If it seems that new homes these days have included garages better suited for a Tonka truck than a real one, it’s not your imagination. With land at a premium, home builders can maximize the living space square footage by skimping on the garage size. As a result, many homeowners are lucky to fit one car in their two-car garage. But there are ways to make the most of the space you have by employing a few simple tips.

A common regret around taking down the holiday decorations is how bare the home looks suddenly. Fortunately for anyone ready to upgrade their design in 2023, new trends are offering more comfort and coziness than we’ve seen lately.

Over the past few years, most of the US has been in a strong seller’s market. Historically-low interest rates coupled with rising incomes resulted in buyers who were ready and able to buy a new home. It was a crazy time when sellers needed to do little more than put a sign in the yard to attract multiple offers.

In previous decades, a warm, cozy home required dark colors and heavy materials. One can envision sitting in front of a roaring fire in a dark room filled with pillows and wood paneling. Contemporary homes are brighter, with clean lines and light colors and textures. The challenge is how to create an inviting, cozy space that everyone wants during the cooler months. Fortunately, it’s not necessary to choose between the claustrophobic styles of the past and warm inviting rooms.

Homebuyers have had a rough time lately. First, the frenzied housing market stymied so many offers and caused frustration due to a lack of inventory. Now that the pace and prices are dropping, interest rates have ticked to alarming levels. While some buyers are postponing their purchase, those still in the market are starting to consider more creative financing, including an ARM (Adjustable-Rate Mortgage).

Most people have heard that annoying sound – a mouse running through the wall or in the rafters of the garage. Often these problems can be solved quickly by luring them out and plugging the openings they entered through. But what if unwanted animals are in your chimney?

The most important aspect of listing your home for sale is the asking price. Unlike many other items we purchase, home prices are based on what a willing and able buyer would pay for the property. Sounds complicated, right? This is why real estate agents bring comps (short for comparable properties) information with them to the discussion. Yet are you using the right comps to successfully sell your home?

Does it seem like you do everything possible to lower your electric bill and still see no measurable difference in your bill? The simple reason is you may have energy vampires in your home. The good news is these creepy creatures do not require a visit from your local ghostbusters team, these energy suckers are hiding in plain sight and easy to remove.

World events and government spending has led to soaring inflation

The solar panel industry has mushroomed over the past few years. Almost every homeowner has at least considered adding solar panels to their home to take advantage of the energy savings they promise. But reducing energy consumption with solar does not stop at solar panels on the roof.

Just because your budget is feeling the pinch with rising food and energy costs doesn’t mean your style has to suffer. Ditch the big investment purchase ideas and try some simple updates that will change the look and feel of any room quickly and for a lot less than a new couch.

Over the past decade, our yards have become an extension of our living space. However, you will want to avoid these mistakes that can derail the best of intentions and turn the yard into an epic failure

Since the beginning of the year, the US economy has been cooling off. After several years of strong growth, rising inflation and energy costs are affecting US households in ways not seen since the 1970s. For those who are actively involved in the buying or selling of real estate, there is confusion and fear about how the economic slowdown will affect their options.

News reports all over the country are filled with stories of rising crime. Homeowners and business owners alike are concerned and looking for better ways to safeguard their properties and lives. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of options available on the market; from full-service security companies to DIY smart home systems, there is a solution available for every budget.

Buying a new home is exciting and confusing. There are a lot of steps to buying a home, and people have questions. These are the most common questions home buyers have, and the answers.

Farmhouse décor has been a trend for the last decade. The look combines functionality with a relaxed, lived-in feel. Pieces look slightly worn, rustic, and inviting. The ease of the farmhouse style is one of the reasons for its lingering appeal as designers look to modernize and update the look.

With so many buyers vying for the same property, it’s important to write the best offer right up front. Here are 5 tips to help you write a strong offer.

Many times, sellers make quick decisions and hope for the best, even as home prices continue to climb.

This is where a kick-out clause can help.

A kick-out clause allows a seller to continue to market the home for sale after accepting a buyer’s offer with contingencies. It also outlines the conditions under which a seller can cancel, or kick-out, the contract if they get a better offer.

With soaring home values and rising interest rates, many potential first time home buyers find saving for a down payment increasingly difficult. For many people, the main source of savings is in the form of a 401k and tapping into this resource for a home purchase is one way to find the down payment necessary to finance a new home; but should you use your 401k to buy a home? Experts are conflicted.