National Housing Market Trends
 Home sales are up, setting the highest pace since February 2007. In August, total existing home sales increased by 1.7 percent, setting a sales pace 12.2 percent higher than a year earlier. What's more, every region posted year-over-year gains. Existing-home sales in the Northeast remained steady between July and August but were 12.7 percent higher than a year earlier. The Midwest and South also saw year-over-year increases, with sales... Read More
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What Do Buyers Pay in Closing Costs?
 A real estate closing is the time when all the agreements between the buyer and the seller are finalized. Since most closings do not involve a cash purchase, the final mortgage agreement is also signed on this day.
Lenders will provide buyers with a good faith estimate (GFE) of closing costs at the beginning of the loan origination. The day before closing, buyers will a receive a HUD-1 Settlement... Read More |
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4 Kitchen Renovation Ideas to Add Style and Function
The kitchen is the second most renovated room in American homes after the bathroom. Now, more than ever, it's the heart of the American home. There are basic kitchen renovation ideas that appear on everyone's list of wants—hanging lights are a must—and more extravagant ones that most of us can only dream about (like the walk-in pantry). Here are four upgrades that will add style and function to your kitchen.
1. Wood floor.
Yes, this can be a high-maintenance item... Read More
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Thanksgiving Decorating
Made Easy
 Hosting the family meal for Thanksgiving this year? Pull out the stops and follow the full tradition of festooning the venue with fitting décor as well as food. This is America's foremost feast day, and the purpose of the day is to gather, eat and be thankful. Decorating is not only fitting, it is a wonderful opportunity to truly honor the day.
Nature Inspired
The bounty we find outdoors should be on display to inspire a grateful attitude for the simple joys of this life. Use colorful leaves as place cards, using a paint pen to inscribe names. Keep little hands busy by painting acorns with acrylic craft paint. Place them in tall... Read More
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What's Your Home's Price Tag Now?
 As the housing market bounces back in many parts of the country, you may be wondering: What's my home worth now?
There's actually more than one answer, according to Scott Halliwell, a certified financial planner at USAA. He says your home has three potentially very different price tags based on its:
1. Market value
2. Replacement value
3. Property tax value
"Since different values can be used for different reasons, it's important to understand when each applies," Halliwell says, adding that some of these values may move in different... Read More |
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