If you’re ready to sell your house for top dollar this summer, curb appeal is likely top of mind. Most real estate agents will agree that giving your landscape a face-lift will pay a homeowner back in spades—and it doesn’t even need to cost that much. That’s where annuals come in. Annuals are plants that grow…
A trip to visit the grandparents at home might conjure up images of flowery wallpaper and outdated armchairs—but one Maryland family has upended that stereotype with a boutique-worthy makeover. The couple, who live in Silver Spring, MD, enlisted the help of Dana Schwartz of the Washington, DC-based Dana Schwartz Design, to redesign the four empty bedrooms previously occupied…
Janet Engler, an 81-year-old veteran and full-time teacher from Indiana, was confused and frustrated, to say the very least. Engler was told by the utility company that she was using 8,000 gallons of water—which is an astronomical amount, especially for someone who lives alone and works away from home all day. After her local utility…
It’s one of the cornerstones of the American Dream—owning a house. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for the average American to afford a home. Despite mortgage rates starting to come down, the reality is that middle-class families in less than half of America can afford an average-priced home in their state. President…
Inflation continues to be a thorn in the economy’s side, and data suggests growing concern from consumers and businesses about the impact of tariffs on the broader economy. On Friday, the PCE Index, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, was steady at an above-target pace, and the core measure received an uptick. This contrasts…
Pending home sales rose modestly last month, but remained close to January’s record low, in a possible signal of continued weak buying activity this spring. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) grew 2% in February from the prior month after seasonal adjustment, the National Association of Realtors® reported Thursday. However, pending transactions declined 3.6% from…
The stagnant home market is threatening more than just buyers and sellers hoping to transact in the year ahead. It’s also risking their break-even point. Investing in real estate, whether you’re buying a home or an investment property, is generally a safe bet: You’ll make more money than you spend if you keep it long…