What’s the First Thing You Should Do After A Home Purchase? Think Safety! Getting the keys to your new home should be a reminder: IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE LOCKS! Remember to handle the most basic safety precaution for your new home. When people buy homes, there’s a tendency to think “Big Picture” on home improvements. Flooring, painting, and furniture are common “just-moved-in” Continue Reading
Right to Cancel on Refinancing
As part of the federal Truth-in-Lending Act, refinancing homeowners are granted a 3-day “cooling off” period post-closing during which they retain the right to rescind, or “cancel”, their recent refinance without penalty or cost. The Right To Cancel is protection against surprises at closing and/or a change of heart. It’s also a safety valve for homeowners signing paperwork under duress. With 3 Continue Reading
How to Seal a Granite Countertop
Among North Texas homeowners, granite countertops remain a popular kitchen and bathroom finishing choice. Granite boasts a combination of natural beauty and durability that’s unmatched among most commercial options. But different from many other countertops choices, granite is a natural material; mined from the Earth. It is porous and highly absorbent. Protect your granite. To protect the Continue Reading
Texas Ranks 2nd for Incoming Residents
For the fifth year in a row, Texas gained over half-a-million new residents in 2017, according to the Texas Relocation Report released today by Texas REALTORS®. This places Texas second among states for relocation activity. Over half of the new residents came from outside the US. Texas was third in the nation for residents moving out of state. Texas has a net increase Continue Reading
Tips For Maximizing Your Home’s Appraised Value
Tips For Maximizing Your Home’s Appraised Value If you’re getting a home appraisal, there are several things you can do to maximize the final home appraised value. And it’s not that tough. A home appraisal is an independent opinion of your home’s value, performed by a licensed home appraiser. Appraisals are part of the traditional home purchase process, and lenders require them for most Continue Reading
5 Steps to Boost Your Credit Score
There are no shortcuts to improve your credit score. Step One to financial success is making a plan with goals and benchmarks. You’ll need to make sound financial decisions for at least several months to offset previous damage you’ve done to your credit record. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Here are four steps to improve your score and increase the chances you’ll qualify for a favorable Continue Reading
Splash Less
Simple DIY - How To Clean A Water Aerator Typically found at the tip of indoor water faucets, water aerators split a single water stream into droplets, slowing the overall water flow and reducing the degree of “splashing”. Homes in Collin County with aerated faucets use up to 50% less water than homes without. However, aerated faucets can lose their effectiveness over time if they’re not Continue Reading
9 Mistakes When Pricing Your Home For Sale
Picking the wrong asking price for your home can cost you a lot of money. Here are nine don’ts when coming up with your number: DON’T ASSUME YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH THE SAME AS YOUR NEIGHBOR’S Your neighbor’s home sold recently, but it has a pool, an updated kitchen, and a cracked foundation. Your house doesn’t have a pool, doesn’t have a cracked foundation, and has an extra floor. Continue Reading
Reduce Energy Loss from Heating Water
How much energy is your home wasting on heating water? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating can account for 18% of a home’s energy use. This is a substantial percentage, representing thousands of dollars per year in energy costs. The good news is there are multiple ways to increase your home’s energy-efficiency with respect to heated water. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Continue Reading
Lender Lingo
Understanding the Keywords While there is no need for you to be a mortgage expert, having a basic understanding of certain key concepts will help your communication with a mortgage lender. Below is a summary for your reference. All this to get you closer to your goal of homeownership. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The APR includes the base interest rate, points, and other loan fees. Continue Reading
