Weichert, Realtors – Courtney Valleywide

26 Mar 2019

9 Strategies to Handle Home Maintenance Costs

Real Estate

Maintenance is an important part of home ownership. Improper care compromises the safety of your property and can result in big repair bills. Include these strategies in your maintenance plan to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Educate Yourself It's usually cheaper to do most home maintenance jobs yourself. Teach yourself some basic skills to save yourself from professional fees. Take some classes. Community colleges and hardware stores often host community courses that help you plan projects, get familiar with new tools, or gain more value from property assessments. Invest in beginner books on carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing. These will be…

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 25th, 2019

Financial Reports

Last week's economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee and a press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Sales of pre-owned homes in February were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. NAHB: Builder Confidence Unchanged Despite Headwinds Home builders remained confident about housing market conditions in March. The NAHB Housing Market Index posted a reading of 62, which matched February's reading and fell one point short of expectations. NAHB Index readings above 50 represent a positive outlook on housing market conditions. Home builders continued…

12 Ways to Lower Your Monthly Utility Bills

Real Estate

According to the US Department of Energy, the average American household paid $111.67 each month for utilities in 2017. With some research and a few DIY projects, property owners can reduce those energy costs without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Establish Energy Friendly Habits Reduce energy waste to see an immediate change in your utility payments. Before bed, walk around your home. Make sure you turn off all lights, televisions, computers, and other plugged-in devices. In the colder months, close the doors to unused spaces to save big on heating bills. Dial down the heat before bed. Invest in extra blankets…