Blog

05
May
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Let’s Talk Fencing: How to Put a Fence Around Your Home Without Destroying Its Appeal

Many homeowners consider a fence around their property for a variety of reasons, whether it's to keep the dog in the yard or to maintain privacy. However, the wrong fence can entirely change the look of your property and make a beautiful yard a bit of an eyesore. If you're trying to determine what kind of fence will work for your home, here are some tips before you start to dig in the dirt. What's Your Fence For? Before deciding what kind of material to use, it's important to know what type of utility you want for your fence. While…
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04
May
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Refinancing This Spring? How to Choose Between Variable and Fixed Interest Rates

From choosing a real estate agent to finding the right home, the process of getting a mortgage is rife with many different choices. If you're investing down the road, it's likely that you've heard about variable and fixed interest rates and are wondering about the differences between the two and how they can benefit you. While what will work best for you depends on your financial flexibility and market knowledge, here are some basics that will help you make a decision. The Details on Fixed Rates For many homeowners new to the market, the stability of a fixed rate is…
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03
May
By Jim Hasek
Home Seller Tips, ,

5 Tips for Crafting a Counter-offer That Doesn’t Scare Away a Potential Home Buyer

If you've recently put your home up for sale, one of the most exciting parts of the selling process is getting an offer. However, all is not said and done once you've received an offer, as you'll probably want to negotiate a better price. If you're wondering how you can counter without losing a potential buyer, here are some tips when the time comes to negotiate. Lower Your Price (A Little) As a seller, it's important to believe in the price you've put your home on the market for, but lowering your asking price after getting an offer will tell…
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02
May
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Honesty Is the Best Policy: Why You Need to Be Truthful on Your Mortgage Application

There are few things better than finding your dream home and being able to afford it, but simply because you've found the perfect place doesn't mean you should stretch the truth. It might seem tempting to polish your mortgage application a little in the hopes of making a better impression, but here are a few reasons why you should stick to the truth when signing off on your home. Your Credit History Tells All It can be tempting to bump up your salary or make some hefty deposits into your savings account. However, lenders will be taking a look at…
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01
May
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 1, 2017

Last week's economic news included readings on Case-Shiller Home Prices Indices, new and pending home sales. Weekly readings on new jobless claims and average mortgage rates were also released. Case-Shiller reported that home prices rose by 0.20 percent from January to February with a year-over- year growth rate of 5.80 percent. Western cities continued to post the fastest growth rates for home prices with Seattle, Washington topping annual home price growth rates at 12.20 percent; Portland, Oregon followed with a year-over-year home price growth rate of 9.70 percent. Dallas, Texas posted the third fastest growth rate for home prices with…
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28
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Buying a ‘Micro’ Home? Be Sure to Consider These Major Lifestyle Changes First

With the cost of a home on the rise and the concept of being sustainable becoming more popular, many people are considering moving to a smaller home to minimize their impact. It's important, however, to consider what living small is really like before deciding that it's the right move for you. If you're curious about life on a smaller-scale, here are some things to contemplate beforehand. Getting Rid Of The Excess It's just a fact that a smaller amount of space means a smaller amount of stuff, but many people don't realize this works two ways. While you won't be…
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