Keepin' It Cool: The Importance of HVAC Maintenance
With any luck, Puxatony Phil was right, and spring will have sprung before we know it. That’s great for the garden but not so much for your HVAC system if it isn’t ready for warm weather. But the good news is that preventative maintenance isn’t difficult or expensive. Simple steps like changing the filter and removing obstructions from the returns can keep your system cool when things heat up.
Learn MoreDownsizing: What Seniors Need to Know
For many American seniors, making a move after retirement is not only financially responsible, but it can also ensure good health and prevent safety issues, especially if the current home is large and has a lot of space to cover. However, downsizing can be a huge job -- overwhelming, in many cases -- and there’s a lot to think about. From working out a budget to packing up an entire home full of years of memories, a downsize can be both a blessing and a curse.
Learn MorePreparing Your Home For Sale Guide
When you prepare to place your home on the market for sale it becomes a product. Just like any product on the shelves at your local store it has features & benefits, pros & cons, and there are other products to compare yours to. To gain an edge in your marketplace you must be priced right and look better than the competition. Sometimes it is difficult to think of your home as a mere product, but it helps to think that way so that you can get top dollar for your property and sell in a reasonable amount of time.
Learn More2018 Tax Deductions Available For Homeowners
Oh tax season! It’s always a dread. Thankfully it pays to be a homeowner with many tax breaks! With the new 2018 tax legislation in place, you may be wondering what tax deductions are available to you. In this article, "2018 Tax Deductions Available for Homeowners" it breaks it all down for you. Some tax credits are available to all homeowners and some may only apply to certain homeowners.
Learn More4 Reasons Veterans Should Use A Military Friendly Realtor
Buying and selling a house is one of the largest financial undertakings that most people will ever experience. While everyone that buys or sells real estate should have proper representation, one group of people in particular deserves to have proper representation... members of the U.S. Military, Veterans, and their spouses. But what is proper representation and how can one know who is suitable to provide it?
Learn MoreCapital Gains Taxes - What This Means For the Home Seller
Selling your home? I bet you’re envisioning those dollar signs in your bank account right now. But what does it mean on your taxes this year? Capital Gains taxes can strip away those dollar signs in some situations, but can be avoided in others. It is necessary to know what a capital gains tax is and how it can affect you, the home seller.
Learn MoreThe Cost of Buying a House - How Much Cash Will I Need?
Becoming a homeowner is a tremendous accomplishment. It is a major component of realizing the American Dream. In today's Phoenix Metro market, it's actually cheaper to pay a mortgage than it is to pay rent. The biggest reason why people are renting versus owning is due to a lack of adequate credit. (Check out this post on how to increase your credit score: 4 Simple Solutions to Improve Your Credit Score). The second biggest reason is not having an adequate savings for the upfront costs of buying a home. But what are the upfront costs? Having an understanding of what the purchase process looks like will help you prepare a savings fund that will enable you to buy a home sooner. There are five major costs to buying a house that will require you to have some cash up front..
Learn MoreBenefits of Using a Realtor® When Buying a New Construction Home
Buying a new construction home is not the same beast as buying a resale home. Aside from differences in paperwork, processes and timeline than the typical resale, the human interactions are different as well. In a typical resale, in which both a seller’s agent and a buyer’s agent are used, you won’t have any communication with the seller’s agent. But in a new build purchase, you will often interact directly with the seller’s agent (builder’s agent). It is important to have proper representation during this type of transaction, since the builder’s agent owes a fiduciary responsibility to the builder. There are many reasons you should use a Realtor® when purchasing a new construction home.
Learn MoreWhich Down Payment Strategy is Right for You?
You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.
Learn More4 Simple Solutions to Improve Your Credit Score
It’s no secret that having a high credit score has it financial benefits. It’s one of the gateways to qualifying for a mortgage loan, low interest rates, credit cards, and auto loans. While good credit is not the sole deciding factor to a mortgage loan approval, it certainly plays a massive role. Credit scores may seem like a foreign language to some…something that requires rocket science to calculate, but the truth is, credit scores are comprised of real, measurable factors that consumers have the power to change, with less effort than most people would realize.
Learn More7 Great Hiking Trails in the Valley
Nestled in the scenic Sonoran Desert, Phoenix is situated in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges. These mountain ranges are home to numerous state, county and city parks where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities including, hiking trails (pedestrian, cyclist and equestrian), camp grounds, and picnic areas. With it's warm weather, most valley trails are open year round. However, with the famous heat comes the necessity to take safety precautions. Click here for a hiking safety checklist. Check out some of the best rated hiking trails in the valley...
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