Blog Entries in April
How to Pay for Home Renovations Without Breaking the Bank
At some point, every homeowner looks around and thinks, “This place could use a little work.” Maybe it is a kitchen that feels stuck in another decade, a bathroom that has seen better days, or a basement full of untapped potential. The vision is easy. Paying for it is where things get real. The good news is that home improvement financing is more flexible than ever. Whether you are
You Don’t Need Perfect Credit to Buy a Home
Buying a home can feel like an uphill climb when your credit score is less than perfect. It is easy to assume the door to homeownership is closed, especially when you hear about strict lending standards and rising costs. The reality is more encouraging. Many buyers successfully purchase homes every year with less-than-ideal credit, and you may have more options than you think. If you are wonder
I Just Moved Into My Home: What Projects or Renovations Should I Handle First?
By Chris Petry In a perfect world, any home we buy would be a candidate for the coveted “dream home.” It would have everything we’ve ever dreamed of. The right number of bedrooms, the right number of bathrooms, a gorgeous wrap around porch oozing with Southern Gothic mystique, a grand two-story entryway leading to a stunning custom-crafted staircase, ala Sunset Boulevard. The
Should You Use Your 401(k) to Buy a House?
Should You Use Your 401(k) to Buy a House? Buying a home is one of the biggest financial steps you’ll take, and for many buyers, especially first-timers, coming up with upfront cash can feel like the hardest part. It’s no surprise that more people are asking whether they can tap into their 401(k) to help make it happen. The short answer is yes, you can. But the better question is
Five Egg-cellent Ways to Spruce Up Your Home This Easter Weekend
I won’t lie. I enjoy a good egg-related pun and Easter only comes once a year so why not take advantage of it? Remember the inimitable Vincent Price’s guest spot on the Batman TV series as the yolk-happy supervillain Egghead? No? Well, let’s just say he was a rather egg-centric character. A real egg-o maniac. Vincent was Egg-xemplary in the part, however. See, it’s just too
It's Arbor Day!
By Chris Petry Arbor Day has a marketing problem. Think about it. Spirit Halloween begins opening their doors in August. Millions phone in dinner reservations and purchase heart-shaped chocolate boxes for their significant others on Valentine’s Day. Americans from the Atlantic to the Pacific and North to the Arctic Circle will let off fireworks on July 4th to celebrate their independence.
Things to Know As a First Time Buyer
By Chris Petry Buying a home can be exciting and terrifying in equal measure. Of course, the only real reason to harbor any fear is because, by virtue of being a first-time buyer, it’s something of an unknown and thus frightening. What if I told you there was no reason to be frightened at all? What if I told you that buying a home was much, much easier than it seems? I know what you&rsquo
Easter Egg Hunting and House Hunting
By Chris Petry I spent the last couple weekends photographing Spring holiday-related events, both in-office and in public venues, sponsored by Berkshire agents. First, of course, there’s the infamous Easter Bunny photo. You know the one. You take your toddler, already wailing and thrashing about like a fish on the dock, and place them onto the lap of a giant anthropomorphic rabbit’s
Why Use a REALTOR?
By Chris Petry So, you’ve decided to buy a home. Congrats! Or, no, wait. You’re selling? Ah, yes. Time to upgrade! Or downsize. Regardless of your real estate ambitions, having a well-informed REALTOR at your side is a must. The internet has revolutionized the way we shop, date, and do business. It’s tempting to treat a real estate transaction the same way. Which is t
April Showers, May Flowers & All That Jazz
By Chris Petry Well, we’ve officially reached the month of April and you know what that means. Yes, it’s time to don a blue pinstriped suit and umbrella like Gene Kelley in “Singing in the Rain” and wrap yourself around a light post. If 1950s musical references are lost on you, let’s just say we’re in for a lot of rain. Probably. Or, maybe not? Despite the ol
