How to Buy Country Acreage: 4 Things to Know Before You Buy

country property, house on acreage

It seems to most people that as long as there’s enough land included in your country property, you can do what you want, right? Start a commune, race Formula One cars, build houses for all of your children…Sounds great, except: That beautiful piece of land you’re looking at, the one that’s so affordable, is not […]

Top 3 Rules for Adding Value to Your Home

Updated Kitchen

Adding Value to Your Home There are plenty of remodels that can make your house more attractive to future buyers – and appraisers! But not all of them are no-brainers financially. Feel free to discard articles that tell you that a new kitchen will, guaranteed, increase your value – or really any article that tells […]

The Raw Power of a Homeowner Association: What You Don’t Know Could Cost You Money

Board members sitting at a table

“Can they DO that?” It’s a common question about homeowner associations and the usual answer is, YES! For those of you unacquainted with HOAs, here’s a thumbnail history: Once upon a time, when your neighbor painted his house orange and black (Go Beavs) or parked his broken-down pickup trucks on the front lawn permanently, we […]

7 Ways to Afford the Bigger House, Bigger Yard

Beautiful house on corner

If every house on the market appreciates at the same level, how is a person ever to afford the bigger house? Resort to bank robbery? Well, not to put a damper on the traditional bank robbery method, but there are ways to get that second bath, third bedroom, or larger yard that don’t involve a […]

Get the Starter Home Without the Down Payment

Image of a starter-home with a white picket fence

Starter home buyers are often so freaked out by what they believe is the insurmountable down-payment requirement that they give up on the entire project and wonder if they will ever be homeowners. Others manage to raise funds for the down payment but hit a wall when they find out about closing costs (yikes) in […]