Having a great lawn adds a touch of satisfaction anytime you host events like bar-b-ques or parties at your house. And now is the time to start thinking about your lawn. Some people start researching seed and fertilizer mixes, some start looking online for the right company to do the work for them. When it comes to taking care of your lawn, you need to do the right research so that you can make a decision in the spring, and not think about it again until next year. To do it right the first time, check out this article here.

Winter over most of the US was a severe experience in patience and endurance. But with spring on the way, you’re probably getting ready for the long hot days of summer. So, before you leave winter in your rear view mirror, you should take a look at the condition of your home and any damage left behind from the snow and ice. The winter weather, even when not severe, can leave damage to gutters, windows, roofing and more. Read more here.

Preparing for both traditional and reverse mortgages is about to look a lot more like surfing the web, rather than a paper chase. The Federal Housing Agency (FHA) just announced that by 2016, origination appraisals will move online with the creation of the Electronic Appraisal Delivery (EAD) portal. The deadline for moving online will apply to mortgage case numbers assigned on or after June 27, 2016. To get a bigger picture and more information about how this policy change affects you, read more here.

Spring has sprung and summer is finally approaching. The kids will soon be out of school and vacation destinations will come to life. Inevitably, conversations while on vacation seem to end up discussing ‘buying a place’ in the area. It can be a great idea for sure. Like many things, the chances of a vacation home being what you want depend largely on how you approach it. Ask yourself these 5 questions while you watch the sun set on vacation to see if your off-the-cuff idea has a chance. Read more here.

It all seems so simple on the surface. You buy property to rent, build up equity and even ownership based on the rent paid and presto, you own an income generating property. But the reality is just a little more complicated. It can still be done, no doubt, but you need to be smart and understand that you are entering a complicated and long-term relationship. The potential to get it wrong is considerable, so knowing as much as possible going in will help you avoid some real problems. Read more here. 

In the 1960s, there were about 500 homeowners associations. Today that number is over 300,000. Chances are you or someone you know live in a community with an HOA. On the good side, HOA rules prevent neighbors from parking their ‘projects’ on the front lawn, and on the other side, they may limit your freedom of choice when it comes to your home. In all cases though, the rules and bylaws are clearly written out, and learning to engage with the HOA board is the first step to a great relationship. Read more about 10 tips to make it happen, here. 

Home inspectors have a job to do; how big that job is might depend on you.  If you are preparing your home for sale, you might want to put in some time and effort before the inspection to improve the results. If the inspector has less to report, the odds are that the report he gives to the potential buyer will be less of a barrier to making the final sale.  There are some common-sense approaches and some interesting tips to consider.  Read more here.

With Spring on the way (in most parts of the country) and winter behind us, the home shopping season is just starting to warm up. And as usual, one question gets asked more than most, will mortgage rates go up or down? 2014 wasn’t as brisk as some had hoped with weak activity for both sellers and buyers. However, heading into January there were 9 percent fewer homes on the market than in 2014. And the news on mortgage rates is good too. Read more here.

When you are preparing to sell your home, you need to look at your ‘home’ as a house. A home is something you love, warts and all. But to a potential buyer, those warts aren’t as endearing. The good news is, you don’t have to have unlimited resources to get your home looking like the house that someone will love. By increasing the curb appeal, cleaning the clutter, and adding a few modernizing touches, you will help increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. Read more here.

With the return of low down-payment mortgages, there is a lot of buzz on the merits and the risks of these types of loans. Based on many recent articles and commentary, one might be convinced that these types of loans are a harbinger of tragedy. However, the truth may be far different. For starters the industry is very different today from what it was prior to the collapse. Read more about why low or even no down payment mortgages might be a great idea here.