Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

The process of buying a home using a VA loan is a little different than using other types of home loans. Here’s how to get started. If you or someone you know are one of the approximately 19 million veterans eligible to buy a home using a VA loan, you’re in luck. This type of mortgage offers […]

Too cold? Too hot? Too dark? Too dated? Too … something else? Try these DIY solutions that cost $500 or less. No matter how much you love your home, there’s probably something about it you’d love to change. Fixing major flaws can prove costly, but many more affordable renovations can make your home more comfortable and convenient […]

And how to decide whether you should buy that house with “potential”. When someone says a house has “good bones,” what exactly does that mean? And if you’re shopping for a home, how can you determine if the one you like fits the definition? If it doesn’t, should you buy it or walk away? While […]

You don’t have to be selling your house to borrow these ideas — straight from the design experts. If you’ve ever been wowed by an open house — and honestly, who hasn’t? — you may well wonder how you can recreate that impressive look in your own home and do it with a holiday flair. […]

Plus, a printable four-week plan to help you get it all done. The days are a little shorter, the nights are a little cooler and the kids are back at school — fall is here, and you know what that means if you’re a homeowner: It’s time to get your house in shape for the […]

Find out which strategy a loan expert says is the easiest for cutting costs over the long term. With inflation tightening household budgets and rising rates making refinancing less attractive, it’s no wonder many homeowners are seeking other ways to lower their mortgage payments. Here are eight smart strategies — straight from mortgage professionals — […]

Tallying all the costs involved in home ownership can give you a true picture of affordability. The best time to get a sense of the costs involved in home ownership is before you begin to look for one. While most prospective buyers are familiar with big ticket items such as mortgage payments and property taxes, […]

Plus, four tips for making maintenance more manageable — do two of these before you even move in. Owning a home can be joyous, bringing you immense pride and a sense of accomplishment. But we won’t lie; achieving that sense of bliss sometimes requires repainting your kitchen ceiling. Or repairing a leak in your shower […]

Trust us when we say you’ll want to think this through. t’s true whether you’re committing to a 30-year mortgage or a year-long lease: you can update your surroundings with a renovation or removable wallpaper, but you can’t change your neighborhood or location. So how do you make sure you don’t overlook the importance of a […]

Three out of four homebuyers in a Zillow survey report having at least one regret about the home they bought. Follow these tips to avoid buyer’s remorse. In a hot seller’s market, it’s easy to get so caught up in the search for a home that you overlook the home’s shortcomings. Or, you may fail […]