Heather Barber's (palmelite) Blog

Sometimes the problem isn't the house; it's the neighborhood. You won't be shelling out for repairs, since the issues typically can't be fixed. The real cost is the reduction of your home's value and how difficult your home may be to sell in the future. Neighbors who are slobs or hoarders can kno...

Many say that the two most important things to look at when purchasing a home is the foundation and the soil it sits on! Be sure to look not only at the foundation itself but also check on where it sits. The old-school method of detecting foundation problems still works: Drop a marble on the floo...

Typically when looking to screen tenants, the owner or management company goes straight to a credit report to review for qualification on the tenants. What happens when the tenant does not have a credit history? This is very common for international renters. Perhaps a person who is just coming in...

NBC’s Today Show aired a story about the questionable ethics of air conditioning repair and service during the summer heat wave. Jeff Rosen revealed six out of six air conditioning repair companies charged customers for unnecessary work, repairs and parts. 7 Tips to Guard Against an Air Condition...

I found this article written by By John Nuzzolese on www.thelpa.com , but I had a few things to add to it. Although useful, sometimes these are characteristics you can’t see right off the bat! I’d suggest keeping your eyes open for a few extra things as well. 1)      Be careful if they are in too...

U.S. mortgage rates for 30-year loans fell to a record low for a fourth straight week, reducing borrowing costs as a housing recovery takes hold. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 3.78 percent in the week ended today from 3.79 percent, Freddie Mac said in a statement. It wa...

  Changing the color of your front door is one of the quickest ways to spiff up your home's curb appeal. And, according to the Paint Quality Institute, the color you choose tells visitors a lot about you, even before they the ring the doorbell. For the best results, choose an exterior paint that...

The CMA is used daily in our real estate world. Whether working with investors and researching the would be rentals to find out what sort of income can be made or simply searching for a seller to find out what the expected price is of the home the CMA tool is invaluable. Agents use this when work...

I read this article in the Wall Street Journal and found it fascinating. I have been seeing bidding wars alive and well in my day to day business, but this article arranged and organized it all out for me on print and I found it very helpful! A new development is catching home buyers off guard as...

There are a few obvious reasons you might want to consider a roof replacement, but there are some other telltale signs that may be letting you know your roof needs a freshen up or a tear off. Sun patches and water puddles are the first obvious signs it’s time for a new tent topper, however, there...