As you start to gather up your belongings and pack them away for your move, many sellers question which items they should leave out for buyer appeal. Often the wrong items are left on display; things like family photos, personal keepsakes, and treasured belongings. All of these items should be safely packed away which very often creates open space (a plus for buyers) on shelves, refrigerator doors, and desktops. Buyers often make a decision...

As the race for the 2012 Presidential Election gets rolling, a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows what is on voters’ minds. Topping the list of concerns for voters is the importance of homeownership and the ease of obtaining it. The survey showed that American voters “strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal...

Welcoming a new baby into a household can be both exciting and terrifying. How do you know that your home will fit a child’s growing needs? Is it safe and practical for an infant? These are both important questions to ponder as you prepare your current space or look for a new one. First, there are simple safety precautions all parents should take. Be sure to put plugs in all outlets. Babies are fascinated by things that are at their level...

Real estate agents use comparable sales or “comps” (properties recently sold in the area) to see what the market bears for a listing price or value range marketing. But what makes a home a good comp? A few things must line up in order for the agent to utilize the comp to justify your listing price. The same neighborhood, school district, similar street and, of course, similar housing features and size. If these things align, then a...

You’ve probably heard it all over media outlets. “Affordability is at an all-time high.” “Interest rates are below 4.0 percent!” The question remains, however, why buy a home? What do these proclamations actually mean for you? Let’s look at these claims. Affordability is at an all-time high. This is calculated by a ratio of median household income to median home prices for any given area. According to the...