Lori Blank

21

Nov

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Home Seller Tips

4 Tips On Hosting A Cozy Open House

The weather is starting to become a little too crisp for outdoor barbecues and camping. When Mother Nature goes into hibernation, then it's time to move the party indoors. Whether you're looking to show off your new digs or have just listed your home on the market, winter is the perfect time to host an open house. You want this to be a fun event that is as stress-free as possible. So plan ahead and don't go too crazy. With a little furniture rearranging and a casual menu, you can plan a special evening that everyone will enjoy. Below are…

20

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Home Buyer Tips

3 Common First Time Home Buyer Mistakes That Can Cost Thousands

Buying real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it's very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely. Many first-time home buyers make rookie mistakes that bring on negative consequences and a lot of frustration. Outlined below are common errors home buyers make, so you can learn from their missteps and avoid them yourself. 1. Buying More Than What You Can Truly Afford Just because the bank says that you qualify a certain amount for a mortgage doesn't mean that…

19

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

Housing Market Index Shows Builder Confidence Remains Above 50

The National Association of Home Builders released its Housing Market Index for November on Monday. This month's HMI reading was 54 against expectations of a reading of 55. October's reading was also 54 after being downwardly revised. Readings over 50 generally indicate that a majority of builders surveyed are confident in current housing market conditions, but the current pause came after two months of decline in home builder confidence. While the short term index readings are lower than in past months, the HMI is currently 20 percent higher than last year. David Crowe, chief economist for NAHB said that "the…

18

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 18, 2013

The Veterans Day holiday on Monday contributed to a quiet week for economic news. On Wednesday the reading for the federal budget deficit for October fell from September's reading of -$120 billion to -$92 billion. Freddie Mac Released Its Primary Mortgage Market Survey On Thursday The average mortgage rates increased across the board, but remain below historical levels. The rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose by 9 basis points from 4.16 percent to 4.35 percent with discount points decreasing from 0.80 percent to 0.70 percent. The average 15-year mortgage rate rose from 3.27 percent to 3.35 percent with…

16

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Home Buyer Tips

5 Great Questions To Ask At An Open House

An open house gives you a great opportunity to look more closely at real estate you might be interested in buying. It also affords you the chance to chat with the owner or real estate agent so you can bring up any issues or hesitations you have with the home. Knowing what to ask can be difficult, so below are examples of questions to ask at the next open house you attend. Why Has The Seller Decided To Sell Now? If you ask why the seller is moving, you could learn valuable information to help determine your offer or possibly…

15

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Spice Up Your Home This Holiday Season

Updating home decor used to be more than just a small task and a lot of work. Fear no more if you have a flair for home decoration projects you are in luck. Nowadays there are so many resources and outlets to use. There are no more excuses for not being to afford a home decor project. DIY Is The New Black There a billion home decor and DIY magazines and websites out there but the best way to receive fresh and unique ideas Pinterest has become the new Google in DIY projects. Not only does it provide inspiration and…

14

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Home Building Tips

4 Ways A Real Estate Agent Can Help During The New Construction Process

You've found the perfect new development and think your children would love swimming in the community pool and riding bikes on the wide streets. The new construction's sales agent gave you a price and made a strong pitch urging you to buy immediately. The question is, should you sign on the dotted line or bring in a real estate agent to handle the contract and negotiations? The first thing you need to realize is that the new construction sales agent represents the developer and has their investment in mind. A real estate agent is someone who will be on your…

13

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

How To Be Energy Efficient This Fall

Summer has been over and Fall is really here, temperatures are beginning to drop, and you’re dreading having to turn the heat on for the first time. Firing up the furnace can burn a hole in your pocket, but there’s something you can do about it. Consider these tips to help lower your heating bill. Replace Your Air Filters Get new air filters for your central heating and cooling. The filters get clogged and it takes more and more energy to keep your house warm. Be sure to clear out any dust bunnies or cobwebs from behind the filter. Use…

12

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Personal Finance

When Should You Shred Your Financial Documents?

How do you know what happens to your documents when you put a piece of paper in the trash? It can be difficult to know who is seeing it and what they are doing with it. It isn't very common to burn trash anymore; therefore you can be sure that your paper garbage or recycling is likely to pass through several hands on its way to a landfill or recycling center. Step-By-Step, Your Documents Can Get Pilfered Every step that occurs once the trash leaves your control has risk that someone will find personal information they can use to cause you harm.…

08

Nov

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

4 Quick Tips To Clean Out That Closet This Fall

Your living spaces are the most important rooms in your home. They're where you read bedtime stories, have family dinners and make many memories. However, most of these rooms wouldn't be as inviting or function well without their valuable out-of-sight storage spaces — their closets. Imagine clothes thrown across bedrooms and toys scattered all over the living room. Closets are essential to keeping your home organized, clean and livable. So set aside one weekend this month to tackle your mini storerooms and turn them into orderly spaces with the tips below. Designate A Theme For Each Closet Every closet in…