Herald News Home-Life Flickr Kitchen: Homeowners usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen so an updated kitchen is very desirable to most buyers. A dated kitchen, even if the rest of the home is updated, can take away from the home’s value. Sellers can expect to get back
Continue readingDawn Dause Blog
Helpful and Informative information. Homes for sale, helpful real estate information, and also what is going on in the community. Information about Plainfield, Shorewood, Minooka, Lockport, Joliet, and other local areas.
Ikea Study
houselogic Freerangestock.com The huge Swedish retailer studied 4,000 US consumers, both male and female heads of household, between the ages of 25-54, to find out what matters most in a home. Here are a few things they found: Comfort: 95% want their home to be comfortable-not just with cushy furniture but
Continue readingMortgage Terms Defined
freedigitalphotos.net GFE and HUD-1: GFE stands for good faith estimate and is a document for borrowers listing estimated costs of the mortgage loan including points (if any), lender’s origination fee, title insurance, attorney fees, etc. HUD-1 refers to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Once the mortgage closes, the
Continue readingWhy Do I Need A Realtor?
Freedigitalphotos.net Realtors stand out from the crowd in the real estate industry. Not every person selling homes can call themselves a Realtor. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors and they follow a strict code of ethics. Realtors also possess a greater knowledge of the process of buying
Continue readingThinking Ahead About Refinancing
Freerangestock.com Below are a few ways to prepare yourself to be ready to refinance if the opportunity is ever there: Make a good down payment: In order to get the very best mortgage terms, it is likely necessary to put 20% down. A sizable down payment also increases your chances of
Continue readingTips For Moving Cross-Country
Flickr Give yourself plenty of time: If possible, start preparing for the move 8 weeks prior to your moving date. Figure out the best moving method for you: Determine whether you should pack everything into your car and drive yourself, if you need to rent a moving truck, or have a professional
Continue readingWhat Do Homeowners Want?
Realtybiznews Flickr The Demand Institute conducted a study regarding what American homeowners want that they don’t have. Here is what they found: Energy efficiency: 71% of households polled said that energy efficiency in their home was important but only 35% said they were currently satisfied with how energy efficient their home
Continue readingCreative Ways To Add Closet Space
aol Freedigitalphotos.net Closet space is something that most home buyers are interested in, however, if you can’t boast about having as many walk in closets as you’d like-don’t worry, you have different options on how to add this coveted space to your home. Free standing wardrobe: This is a quick way
Continue readingHow Long Does It Really Take To Increase Your Credit Score?
Trulia Flickr The amount of time it takes to raise your credit score can vary, although many of these tips can affect your score within 30-60 days. Obtain a copy of your credit report and look for errors: The FTC estimates that 1 out of 5 consumers have a mistake on
Continue readingLittle Tips To Make Life Easier
Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net Did your little Picasso use your dining room wall to create a work of art? WD-40 cleans most surfaces! Did you just paint a flower pot only to have water leaking from it? Put a coffee filter in it. Can’t get a screw out? Use a wrench to
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