Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
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May
19
19
Selling this summer? 6 upgrades to secure a speedy sale
(BPT) - When the weather warms up, so does the real estate market. Spring and summer are traditionally the seasons when both home buyers and sellers are most active across the country. If you'll be putting your home on the market this year, simple, cost-effective upgrades can help ensure a speedy sale at a good price.
'In the world of real estate, it's often necessary for sellers to spend a little on upgrades in order to achieve a satisfying home sale,' says Bethany Richmond, communications director for the Carpet & Rug Institute. 'Fortunately, some of the most impressive upgrades, such as new carpeting, are also affordable. Such upgrades ensure that you don't have to spend a lot to achieve a better selling price.'
Here are six easy-to-do upgrades that are both cost-effective and high-impact:
1. Replace carpet
It's easy to see the impact of worn or dated...
May
16
16
Housing Affordability Edges Higher in First Quarter
Slightly lower median home prices along with steady mortgage rates contributed to higher housing affordability in the first quarter, according to the recently released National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).
In all, 65.5 percent of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of January and end of March were affordable to families earning the U.S. median income of $63,900. This is slightly higher from the 64.7 percent of homes sold that were affordable to median-income earners in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, the national median home price dipped from $205,000 in the fourth quarter to $195,000 in the first quarter while average mortgage interest rates were virtually unchanged,...
May
13
13
Home improvements that make your home more valuable
![20094139_web[1]](/shared/fs/0822/company/blog-media/2014/05/20094139_web1.jpg)
(BPT) - More and more homeowners are embarking upon home improvement projects, spending nearly $200 billion a year on home renovations, according to the National Association of Home Builders. If you're looking to make some home improvements without breaking the bank, spend smartly and invest time and money now into the projects that will pay back later.
Curb appeal
When it comes to first impressions, house hunters first notice curb appeal, or lack thereof. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, curb appeal is important to 71 percent of homebuyers. So beautify the outdoor space to attract possible buyers by focusing on small exterior improvements that'll pay off big like planting seasonal shrubs, painting the front door, refreshing a rusty mailbox or replacing old porch lighting with updated fixtures. Th...
May
9
9
Real Estate Is a Better Investment than Gold
Almost every day, I hear advertisements about buying gold because it is such a great investment. As I have heard these claims, I have wondered how real estate stacks up to gold as an investment.
Surprisingly, some correlations exist between buying gold and buying real estate. Both investments are considered a good hedge against inflation and fluctuations that occur when the government overspends and the Federal Reserve weakens the value of the dollar. Both have intrinsic value, meaning their price never goes to zero like some stock investments have done. Both are considered long-term buy-and-hold investments. Both require insurance to protect against risk of loss. Both claim to offer price stability, meaning their prices are less volatile tha...
May
5
5
7 Carpet Cleaning Tips from the Pros
No matter how hard you try to keep your carpet clean, a certain number of spills, spots and stains will invariably find their way to it. Country Living Magazine interviewed carpet cleaning experts in San Antonio, Texas to come up with some top carpet cleaning secrets:
Blot stains, don't rub – Rubbing any cleaning solution into the carpet will grind it into the fibers. Dabbing a bit of cleaner onto the stain and blotting gently from the outside inward will best soak up the stain.
Use club soda – For fresh wine stains, pour a little club soda over the stain and blot gently. If that doesn't do it, spray on a mix of half water and half white vinegar. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then blot.
Try shaving cream...