VA Loan Sets Record The Department of Veterans Affairs backed nearly 630,000 mortgages in 2013, which is a record-setting high for the program. Designed to benefit our nation’s veterans and active-duty military men and women, a VA Loan is a popular choice because they’re more flexible in their credit score requirements and require no down…
Choosing A Real Estate Agent? The spring buying and selling season is well underway, and chances are you’ll be relying on a real estate professional to guide you through the maze of homes for sale, paperwork, and negotiations. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a real estate agent: 1. Consider your needs….
How is awful weather helping your home search? Your grandmother always told you, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” For those of us who aren’t winter sports enthusiasts, this awful weather is one big lousy lemon. But there is a silver lining! If you’re in the market for a home, this awful weather can…
Must Do’s Before Listing A Home It’s March! And that means that lots of homes are going up for sale and buyers have more inventory to choose from than any other time of year. Before listing your home here’s how to ensure that you will win over even the most discerning buyer. Curb appeal matters!…
2013 Recap The real estate market showed continued signs of improvement in 2013 through the return of the luxury market, increased home prices, and fewer distressed properties…but there’s still a lot to look forward to in 2014! We’re anticipating an increase in inventory of homes for sale, continued steady growth of the market, and accessible…
SPRING HAS SPRUNG Spring has sprung and the selling season is just around the corner! We typically see the season kick off just after the Superbowl weekend, and this year is shaping up to be a busy one. Since many clients wish to settle into their new home just after the kids begin summer break,…
Healing Hearts The Barkann Family Healing Hearts Foundation provides financial aid to families who are in need, due to recent adversity or tragedy. Whether it be the sudden death or illness of a parent, the long term illness of a child, or the loss of a home or property due to fire, flood or…
Eat like an NFL player this SuperBowl SuperBowl Party Quesadillas. 2 lbs chicken breast. 1 8 oz bag mexican shredded cheese 1 package of plain tortilla shells. 1 pack of taco seasoning. 2 cups of fresh pico de gallo. 1 cup sour cream.Boil chicken breast in salted water. Once boiled, shred chicken. In sauté pan use…
This year I will be more organized… The start of a new year is a great time to look around and add some order to the clutter that has built up around us. We talked to Professional Organizer, Crystal Sabalaske, who gave us some invaluable advice when it comes to taking this leap into a…
Home Staging with Heartwork! Home staging is the art and science of making your home the most appealing it can be to the largest numbers of buyers in your market. Yes, it’s fun to make a room or a whole house pretty, but when staging, HeartWork Organizing focuses on universal truths about how we all…
Monthly Payments and How to Budget for Them If you’re a renter looking to purchase a home, figuring out your budget can be a little tricky. Monthly payments, as you already know, are pretty straightforward. There’s typically just one number that you have to worry about. As a homeowner, however, you have to consider taxes…
Are Open Houses Worth It? While an open house can be a great tool for agents seeking new clients, many real estate professionals believe that they aren’t typically worth it for sellers. Most real estate agents report that only 1-3% of their listings actually sell from an open house, which means that it is much…
Home Sale Contingency Buying a new home while selling your current home sounds like it can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be! Typically, folks in this situation put their home up for sale once they scope out the market and get their financial ducks in a row. Once their home is on the…
Putting Your Home Up for Sale this Spring If you’re thinking of putting your home up for sale this spring, you’re not alone! Each year, the number of homes for sale spikes in the springtime (typically, we see a big jump right after the Superbowl). This means that you’re going to have quite a bit of…