What Kind of Smart Technology is Right For Your Home?Smart technology is here to stay, and many homeowners are finding ways to integrate it into their everyday lives. These tips will help homeowners make their home a smart luxury home using all the latest smart technology and gadgets.

Smart Light Bulbs Brighten Up Anyone's World

Smart light bulbs can be turned on and off through a smart phone or tablet. Whether standing in the living room or on a tropical island thousands of miles away, homeowners can control the light in their home at the touch of a button. Homeowners like smart light bulbs because of the convenience, and because smart light bulbs make it easier to conserve energy. At any given moment, they can see which lights are on in their home, and if needed, they can turn them off.

2538 Views, 0 Comments

7 Ways to Boost Curb AppealHomeowners want to present their homes in the best possible light to prospective buyers. However, with a myriad of home styles and even more possibilities to make that home more attractive, it may be difficult to select the most practical, low-cost ways to spruce up a property. There are those homeowners that can afford to splurge. However, others want to get the most value possible from relatively affordable expenditures. What can homeowners with a small budget do to improve the appeal of their luxury or oceanfront home?

Use these suggestions when it comes time to boost curb appeal on the cheap.

Easy Changes to a Home

Get a home ready to sell by first addressing these common issues with affordable solutions. Tackle these problems before…

1423 Views, 0 Comments

When Is PMI Necessary?Lenders ideally want to see a 20% down payment from all of their applicants. This gives a new oceanfront homeowner a large share of equity in the home from the moment they move in, which makes them that much less likely to default on the rest of the payments. While 20% may have been reasonable for certain areas in certain time periods, the inflation in many cities today has been high enough that fewer and fewer people can come up with that kind of cash on the spot. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) was the solution for these buyers to mitigate the risk a lender takes. See what the rules are before you start shopping around for lenders.

Standard Terms of PMI

PMI is a way to avoid raising interest rates for all potential homeowners. It passes…

924 Views, 0 Comments

What Is PMIThere is a little thing called PMI which can add to the cost of owning a home and in some cases continue for the life of a home mortgage loan. Buyers who are touring areas should note this potential extra cost as this can affect the style and size of the home that can ultimately be purchased. Your dream waterfront home may take a little more effort to lock down. But not every borrower needs to pay PMI but in some cases it is necessary to make these extra payments in order to be approved for a home mortgage by a lender. What do you need to know about PMI? Do you have to pay PMI? Learn more about PMI and your options today.

Does Every Borrower Pay PMI?

Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is often necessary for those people not making a down…

1035 Views, 0 Comments

What You Need To Know About Home WarrantiesWhether or not your newly constructed oceanfront home comes with a warranty depends on the province where the home is built and the construction company that built your home. In some states, a new home warranty must be offered to the home buyer. In other states, this is not required and home builders may offer a home warranty at their own discretion.

When buying a home, one of the many questions you should ask about the property is whether or not there will be a warranty. Generally, a reputable builder will provide a home warranty for buyers because warranties provide reassurance. If your builder does provide a warranty, it's important to know what is included and how you can use the warranty if something goes wrong with the house.

What Home…

1099 Views, 0 Comments

Hire a Pro or DIY? Homeowners who are thinking of listing their luxury or oceanfront property in the new year should consider which home improvement projects need to be made prior to placing their house on the market. Certain home improvement projects, such as renovated kitchens and bathrooms, are known for boosting property value while other projects, such as sprucing up the landscaping or finishing a basement, are better for improving the ability to market a home.

Regardless of the home improvement project that an individual has planned, it's important to consider whether to hire a professional contractor to complete the job or select the more affordable DIY option.

Home Improvement Projects to DIY

Nearly any home improvement project can become a DIY…

1993 Views, 0 Comments

How to Choose Solar Panels For Your HomeDue to recent price decreases, solar panels are finally becoming affordable for more homeowners. The benefits of going solar, besides raising the value of your luxury home, is just like other energy efficient upgrades — it reduces energy expenses and protects the environment—but what's less clear is the path to installing solar panels. Get tips on how to choose the right solar panel for your roof.

Calculate Energy Usage

The first place to turn when preparing for solar panels is utility bills. Gather one year of utility bills and add up all the energy used in terms of kWh, or kilowatt hours. If you've used 12,000 kWh—and the average U.S. household consumption is 11,000 kWh per year—then solar power needs to produce that much energy or greater…

1091 Views, 0 Comments

Considering Buying a Fixer Upper Home? Read This Strategy Guide FirstBuying a fixer upper home can be both a challenging and exciting endeavor. While some buyers come across that oceanfront gem that only requires minor and superficial repairs, those lacking the right fixer upper strategies concerning buying can find themselves unexpectedly dealing with a money pit. Here's how to spot a fixer upper that boasts all the benefits such as a low sales price with potential for resale profit or that can become a dream home that owners can happily occupy themselves.

Things to Look For in a Solid Fixer Upper Investment

Whether selling or occupying the home is the end goal, these fixer upper strategies can help buyers make wise and informed decisions to avoid buyer's remorse.

Layout and Configuration—Those planning to…

4466 Views, 0 Comments

Condo or Single Family Home? With many different types of homes on the market in most areas, from luxury condos to oceanfront estates, it can be difficult for prospective buyers to decide which one will be the best choice for them. Ultimately, however, statistics show that most home buyers eventually decide to choose either a single family home or a condominium. While both can offer excellent value in today's real estate market, there are some significant reasons for buyers to select one over the other. Asking the following four questions is an excellent way to learn more about each type and help make the right choice.

What is the reason for buying a home at this point in time?

Understanding the reason behind purchasing a home can also help with making the decision to…

1246 Views, 0 Comments

Buy or Rent? 4 Considerations for Making the Best ChoiceMaking a decision to rent or buy a home is one that most people will face at least once during their lifetime. But like many common problems, this decision is not always an easy one to make. For those who are currently trying to decide whether to rent or purchase their next home, or those that will have to do so in the near future, the following considerations can clarify the process and help ensure the right path is chosen.

What is the state of the residential real estate and rental housing markets in your area?

The first point to consider when trying to decide between renting or buying is to determine what is happening in your local real estate market. If inventories are tightening up and a seller's market is developing, prospective buyers…

795 Views, 0 Comments