Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

During periods of inflation, buying a home can offer a way to stabilize housing costs for decades to come. Today’s housing market looks a lot different than it did when the year started, with buyers and sellers adjusting to the twin realities of high inflation and spiking mortgage interest rates. While the market remains a hot […]

Looking for home upgrades that add value and don’t cause you to blow your renovation budget? This list has great suggestions. Paint. Broadband. Dog house. You might think these easy, low-cost home upgrades wouldn’t add much value, but Zillow research shows that these and other home upgrades with estimated price tags of less than $100, $500 or $1,000 […]

Searching for your dream home and wondering if it’s worth buying a fixer-upper and making it your own? Here’s what you need to know. While the process of buying and renovating fixer-upper homes has increased in popularity due to fix-and-flip home improvement TV shows, not everyone is cut out for major renovation projects.  In fact, […]

If you’re in the process of buying a home you may have heard the term “contingency.” These are clauses in your contract that give you an out if something unforeseen arises from the time you make an offer until you close. Real estate contingencies protect you from losing your earnest money if you walk away from the transaction and […]

2022 is proving tough for all aspects of home renovation, from hiring contractors, to buying supplies. Here’s what to expect — and ways to cope. If you have plans to renovate your home — or if you’re shopping for a fixer upper to buy, you might be wondering whether now is a good time to remodel […]

11 pet-friendly maintenance and decor tips that can help keep your house a sneeze-free zone. You love your pet, but you don’t love it when your pet triggers your allergies. If cat fluff and dog dander give you a scratchy throat and watery eyes, you don’t have to live an animal-free life. You can still have […]

About 46 percent of home buyers are purchasing a home for the first time, and with that first home can come particular financial hurdles around saving for a down payment, and paying for closing costs. About two-thirds (64 percent) of first-time buyers put less than 20 percent down on their first home, and a quarter put down 5 percent […]

Even if you’re just window shopping, these 10 steps will help ensure your finances are ready when the right house does come along. As springtime approaches and the home buying frenzy begins, many people have homeownership on their minds. But buying a home right now might be challenging — a shortage of homes and a highly […]

From purchasing a home with friends, to buying a yurt (yes, a yurt!), there are numerous alternatives to buying a single-family home. Here is our list. If you’ve spent time looking for homes online, you’ve probably come across a place that blows away your understanding of what a home can be. Maybe it was a […]

Use this decision tree to answer financial and lifestyle questions that can help you determine whether buying a house is right for you. Determining when to buy a house isn’t only about your financial readiness, though it is definitely one aspect — a house is probably one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make. Beyond the […]