Submitted by:  Camille Powell

  Home prices may be rising by double-digit percentages annually but buying a home still may be more affordable than renting in several of the nation’s largest cities, according to a new study from realtor.com®. Record-low mortgage rates are helping to tilt more markets in favor of buying over the past year. Researchers analyzed the monthly cost of buying a median-priced home to the median price of renting a two- to four-bedroom unit in the 50 largest

Submitted by:  Cheryl Fields

Buyers are ready to take advantage of the record-low interest rates and incentives mortgage brokers have to offer yet, the inventory is lower than before the health crisis hit us making this one of the biggest challenges facing this hot market. Buyers are being forced to compete in multiple offer situations time and time again only to be beat out by offers that are several thousands of dollars over asking price. Fantastic news if you are the seller! Continued rejection and hopeless feelings if you are the buyer. 

Submitted by:  Camille Powell

Everyone should follow the idea of “Don’t wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait.” While, like the stock market, the waiting game for a real estate payoff can prove to be taxing, the reward is an overly sweet victory. You may even get a few more hours of sleep along the way. Prior to 2020, properties typically

Submitted by:  Cathy Pennington

When you need to sell your home so that you can use the funds to purchase another home, you may need to make an offer with a sale contingency. A sales contingency protects buyers from carrying two mortgages. A qualified realtor can help navigate you through this tricky situation. With a home sales contingency in place, the transaction is dependent upon the sale

Submitted by:  Cheryl Fields 

While we navigate through these ever changing days, we realize our “needs” for our home are now with plenty of space for life, work, school, exercise, and an outdoor space to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful sunshine. Before the pandemic, most of us had rooms you hardly used? You know the rooms that you might have only gone into if you had company staying over or, when the kids had friends over so, off to the bonus room they went? Now, you find yourself fighting over every inch of space in the house looking for peace and

Submitted by:  Cathy Pennington

When you are buying a home, some lenders will require you to get a termite inspection. If your lender does not require a termite inspection,  I would still highly recommend that you get one.

Termites can do serious, long lasting damage. The most dangerous termites in the United States can be found in Tennessee, the Subterranean Termite.  It is responsible for 90% of all property damage. They can infest a home for years without anyone knowing.

Submitted by:  Cheryl Fields

How often do you try to save money for a vacation, birthday/Christmas presents, a new car, etc? For many of us, this task seems to be increasingly difficult especially in these pandemic days. Trust me when I say that you are Not alone. Even dedicated savers have setbacks or unexpected problems. HELLO? Who really planned on the entire world shutting down for this long? I know it can be difficult visualizing how putting back $100+/month can add up to a new house. Your big dreams of owning a new home gets pushed back, yet again, so you can afford more immediate needs.

Submitted by:  Camille Powell

In housing, a seller’s market occurs when demand exceeds supply. With more people looking to buy (demand) than homes on the market (supply), sellers are at an advantage. This year’s historically low interest rates have driven a surge in demand from people looking to buy homes. If your home is for sale, here are a few things that you should prepare for in a seller’s market. Your home may sell more quickly. Well-priced homes are more likely to get snatched off the market quickly because of

Submitted by:  Camille Powell

For over 20 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. The Pantone Color of the Year selection process requires thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry

Written by: Cathy Pennington

There are many benefits to buying a new construction home versus buying an existing home. Some people just like the idea of having a home that has not been lived in prior to them. The new construction homes are move-in ready, very clean, & oftentimes you can customize them with colors & upgrades of your preference. They usually have the more modern floor plans and designs and the new homes are often more energy efficient. You are more likely to have