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The housing market slows during the holidays, but that could be the best time to sell your home. With less competition from other sellers and homebuyers who want to close and move by the New Year, you can use the holidays to charm and engage your home’s future owners with these 5 tips: Pile on […]

Mortgage insurance has two purposes—protecting lenders from potential homebuyer defaults and to allow homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage without making a large downpayment. Mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) are paid as part of the mortgage payment for a loan guaranteed by the government, specifically the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). MIP stays with the loan for its […]

If the home you inherited or live in requires too much work and expense to bring to market, you may consider selling the property at lot value. Lot value simply means that the property is valued for the land only, and that the home upon it is so obsolete, derelict, or damaged that it should be […]

The smoky aroma of a wood-burning fireplace is an annual winter pleasure for many homeowners. But eventually, the stale smell of burned wood and ash seems to permeate the whole house. Then it’s time to take action. A poorly-maintained fireplace can cause far more than unpleasant odors—it can create serious hazards like chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, […]

If you want to celebrate the holidays by pausing your home search until next year, you may be missing an excellent time to buy a home. Homes on the market during the holidays have typically been for sale for a while. They could be overpriced or in less than move-in condition. The owners could be […]

Since June 2019, list prices are up 37.6% and price per square foot is up nearly 52.3%, but there are signs the housing market is slowing—at least in some areas. In July 2025, the number of homes for sale grew 24.8% year-over-year, according to Realtor.com, and they remained on the market a week longer than the […]

Waterfront living makes everyday moments specialMany have dreamed of owning a waterfront home, but dismissed the idea, considering it beyond their reach. In many cases, once they do a little research, buyers are pleasantly surprised to find that a lakeside property can be theirs. However, it’s important to consider the difference between a conventional home […]