Maria Powell | Sellers: How to Attract Millennial Buyers

Sellers: How to Attract Millennial Buyers

Published June 30, 2016

Millennials – who are those born between the 1980s and the early 2000s – currently make up the biggest population of homebuyers in the real estate market across the US. In fact, they make up a whopping 68% of first-time homebuyers.

5 Focal Points to Create a Fabulous Interior

Published June 27, 2016

Without a focal point in a room, there’s no visual starting point for optimal flow. Highlighting a striking feature will help set the mood for a space, and will give something for the eyes to rest on as soon as you enter the room. Establishing a focal point is a key component to smart interior design, and when done right, it will balance the design and won’t necessarily make all other aspects of the room go unnoticed.

Self-Employed? New Home Loan Borrowing Rules You Should Know About

Published June 23, 2016

There are plenty of obvious benefits of being self-employed, including being your own boss and the freedom to choose your own schedule. But applying for a mortgage hasn’t always been one of them.

5 Ways to Enhance Your Patio This Summer

Published June 20, 2016

As the mercury on the thermometer continues to rise heading into summer, you’ll want to make sure that your patio is ready. Outdoor space provides homeowners with the chance to expand their living area, and what better way to enjoy life than amongst the gifts of Mother Nature? Here are a few easy and affordable ways to make sure your patio is ready for endless summer days and nights.

Bathroom Renovation Trends to Consider This Year

Published June 16, 2016

Thinking of giving your bathroom a makeover but not sure where to start? Consider looking at current trends in the world of bathroom remodels to get some inspiration. Updating your bathroom is a sure-fire way to add some value to your property, and tapping into what interior designers are doing to their clients’ homes is a great way to get some ideas and insight into what’s trending in the world of bathroom renovations.

The Ins and Outs of Private Mortgage Insurance

Published June 13, 2016

Can’t come up with 20% for a down payment? Be prepared to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). Borrowers who are applying for a conventional mortgage and aren’t able to come up with a sizeable down payment towards a home purchase will have this additional fee tacked onto their mortgage payments. This is in addition to others like interest, escrow and taxes.

Understanding Capital Gain Taxes When Selling Real Estate

Published June 9, 2016

You’ve probably heard the term “capital gains” float around when it comes to selling real estate, by do you know what it really means? More specifically, are you familiar with the taxes that may have to be paid on these gains, and how they can affect how much money you wind up with?

Kitchen Trends Making a Splash in 2016

Published June 6, 2016

Just about every room in your home could be spectacular, but if the kitchen is ho-hum, there’s lost value there. The kitchen truly is the center of a home. It’s not just where dinner is prepared; it’s also where people tend to gather. Property values are largely dependent on the quality of the kitchen, so if yours needs a little TLC, now’s the time to bring it up to par.

Lenders Take Advantage of Strong Seller’s Market to Diminish Foreclosure Inventory

Published June 2, 2016

Vacant foreclosure properties – dubbed ‘zombie foreclosures’ – are on the decline. According to the second quarter 2016 US Residential Property Vacancy and Zombie Foreclosure Report, there are just over 19,000 properties that are in the zombie foreclosure process, a drop of 3.1% from April and a 30.1% plummet from the same time last year. These properties represent 4.7% of all foreclosures.