Buying a home is more affordable now than it has been for more than two years, according to the latest data in the ICE Mortgage Monitor Report. Principal and interest payments on a median-priced home fell to $2,148 a month, or 30% of median income. That’s the highest level of affordability recorded since early 2023.…
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Do you ever dream of a clutter-free home where you’ve turned your back on the “evils” of consumerism for the freedom of minimalism? You would not be alone if this is your idea of nirvana. When selling your home, an experienced agent should always advise you to depersonalize and declutter – a strategy that creates…
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With mortgage rates falling, many renters are now realizing the possibility that owning their own home is within reach. A total of 30% of all property buyers in September were first-time owners, according to the latest monthly data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And while prices have continued a slow climb, Freddie Mac…
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Very few of us love to spend hours cleaning our homes, so if there’s a strategy or shortcut to get the job done faster then most of us would welcome it. Taking a few minutes every day to complete a few 60-second cleaning tasks will make your home better organised and cleaner. If you have…
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Improving your home is one of the best investments you can make, as it adds value to a significant financial asset and enhances your lifestyle. The cost of labor and building materials can dissuade many people from upgrading their homes, but the value you add will pay you back. You’ll get a much better price…
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Who doesn’t love a squirrel? They’re cute with big eyes and a fluffy tail. You’d give them a hug if they weren’t full of disease and the fact they’d bite your finger off without a second thought! Nevertheless, squirrels are cool so long as they know their place – and that’s up a tree, storing…
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Sales have surged for new single-family homes, rising more than 20% in August compared with 12 months ago, according to the latest data from the US Census Bureau. The spike in new home transactions, which represent 14% of America’s real estate market, has been ignited by builders offering discount deals to lure buyers who’ve been…
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Successful investors and landlords understand what it takes to offer an attractive home that delivers strong rental income, and they pay close attention to the quality of their tenants. Whether they intend to work with the tenants themselves or use a property manager, they’ll look at the deal from the tenant’s perspective. A tenant’s journey…
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With our mortgage rates continuing to slowly taper down towards the 6% benchmark, realtors are reporting an increasing volume of inquiries from owners now thinking of selling. Most Americans spend between five to seven years in their home before upgrading to their next property. However, the high interest rate environment since Covid has forced many…
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Have you ever considered turning your home into a haunted house to maximize its value and give you a capital gain beyond your wildest dreams (or nightmares!). No? Good. Haunted houses don’t usually sell well. But maybe there is one day when you can enjoy the fantasy – Halloween. And it’s coming on October 30th. …
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