After deciding you’re ready to buy a home, your first major step is to save for a down payment. Most people will have to spend some time saving for the down payment. It takes time, commitment, and discipline to save enough to put down on a home. Here’s how to save for a down payment the smart way. Start with a plan Your first step is finding out how...
Having a connected home is no longer a science-fiction fantasy. Today’s smart home technology can help us feel more like the Jetsons than ever before. You can use your phone to unlock your door, adjust the lights, and even turn on the air conditioner. You can answer the door even when you’re not at home. And robots can vacuum your living space. It’s easy to ...
Homeownership isn’t just for married couples. While renting is always an option, owning a home remains a priority for many people. Buying a new home is a complicated process for most buyers, but navigating the homebuying process as a single buyer can be especially challenging. As a single buyer, it can take longer to save for a down payment on your own. Plus, mo...
The Bay Area is blessed with year-round temperate weather, but it does get pretty hot here; especially during the summer. The hotter weather comes at a price as we crank up the air conditioning to get a break from the heat. While high electric bills are expected between June and September, it doesn’t have to be the rule! Here’s how you can save energy (and som...
Getting your home organized can be a big task. It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start. There are a lot of tips, tricks, and guides (we’ve written a few ourselves), but organizing your home comes down to a few simple principles that can be used to organize every room in your house. Evaluate and plan When you start any project, y...
Home staging is the process of arranging furniture to make a house more appealing to potential homebuyers. Staging has become the go-to strategy to increase a home’s selling price while decreasing the time it sits on the market. Staging a home creates a welcoming space while helping buyers picture themselves living there. Here are some of our top home staging t...
When it comes to being eco-friendly, our first thoughts are of the “big R’s:” Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But did you realize that working from home is also environmentally sustainable? It’s true! Not having to drive to the office daily has lessened the environmental impact of working. But with a few additional tweaks, you can make working from home more efficien...
When it comes to home buying, there’s more to do than just touring homes. There are a lot of tasks that need to be juggled in addition to your day-to-day obligations. It’s easy to become overwhelmed! Organizing your home search will make the home buying process feel smoother and more manageable. Before you start looking for your new home in the Bay Area, ...
Being environmentally friendly has become more accepted by the general population. Being more eco-friendly can help keep our world more sustainable and save you some money! Thankfully being more environmentally-conscious isn’t a difficult undertaking. In fact, you can make a positive impact on the environment in your new home! Here are some small changes you can ta...
Buying a new home is an exciting moment. After finally finding your home and entering into a contract, it’s time to go through closing. This is a critical period of the buying process. Any changes to your credit or job situation can delay closing. Avoid compromising your mortgage approval by making these credit mistakes before closing. Not keeping track...