As a homebuyer, home maintenance is key to keeping your property in good condition for years to come—but without a solid plan, those costs can add up quickly. The most effective way to budget for home maintenance is to set aside about 1% to 4% of your home’s value each year (or break it down into monthly amounts), then adjust depending on your home’s age, size, and location. Keep this...
For many Americans, rising housing costs aren’t just straining budgets – they’re forcing heartbreaking decisions. Nearly half of U.S. homeowners and renters (44.4%) say they struggle to afford their monthly housing costs, according to a Redfin-commissioned survey. Most households under pressure are making smaller trade-offs, like eating out less (41%) or skipping vacations (34.6%). But for some, the...
There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you...
Experts weigh in on how to get reimbursed during outages for your utilities or...
Heat waves continue to affect most of the U.S. this summer. Here's how you can protect your HVAC system during the heat and conserve energy...
When you buy a home, one of the biggest financial benefits comes from the opportunity to build equity over time. Building equity in a home means gradually increasing the portion of your property that you truly own. You can do this in two main ways: either by paying down your mortgage if you have one, or by increasing your home’s market value. If you’re planning to sell your home in the near or...
After the home inspection, the buyer receives a detailed report of the home’s condition and may request repairs, ask for credits, renegotiate the price, or in some cases, walk away if serious issues are uncovered. For sellers, knowing what comes next can mean the difference between a smooth closing or a deal falling through. Whether you’re selling a home in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, or Atlanta, GA, this...
A listing agreement is one of the first and most important documents you’ll encounter when selling your home. It’s a legally binding contract between the property owner (seller) and a real estate broker (and their agent) that authorizes them to market and sell your property. For sellers, understanding the terms of a real estate listing agreement is essential. It not only sets the expectations for how...
The U.S. housing market finally favors homebuyers, but few can afford it It’s a buyer’s market, meaning buyers have the upper hand. Following the pandemic-fueled seller’s market in 2021, sellers now outnumber buyers by over 500,000 due to two years of rising mortgage rates and prices. Affordability remains the sticking point for everyone, though: Most buyers can’t afford a home, which is leading...
The clause “inspection for informational purposes only” became popular in the competitive housing market during the pandemic. You may have seen it in an offer, or even used it yourself. While the term sounds simple, buyers and sellers don’t always agree on what it means once the purchase and sale agreement is signed. An inspection for informational purposes only means the home inspection is for...
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