TIM GRISSETT's (gtim) Blog

So real estate wisdom tells us that spring and summer are the prime seasons for house hunting and moving. People are more likely to get out and shop when the weather is nice. It is a more pleasant time of year, and sellers know their yards look better when not covered in snow. Yet there are some ...

Buyers on their first go at homeownership are a product of their surroundings today—budgets burdened by college debt and mounting prices (and, now, rates), with the inability to save. With the barely-there headway in inventory, many are simply spinning their wheels."With the lower end of the hous...

There is a little-known mortgage program that could provide the vehicle for the right person to get into a home.  If a person sells their home to another for less than the fair market value, the difference in the appraised value and the sales price is considered a gift of equity for the buyer.FHA...

Although home staging usually means having a professional company stage your vacant or semi-furnished home, it doesn’t always mean you have to hire the pros to get the job done. A simple definition of staging is preparing an area to be a specific thing. Stage your living room to look like a livin...

Start outsideA wreath on the front door is classic and timeless. A pine or boxwood wreath is always beautiful—or dare to be different. Opting for a wreath of fake fruit or small squashes extends the life of the wreath to the whole holiday season. If you want to go crafty, wrap yarn in holiday col...

It may be natural for first-time buyers to be unsure of the process of buying a home because they haven't been through it before but even repeat buyers need to know changes that have taken place since the financial housing crisis.The steps in the home buying process are predictable and generally ...

Everyone wants a place to call home; a place that gives them a sense of security. We are currently seeing major interest from females who want to achieve this dream, and the numbers are proving it!In 2018, for the second year in a row, single female buyers accounted for 18% of all buyers. In 2017...

Do foreclosed homes offer a good opportunity for potential buyers? It's important to understand the risks.If you’re a homebuyer looking for a bargain, you might be investigating buying a home in foreclosure. It’s important to know, though, that though often discounted, buying a foreclosure can be...

Land can be a good investment, whether you intend to build a house or business on a particular lot or simply want a place where you can stretch your legs and breathe a bit more deeply. After all, they’re not making any more of it (ok, technically this isn’t true, but you’d need to be volcano adja...

It’s been a busy year. It almost feels like we completely skipped over spring, summer and fall and found ourselves barreling head first into winter like a kid on an out of control snow sled. With those cold days just around the corner, now is the time to make sure all your heating equipment is sa...