Often times you get what you pay for, and that is definitely the case with roofing material. Take tile vs. shingles, for example. Tile is definitely a superior roofing material, but here are plusses and minuses to both – largely dependent upon your particular situation. Tile costs more than shingles, usually at least double, but it will could last 50 …
Why Get Pre-Approved Before House Shopping
Approval…we seek it from our parents, our mentors and our peers. We need it to get loans of any kind. Pre-approval for loans can be particularly important too, especially when you are shopping for property. In real estate, pre-approval means that a lender looks at your credit, employment, income and debts to determine an estimate of how much you are …
Why a One-Story Home Is Best for the Elderly
One-story homes are better for the elderly for a host of reasons… Health is a primary reason. As people age, many can develop knee or hip issues, arthritis and other aches and pains, making it hard or even impossible to climb stairs. Seniors who have COPD, emphysema or other breathing issues, may also have great difficulty with stairs…and, if those …
Stay Away from Homes with Chinese Drywall
During the housing boom from 2004 to 2007, certain materials were in high demand, and there was a shortage of drywall. In an effort to alleviate this scarcity, drywall was imported from China. This importation, however, caused its own huge set of problems. You see, Chinese drywall is linked to the seepage of sulfide gasses that – aside from smelling …
Various Architectural Home Styles
The world is full of choices…chocolate and vanilla, long or short hair, domestic or imported beer…even houses come in a wide array of style choices. In Florida, we often see large, looming luxury condos and townhouses which are typically of two-story, rowhome design in the more urban areas. Neighborhoods and single-family waterfront homes tend to be single-level ranch style here. …
HOA Fees and What They Cover
HOA stands for Homeowner’s Association. The purpose of an HOA is to manage and maintain a planned community. For instance, HOA’s maintain common areas, such as swimming pools, clubhouse, fitness area, security gates, sidewalks, parking garages and building exteriors. They also take care of landscaping and pest control. Sometimes HOA fees can cover certain city services, such as trash removal, …
Research Your Neighbors Before Buying a House
Know anyone named Bubba who enjoys sucking moonshine through his missing teeth, shooting guns in place of fireworks in a less than sober state, parks his never-to-run-again dilapidated truck in his front yard, lets five of his unwashed, shoeless children play in the street , and then has raucous parties with his similar friends? Of course you don’t! Nor would …
Add Accents to Your Home to Raise the Value
You don’t have to break the bank to increase the value of your home. Sometimes it’s the little things in life that can matter most. That is true in real estate too. Fresh paint, edging around your driveway and walkways, neatly trimming your trees and bushes and planting pretty flowers, as well as little decorative touches around the house like …
Changing Air Filters Regularly in Your Home Regularly Can Improve Your Health
Want to improve the health of your family and your wallet? Change your air filters in your home on a regular basis. It’s a small, inexpensive thing to do, but the benefits can be pretty big. Changing air filters regularly in your home can lessen allergy symptoms and actually keep your family healthier. Cleaner air filters result in cleaner air. …
Riverside vs. Oceanside Living
A riversider or oceansider…which one are you? Do you wake up before dawn itching to get out on the water; hop in your kayak and glide through a tranquil estuary teaming with wildlife and framed by Spanish moss draped from century old oaks? Or maybe you wake up just as early to beat the bass to the hottest fishing grounds …