When you go to a scheduled showing with your Realtor, usually the house is very tidy and staged to look its best. The owners furnishings can be a distraction. Here a few things to notice beyond their nice sofa and coffee table!

Plumbing leaks: Check for possible signs of ...

You've closed on the house, using up a lot of your savings in the process, so what do you do next? Try these tips to build your money back up.

1.  Put that credit card away! Make a list of what you want to buy for the house, then ...

We get this question a lot. Most buyers think they need to see everything, just in case we missed that perfect house!  My team spends many hours per week showing and previewing homes so that when you want to see something, they can help you locate the right house very ...

So, you are ready to buy a home, have met with a lender, but don’t have enough money saved for your down payment. What to do?? Luckily a family member or friend wants to help you with that.

Can you just deposit that money into your bank ...

Gary Keller made an excellent observation in his book "Shift" when he remarked, "The moment the media declares a "real estate shift,", it's as if the Market just got doused in a cold shower.  The result is fearful buyers, pickier buyers, and eventually fewer buyers.  Cautious consumers ...

Lifestyle & Future Needs

Now that you are ready to buy a home, consider how you will "grow" into your new place. What you choose should fit your lifestyle and have features that appeal to you and your family. Anticipate your future wants and needs. Do you have enough ...

Making plans to purchase a new home or even to make a move up requires financial planning. Here are some tips:

1. Make a plan. Create a straightforward budget for the year and monitor it monthly or weekly. Each month, review your progress and revise where necessary. Make a ...

Recently at an HOA meeting in Baton Rouge, I was asked if having a strong Home Owners Association was a good thing or just one MORE thing to have to deal with. The answer is definitely YES!

A strong home owners association will help to retain home values ...

So as a home buyer you are probably already aware that we have a crazy real estate market.  Limited inventory of homes for sale, homes selling for over list price, homes with multiple offers the first few hours, sellers unwilling to assist with closing costs, etc, etc, etc.  ...

1-Open New Accounts Now

One of the best tips is the importance of opening new accounts now, rather than waiting until your credit report is all cleaned up. New accounts show that you are capable of getting back in the game and will have a great impact on your score ...