The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry, however, is the lack of homes available for sale today. Last week, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their Existing Home Sales Report, which shows that the inventory of homes for sale is currently at an all-time low. The report explains: “Total housing in... read more

If your relationship with New Year’s resolutions is anything like ours, then things tend to fall by the wayside right about—well, now. Mid-January has been statistically proven to be the time when all those well-intentioned goals get left behind and replaced with well-worn habits of years past. So if getting organized was one of your resolutions in 2021, there's a good chance you've thrown in the towel and are already starting to see the clutter pile up.Don't despair! We're here to help get you bac... read more

There comes a time in renters' lives when they ask the age-old question: Should I become a homeowner? Obviously, finances have a lot to do with the decision of whether to rent vs. buy. But there's more to it than just credit ratings and cash reserves—homeownership is a lifestyle change that you have to be willing to take on.“People mostly talk about buying and selling a home from a financial perspective,” says Andy Piper, founder and CEO of the Piper Partners Real Estate T... read more

Getting a home improvement project to pay off is notoriously tricky. There's no guarantee you'll recoup the money you pour into a bathroom remodel or an outdoor kitchen. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic has made completing even minor projects more difficult, as many nonessential construction projects have been halted. And while it might seem crazy to take on a big-ticket project in a time of economic uncertainty, many home buyers are still looking for turnkey properties with attractive amenities. So if you're a seller w... read more

Homeowners forced by the coronavirus pandemic to hole up in their homes for much of the past year are changing a few things about their homes. For starters, COVID-19 exposed the flaws of the open floor plans touted on HGTV and other design shows—finding a quiet space to jump on that Zoom meeting with the boss while the kids are remote learning a few feet away can be a logistical nightmare. Fewer homeowners created an open-concept floor plan leading into 2021, according to a recent survey from design and remod... read more