Living in a home that’s for sale can be stressful and it can be a real disruption to your normal routine. However, by using several different strategies and by planning ahead, you can minimize your stress level. Put as much of your belongings as you can into storage. When you’re getting your home ready to go on the market, try to put as much of your belongings as possible into storage, whether it’s in your own home or in an off-site storage facility. By doing this, you’ll hav

"THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW HOME SALES IN OUR AREA. HOW CAN WE SET OUR LIST PRICE IF WE DON’T HAVE ANY COMPARABLE SALES TO GO BY? ALSO, TO COMPLICATE THINGS, WE’VE MADE A LOT OF UPGRADES TO OUR HOME." This is a situation in which having an experienced real estate agent who knows your area is vital. Not having any recent sales in your neighborhood—and the fact that your home has undergone a lot of upgrades—does provide a few challenges, but a good real estate agent will be able

One of the best ways to add value to your house is through a home improvement project. However, there are plenty of pitfalls when it comes to remodeling. Here are six critical mistakes to avoid: 1. Not talking to your real estate agent ahead of time. Before you decide on any renovations or remodeling projects, it’s imperative that you sit down and discuss your plans with your real estate agent first. Their knowledge of which home improvements projects are beneficial—as well a

"I’D LIKE TO PUT MY TAX REFUND TOWARDS MY DOWN PAYMENT, BUT I KNOW THAT THE FUNDS FOR MY DOWN PAYMENT NEED TO BE IN MY ACCOUNT WELL BEFORE MY LOAN CLOSES. WILL THIS BE A PROBLEM?" Normally, lenders require that your down payment be “sourced and seasoned.” What does that mean? Having sourced funds mean that you can provide a paper trail of where the money came from. Seasoned funds are funds that have been in your account for a particular length of time, usually between 60-90 d

Here are a few tips for selling your in the winter: Price your home fairly. Although home prices continue to rise across the U.S., prices do tend to be lower in the winter and many potential buyers are hunting for deals. With that in mind, you and your real estate agent will need to set a fair list price. Make sure you understand the market conditions—which do include the current season—and price your home accordingly. Curb appeal is critical. Making your home look enticing f

What sets an FHA Streamline Refinance apart from a conventional refinance is that verification of your income, employment and credit score is not required. Also, a home appraisal is not necessary with an FHA Streamline Refinance. If you’re eligible, the FHA will allow you to use your home’s original purchase price—or your most recent home appraisal—as your home’s current value for the refinance. The two biggest eligibility requirements are as follows: 1) You must have a perfe