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Investment properties used to be homes and multi-family properties used for full time rentals. Over the past decade, we’ve seen a new crop of investment properties emerge, the short term rentals. But what’s involved in owning a vacation rental? Is it worth the work? A short term rental is a great investment for a number of reasons. In addition to creating annual income for the investor, the property could also appreciate in value during the time of ownership. Although the short term rental is still a rental property, it often pencils out to much higher income than a traditional long ...

The most important thing on every seller’s mind is the listing price. No one wants to leave money on the table by pricing a home too low. At the same time, pricing the home too high will also likely result in lost dollars either from wasting valuable time on the market or once stale, selling for below market value in desperation. Getting a professional appraisal ahead of time might seem like the solution, but is it? An appraisal can be defined as an opinion of value at a given moment in time. If you are in an ascending market where ...

For generations, homeowners would buy a home for life. Working over the years to make the payments and celebrating the end of the 30 year mortgage were great milestones in the family. Today, few home buyers expect to be in their home for longer than 7 years on average. Paying off a 30 year mortgage seems like an impossible task. Fortunately, there are great ways to pay off your loan which do not involve time. Here are a few tips for paying off your mortgage loan faster.  Biweekly Payments – Work with your lender to determine how they handle ...

Have you wondered if you should consider professional staging for your home before you list it for sale? Most of us have wandered into new home developments and enjoyed the ambiance of a perfectly styled model home. Of course we would all like our homes to give that same impression to potential home buyers, but what would that cost? Understanding the options available to you for staging can help you decide what, if any, professional staging makes sense for you and your budget. What is Staging? First it’s important to understand what professional staging includes. The best answer is, “it ...

If you’ve been searching for a new home no doubt you’ve seen the term, “movein ready.” This description sounds very appealing, but understanding what it actually means is important so you have the right expectations when arranging your home listing tour. First it’s important to remember that the descriptions in real estate listings are written by the listing agent or broker. There is no set industry standard for what agents can say in their listings. While there are guidelines and rules which prevent blatant lying, most home buyers have become aware of the fluffy language used to market a home ...

Before you list your home for sale, it’s time to do a little work around the house – to prepare and make sure your home is seen in the best possible light. These “must-do” items are about showing your home to buyers as one which is cared for and ready for them to add their own brand of home to the space. Taking a little time up front can mean thousands of dollars as buyers start writing their offers. 3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your House for Sale 1. Declutter, Depersonalize and Clean – This is the time to take spring ...

If you are a first time home buyer, or even a repeat buyer, you quickly realize that real estate has a language all its own. Understanding some of the lingo can help you navigate the process a little easier. By learning a few critical terms, you will be in a better position to ask the right questions and make the best decisions. • Buyer’s Market – A real estate climate where the amount of listings outnumber qualified buyers. • Seller’s Market – A real estate climate when there are very few desirable properties listed for sale. • Contingencies – Specific ...

A small kitchen doesn’t have to mean dark or cramped, you can maximize a small kitchen by using these clever tips. From tricking the eye to great ways to get extra storage, these easy design ideas will help you love your small kitchen. • Tone on Tone Colors Scheme – Trick the eye by using subtle variations of the same color palate. • Strategic Shelving – Add a shelf above the backsplash to add room for spices or décor; place on a wall to display glasses or dishware and gain extra storage in the process. • Design with an Island ...

A down payment is the amount of cash a home buyer puts toward the price of a new home. It accomplishes a few things; first it reduces the amount of money you need to borrow and it reduces the risk the lender takes in loaning the money. By reducing the risk, the borrower will typically get a better interest rate on the loan and increase the amount of home they can buy. How Large a Down Payment Do You Need? The amount of down payment needed depends on the type of the loan, the lender and the property price itself ...

Now that the warm summer months are behind us, it’s time to prepare for winter. Regardless of whether you expect to see sub-zero temperatures this season or you live in one of the warmer climates, preparing your home for colder weather can save you money and hassle this winter. So before you dig out your fall sweaters, take a weekend and prepare your home for the cold weather to come. Save on Energy: Fall is a great time to seal drafts in the home which can suck energy out. - Check around doors and windows and replace worn weather stripping ...