Closing Costs: It's about more than your down payment
Posted on Jun 04, 2019
The first step in buying a home is deciding on a budget.
How much house can you afford? Within what price range will you shop?
A down payment is, unfortunately, only one part of that budget.
To correctly determine the affordability of a home, it’s essential that prospective buyers consider the costs that arise at the time of closing.
Closing costs va...
Gardening Can Be a Bed of Roses. Try These Tips
Posted on May 28, 2019
Dreaming of a bed of roses or rows of tasty tomato plants is easy; the reality may feel like a nightmare, particularly to first-timers.
If you’re planning on seeing whether your thumb is green this summer, note that gardeners are just as varied as gardens, and even those who grew up surrounded by high-rise buildings can nurture something from a plo...
The Tiny House Movement: Fad or Solution?
Posted on May 21, 2019
You don’t have to be house shopping to know that “tiny” is very now.
“Tiny” as in “tiny homes,” that is.
TV shows, magazines, and the lifestyle sections of newspapers have been promoting the “small is beautiful” philosophy for months now.
What’s it all about?
A tiny house or apartment is generally described as less than 400 square feet (37.16 square...
Your Home Buyer Now Looks Past Bling for Basic
Posted on May 13, 2019
If you want to recoup your renovation dollars when you sell, be sure to repair that leaky roof before springing for a fabulous new kitchen.
While a new kitchen may sound seductive, simply upgrading it is likely all you’ll need to do to attract prospective buyers.
Today’s buyers are purchasing the basics, and they want them in good shape.
According t...
Starting a RENO? Call Your Insurance Company First!
Posted on May 06, 2019
Here’s something you may not have considered when contemplating a reno:
Be sure to notify your insurance company before taking a sledgehammer to your kitchen.
Big or small, a home renovation can affect your policy.
Here’s why:
If it’s a large project, you may have to live elsewhere while the work is completed.
Unoccupied homes can invalidate a home i...
Bad Neighbours can be Hazardous to Your Properties Value
Posted on Apr 29, 2019
It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare:
Your new neighbour has decided to tear down the charming colonial and build a monster home.
Or he’s turned his backyard into a junkyard. Or she’s having noisy parties.
Yes, having bad neighbours can be awful.
Did you know they also can lower the value of your home by up to 10 percent.
A recent study by the US Ap...