If your initial offer to purchase a home is countered, there is no need to stress. In fact, there are lots of reasons why you should negotiate with a house seller, and these include: 1. You can speed up the homebuying journey. The homebuying journey may prove to be long and complicated. If you find a house you want...

Photo by Mohamed Hassan via Pixabay If you're like many Americans, your home is your biggest asset. And if you're thinking of selling your home to use the profits for a new home, sending the kids off to college or simply adding it to a retirement fund, there are a few things you may want to avoid to...

Photo by Engin Akyurt via Pixabay When you choose a private community, you likely do so because of some of the more visible amenities -- the pool, tennis courts and clubhouse are difficult to miss. Which amenities matter most to you -- and which are just nice additions? A look at some of the potential private community amenities...

Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash A dish just about everyone can agree on anytime is pizza, and this tasty recipe for veggie pesto pizza with a homemade cauliflower crust is a healthy alternative to delivery or frozen options. While it takes about an hour to prepare and cook, those extra few minutes of prep are well...

Photo by Evan Dvorkin on Unsplash A conventional loan is the most common type of mortgage used to secure a home purchase. Conventional loans are backed by private lenders and typically conform to the standards established by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In order to qualify for a conventional loan, you must meet several specific requirements. 1. Debt-to-income...

Photo by Designer491 via Shutterstock If you’re new to homeownership, one of your first expenses is homeowner’s insurance. Not to be confused with mortgage insurance, your homeowner policy protects you in the event of a catastrophe. Factors that Impact the Cost of Home Insurance The cost of your home is only one factor in an extensive list of...

A home showing is a valuable opportunity for a buyer, as it enables him or her to walk through a residence and find out what a house is all about. At the same time, a single home showing may be insufficient. Ultimately, there are many reasons why you may want to schedule a follow-up house showing, and these include:...

Image by Chinnapong from Shutterstock The “simple life” is a common phrase but is there such a thing? When defining the words, it’s easy to understand the challenge that comes with pairing them together. Simple (easily understood and presenting no difficulty) + life (existence, being, living). Let's rephrase the quote to say, "The simpler life." Creating a simpler...

Water features aren’t just limited to the outdoors, anymore. You can bring the calming serenity of a soft stream into your home to give a more relaxing atmosphere. They can also be used as room dividers, conversation pieces, or as a simple decoration. Wall Fountains One of the most common ideas for indoor water features is the wall...

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels In the military, sometimes a Permanent Change of Station or PCS move happens quickly and orders to move to a new location can leave you scrambling. When you have to make a fast move, the whirlwind of activity can leave you feeling a little dazed and wondering if you’re forgetting anything. So,...

In many ways, the quality of your life is determined by the condition of your home. If it feels like your home is in disrepair, messy, or cluttered, you're not going to feel comfortable or satisfied with your living situation. While perfection is an unattainable standard, there are a lot of simple things you can do to keep your...

Image by Zach Schorr from Pixabay Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you might discover there is an easement attached to your property. If so, you’re probably wondering how this affects your property values. What is an Easement? In a nutshell, an easement is for one person to have explicit permission to have use of another person’s...