Amid all the details, pressure and advice, it can be hard to focus on what really matters. That’s why I’ve compiled a brief list of what I call “housing essentials.” No matter what house you pick, make sure to look for these basic but important things: A roof in good conditionIf you see worn or missing shingles or broken gutters or downspouts, trouble lies ahead. A bad roof can indicate many interior problems: cracked or stained ceilings,...

  We all want our homes to be a safe place for children and pets. Here’s my list of the top things you can do to avoid accidents or harm:1. Install safety gates. These gates are easy to install (and later remove). They keep little kids from falling down the stairs or entering rooms where they could eat something harmful: laundry detergent or cat litter, for example. And they keep pets out of areas where you have food items or things that could...

Buying your first home can be a financial challenge. You might need cash for a down-payment, closing costs, mortgage insurance and all the typical moving costs and repairs. Here are some of the many programs that help first-time buyers afford their first home: Fast Fact A RealtyTrac survey in 2016 found that homebuyers using down-payment assistance loans saved an average of $17,776 over the life of their first home mortgage. Down Payment and...

Thanks to smart technology, you can cut energy costs through a bunch of new whiz-bang devices. Some of these gizmos are so cheap, they pay for themselves in months. Here’s a list of some of my favorites, but new ones crop up every day. Many can be voice-controlled by Alexa or Google Home, or adjusted by your smartphone from anywhere in the world.  Smart power strips. Not only do they prevent surges, but they cut off items in standby mode (like...

Last year on the home front we saw white kitchens, subway tiles, quartz countertops and a host of gadgets that made our homes “smarter” than ever. But that was then, this is now. So what’s ahead for 2018? According to Realtor Magazine, we can expect everything from robots and “smart” windows to old-fashioned gardens that offer a respite from all the high-tech innovation. Here are several trends Realtor sees coming our way: Smart glass: Just...