Real Estate Blog

There are things that everyone shares: the need for food, the search for love, and the intrusion of mice into our homes. But don’t despair! There are several ways to deter and remove mice. Read on to learn about a few of the more well known, if a little out-there, methods.

Peppermint Oil And Cotton Balls

The smell of peppermint is lovely for humans, but terrible to a mouse’s nose. Put a few drops of pure peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them where you’ve noticed evidence of mice. Be careful to change those balls for fresh ones at least once a week – once the smell wears off, cotton balls are great material for a mouse nest.

Dryer Sheets

Another strong smell that will discourage mice from your home is dryer sheets. Place fresh ones

Sometimes a move is unavoidable, regardless of how much you or your kids' would rather stay in your current home. If your young ones are not looking forward to a change in scenery, here are a few tips to help them make a smoother transition into their new home:

1. Involve Them

Involving your children in the moving process will not only help them to better understand the move, it will also make them feel as though they are more in control of the situation.  By taking them to open houses they'll become familiar with the neighborhoods you're considering moving to, and will have the chance to see first-hand some of the benefits that a new home would offer over your current one.  

2. Say Goodbye

Moving can be an emotional time for children, and

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose yet again last week. In fact, rates were up across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. But despite higher rates, the number of Americans requesting applications for home loans rose from the week before. Michael Fratantoni, MBA's chief economist, told CNBC that application demand may have bumped up in anticipation of the Fed raising interest rates last week. “Mortgage rates increased at least partially as a result of the Federal Reserve's rate hike and move to a slightly more hawkish stance,” Fratantoni said.

If you've followed the housing market at all this year, you've likely heard something about inventory. Inventory refers to the number of homes available for sale. This year, it's been lower than usual. And, when for-sale inventory is low and buyer demand is high – as it's been this year – prices rise and sellers hold most of the negotiating power. In many markets, that has been the story this year. However, according to a new analysis from Trulia, whether or not low inventory will affect a buyer's home search depends on where that buyer is looking and what kind of home they're looking to buy. For example, starter homes had the largest drop in inventory last year, falling 10.7 percent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the number of high-end homes for

Mortgage lenders surveyed by Fannie Mae in November say credit standards across all loan types eased during the previous three months and should continue to over the next quarter. The fourth quarter 2016 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey found lenders concerned about recent mortgage rate increases but generally optimistic about the availability of mortgage credit. Looser credit is good news for prospective home buyers who may be concerned that they won't be able to qualify for a mortgage, as it generally means lending requirements become more lenient. But despite credit standards loosening, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's senior vice president and chief economist, says the recent spike in mortgage rates presents a challenge after years of interest rates hovering

Selling a house can be an emotional experience. On the one hand, you're moving and eager to get started on a new and exciting chapter of your life. On the other, you're leaving a place where you've made memories and developed attachments. So the last thing you want, once you've put your home on the market, is to find it isn't popular with buyers. But how can you make sure your house attracts qualified buyers who are ready to make an offer? Among the tips experts often offer home sellers, pricing it right always tops the list. Prospective home buyers are, first and foremost, looking for something that fits their budget. After all, it's going to be easier for a buyer to bend on whether or not their new home has granite countertops in the kitchen than it

There are a number of perspectives from which you could view the housing 

market. That's why there are surveys gauging the attitudes of buyers

and sellers, as well as Realtors, mortgage lenders, and builders.

Each has an unique take on the real estate market that is based on

their specific role. For example, an agent may have a very different

understanding of their local market than the average home buyer, if

only because of their experience and expertise. Builders are

considered an important measure of the market because they have a

ground-level view of how many people are shopping for new homes, the

challenges facing builders, and the amount of foot traffic they're

currently seeing. For this reason, the National Association of Home

Builders' Housing Market Index

With approximately one million people having purchased vacation homes in the last year, this type of residence is gaining popularity for those who are interested in a home in a beach setting or a vacation hot spot. However, while a second home can seem like a great purchase and solid investment opportunity, there are different requirements that go into this type of purchase. If you're considering a vacation home, you may want to be aware of the following financial factors.

The Down Payment Amount

If you currently have a primary residence, you may be aware that you don't need to put down 20% or even 10% in order to make a home purchase, but things are different when it comes to a vacation home. Because you will be taking on an additional mortgage,

Owning a home is a big draw for buyers. In fact, recent data from the National Association of Realtors shows 31 percent of all buyers said they were purchasing a house because they wanted to own. Among first-time buyers, that number shoots up to 67 percent. Obviously, the dream of ownership is alive and well. But the second most common reason buyers cited when asked why they were purchasing a home was because they wanted something bigger. And the number of buyers who say they need a larger home is rising. According to economist Amanda Riggs, there are a couple of reasons for this. One is the number of homeowners who have been waiting to sell as home prices rebounded from the housing crash. These homeowners may have built up enough equity over the past few

The number of homes for sale that are described as “fixer-uppers” is on the rise – which is good news if you're a homeowner that hopes to sell your house “as is” or a buyer looking for a project. The analysis, done by Zillow, found that, over the past five years, there's been a 12 percent increase in the number of homes on the market that'll require some extra love from their new owners. They also found that the trend is more pronounced on the higher end of the market, with a 35 percent increase in the number of “fixer-uppers” among the top third of homes for sale compared to a 3 percent increase among more affordably priced homes. So why are more homes being listed “as is”? Simply put, the increase is due to low inventory. With fewer houses for sale,