Homes.com Staff

5 Hardscaping Projects That Can Improve Your Home’s Value

If you're thinking about improvements to your home, some home improvements raise potential resale value more than others. The key consideration, of course, is that you and your family will get use out of and enjoy the improvement, but it never hurts to think strategically. A home project you enjoy every day that will hike your home's resale value is a terrific two-fer. But what projects improve resale value the most? Projects that add curb appeal can raise a home's value by as much as 20 percent."Curb appeal" refers to what potential buyers see when they drive up and park. Landscaping, hardscaping and home exteriors all count. Hardscaping, by the way, is any structure or hard materials that are part of the landscape. A beautiful garden, a spacious deck and shining new paint can all make prospective owners take notice. Homes with curb appeal also tend to sell more quickly, which can be an attractive quality when you come to sell your home.Within the hardscaping category, some improvements give you more bang for the buck than others. Swimming pools, for example, were once very popular. As a result, they were common features in a lot of sunny climate backyards. Now, though? Many people see them as a potential danger to small children, an insurance risk and a maintenance time and money suck. They only yield a 7 percent return on investment (ROI) in terms of resale value. Many hardscaping projects return more.Which ones? Well, here are five.

January 1, 2025

Buying a Home in a Fire Zone

While California and other western states may get the most media coverage for their wildfires, it's actually the southern United States that led the country in homes destroyed by wildfires in 2016.According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) there were more than 67,000 wildfires in the US last year. Those fires destroyed over 5.5 million acres, with nearly 1.6 of those lost acres in the south. Tennessee led the nation in wildfires, and the highest number of structures lost in one state – 2,000 plus residences and 53 commercial buildings. California ranked second with 754 residences and 12 commercial structures.In spite of the catastrophic possibilities when living in a rural or heavily wooded area, the benefits often outweigh the potential of a wild fire. Being in nature, isolation, pollution free air, wildlife and privacy are many of the reasons homeowners give when searching for homes in wild land and rural areas.

January 1, 2025

How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?

Homes.com data indicates that selling a house takes an average of about 59 days. However, the individual timeline to sell your home will depend on several factors. These include local real estate market conditions, location, property details, pricing and seasonality. The properties that best align with buyers' needs and wants will sell more quickly.

January 1, 2025

What is Gentrification and What Happens to Neighborhoods that are Gentrified?

Do you love the energetic pace of living in a city but find home prices out of reach? You might explore some of the gentrifying or up-and-coming neighborhoods in your metro area. Despite the bad rap that the word gets, we've taken a look at what the term really means and how it can be effective for cities and aspiring homeowners.

January 1, 2025

2019 Most Family-Friendly Cities

The Most Family-Friendly Cities of 2019

January 1, 2025

What to Consider When Building a House vs. Buying

 So, you're on the fence about whether to buy an existing home or build a new one. There are plenty of factors that go into the process, from finding a great location, costs, the neighborhood's safety, and for some, great amenities. Generations ago, people would live in their homes for upward of 10 to 30 years, and they would pay off their mortgages and remain in the same house well into their retirement years. Today, homebuyers prefer mobility, and sometimes that means changing cities for work or leisure frequently.  The average person moves 11.7 times during their lifetime and may own two or more homes. Whether buying a home for the first time or building your dream home is your ideal journey, all home buyers tend to have something in common – buying a home will likely count among the most significant investments they will ever make. Understanding what each option entails will help you make a better, more informed decision in this exciting home buying journey.  Buying an Existing Home 

January 1, 2025

Safety Tips for Before, During and After the Renovation Process

Transforming your space through a renovation can make your home more beautiful and functional, improving the time you spend there as well as improve your home's value.If you’re ready to work on improving your space, whether it’s remodeling the kitchen, updating the bathroom, or transforming the backyard, be sure to keep safety tips before, during and after the renovation in mind.

January 1, 2025

A Hot Housing Market Expected to Continue Through the Spring of 2021

There is no question that housing markets have maintained active – and seemingly busier than ever– during COVID-19 pandemic. And when the final count comes in early next year, new and existing home sales in 2020 are likely to have set a record. Now the question is, can the market keep up its blistering pace in 2021?The answer is yes, at least for the time being. To see what homebuyers and sellers can expect going forward, let’s dissect the housing sector into its four key components:

January 1, 2025

Renting a Home Versus an Apartment

How can you know whether it’s better to rent a home versus an apartment? At Homes.com, we know there’s no “right” or “wrong” answer when it comes to your best fit, so we’ve broken down the pros and cons of renting each particular dwelling to help you find what’s best for you!

January 1, 2025

The 10 Safest US Cities for Your Next Move!

These safest US cities are great for anyone looking to be a stranger to danger. Although crime is inevitable, these cities are ranked by Niche, a surveying site, as being the safest cities in the United States based on several categories of crime. If you want to live the good life, move to one of these good cities. You won't find many bad guys here!Naperville, Illinois is not only impressive in its lack of crime, Naperville also has an excellent school district and an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent which is below the national average of 4.4. Pack your bags, Naperville has a lot to offer!Four out of the 10 safest US cities are located in the sunny state of California. Maybe all that sunshine makes for better vibes? #GoodVibesOnlyNumber two on our list, Irvine, California is a great city if you're looking to spend an average of $765,750 for a home. Nestled in Orange County, this luxury city and county is known for having the best-of-the-best, including crime rate!Cities like Port St. Lucie and Cape Coral, Florida, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Provo, Utah, Round Rock, Texas do well in regards to low crime rates.If you can't get enough California dreaming, Carlsbad, Thousand Oaks, and Sunnyvale make waves on the Pacific Coast as well.

January 1, 2025