Turkeys and tinsel, pumpkin pie and Christmas gifts. The holidays are here again, and it's the perfect time for house hunting! We know you're busy planning family feasts and much-needed vacations while dealing with blustery weather, but here's why you should buy this season. While it might seem counterintuitive to put a big-ticket item like a home on your holiday shopping list, it really does make sense.
Don't believe us? Check out these surprisingly smart reasons to let everyone else hit the mall to buy half-off sweaters while you make the purchase of a lifetime: a new house to ring in the New Year!

1. Less competition from home buyers
Most buyers take the month off to celebrate the holidays, attend parties, and host out-of-town guests. Or, maybe they’ve heard that this is a lousy time to buy a house. Whatever the reason, shopping for real estate at a time when fewer buyers are in the market can pay off big. (That’s because competing. ...

Despite what you've heard, winter can actually work to a home seller's advantage.So while your competition is hibernating, consider these budget-friendly ways to prep your home for both buyers and guests this winter.

Don't skip curb appeal just because it's winter!
Cleaning out your gutters is important so you don't give the impression that you have roofing issues. You can also add some winter-themed outdoor decor for a more welcoming feeling!
If you can, now's also the time to make sure your front door has a fresh coat of paint. A bright, colorful front door will stand out more, and that can really wow your buyer.
Turn up the heat
Many homeowners like to keep the thermostat set down in the 60s to save on their heating bills, but you don't want a potential buyer to think they're visiting a house that's hard to heat. A cold house might hurt the sale. When a buyer enters the house and wants to hurry up and get out of there because it is so chilly, it proba; ...

School is back in session and the holidays are right around the corner. You might not think that now is the best time to sell; however, here are 3 reasons why listing your home in the fall can benefit you!
1) There is less competition! It's no secret that most homes are listed in the spring and summer. However, those homes that are not sold by the end of summer are usually taken off the market and the ones that are still listed start to draw less attention because they've been on the market for so long. That's why if you list during fall, you have the benefit of standing out, as well as facing less competition than during the "hotter" seasons.2) Buyers are more serious! During the spring and summer, many buyers are "just looking" and not that committed. While buyers in the fall tend to be more serious. Many fall buyers have been searching throughout the summer and have not found their perfect home yet. Others are often forced to look for a new home because of a new job ...

Homes that are for sale by owner (when a seller decides not to hire a listing agent) are more common than you might think! When you're looking for your next home, you're likely to come across at least one FSBO in your home search. Here are 4 things you will want to keep in mind when buying one of these homes.1) Hire an agent. To ensure the transaction is handled correctly and legally, you will want to make sure you have an agent on your side especially since the seller doesn't! An agent will be knowledgeable about the real estate market and can help craft your offer, prepare the contracts and the right lender for you.2) Be prepared to negotiate. Most FSBO's are rarely priced appropriately. Sellers tend to overprice their homes value because of their emotional attachment to it. When you have an agent on your side, that gives you access to comparable sales data to help negotiate the right price.3) Have a home inspection done. A home inspection can 1 ...

For what felt like forever, you’ve been looking at online real estate listings and heading to open houses. Eventually, you found the right house for you and your family. After some negotiations, you’ve reached the closing and are finally a new homeowner. That means it’s time to move!
Packing up and moving to a new place is always stressful, but when you own a pet, things can get worse if you’re not careful. As much as you love your fur-baby, they can make things like packing and moving a lot more chaotic then it needs to be.

Should You Hire Movers? 
You can pack up your belongings without a problem, but should you save some money and move things yourself? Or is it better to hire a moving company? While that depends on your fitness and how many possessions you own, WiseBread.com explains it’s typically better to hire movers. 
First, movers are experienced carrying heavy objects and trained to do that safely. You can protect yourself fro; ...