News
Keeping Your Home Safe While You Are Away
Planning a trip can be very exciting, but there's always a lot to consider and a lot of preparation. Whether it’s a work-related trip or an adventure with your family, you spend time figuring out all of the details to make sure you and your family arrive safely and...
Ways To Cut Down On Exterior Home Maintenance
Homeowners have less and less time to worry about the upkeep of their home, especially some of the larger, more time-consuming jobs, such as exterior home maintenance. Here we outline options to consider that are low-maintenance and durable when you're facing your...
Steps to Creating an Environmentally Friendly Home
Every day, an increasing number of people are becoming more environmentally conscious. Adopting eco-friendly habits will not only help our environment, but it will also help you to save money. Here we list things you can change or update to work towards creating an...
Should You Refinance With Your Current Lender?
Regardless of how long you've owned your home, you might consider refinancing to take advantage of lower interest rates. After deciding to refinance, the next decision is: Do you refinance with the same lender you have, or do you find a new lender? Are you satisfied...
What You Need To Know About PMI
If a home is purchased with a conventional loan with a deposit of less than 20%, the lender requires the purchaser to pay PMI, or private mortgage insurance. Private mortgage insurance is quite literally an insurance policy for the lender. The insurance will...
Setting a Realistic Budget for Home Renovations
Whether you're planning on renovating a newly purchased home or updating your family home, making sure you have a realistic and detailed renovation budget is key. Establish a well-planned budget to follow (and modify as needed) before any purchases are made or...
Reducing Effects of Allergens In Your Home
It seems as if more and more people are dealing with the uncomfortable effects of allergens every day. When we think of allergies, we tend to think of the outdoors—the pollen, the grass, the weeds. But a lot of what is outdoors ends up indoors. That, along with the...
Understanding Home Equity and How to Use it to Your Advantage
Home equity is something that most, if not all, homeowners have heard of. But it's important to fully understand what it is, how to take advantage of your home equity, and what you can use your home equity for. Let's start with the basics. What is home equity? The...
Fall Maintenance Tips to Prepare Your Property for the Cooler Weather
Fall is often a busy season as teachers, children and parents find themselves getting back into their school routines. Swimsuits and flip-flops get pushed aside and hoodies and winter boots make their debut. As you prepare to enjoy the crisp air and bonfires, it's a...
Easy Ways To Lower Your Energy Usage At Home
Lowering our energy usage not only reduces our household energy costs, but it also contributes to lowering our carbon footprint. When someone mentions being energy efficient in the home, the first thing many homeowners think of is appliances. Yes, when purchasing new...