Carol's Blog

If you’re a veteran or on active military duty, you’ve likely heard of a Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage loan and are wondering if it’s a good choice for you. You could also be eligible for a VA loan if you’re the spouse of a military member who passed…

Assuming you’ve done the deep cleaning and decluttering, consider adding these items to your shopping list as you’re preparing to stage your home.

The house is almost yours! It can be tempting to spend the time set aside for the walk-through mentally planning where you'll place your furniture — but there are some things you should make time to check.

Who doesn't love the idea of collecting rent on a home in a beautiful vacation-friendly location -- and visiting for free when there aren't any guests? It's a lovely concept, but there are several "hidden" costs to owning a vacation home that your daydreams don't encompass.

Need help finding the right neighborhood for your home search? Here are five factors that should figure prominently in your thinking.

Looking for a new home? Concerned about maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your loved ones? Here are a few factors that will help you choose the right neighborhood for your search.

Implementing some "green" upgrades in a home you own is almost always a great investment — it can both save you money and make your home more attractive to buyers. Consider some of these suggestions and choose the ones that work best with your budget and lifestyle.

Daydreaming about owning your own home is one of the most intoxicating practices known to modern man, especially now that HGTV is a thing. But when the time comes to actually put your money where your daydream is, it can be challenging for first-time buyers especially to…

How do you know if a home’s price is competitive as either a buyer or a seller? The only way to know for sure is to talk to a professional — either an appraiser or a real estate agent — but if you want to do some research on your own, here’s where to…

Upgrading your house isn’t exactly a dollar-for-dollar investment. You probably aren’t going to make all of the money back that you sink into an improvement. So think about how long you’re likely to stay in the house and which upgrades you’ll enjoy the…

You don't need to put 20% down These lenders offer low-down-payment or no-down-payment options: VA loans: 0% down* USDA loans: 0% down FHA loan: 3.5% down Some conventional loans: 3% down

Staging a home isn't an exact science — it's more of an art, one that covers several rooms and flows throughout a home. The goal is to create a warm, welcoming space that will resonate with buyers. Here are the biggest mistakes you can make when staging your house for…