Finished basements save energy and deliver more living space
By finishing your basement, you can gain more living space while reducing the amount of energy loss from downstairs. Basements that are not fully finished typically do not have insulated walls or covered flooring.
Read More
How to choose a builder
Whether the kids have all grown up and moved out or if the kids are on the way and it's time to expand a living area, building a new home is an exciting, yet often agonizing, experience. The reasons for building a new home are many, but regardless of the reason, the process of choosing a builder should remain the same.
Read More
Your dream home doesn't have to be just a dream
The dream of owning your own vacation home is one shared by men and women all over the world. Who wouldn't want their very own sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of every day life?
Read More
Things to look for when shopping for your dream home
A dream home means different things to different people. To some, an ideal home sits atop a hill and has enough rooms to accommodate generations upon generations of family members. To others, a home small in stature but with views to die for is all a homeowner needs.
Read More
Home insulation is a smart investment
While investing in retirement is top of mind for many of us, there are other investments that can pay off over a longer period of time, like insulation. Home improvement specialists tell us that we can protect our home investment, too, with a spray foam insulation like the popular-selling, Icynene.
Read More
Fence etiquette prevents disputes
People fortunate enough to own their own plots of land often choose to fence in their pieces of paradise. Fences serve many purposes: to designate property boundaries, keep pets or children contained in a safe environment, corral livestock, offer privacy or add aesthetic appeal.
Read More
Factors that might hurt a home's value
Nowadays, homeowners looking to sell their homes know it's not as easy to do so as it might have been a few years ago. A struggling economy has made it difficult for many homeowners to sell their homes for a price they're comfortable with.
Read More
The basics of property taxes
Paying property taxes is a necessary side effect of home ownership. Across the United States and Canada, residents are required to pay property taxes based on an assessment of their homes' value.
Read More
New homes are getting smaller
From the early 1990s to the beginning of this century, "bigger is better" certainly was the mantra of the home-building industry. All across North America buyers could browse among home developments boasting homes of 3,000 square feet or larger and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. But according to new data, home buyers are seeking less space today but more in green amenities.
Read More
Easy ways to boost home value
Though the housing market might not be booming, there are still buyers out there looking for a place to call their own. Some potential sellers might prefer a patient approach to selling their homes, choosing to do so when the market rebounds and homes regain some of their lost value. Other sellers might not have a choice and must make due with selling in a lackluster market.
Read More
Schools a big factor in home purchase
There are many factors buyers consider when shopping for a home. From the number of bedrooms to the size of the backyard, prospective buyers have their priorities with what they're looking for in a home. Parents to young children or couples who are planning to start a family soon should also consider the school system.
Read More
Get the best price when selling a home
The housing market has not yet rebounded to pre-recession prices, when buyers seemed to be stepping over one another to bid up the price of homes. Today's sellers may be lucky to get asking price, with the reality being a certain percentage below. However, that doesn't mean sellers should accept bottom-of-the-barrel offers. There are still ways to get the best price possible on an offered home.
Read More
Learn the Basics of Home Warranties
Buying a home is arguably one of the largest purchases a person will make. It can also be one of the most stressful. Individuals take quite a financial leap when buying a home. Even after careful consideration of funds and budgeting, it's easy to become overextended. A home warranty can take some of the bite out of unexpected expenses.
Read More
New Curb Appeal Products for 2011
Ready to spruce up your home's exterior this year? Several recently introduced products are designed to add curb appeal to your house while making maintenance hassles disappear.
Read More
Environment Watch The first 'net-zero' school sets a fine example
Energy efficient construction is celebrating one more milestone. It is now possible to build a facility -- even a home -- that is so energy efficient it produces zero demand on the public electricity supply.
Read More
How to build the greenest home
You are in the driver's seat when it comes to the quality of the features and fixtures in your dream home.
Read More
Builders expect to hear requests for green features
Due to demand, builders today are constantly learning about the new and advanced technologies for home construction. Owner-clients want to be assured of living in the healthiest, most durable, least wasteful house possible -- and therefore, building a home from the ground up is the best opportunity to get it right.
Read More
Construction Quick Tip: Build home equity by building with concrete
Did you know that wood framing is inefficient -- and is yesterday's choice? Progressive builders of homes and commercial buildings today are championing the use of pre-assembled, interlocking concrete forms.
Read More
Home Builder Quick Tip: Concrete walls are replacing wood
Building the envelope of a house with concrete instead of wood is in high demand in the 21st century. Concrete is now a premium choice for delivering energy efficiency -- and as a replacement for wood framing, concrete walls reduce the need for trees and represent a big step in responsible building.
Read More
Real Estate Agents Can Help Save Buyers and Sellers Money
Record-low interest rates and record-low housing prices are renewing interest in the floundering housing market for many people. Now could be the time to sell and buy a new home and earn an even bigger slice of the real estate pie.
Read More
Did You Know?
While many in North America are aware of home price, some might be surprised to learn just how expensive the continent's most expensive homes are.
Read More
Mini Homes a New Housing Trend
Urban apartment dwellers may not be the only people residing in small spaces. The new trend in American home living is housing downsizing, when individuals decide to live in significantly closer quarters -- some as little as a walk-in closet.
Read More
Real Estate Wisdom Changing?
Conventional wisdom with respect to selling a home might be falling by the wayside. Over the years, research on home sales has suggested the best season to sell a home is spring. Buyer demand has traditionally built through spring and into the summer months, when families often prefer to move because doing so does not force parents to uproot their children from school in the middle of the school year.
Read More
Real Estate Investments Depend on Host of Variables
Some people, however, have taken advantage of the sagging real estate market and chosen to buy low, with the idea that the property value will be restored once the economy is restored. While that's a sound investment strategy, there's more to consider when investing in real estate in the current economy, especially for those who are new to the real estate investment game.
Read More
Host of Factors Can Help Reduce Insurance Costs
Perhaps one of the best ways to lower that cost is to reduce insurance costs. Many prospective home buyers might be surprised to learn that home insurance costs often depend on the individual, and aren't set in stone based on the property value, geography or many other factors beyond the control of the homeowner. For those thinking of buying a home, the following tips might help reduce the cost of home insurance, helping make for a smoother transition to home ownership in the process.
Read More
10 tips for a Treasure Coast dream home
Why should you consider St. Lucie and Martin Counties when you think about building your dream home? Here are 10 reasons to get you thinking.
Read More
Make that Florida dream home a reality
For many Americans, the dream of a vacation or full-time home in Florida continues to be one that is very much alive. Year round warm weather, unlimited games of golf, great shopping and activities ... Florida offers just as many treasures today as it did to the explorers that founded the state.
Read More
9 Interior Fixes to Sell a Home Fast
Despite low interest rates and declining sale prices, there is still a lot of home inventory available. That means homeowners thinking about selling have to do whatever they can to set their homes apart from the others available.
Read More
How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent
Buying a home is often a difficult thing to do. The stress of making such a big financial commitment is a struggle for many home buyers, whether they have purchased a home in the past or are doing so for the first time. One way to make the process a lot less anxiety-ridden is to work with a real estate agent you can trust.
Read More
How to Survive Buying Your First Home
But first time home buyers in the market for a home can prepare themselves for the process ahead of time. Though the following tips might not guarantee a smooth and stress-free home buying experience, they can answer a few questions and facilitate the process.
Read More
Use Reverse Mortgages to Access Equity for Retirement
Reverse mortgages, also known as FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) in the United States, are growing in popularity among the senior set. With this type of plan, homeowners who own their home outright or have a very small mortgage payment can actually receive cash from the home that doesn't require immediate payback. This money can be used for improvements, medical expenses or to supplement social security.
Read More
