Northeastern and Mountain states are highly energy efficient, while Appalachia and the South consume more energy, according to a new WalletHub survey. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American household spends at least $2,000 a year on home utilities. Experts further estimate that space heating and water heating respectively account for 45% and…
There are many reasons for buyers to make contingent offers on a home, so it’s important to understand what each common type entails Putting an offer on a home and going under contract is a major step toward making what is likely the biggest purchase of your life – so it can be nerve-wracking when…
Circumventing a mortgage may speed up the deal, but both buyers and sellers must consider many factors. Liquid assets like cash represent flexibility and efficiency, and there are few areas of our financial lives in which the phrase rings truer than in real estate transactions. Given changes in the interest rate environment over the last…
Compensating for a lack of view is not insurmountable. Here are some clever ways to create your own. Prestigious addresses in desirable neighborhoods may suggest apartments and townhouses that check all the boxes, but sunlight and views are not guaranteed. It is a simple matter of geometry: Each building may be a square or rectangular box, or a series…
Each room in your home requires a different staging approach, showcasing both functionality and unique charm. As a home stager and real estate salesperson, I often encounter clients and agents who conceptualize staging as a process synonymous with “decorating.” The truth is that effective and successful home staging is a strategic process designed to represent your property…
Get inspired by your closet, do some math, or keep it simple with monochromatic designs You just rented or purchased your first home and are ready to move, but where to start with furnishings, decor, lighting, artwork, and most importantly, wall colors? Furnishing a first home can be overwhelming and expensive, but of all the elements that comprise…
Designing your home based on the past will assure it a place in the future. Discover five eras of vintage interior design. Home furnishing trends, colors and styles come and go with amazing speed, making it a challenge for even the most dedicated homeowner to keep track of what is “in” and “out” at any given moment. The…
A lawsuit from the CFPB proves just how popular the peer-to-peer service is with fraudsters, and what makes it especially vulnerable to scams. Zelle is an electronic person-to-person payment service offered by many U.S. banks as an alternative to nonbank P2P services, like PayPal or Venmo. Zelle is convenient if you have a bank checking or savings…
Learn how many branches and ATMs the largest banks have. When it comes to choosing a bank, you have many options throughout the U.S. However, if you’re looking for a bank with robust offerings and a large presence, it can help to start with one of the country’s biggest banks. Read on to learn more…
If you need to send a large sum of money securely, learn how to do a wire transfer. Imagine you need to pay money to a title company to wrap up a home purchase. Or perhaps you need to send cash to your grandmother in Mexico. In both of these cases, and many others, you need…
