Looking for Luxury? How to Upsize Your Next Home Without Upsizing Your Costs

Size matters when you are buying a new home. Whether you plan to expand your family, need more room for your stuff, or are concerned with resale value, you want to get the most space for your money. Also, if you want to add a feel of luxury to your home, one of the best ways to do it is to create open spaces rather than cramming all your furniture in rooms so tiny you can barely walk around without knocking something over. Traditionally speaking, the larger a home is, the more it costs. If there are two newly built…
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Don’t Be That Guy or Gal: 3 Easy Ways to Ruin Your Relationship with Your Real Estate Agent

Are you thinking about buying or selling a home? If you don't know a real estate agent or have a referral to one, you may end up working with someone unfamiliar who you will need to build a relationship with. Of course, as with any relationship there's always a chance that things can go sour. In today's blog post we'll share three easy ways that you can ruin the trust and rapport that you've built with your real estate agent. #1: Lie or Embellish the Facts When you ask a real estate agent to represent you in the home buying…
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First Time Buyers: Understanding How Property Taxes Work and What You Can Expect to Pay

Are you about to buy a house or condo for the first time? Congratulations! Owning your own piece of real estate is a liberating experience and one that will provide you with the foundation to build your personal wealth and equity. Once you own your own home you'll be responsible for a variety of new costs, including property taxes which are assessed by your local government to pay for municipal services. In this blog post we'll share how property taxes work and what you can expect to pay for them when you buy your new home. It All Begins With…
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Trying to Save on Your Closing Costs? Here Are Three Tips That Can Help Lower Them

Whether you're about to close on a lovely new house for your growing family or a stylish beachfront condo so you can retire close to the ocean, one thing is certain: you're going to face a variety of closing costs. Insurance, taxes, financing fees, title fees, attorney fees and other costs will need to be paid, and if you're a savvy buyer you'll do everything you can to save on them. In today's post we'll share three quick tips that can help you reduce your closing costs when you buy your next home. Tip #1: Include Closing Costs in Your…
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Buying an Investment Property? Here’s How You Can Maximize Your Rental Revenue

Whether you're buying a ski-in/ski-out condo at your favorite resort or you're thinking of picking up a small home in a busy tourist area, buying a property for short-term rental purposes can be an excellent investment that quickly begins to provide additional revenue. Let's take a quick look at a few steps that you can take to maximize the revenue that your investment properties bring in each month. Upgrade Your Home to Give It a Luxurious Feel It should go without saying that if you want your home to rent for a high price it has to have a significant…
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You Ask, We Answer: Should I Consider a Warranty when Buying a New Home?

Are you buying a new home? If so, you've likely pondered whether or not you should invest in a warranty to protect your investment. In today's blog post we'll briefly explore home warranties including some of the pros and cons of buying one and how they differ from homeowner's insurance. The Benefits of Buying a Home Warranty Home warranties are an excellent solution if you're buying a brand new home which has a lot of new appliances and fixtures inside of it, or if you're not really the "do it yourself" type and would prefer to make a service call…
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