Homes.com Staff

Renting Out Your Spare Space: Exploring How People Rent Out Space In Their Homes

It's no secret that the road to homeownership is an expensive – albeit rewarding – one. Between mortgage payments and renovations, homeowners may feel their budgets stretched thin. There is hope, however: renting out your spare space.The search term "renting your home" yields over 180 million search results on Google, so homeowners are certainly interested in this form of cost mitigation. Wanting to know more, we surveyed 950 people who own a home. We learned which spaces homeowners are renting out, how much money they're making, and even dove into some of their biggest regrets. Continue reading to see just how rewarding or frustrating in-home rental units can be.

January 1, 2025

8 Things To Understand Before You Buy A Home In A Flood Zone

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States, and if you own a home, you're probably at risk from water damage. Because recent Federal Flood Insurance Reform has caused flood insurance premiums to soar — from $2,500 a year to $9,500 a year and more depending on your zone, it's important to know whether your new home is in a flood zone. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or real estate agent, you can learn more about flood insurance through FEMA's website.

January 1, 2025

How to Price Your Home in an Extreme Market

Most sellers want two things: the highest possible price and the shortest possible time between listing to close. Hot markets (like the current one!) can be hard on sellers. Sure, inventory generally sells quickly, and bidding wars skyrocket offers higher than list prices. But one of the greatest threats to sellers during sellers' markets is low appraisals — a by-product of those same bidding wars and accelerating home values. Given all these fast-paced challenges, how should you price your home in an extreme market?

January 1, 2025

3 Tips for Buying a Pet-Friendly Home

Most of us know what features we want in a new home. However, beyond a yard or other pet-specific feature, most pet owners don't consider other features they may need. And if you're selling a home to pet owners, knowing what benefits to promote may just help you make a sale."Before you choose a real estate agent make sure they are pet-friendly and understand your needs as a pet owner," said Jill Barsky, an associate broker located in Virginia. Barsky is licensed in MD, DC, and VA, and sees a lot of homes from city condos to rural farms." Agents want to be helpful and may say they're pet-friendly, but unless they have pets, they may not understand. Ask for references, and look at their ads and website. Do they make a point of letting buyers and sellers know they're pet-friendly?" Barsky advertises herself as "The Pet-Friendly Realtor," so clients know right away they're in the right place.As a real estate agent, Barsky has tapped into a huge niche — pet owners in search of homes. According to a 2015/2016 poll by the Humane Society, pet ownership in the U.S. there are 163.6 million cats and dogs in 79.7 million homes.A strongly pet-friendly broker, Barsky encourages her clients to bring their pets with them when looking at houses. "It's a huge plus for buyers to be able to see how their pet responds to the home too," she said. Barsky began volunteering at an animal rescue at age 14. Now, in addition to her real estate practice, she also runs an animal rescue.

January 1, 2025

5 of the Best Places to Live in Colorado

Wondering what it would be like to move to Colorado? With low unemployment, a highly educated population, unparalleled outdoor recreation and more, the heartbeat of John Denver’s song “Rocky Mountain High” lives up to expectations. In fact, it is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, due in large part to domestic migration.

January 1, 2025

Contemporary Home Design: 5 Benefits of Modern House Plans

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.

January 1, 2025

How an Escalation Clause Can Enhance Your Offer

When you find the perfect home, being outbid by another prospective buyer can cause frustration and disappointment. Multiple offers are common in a competitive real estate market, and an escalation clause can help by allowing you to increase your bid when a seller receives competing offers for a higher purchase price.

January 1, 2025

Should You Invest in a Fixer-Upper?

  

January 1, 2025

The Best Cities for Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers

The Best U.S. Cities for Each Generation

January 1, 2025

Can Adding a Pool Increase Your Home Value?

On scorching hot days, there’s nothing like taking a dip in a swimming pool. In some areas of the country, a swimming pool is close to a necessity. In fact, there are 10.6 million swimming pools across the U.S., with 3,000,000 of those in California alone. From in-ground to above-ground, chlorine to saltwater, there are numerous styles, sizes, and prices of swimming pools. And while having a swimming pool just steps from your back door may sound appealing, is it really a good economical choice and does it increase your home’s value? There are a lot of factors to consider before adding a swimming pool, or even before buying a home with an existing swimming pool.

January 1, 2025