By Barbara Pronin Improving the look and functionality of your home goes a long way toward boosting its value. But what types of renovation are today’s buyers looking for? If you are thinking of remodeling, a national survey by Consumer Reports reveals the most sought-after amenities: Kitchens top the list – Buyers want a clean,… Read More
By Jim Burch The home of the future doesn’t just live in science fiction anymore. You can own it today. Better yet, it doesn’t require thousands of dollars or long construction times. Home automation is available and affordable thanks to wireless Internet and smartphones. If you want to make your home smarter and work for… Read More
Whether your home is newly listed or it’s been on the market for awhile, even if you’re simply thinking about selling, it’s never too early to prepare for the home inspection. What will the home inspector be looking at? How can you prepare for the inspection? There are a few important but manageable projects that… Read More
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in December, improved moderately in January. The Index now stands at 98.1 (1985=100), up from 96.3 in December. The Present Situation Index was unchanged at 116.4, while the Expectations Index increased from 83.0 to 85.9 in January. “Consumer confidence improved slightly in January, following an increase in… Read More
The tips below are certainly helpful but I always take issue with anyone telling you that Real Estate transactions are difficult, stressful or overwhelming. If your agent is doing their job there should be no stress or difficulty involved. The article suggests you hire a lawyer. This is never bad advice, but you should also… Read More
The predicted positive outlook for 2016’s Real Estate Market is already proving accurate. Both resale housing inventory and builder confidence are up, and home-buyer activity is significantly above average for the first month of 2016. A “normal” price increase for the market nationwide has historically been 5-7%. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year… Read More
Tis the season. Did you know most homeowners can write off all mortgage interest up to $1.1 million for primary and secondary residences, as well as property taxes? Credits for property taxes and other tax breaks are also offered to in 21 states and the District of Columbia. But mortgage interest and property taxes are… Read More
This past Tuesday was National Pizza Day. Seriously, who was it that saw fit to designate just ONE day to what is arguably the most enlightened culinary development of modern civilization? Do we not owe Pizza more respect than one day? Don’t you agree that a week would be far more appropriate? Since childhood I’ve… Read More
When it comes to home renovation, it’s smart to focus on improving the areas that see the most use, not only for increased functionality and enjoyment, but also to boost the home’s value come resale. Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and game rooms top the list of rooms homeowners would most like to remodel, according… Read More
A: Yes, thanks to the many city and county governments that offer Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) programs, which allow first-time homebuyers to take advantage of a special federal income tax write-off. The credit reduces the amount of federal taxes paid by the buyer each year, if he keeps the same loan and lives in the… Read More
