6 ‘Beige Flags’ That May Annoy You About Your New Home—and How To Fix Them
August 07, 2023
1. Lack of closets- “Ideally, you want [to add a closet to a] wall, so that it has a built-in look and aesthetic design,” says Mino.2. Not enough electrical outlets- It might be tempting to bring in some extension cords, but it’s far safer (and prettier) to add new outlets where you want ...
What is a HUD foreclosure?
August 04, 2023
What exactly is a HUD owned home and how can I purchase one? A HUD home is a house that has been foreclosed on that had buyers that originally used FHA insured financing to purchase the property. The homeowner could not make the payments for whatever reasons and the lender was forced to foreclose on the house. HUD ...
Challenges Remain for Buyers and Sellers as Market Avoids Crash
August 03, 2023
After record-breaking pandemic-era speed and price growth during 2021 and 2022, the housing market has largely settled down and avoided a crash in prices, but certain challenges remain. According to a new report by Zillow, home values have returned to growing at pre-pandemic rates, a trend that Zillow expects to continue; rent has also returned to an acceptable ...
8 Ways to Passively Cool Your Home, Office
August 02, 2023
As temperatures soar in many areas across the country, homeowners are looking for relief while also keeping their utility bills in check.Steve Wilson, director of technical underwriting at home insurance group Hippo, says “passively cooling” your home will put less burden on your air conditioning to manage the indoor temperatures. After all, he warns, cranking up the ...
Construction Starts On Co-Op Grocery Store In McHenry County
August 01, 2023
MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Construction is underway on a community-owned and controlled grocery store in McHenry County.The Food Shed Co-op, which will be located at Route 14 and Lake Shore Drive in Woodstock, is expected to open later this year. A grand opening date has not yet been announced.On July 18, the board of directors for McHenry ...
Work With Trusted Professionals
July 27, 2023
Your realtor will have a better sense of the conditions in your local market than any publication. Nationwide trends are informative, but you need to know what’s going on in the area where you intend to buy. So get help from a real estate agent with experience in the area and you’ll have an inside track on ...
Are home prices dropping in Michigan?
July 26, 2023
Are home prices dropping in Michigan?In June 2023, 47.8% of homes in Michigan sold below list price, down 7.5 points year. There were only 26.1% of homes that had price drops, down from 26.0% of homes in June last year. There was a 100.8% sale-to-list price, down 1.3 points year over year. ...
HOUSING REPORT
July 17, 2023
The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased by eight basis points in June but ticked back up again the last few weeks. The rate now sits at 6.96% for the week ending July 13—a 15-basis-point increase from the previous week—according to Freddie Mac. A basis point is one-hundredth of one percentage point.Meanwhile, existing home ...
Real Estate Agent advises against Radon Test
July 17, 2023
Q: When I bought my home, the home inspector recommended a radon test for an additional $200. My agent, who attended the inspection, said there had not been any high radon levels in the neighborhood and that the additional fee was a waste of money. So I didn't get a radon test. After closing escrow, I bought a ...
What are the steps a home goes through in Foreclosure?
July 15, 2023
The foreclosure process can vary depending on the state, but there are some general steps that all homes go through.Step 1: DefaultThe first step in foreclosure is when the borrower defaults on their mortgage payments. This means that they have missed two or more consecutive payments. Once the borrower is in default, the lender will send them a ...
Finding the right mortgage for you
July 14, 2023
Are you thinking of buying a house? How do you know what type of mortgage is right for you?The type of mortgage you use to buy a house affects what you'll need to qualify for the loan (including the required down payment amount) and how you'll pay it back. Choosing the right home loan can ...
Benefits of Buying a Starter Home
July 14, 2023
Every buyer entering the home search has an idea of the dream home, but for the first time home buyer a smaller starter home is the perfect path to building equity and creating stability. A starter home is usually one that is more modest in size, typically 2 or 3 bedrooms, under 1200 square feet and at ...
5 Summer Home Maintenance Tips
July 14, 2023
As we enjoy the summer sunshine it is good time to get some home maintenance done too! Here are some items you should be sure to get completed before the summer nights get shorter! Check your home's siding - Check for any lose, damaged or rotted siding and make any repairs if necessary. Hiring a siding ...
Run Your Business, Don't Let Your Business Run You
July 14, 2023
It would be nice if all we had to do was focus on doing the things we love to do in real estate. Showing properties, writing offers, engaging with clients. These are things we love to do, but we must remember that we are also running a business. This is true whether we own our own office or if ...
5 Tips For Buying This Summer
July 13, 2023
5 Tips for Buying a home this Summer 1) Get preapproved for a mortgage before you start shopping.2) Team up with the right lender and agent.3) Be prepared to offer Asking Price or Higher-Price is a major deciding factor when seller reviews offers. 4) Write a "Clean" Offer-the least amount of ...
A Shorter Home Sale Timeline Equals More Money MLive 2023-06-25
July 12, 2023
Whenever a home comes to market, the seller wants to understand how long they should expect the process to take. Over the last two years the time it took to get an offer, go through escrow and transfer to a new owner was as short as it has ever been. The factor behind this speed was almost exclusively due ...
What are 5 things you need to know before buying a house?
July 12, 2023
Buying Your First Home: 5 Things to Know Before You Do#1 Your Down Payment May Not Be the Biggest Hurdle. ...#2 You Probably Will Have to Compromise. ...#3 Be Emotionally Ready for Financial Surprises. ...#4 A Mortgage Can Be Cheaper Than Rent. ...#5 Your Lifestyle May Call for Buying Instead of Renting....
Appraisal
July 11, 2023
An appraisal is one persons opinion of value of an object. The object could be a piece of jewelry, an oil painting, or the home you are planning on purchasing. In the case of a home, the bank or mortgage company sends out an objective third person to confirm that the value of the home is at ...
On the House: How Much House Can You Really Afford?
July 11, 2023
By Clare TrapassoJul 11, 2023Q:How much can I afford to spend on a home?That’s a tricky question because there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to it. Buyers can check out the Realtor.com® affordability calculator to get a sense of how much house they can afford. But the exact amount depends on your personal circumstances.Experts recommend that ...
DIY bathroom ideas on a budget - clever ways to update and give more value to your home
July 08, 2023
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/bathroom/bathroom-ideas/diy-bathroom-ideas-on-a-budget-251558 HOME BATHROOM BATHROOM DECORDIY bathroom ideas on a budget - clever ways to affordably update a tired schemeGive your bathroom a new look for less with these do-it-yourself updatesEveryday use can take its toll on our wash spaces, but you can easily give yours a refresh with one of these DIY bathroom ideas on a ...
HUD Announces More Than $3.1 Billion to Help People Experiencing Homelessness
July 07, 2023
HUD No. 23-134HUD Public Affairs(202) 708-0685FOR RELEASEWednesdayJuly 5, 2023HUD Announces More Than $3.1 Billion to Help People Experiencing HomelessnessIn response to a growing homelessness crisis, HUD makes largest-ever single-year investment in communities’ homelessness response systems.WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it will provide more than $3.1 billion ...
Foreclosure shouldn't be a dirty word
July 07, 2023
We're all aware of the stories in the mainstream media about the instances of unconscionable behavior exhibited by rogue servicers, lenders, brokers or service providers during the foreclosure process. This was especially pronounced in the early days of the housing meltdown in 2008, but the images and perceptions linger today. The stories were easy to tell — compelling, ...
Home Affordability Worsens Across U.S.
July 07, 2023
Home Affordability Worsens Across U.S. During Second Quarter Of 2023 As Home Prices Tick UpwardsMajor Home-Ownership Expenses Consume One-Third of Average Wage; Historic Affordability Hits Low Point Since 2007; Affordability Declines as Median Home Price Spikes 10 PercentIRVINE, Calif. – June 29, 2023 — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, ...
Everything a First Time Buyer Should Know
July 06, 2023
Buying your first home can be an exciting and intimidating experience all at the same time. It’s a major milestone in anyone’s life, but it can be daunting to navigate the complex world of real estate and mortgages. Fear not, though! With a little bit of knowledge, you can confidently navigate the home buying process and make ...
Home Prices Continue to Rise Despite Sales Slowdown
July 05, 2023
Low housing supply continues to push up home prices, and eager buyers are showing willingness to pay more. The median existing-home price for all housing types in August reached $407,100 nationwide, a nearly 4% increase compared to a year earlier, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday. This also marks the third consecutive month for median sales ...
