Real Estate with Kate

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Time for a Toilet Upgrade

Whether it is a cosmetic or a mechanical reason for upgrading a toilet, you may not know all the choices that are involved to choose the right one for your home. The current toilet may have cracks or leaks in the bowl or tank. It could be the aggravation of constant clogging or inefficient flushing. Maybe there is damage in the porcelain bowl or built-up mineral deposits that are clogging the inlet holes...

Interior Condensation Solutions

Condensation occurs when the air has too much moisture in it which is felt as high humidity. The water deposits on various surfaces that are cooler than the air itself. Several things can contribute to the high humidity such as cooking, dishwashers, clothes dryers, bathing and long showers. If the home has a crawl space under the floor, inadequate ventilation or insulation can cause moisture in the...

Selecting an agent

When a whole lobster was presented at the table of a restaurant, the customer noticed there was only one claw on it. He asked what happened to the lobster and the waiter said, maybe he lost a fight with another lobster. The customer replied to the explanation by saying "then, bring me the winner." There are approximately 1.3 million REALTORS® in the U.S. The July 2019 Existing Home Sales annualized...

Price It Right the First Time

The Internet has empowered all buyers with information and home buyers are no exception. The amount of information available to public includes details on size, condition, sales history, current inventory, recent sales, photographs, videos, school info, drive-times, entertainment and much more. When a seller realizes that buyers are educated with facts, it becomes unlikely that they will pay more than a...

What every homeowner should know about their property insurance

Insurance is required on a home by the mortgage company, but homeowners rely on it for peace of mind also. Unfortunately, people may not take the time to investigate their policy and what it covers until they need to file a claim, which could be too late. While it may not seem like the best use of your time, an in-depth visit with your property insurance agent once a year could be valuable to you if you...

Want to be a Landlord?

Real estate has consistently been one of the highest rated investments available to individuals. TV shows certainly make rentals look easy and you may even know someone who has made a lot of money with them. Possibly, the thought has crossed your mind that if they can do it, you can too. Before you contract for your first investment, ask yourself some questions that could save you time and energy. Not...

Money You Saved for a Down Payment

Occasionally, buyers who can qualify to purchase a home decide to "take a break" and wait to purchase a home. When the focus of buying a home is relaxed, other uses for the money that was going to be used for the home are considered. Maybe they think how much fun it would be to have a Sea Doo or a motorcycle or a new car. It is amazing how many people would like to buy a home but either don't have the...

Downsizing is an Alternative

It is estimated that over 15% of the population in the U.S. are over 65 years of age. With one of the most common fears of seniors being their money will run out early, it is understandable that downsizing may be strategy to meet their goals. Once the kids are grown, have careers, relationships and get a place of their own, parents find they may not need their "big" home like they did before. In other...

Steps in Home Buying Process

The process of buying a home can be different based on the price range and whether a mortgage is needed. While some things are different, others are similar regardless of price, financing or local customs. Each year, the National Association of REALTORS® surveys buyers and sellers who have purchased or sold in the previous twelve months in order to identify the process and steps taken. It provides a...

Invest in Equity Build-up

Equity build-up could be one of the biggest advantages to buying a home. There are two distinct dynamics that take place to make this happen: each house payment applies an amount to reduce the mortgage owed and appreciation causes the value of the home to go up. It is easy to make a projection based on the type of mortgage you get and your estimation of appreciation over the time you expect to own the...

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