Why You Should Own a Home in an A+ School District

Whether you have children or now, it pays to buy in an area with great schools. Realtor.com® recently released a new study that identifies the price premium to buy a home in a strong public school district, as well as the top 10 districts garnering the highest home prices and demand from buyers. School districts […]

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expands Presence in Western New York

Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate recently announced the addition of the newly formed brokerage, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Prosperity in Rochester, N.Y., to its franchise network. Led by broker/owner Danielle Riley, its affiliated sales professionals will continue to serve the greater Rochester area and surrounding areas. “As the youngest franchise owner in our […]

5 Design Trends for Wood Floors

(TNS)—Wood flooring is a classic look for any home, but there are trends to consider when installing a new floor or refinishing an existing one: Wide floor boards If you have smaller rooms, consider the trend toward wider planks, which create the illusion of more space. While wide boards can work in any room, the […]

Rise in Home Prices Pushes Affordability Lower

Solid home price appreciation more than offset a modest reduction in mortgage interest rates to push housing affordability lower in the second quarter of 2016, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today. “Firm job growth, historically low interest rates and healthy price appreciation in many markets are […]

Household Finances: 4 Teachable Moments

Teaching your kids isn’t easy. Whether it’s table manners or why they shouldn’t lie, almost every moment can be a teachable moment at home. And while you don’t want to hand over your checkbook to your children and have them pay the bills or compute your taxes, there are some ways to teach them about […]

Expert Insights: Why Do I Need an Agent if I Can Find a Home by Myself on the Internet?A: While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use an agent. Real estate professionals bring value to the entire process: he or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in the real estate transaction.

A: While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use an agent. Real estate professionals bring value to the entire process: he or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise and handle all the […]

Houzz kitchen tour: minty-green blast of nostalgia

When a couple in Chicago purchased this early 20th century home in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, they knew their kitchen needed a major overhaul. They decided to turn back the clock when moving forward with modern upgrades, enlisting the help of designer Larry Lambert to rework the kitchen’s layout and update the space with […]

Beware, warns Gary Keller, foreshadowing ‘shift’ in housing market

In a speech before thousands of Keller Williams leaders on Thursday, Gary Keller painted a less-than-optimistic picture of where the housing market stands and how it might lead to a “shift” He points to five indicators of a downturn of some sort. …

Expert Insights: What Is the First Step to Buying a Home?

A: Make sure you are ready—psychologically and financially. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I have a steady income? Is my debt lower than my total income? Do I have enough money to pay for the down payment and closing costs? Am I working hard enough to improve bad credit? A house needs constant care […]

Expert Insights: What Can I Expect from a Good REALTOR®

A: Competence, efficiency, and ethics. According to the All America’s Real Estate Book by Carolyn Janik and Ruth Rejnis, good agents take the time to qualify buyers and show properties in their price range. They plan showing routes carefully and have pre-inspected most properties. They have a thorough knowledge of financing options, are up on […]