Something about the smell of pine, the cooler temps, and the Salvation Army bells ringing in the air bring out a sense of goodwill in most folks. Hey, even Mr. Scrooge eventually came around! Seeing as how 30% of all annual charitable donations take place in December, end-of-year giving campaigns are often one of the […]
Giving Back This Holiday Season Read More »
Being a home buyer is overwhelming, but being a first-time military home buyer adds a whole new twist. Not only are you going through the emotional process of choosing the right home for your family and your finances, but you’re also thinking through the layers of other circumstances that may impact your purchase. What if
First-Time Home Buyer Basics for Military Families Read More »
If you’ve bought or sold a house, or even if you’re just beginning that adventure for the first time, you’ve likely heard about the importance of a kitchen. For many families, a kitchen is much more than where you assemble the meals that sustain your family (or hang takeout menus with magnets on your refrigerator).
DIY: Under-Cabinet Lighting Read More »
If you’re even considering purchasing a home, you should be paying attention to your credit history. When was the last time you checked your FICO score? It’s a good idea to check your score at least annually to see what your score is and if there’s anything incorrectly reported that could be counted against you.
How to Improve Your Credit Score Read More »
The VA Home Loan has long been a tremendous benefit of serving in the military, enabling qualifying service members and veterans to purchase homes without having to front a down payment. Thanks to a bill that was signed into law recently, this benefit is now more appealing than ever. On June 25th, the Blue Water
New Law Affects VA Loans Read More »
Experienced real estate agents are accustomed to working with clients who have a wide range of knowledge, from first-time buyers just learning words like “mortgage” and “escrow” to multiple property investors exchanging homes as tax shelters. Those of us who primarily serve a military market are more likely to work with clients looking for their
What We Wish You Knew Before Buying a Home Read More »
As a military family, you no doubt know your share of jargon. You’ve got the acronyms all nailed down and speak the language. (You probably even say things you don’t realize are military jargon until someone not in the military looks at you strangely—things like o-dark-thirty.) But real estate has its own language. Here’s a
Real Estate Jargon 101 Read More »
Real estate is time-sensitive. Timing affects what options are on the market. Whether it’s a better time for buyers or sellers. How active (or slow) the market is. Who else is looking for a home. All of it is impacted by timing. For military families, timing is even more critical. When the new orders are
There are (or there should be) two houses in your head when you’re picturing where you’ll next call “home.” One is your dream home, the one with the gorgeous center kitchen island and the water feature in the backyard that leads into a scenic forest where you can see deer frolicking in the woods from
“Must Haves” and “Nice to Haves” Read More »
You found “it.” You know, the one. The house that you’ve been looking for that is just “perfect.” And you are totally in love with it. That’s fantastic news, in theory. In practice, that’s only great news if you’ve already established that the house is within your budget—not that larger number the bank is happy
Only Fools Fall in Love (with a House They Can’t Afford) Read More »
