a low-rate personal loan. Since the duration of a personal loan is anywhere from 3 to 7 years, compared to a home equity loan which ranges from 20 to 30 years, you’ll end up paying way less in interest. Another alternative would be to apply for a 0% interest credit card to finance some of the smaller projects. Be wary, as it can be very easy to overspend when using a credit card. Set up automatic payments each month to chip away at the balance.
We’re not here to talk about a $40,000 kitchen remodel. Most people don’t have that kind of cash laying around. There are many inexpensive projects you can do around your home that will boost the financial worth of your home. Expect to spend around $300-$3,000 to complete some decent projects. Here are some great ideas for how to increase the value of your home at a smaller cost: Continue reading
Do you ever feel like your money is literally flying out the window? Parents have ribbed their kids about turning off the lights and closing the door for as long as there have been homes, but there’s quite a bit of truth behind one of the most common household pet peeves. Wasted utilities can be a monetary black hole in the budget of any family, and in many cases, the ways we’re wasteful aren’t always immediately obvious.
Thankfully, today’s smart home technology can enable every family to do some smart snooping for inefficient habits, and set up intelligent scheduling to keep a home comfortable while minimizing costs. Here’s some helpful advice to consider: Continue reading
It is estimated that over half of people internationally have a pet living with them, and statistics show pet ownership steadily rising every year. With so many people welcoming pets into their families, it stands to reason a pet’s specific needs would eventually make its way into home design. But, while some people go all-out building over-the-top pet palaces, the best design schemes marry a pet’s comfort with their human’s convenience without busting the budget. Here are six affordable home renovations for your pet that are stylish, functional and won’t cost you an arm and four legs Continue reading