Blog

Rising home prices and borrowing costs are making large homes less affordable, leading to a trend of smaller new homes. After years of increasing sizes, buyers might need to adjust to homes with less square footage and fewer rooms—but this shift could be beneficial. For the first time, new homes are cheaper than pre-owned homes […]

Owning a home in Smith Mountain Lake is all about enjoying luxurious tranquility, fantastic views, and having lots of fun. However, no place is exempt from security concerns. While violent crime in Smith Mountain Lake is virtually nonexistent, property crime can never be completely ruled out, even in the most affluent of areas. Protecting your […]

Marketing the square footage of a home can work against sellers. Buyers tend to want more space than they currently have, but if your home is on the small side, they may not even consider it. Your smaller home may actually be more comfortable and feel more spacious than one with a bigger but less […]

Refinancing your mortgage is worth it if you get a lower interest rate, a shorter term, or a smaller monthly payment. According to The Mortgage Reports, it’s usually beneficial if you can lower your mortgage interest rate by one percentage point. For a $400,000 loan, reducing the rate from 6.5% to 5.5% saves $257 per […]

When you purchase a home, you have the right to have the property professionally inspected. Any inspection can reveal issues, but what matters is whether a problem is fixable, what that might cost, and whether you or the seller will pay for it Here are a few items that should alarm you: A seller’s disclosure […]

With fall and winter approaching, it’s essential to have your home’s heating systems inspected and serviced, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A trained technician can check chimneys, central heat, gas heaters, heat pumps, electric heaters, and more to ensure they function properly and don’t produce dangerous carbon monoxide (CO). They can also install […]

Homebuyers saw a turning point in interest rates as of June 2024. The Federal Reserve decided not to raise overnight borrowing rates, keeping them at 5.25%-5.50%. This is a sign that inflation is moving closer to the Fed’s 2% target. However, the Fed anticipates only one rate cut by year-end, which could impact the housing […]

Each room in your home serves a unique purpose, so painting the entire house white, grey, or beige might not be ideal. Instead, choose a palette of three to five complementary colors to match each room’s mood. Start by considering how you want colors to make you feel. Look for inspiration on Pinterest or Houzz, […]

Variables affecting how much you need to save for a home include your income, debt-to-income ratio, home price, appraisal, inspection, and closing costs. To stay within your means, spend no more than 30% of your household income on your mortgage (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance). Secure the best terms by maintaining high credit scores, providing […]

If you’ve ever looked at home interior design blogs—or any home-related resource, for that matter—chances are you’ve come across posts dedicated to “luxury home decor ideas” and the like. But what is luxury home design in the first place? On the surface, luxury home design is all about purchasing the most expensive fixtures, furniture, and […]