The advent of solar energy has been long in coming. Today, however, we find solar panels in so many communities and regions that we can safely confirm it is here to stay. Whether the concern is climate change or high utility bills, solar power answers each decisively.
Open houses are a staple of real estate marketing. There are certain times that live experience bests online viewing and a physically present tour of a house is among them.
The hefty investment that it is, a house should yield a healthy return at re-sale. Yet such a gain should never be simply assumed.
"For Sale by Owner" sometimes adorns lawn signs around any given community. Essentially, this conveys one message: the owner does not wish to share any part of the home sale proceeds with a real estate broker or agent.
Whether we like it or not, living in community imposes certain responsibilities. Building codes exist because what happens on one property does not always stay there: fires, explosions, collapse and other accidents may well affect adjoining properties.
The home-buying process is stressful and aggravating when sellers hold all the cards. Negotiations seem fruitless, especially in a sellers' market. Hitting the wall time and again just increases the appetite for a motivated seller.
When looking for a new home, many shoppers gravitate toward free-standing, single-family residences while others look for residences within condominium associations or planned unit developments (PUDs).
Consider this scenario. You have lived in an older home for decades. While you made renovations here and there, even those are in need of updating. To complicate matters, neighborhood homes are being razed by new buyers -- many are real estate investors -- who erect new houses in their place.
Understanding how professionals calculate square footage assists prospective buyers in determining how -- and whether -- this number will impact home value.