How to save on college costs? Consider buying property near campus
If you have a child in college, no doubt you’ve experienced the severe sticker shock that comes with higher education. There’s little you can do about rising tuition fees, but what about room and board? One option is generally overlooked: Sometimes, buying property in the college town can lower your costs-and provide a lucrative investment down the road. Consider Tom K. Wilson’s story, as related by Boston.com. In 2001, the electrical engineer-turned-real-estate investor purchased a three-bedroom home in San Luis Obispo, so that his daughter...
read moreForget matchy-matchy, cozy is the new decorating trend
You can decorate sleek. You can decorate vintage. Or, if you’re following a current trend, you can just do as you feel and decorate “cozy.” “Cozy seems to be the buzzword for 2018,” designer Joan Craig recently told the Associated Press (AP). “Every client this year has told us they want their home to be soft, warm, relaxed, luxurious…and easy.” What does this mean in practical terms? Here are 4 tips to creating a cozy home, from AP: Think lush and soft: When it comes to fabric, comfort is key-even in outdoor furnishings. As Craig notes,...
read moreWater your lawn the smart way: with your phone
You’re out getting drinks with a friend when it starts to rain. Meanwhile, at home your sprinklers are set to turn on, despite the downpour. Should you: a) race home to turn them off and avoid wasting water and money; or b) forget about it and order another round of martinis? Actually, we choose option c): Why not just pull out your smartphone and turn your sprinklers off from your seat at the bar? When it comes to watering your lawn, a relatively new product is winning accolades from our clients. Called the Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller...
read moreThree ways to save money on your mortgage
Let’s face it, It takes a leap of faith to commit to a 30-year home mortgage. After all, who knows what the next 30 years will bring, financially speaking? The good news is that if your circumstances improve, or the market shifts, you can save yourself thousands of dollars in the long run by revisiting your loan. Consider these three options, as detailed by thebalance website: Refinancing: When refinancing, you take out a new loan with new terms. You then use this loan to pay off your first loan. The main reason to do this is to secure a...
read moreModern houses burn faster – time to learn key safety tips
Years ago, a person alerted of a fire had 17 minutes to get out of their home before the fire and smoke grew out of control. Today, that number has dropped to an alarming three minutes or less. Why the difference? Experts say modern design is the culprit. “Open floor plans provide oxygen and don’t provide barriers,” notes a recent article in the Washington Post. “And synthetic building materials and furnishings burn at a much faster rate than the natural products used decades ago.” Approximately seven Americans die every day in house fires,...
read moreDriverless cars could steer real estate investments in coming years
The idea of driverless cars has captured Americans’ imaginations-and no wonder. Just consider the joy of reading a book while your car skillfully steers itself through the madhouse of morning traffic! But the changes such cars will bring go far beyond giving commuters peace of mind during rush hour. They are likely to also affect real estate trends. From new suburban development to fresh use of city space, interesting scenarios are beginning to take shape. Driverless cars are likely to affect where people live and do business. For example,...
read moreMillennials account for more than 30% of home purchases, despite challenges
Move over, baby boomers. The millennials are driving the housing market these days. According to the 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study, released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), millennials now account for 36% of home purchases, compared to baby boomers at 32%, Generation Xers at 26% and the Silent Generation (born between 1925 and 1945) at 6%. As they move into the housing market, millennials face the frustrations of a nationwide trend of low inventory, which is forcing a steady rise in prices. “Prices keep...
read moreWhat the new tax bill means for homeowners
The Republican tax cuts passed in 2017 will have sweeping effects on the country, including the pocketbooks of homeowners. As such, it has drawn the attention—and concern—of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In a recent press release, the NAR notes that the final bill is a mixed bag: “Although the final tax reform bill is far from perfect and the results are mixed, it is significantly better for homeowners than previous versions.” What does the bill mean for homeowners? Here are some of the pertinent items: Capital gains exclusion:...
read moreTime to sell the family home? Don’t think of it as downsizing
The kids have grown and flown the nest, and now you’re looking at your longtime home and wondering what do to with all that space. Time to downsize? To answer that question, it’s best to re-frame the issue. Don’t think of it as downsizing. Instead, consider it rightsizing. Rightsizing means thinking of your current needs and what will best fit them. Perhaps you’re tired of doing lawn work. Rightsizing could mean moving to a patio home or condo. Planning to entertain grand-kids? Rightsizing likely means finding a place that’s less expansive...
read more7 ways to turn your backyard into the perfect retreat
As the weather warms, many start thinking of summer-and of turning that dull slab of cement and ragged patch of grass in the backyard into an idyllic retreat. Oh, for a beautifully furnished patio overlooking a glorious swath of greenery and gardens where one can relax and soak in nature’s glories. If this is your idea of paradise, don’t wait for the weather to turn. Now is the time to start planning. Here are some ideas to consider, offered by RisMedia’s Housecall: Look closely at any wooden decks: After a long winter, wood can warp and...
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