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Managing your home away from home
July 14, 2024
Home-watch service gives peace of mind.
Take the couple who closed their new Phoenix home for the summer without making arrangements to have their property checked. They returned in November to discover damage from a water leak. They had to replace the lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets and baseboards, drywall and mildewy carpets.
"If ...
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How to sell in a buyer's market
June 23, 2024
You've got to be proactive on price, marketing and more. Here are 10 steps to take before you plant the "for sale" sign.
If you're selling your home this year, be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
In most places, those heady days of putting a property on the market, receiving multiple bids, getting more than you expected, and accepting ...
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Paid off home, now how to get title?
June 20, 2024
Q: I live in Southern California and paid off my home. I received "Substitution of Trustee and full reconveyance" that was recorded in my county in June 2007. Is there some other document that I should receive indicating title, deed or ownership of my property? I received an ad from a private company indicating they would assist for a fee to ...
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Extra payment to principal may not dent monthly payments
June 19, 2024
Many borrowers would like a mortgage on which the monthly payment would drop following a large payment to principal. They may have highly irregular income, or they may anticipate coming into a large sum of money from a bonus, bequest or insurance settlement.
Mortgages fall into four categories with regard to how responsive they are to this ...
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Free storage
June 18, 2024
Staying organized is always a challenge. Stuff collects and gets out of hand.
There are lots of everyday throw-away items you can use to stay organized. Get creative in your search. Instead of looking at an object's label, look at its size and shape. Match that to what you're trying to store and you've got a winning combination. You'll be able ...
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Turn, turn, turn
June 16, 2024
One afternoon last week, three hours apart, I met with two couples, both of whom read this blog. As it turned out, they both wanted financial help.
The young, urban couple – he’s in IT, she’s in HR – rent a one-bedroom condo and are shopping for a home. But not fast. When they do, I was told, it will be in the $700,000 range. They have $82,000 ...
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Two common home buying mistakes
June 14, 2024
Buying a home is serious business. It's a long term commitment and probably the most money you'll ever spend for anything in your lifetime. Avoiding two of the most common mistakes will lead to a more satisfactory outcome.
Mistake number one is shopping without your own representative. A buyers agent will have your best interests in mind. So, ...
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How much is your home worth? Well, it depends...
June 10, 2024
Helen Smart's home backs on to the world-renowned Niagara Escarpment, whose waterfalls, slow-growing coniferous trees and abundance of plants can be enjoyed up close by hiking the Bruce Trail, which runs right behind her property.
It's a feature that's hard to match, but how do you put a price tag on it when it comes time to sell?
Such ...
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Green leads in nature-friendly housing
June 9, 2024
Most people associate "cutting edge" with technological advances. At Adera's Green development, the term also relates to building and living integrity.
"We began three to five years ago getting involved with environmental 'green' programs." says Norm Couttie, vice-president of Adera. With the Adera-developed building on University of B.C.'s ...
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10 tips on staging your home to sell
June 4, 2024
It doesn't take long for a prospective buyer to form an opinion about your house. Here's how you can tilt the odds in your favor by making your home appeal to the widest clientele possible.
You don't have much time.
Prospective home buyers form an opinion about the home you're selling in 15 seconds, by one estimate. And the clock starts ...
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