Should You Buy A Fixer Upper?

If you've expressed any interest in buying a home that you can work on, your real estate agent may present you with one or two fixer upper properties for your consideration. Fixer upper homes can offer good value for certain kinds of homebuyers. But not everyone should buy a fixer upper. Here are some considerations to keep in mind. There May Be Unforeseen Conditions Until you actually get in there and start renovating, you cannot know exactly what is behind those walls. Fixer uppers could have unforeseen conditions that could blow away your renovation budget. If you do decide to…
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4 Ways To Choose The Right Home Service Professional

As a homeowner, there are numerous situations in which someone might need a home service professional. On the other hand, this can also create a sense of vulnerability because people might not know who to choose. In order to find the right home service professional, there are a few tips that people need to follow. Confirm Credentials Credentials and experience are great markers of a home service professional’s training and track record; however, it is still important to confirm these credentials. Be sure to ask the contractor for references regarding his or her prior work. Then, take the time to…
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Pros And Cons Of Completing Home Renovations Before Selling

Whether you originally bought a fixer-upper or you're just a homeowner who wanted to update their house, chances are you have seen your share of home renovations. Home renovations have the potential to greatly add to the value of your property, but they can also add to your own quality of life. Hopefully, you have completed your home renovations and gotten plenty of use out of them before listing your home for sale.  If not, you may find yourself wanted to move before all the renovations are complete. What's the best course of action? Should you put the time and…
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4 Surprising Things That Might Increase Your Home’s Value

You've probably heard that living near excellent schools or having curb appeal can boost the value of your home. However, a home's value is dependent upon a lot of different factors. Some of these things are more obvious than others. Things that might seem insignificant can have an impact on your home's worth. Here are some surprising things that can affect the existing value of your home or how much a buyer is willing to pay for it. #1 A Blue Kitchen or Bathroom Painting your home is an easy and cost-effective way to update your home. Just make sure…
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The Benefits of Using a Veterans (VA) Loan To Purchase Your Home

U.S. military veterans have opportunities to enjoy some richly-deserved benefits in other aspects of their lives, including some special options for financing their homes. VA loans may give active military personnel, retired veterans, and sometimes surviving family members of veterans the ability to purchase homes that might not prove available to them through more conventional mortgage loans. But the mere fact that you can do a thing doesn't necessarily mean that you should. In some circumstances, military home seekers may find other types of loan options more amenable to their specific needs. If you've decided to pursue a mortgage loan during or…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 29, 2016

Last week's economic reports included readings on new and existing home sales, a speech by Fed Chair Janet Yellen, and a report on consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. New Home Sales Rise in July as Pre-Owned Home Sales Fall Sales of new homes jumped in July to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 654,000 sales, which surpassed expectations of 579,000 sales and June's downwardly-revised reading of 582,000 sales. This was the highest reading for new home sales since 2008 and represented a 31.30 percent increase since July 2015. Builders were seen by…
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