Category: Uncategorized
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Home Energy Cost: The Real Deal on Big Bills That Come With a House
Home energy cost is not something people always think of when it comes to buying a house. But don’t get consumed by the details of finding and buying a house without considering the potential bills you’ll have to pay every month for heating, cooling and more. Home energy cost considerations Even an affordable mortgage payment…
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Need to Replace Pet-Damaged Carpet?
As a pet owner, you know that accidents happen. There are a variety of reasons why our four-legged friends do their business or act out inside the house and on the floor. Maybe they’re marking their territory, or their anxiety may be manifesting in their clawing at the carpet. However, your home is probably your…
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5 Mortgage Myths — DEBUNKED!
MYTH: You must have a 20% down payment to buy a house. TRUTH: Different loans require different down payments—some as low as 0%! MYTH: Pre-qualified means the same thing as pre-approved. TRUTH: A pre-qualification is a quick assessment of how much money you can borrow based on info you provide—no documentation necessary. A pre-approval letter…
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10 Fatal Mistakes That Will Kill the Sale of Your Home
While it might seem a little dramatic to call a seller’s mistakes fatal, especially over something as innocuous as selling your home, selling a home is serious business. Not approaching it as such is a surefire way for your home to remain on the market. Selling your home does not have to be an emotional…
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6 Ways Home Buyers Mess Up Getting a Mortgage
Getting a mortgage is, by general consensus, the most treacherous part of buying a home. Many homebuyers said they found the mortgage experience stressful and complicated. Even lenders agree that it’s often a struggle. If you’re out to buy a home, you have to be vigilant. To clue you into the pitfalls, here are six…
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Kitchen Faucets: How to Install
Tired of staring at your old faucet? Installing a new one is easy! (No, really.) If you’ve been washing your hands a lot lately, you might have started paying extra attention to your faucet. Does it drip? Is the chrome flaking off? Is it dated? Plumbing projects can be intimidating because no one wants to…
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What Is The Goal Of Staging Your Home?
When the real estate market turns sluggish, you may have to take steps to set your home apart from others. It won’t be enough to just put out a for-sale sign and wait for potential buyers. One way that homeowners can sell their homes more speedily is by home staging, which can have the added benefit of…
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What Might Your Homeowners Insurance NOT Cover?
There are things that can happen to their homes that their homeowners insurance policies don’t cover. Fire is the basic coverage provided by an insurance policy, while other common perils are water damage, theft, wind and liability. Earthquake and flood usually require a separate policy. In some states you can add earthquake coverage as an endorsement. It…
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What is APR and how Does It Impact My Mortgage?
If you’ve ever gone shopping for a home mortgage or refinance you’ve probably seen an interest rate advertised as, for instance, “Rate: 2.65%; APR: 2.7%.” The annual percentage rate (APR) represents the average annual finance charge you’ll be paying on the loan when including all the fees and costs associated with getting that loan. This can include…
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Do I Need Neutral Painted Walls To Sell My Home?
“If you want to sell your home, paint your rooms beige.” That could be the rallying cry of real estate agents across the country, and for good reason. Presentation and first impressions mean everything when selling a home, and the men and women who make their living selling homes know that neutral colors will generally spark more…
Amanda McCarty Real Estate 