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If you sold your home in 2024 or early 2025, you could claim the maximum capital gains exclusions set in 1997. However, since these exclusions aren’t adjusted for inflation, many long-time homeowners still face capital gains taxes, notes Evan Liddiard, CPA and director of federal tax policy for the National Association of REALTORS®. The maximum exclusion […]

Housing market conditions change rapidly, with fluctuating interest rates, price and availability of homes. Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional can help you with the following suggestions: Step 1: Be financially prepared Prequalification for a mortgage loan tells you what kind of loan is best, the interest rate you’ll pay, how much you can spend […]

Before you buy a home, ask Jane At The Lake with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to look into any potential deed restrictions that limit how you can build upon or use your property. Deed restrictions are regulations imposed either by the local community or a homeowners association. These regulations can be found in the county clerk’s property […]

As the costs of homebuying continue to rise, many homebuyers are willing to exchange urban amenities for the peace, quiet, and affordability of country life. If you’re a city slicker moving to the countryside, be prepared for big changes, like using well water and septic tanks instead of city plumbing and dealing with less reliable cell […]

After your home has been closed up for the winter, it’s time to deep clean and make the home fresh in time for spring—the time of the year for renewal and rebirth. Deep cleaning is a great way to embrace the lighter mood of spring, give you a sense of accomplishment, and improve your health with exercise […]

Mortgage interest rates are slowly drifting lower, giving a much-needed boost to both homebuyers and home sellers. Yet, home prices continue to rise, even as more sellers put their homes on the market. Why? The U.S. is still several million homes short of a balanced market. So, do you want to wait for cheaper rates […]

Once the outcome of the presidential election was known, 30-year mortgage interest rates slowly decreased through the end of 2024 from the high 6% range, into the mid-to-low 6% range. Forecasters predicted that they’ll continue to soften, sinking below 5%, just in time for the spring 2025 homebuying season. Wells Fargo agrees that rates will […]

An older home can be a bargain, depending on how much work and money you put into it. Understanding functional obsolescence can help you get the most value for your money. Professional real estate appraisers value properties in two parts—land value and structural enhancements, such as a house. When the home’s design and technologies are too outdated, […]

Thanks to social media, some homebuyers can be ruthless in describing your home to others. If they call your home cheugy (choo-gee), they believe you’re pursuing trends a little too hard, or your home is outdated. What makes a home cheugy is hard to pin down, but these are a few things that writers, redditors, and designers have called […]

Timeless curb appeal should be a goal for any luxury homeowner When it comes to Smith Mountain Lake properties, first impressions matter. Whether you’re a buyer searching for your dream lakefront home or a seller looking to attract the perfect buyer, curb appeal plays a critical role in shaping perceptions and influencing decisions. Let’s dive […]