Lori Blank & Associates

05

Oct

Real Estate

Keep Your Home Free From Clutter With These Helpful Unpacking Tips

The thrill of purchasing a new home is unparalleled; however, once you close on the sale, the dreaded unpacking process begins. You probably did not realize just how much stuff you had until you had to pack it all up. Worse yet, you need to unpack it when you get to your new home. If you don’t unpack intelligently, your new home could end up disorganized and full of clutter. With this in mind, how can you unpack without leading to a tremendous amount of clutter in your home? Get Rid Of Items You Do Not Need As you go…

04

Oct

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 4, 2021

Last week’s economic reporting included readings from S&P Case Shiller Home Price Indices, the National Association of Realtors®' report on pending home sales, and the University of Michigan’s final consumer sentiment index for September. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. S&P Case-Shiller Reports 4th Consecutive Month of Record Home Price Growth July Home Prices grew at a year-over-year pace of 19.70 percent as compared to June’s home price growth rate of 18.70 percent according to S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. The S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index reported that July home prices grew by…

01

Oct

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

3 Autumn-inspired Decor Ideas That Will Spice Up Your Home

With the season of jack-o-lanterns and crunchy leaves under foot, there can't help but be plenty of ways to integrate the loveliness of autumn into your home decorations. Whether you're looking for a simple touch or a statement that will completely define a room, here are a few ideas for highlighting the best the fall has to offer. Showcase a Seasonal Bouquet A vase full of flowers can add a lot to any room in the house, but a great way to integrate the season outside with your home is to make a bouquet that will utilize the best of…

07

Aug

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Lowballing 101: How to Avoid Insulting a Home Seller when Making a Low Offer for Their House or Condo

Buying a home is a huge step for people who are ready to make an investment in their future. Getting a great deal on a home is just as important and knowing how much to offer could be confusing. It is important to make sure the home seller is not insulted by the lowball offer and is ready to negotiate to make sure everyone wins. Make a List of Necessary Improvements One of the best ways to validate a lowball offer on a home is to list improvements that need to be made to the property. If the home needs…

07

Aug

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

3 Reasons Why Changing Your Kitchen And Dining Room Lighting Fixtures Can Increase Your Sale Price

If you are considering selling your home, you may be wondering if there are things that you can do to increase your sale price. The truth is, you could spend thousands of dollars updating your home, but most homeowners will not want to put in such a large investment without knowing how much it will add to the selling price. Fortunately, there are more affordable things that can be done. One affordable change to your home that can increase your sale price is to change your kitchen and dining room lighting fixtures. There are a number of reasons why this…

06

Aug

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

DIY Home Improvement: How to Spice Up That Boring Basement by Adding a New Bar

If you live in a home with a basement, you may have already started finishing it, or you may have big plans to convert the space into something more usable and practical. When it comes to basement renovations, few projects add as much value and opportunity for entertainment as adding in a basement bar. A bar is an easy home improvement project to complete, and you can use it for entertaining family and friends. Here’s a quick guide to installing a bar in your basement and turning that dank, dreary room into a great space for making new memories. Preparing…

06

Aug

By Lori Blank

Home Mortgage Tips

Five Tips for Managing Your Monthly Budget to Ensure Your Mortgage is Paid On-Time, Every Time

Homeowners who are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments can make it easier on themselves by cutting costs in other areas. Learning how to budget effectively will likely enable homeowners to pay their mortgage payments on-time, every time. Here are five of the best budget tips: Conserve Energy It is advisable to be mindful of energy use in order to keep utility bills down to a minimum. Lights, televisions and other devices requiring electrical power are best to leave off in unoccupied rooms. It is also a good idea to make sure that windows and doors are properly sealed…

05

Aug

By Lori Blank

Home Seller Tips

Former Smoker? A Quick Guide on Getting Rid of Smoke Smells and Paint Stains Before a Home Sale

As exciting as selling a home should be, there's no denying that it can be a stressful endeavor for those interested in making their home an attractive option for buyers. Nowhere is this more evident than for homeowners who were former smokers. While it's truly commendable to quit smoking, removing the smell of smoke from a home can feel like an impossible task. With that in mind, here are some of the most effective ways to make smoke smell and paint stain removal as effortless as possible. Make Preparations Beforehand Cigarette smoke has a nasty habit of permeating through every…

04

Aug

By Lori Blank

Market Outlook

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – Aug 4, 2014

Last week's economic news included a number of housing related reports. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, pending home sales dropped by 1.10 percent in June. The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports for May noted that home prices are growing at a slower rate of 9.30 percent year-over-year than April's year-over-year growth rate of 10.80 percent. Construction spending was also lower in June. The Fed's FOMC statement indicated that asset purchases connected to quantitative easing will cease in October, but that the current target federal funds rate is expected to stay in place "a considerable period" after asset…

01

Aug

By Lori Blank

Home Seller Tips

The Definitive Guide to Boosting the Number of Offers on Your Home in a Slow Sales Market

The economy and the real estate market are finally on the upswing after the 'Great Recession'. However, in many locations, the housing market is still slow. Homeowners who want their houses to sell need to do some homework before putting up that For Sale sign. Here are several tips to help your house sell sooner rather than later. The Price Is Right A house priced too high will languish on the market. Before listing your home for sale, make sure the price is appropriate. Look at the prices of recently sold homes in your neighborhood. Focus on houses of similar…