This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. It truly “takes a village” to keep a community functioning effectively, whether that’s by keeping our waterways clean, feeding the hungry, teaching our kids, or supporting small ... Continue Reading » about 10 Ways to Give Back to Our Local Community This Holiday Season
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Should You Buy a New or Existing Home?
Maybe your dream home has the intricate details that you usually find only in older construction - wainscoting and crown molding in the interior, the front porch with a swing, an older tree shading the back yard, and the white picket fence. Or maybe your dream home has all the conveniences of ... Continue Reading » about Should You Buy a New or Existing Home?
7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price
Over the past few years, a real estate buying frenzy bid up home prices to eye-popping amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled. 1 Consequently, home sellers who enter the market today may need to reset their expectations. The reality is, it’s no longer enough to ... Continue Reading » about 7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price
Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers & the “Instant Cash Offer”
Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, many tech companies want to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes. iBuyer companies like Zillow, Opendoor and Offerpad are also known as Direct Buyers. These companies use ... Continue Reading » about Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers & the “Instant Cash Offer”
Shut Down Home Intruders With These 7 Safety Strategies
According to the FBI, more than one million burglaries are committed in the United States each year, with victims suffering an estimated $3 billion in combined property losses.1 Fortunately, there are some proven tactics you can use to decrease your likelihood of a home invasion. Most burglars ... Continue Reading » about Shut Down Home Intruders With These 7 Safety Strategies
Finding a New Home for Your Next Stage of Life
Imagine the first place you lived as a young adult. Now imagine trying to fit your life today into that space. Not pretty, right? For most of us, our housing needs are cyclical.1 A newly independent adult can find freedom and flexibility in even a tiny apartment. That same space, to a growing ... Continue Reading » about Finding a New Home for Your Next Stage of Life
Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home
Deciding whether to jump into the housing market or rent instead is rarely an easy decision – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. But in today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership. A real estate boom ... Continue Reading » about Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home
Renters for a Weekend or a While: What’s the Best Use of Your Investment Property?
The residential rental market is a huge segment of the housing market. In the United States, the demand for single-family rentals, defined as either detached homes or townhouses continues to rise. At the same time, the short-term, or vacation, rental market is also booming. The popularity of ... Continue Reading » about Renters for a Weekend or a While: What’s the Best Use of Your Investment Property?
Real Estate Relocation Guide: 7 Steps to a Seamless Move
Whatever your reasons are for relocating to a new area, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re moving across across town or across the country, you’ll be changing more than your address. Besides a new house, you may also be searching for new jobs, schools, doctors, restaurants, stores, ... Continue Reading » about Real Estate Relocation Guide: 7 Steps to a Seamless Move
HOUSE CARE CALENDAR: A Seasonal Home Maintenance Guide
From summer vacations to winter holidays, it seems each season offers the perfect excuse to put off our to-do list. But be careful, homeowners: neglecting your home’s maintenance could put your personal safety—and one of your largest financial investments—at serious risk. In no time at all, small ... Continue Reading » about HOUSE CARE CALENDAR: A Seasonal Home Maintenance Guide
10 Staging Secrets From the Pros for a Home Sale at Top Dollar
According to the National Association of Realtors, staging a home prior to listing it can result in a faster and more profitable sale.1 In fact, the Real Estate Staging Association estimates that professionally staged properties spend 73 percent less time on the market, receive more foot traffic, ... Continue Reading » about 10 Staging Secrets From the Pros for a Home Sale at Top Dollar
What’s Your Home Buying Power in Sacramento?
If you’re in the market for a new home or investment property in Sacramento, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “What can we afford?” Many buyers become so caught up in how much they can afford that they don’t realize their total buying power—that is, the total amount of purchasing ... Continue Reading » about What’s Your Home Buying Power in Sacramento?
Take Advantage of Your Home Equity: A Homeowner’s Guide
Homeownership offers many advantages over renting, including a stable living environment, predictable monthly payments, and the freedom to make modifications. Neighborhoods with high rates of homeownership have less crime and more civic engagement. Additionally, studies show that homeowners are ... Continue Reading » about Take Advantage of Your Home Equity: A Homeowner’s Guide
8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate
Mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride this year, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. And even the experts are divided when it comes to predicting where rates are headed next.1 This climate has been unsettling for some homebuyers and sellers. ... Continue Reading » about 8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate
Why Real Estate Investing Makes (Dollars and) Sense
Turn on the television or scroll through Facebook, and chances are you’ll see at least one advertisement for a group or “guru” who promises to teach you how to “get rich quick” through real estate investing. The truth is, much of what they’re selling are high-risk tactics that aren’t a good fit for ... Continue Reading » about Why Real Estate Investing Makes (Dollars and) Sense
10 Pro Tips for a Smooth & Easy Move
The process of buying a new home can be both exhilarating and exhausting. But the journey doesn’t stop when you close on your property. On the contrary, you still have quite a bit to do before you can begin the process of settling into your new place. Fortunately, you don’t have to do everything ... Continue Reading » about 10 Pro Tips for a Smooth & Easy Move
5 Steps to Finding Your Next Home in Sacramento
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, shopping for a new home can feel daunting. In fact, 56% of buyers said that “finding the right property” was the most difficult step in the home buying process.1 Buying a home is a significant commitment of both time and money. And a home ... Continue Reading » about 5 Steps to Finding Your Next Home in Sacramento
How to Avoid the Top 8 Home Inspection Mistakes
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of buying a home. Once you’ve had an offer accepted on your dream house, you’ll probably be anxious to move in. However, before you make a significant financial commitment, it’s best to know exactly what you’re buying. When you hire a home inspector, ... Continue Reading » about How to Avoid the Top 8 Home Inspection Mistakes