When looking to purchase a home, the design is an important factor. You want a home that is well built with a solid structure. An important factor is the type of foundation that the home was built on. In general, you can choose between a concrete slab and a foundation with a crawl space or basement.

The choice of a slab or a foundation depends on geography and climatic conditions. Crawl spaces are more common in the northern latitude, as many building codes require a greater distance between the foundation and the home in the colder climate. A 2014 survey by National Association of Home Builders found that 84% of homes built in the upper Midwest had a full or partial basement. [...]

Contemporary or modern house plans are becoming increasingly popular and even a welcome change in home design. They are functional, efficient in more ways than one, and look aesthetically appealing as well.

Many cities, residential areas, and even neighborhoods have their own set of codes, rules, and restrictions when it comes to construction and the design of houses. However, with the numerous benefits of modern plans coming to light, they have become less restrictive and more open to these new, contemporary ways.

One of the main benefits and principles of modern house plans is maximizing the space and making it as functional [...]

As we learned in our profile of millennial homebuyers, most are burdened with student loans and are relatively new to earning a steady paycheck while a significant portion don’t have any credit to speak of. Let’s look at first-time homebuyer loans and what you can do to quickly improve your credit to qualify for a mortgage.

Because these loans are designed to encourage people with moderate incomes to venture into the real estate market, they come with a few restrictions. It’s helpful to know about these before you start house-hunting. Most first-time buyer loans

Millennial – the generation born between the 1980s and late 1990s, often associated with technological savvy, social media obsession, short attention spans, and self-centeredness.

But are they? A Pew Research survey found that millennials are more likely to be critical of themselves than older generations, readily identifying with words like “greedy,” “self-absorbed,” and “wasteful.” But the deeper you dig into the data, the clearer it is that millennials are cautious, content, and community-minded.

Millennials are significantly more likely to rent or live with their parents (or in a group living [...]

If you liked 2017 real estate markets, you will love 2018. Buyers will need time, patience and persistence to find the right home this year. Owners who have been waiting for the right moment to sell might make their move now. Prices are leveling off in markets where home prices have outdistanced.

The three-year shortage of homes for sale is continuing this year, driving prices even higher. In many markets, they have reached a tipping point where hard-working, dual-income families cannot afford to become homeowners. Steadily rising mortgage rates coupled with prices driven by shortages are making conditions more difficult for buyers.

Through [...]

People have been comforted, moved, soothed, and inspired by water since the beginning of time. Studies show that people who live near large bodies of water, like the ocean, a waterfall, or even lakes and streams, are healthier and feel better. Scientists and researchers say they’re not sure why being around water soothes us, and helps our mental health, but it does. It’s one reason why so many of us want to live near water, have a swimming pool, or even a large water feature in or around our home.

“People do love water features, especially large ones,” said New York architect Stuart Narofsky. Narofsky specializes in designing and installing large water [...]

Everyone wants to find their perfect home. Many homebuyers know exactly what they want their home to look like, down to exterior and interior design details. Across the U.S., home styles become trends due to their popularity, geographic location, and other factors specific to an area. For instance, in somewhere that’s prone to flooding like New Orleans, you won’t typically find a lot of low-lying, ranch-styled homes – this is not to say that they don’t exist in the Crescent City, but geographically speaking, it’s unrealistic. You may not know all the details of the effects that geography can have on home styles, but for that reason, we’ve compiled [...]

If you are looking for that start-up vibe, Olde Kensington is one of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods that is slowly getting a facelift. Tucked away between Northern Liberties (north) and Fishtown (west), this distinct section of Kensington is going from warehouse to coffee house and condo. With other kinds of redevelopment in the works, this area of the city is one to watch or give more thoughtful consideration for a next move.

Olde Kensington is roughly situated between Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Front Street, W. Girard Ave. and N. 5th street. Considered part of the Lower Northeast section of Philadelphia, Olde Kensington is about 2 miles from Center [...]

Buying or selling a home is a huge step. Realtors can make this easy. Or not.

I know the principle well. When my wife and I bought our first home almost a year ago, we were on our second real estate agent. The first time around our search felt taxing, mainly because our real estate agent, who we met at an open house, had a very low view of most flips. At the time, flips were just about all we could afford for the home size we wanted.

At every turn, the agent was ready to give us a horror story about how clients ran into big problems in the weeks – even days – following the purchase of a renovated home.

Eventually, we had enough. I broke up with the agent via a [...]

Housing prices are on the rise, and many buyers are having a difficult time affording a home. Nationally housing prices increased nearly 6% in 2017, according to the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. It was the largest increase since 2013 and has put pressure on many buyers.

But the increase in home values has not been equal. Some places, especially metro areas in the northeast and the west, have seen drastic increases. Colorado saw a 10% increase in 2017, according to the Colorado Association of Realtors. The average price of a home in Colorado is around $750,000, according to Homes.com. The northeast was just as expensive. Homes in Massachusetts average just over [...]