If you are considering a home improvement project in the near future, I am sure you are asking yourself, will I get my money back when I sell?  Reports like Remodeling Magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value Report provide interesting data on ROI for home improvements, but...

For many first-time buyers, saving for a down payment is a critical step on the road to becoming homeowners.  While people who have previously owned a home often use the proceeds from the sale of their homes to finance the purchase of a new one, they also change the...

More than half of adults make New Year's resolutions each year.  Unfortunately, many give up after a few weeks because they haven't turned their goals into habits.  Whether you want to lose weight, save for a home (click here to view our "how-to" article for saving)...

Gains in the new-home market are helping lift the value of remodeling projects even as costs rise. From Remodeling magazine, January 2016 Bigger and more expensive projects, rising new-home prices, curb appeal, and energy efficiency all contributed to a slight gain in...

Changes you make now can help pave the way for becoming a homeowner... You're at that stage, thinking about your future and buying a home.  You might be paying off school loans, establishing your career path, or starting a family, and now...

This year's biggest surprise and best return on investment isn't visible from the curbside. From Remodeling magazine, January 2016 As the new-home market makes strides, so too does the remodeling industry. This year’s Remodeling magazine Cost vs. Value Report...

What’s Ahead for The Housing Market in 2016? It's that time of year again, where experts of every field make predictions for the year.  No different from other industries, the real estate market has a voice in the prediction arena.  Many are saying that this could be...

Buying a home not only impacts the homeowner’s financial situation, it also impacts the local and national economies.  Since 2016 is an election year, there’s no doubt the economy and housing’s role within it will be a hot topic in the news.  Let’s take a look at the...

Happy New Year!  We've now entered a new era in the "Internet of Things", where smart home products and "wearbles" (like the Apple Watch) are widely available through all the major retail channels with brands from companies like Nest, Wink, and Philips Hue.  Companies...

We understand that pets are a part of our families, so we want to help you make sure they stay safe this holiday season.  Our December Report (below) outlines seven tips to keep your dogs and cats safe during the festivities of the holiday season.  You and your furry...

  ...Or better yet, your mortgage and the housing market? Top analysts with MarketWatch, Realtor.com, and the Wall Street Journal have a few insights about the news from the Federal Reserve of a .25% interest rate increase.  For many, this might cause concern...

Don’t throw your budget out the window this holiday season!  There are many ways to save money while spreading holiday cheer to your loved ones and friends.  We've included lots of ideas for those who want to save money during the holidays in the boxed sections below....

New pending sales increase 7.8% in October; Inventories up for 25th consecutive month though rate of growth continues to decline   Rockville, MD – (November 10, 2015) – The following analysis of the Washington, D.C. Metro Area housing market has been prepared by...

Improve your happiness and well-being by expressing gratitude! "The expression of gratitude is a kind of meta-strategy for achieving happiness.  Gratitude is many things to many people.  It is wonder; it is appreciation; it is looking at the bright side of a setback;...

Want to be happier?  Make gratitude a habit!  In celebration of Thanksgiving, we're providing a number of ways you can do that, even with a busy schedule and lot of commitments.  Express gratitude every day and reap the benefits...Our November Report features eight...

  Many buyers, especially younger ones, are relying more on their smartphones and tablets during their home searches. We're featuring four free apps to download to help our buyers find and put their personal stamp on the right home for them. These apps are sure...

Top Diagnostic Tools For Your Car Technology is supposed to make life easier, but computers often leave people raging at their machinery. What’s worse is the ever-increasing amount of cars on the road — road rage is an ever-present problem and the net result is that...

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is  increasing energy efficiency standards throughout the country as part of its mission to “ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative...

Boost your cognitive skills with the help of fun, interactive games!  The September  Report features several brain-boosting apps to help you improve your focus, memory and much more.  Some of the best educational apps have been created to serve as an additional...

Recent stock market volatility and seasonal trends may give buyers better financial options and more time to make purchase decisions entering the fall, says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Realtor.com®. August data remains positive with regard to overall housing...

  What’s the secret to nurturing a healthy and active mind as you age?   Never  stop  learning!   Learning  isn’t  just  for  the  classroom;  technology  allows  you  to  learn  about  a  variety  of subjects  from  the  comfort  of your  couch.   Here  are...

Streamline your life with the help of social media!  Pinterest is a popular, image-based social media site that allows you to create boards dedicated to your interests and hobbies.  It can also be used to plan meals, workouts, home renovations, special events and much...

Whether you live in a newly constructed home or you just bought a home built some years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends periodic radon testing.  This usually happens during a sale or purchase of a home, but you can always have tests...

Metro market continues to see strong sales and contract activity; Slow but steady appreciation pushes median sales prices to near record highs   Rockville, MD – (July 10, 2015) – The following analysis of the Washington, D.C. Metro Area housing market...

Thinking about listing your house?  When you’re selling your home, you have a million tasks to consider.  There are a few things that every seller does before they put their home on the market.  Below are six areas to tackle before you put the 'For Sale' sign in the...

If you’re like most people, you probably have items in the attic, basement, garage and closets that you don’t need, use and maybe even forgot that you had.  Garage sales allow you to make space in your home while making money.   You can promote your garage sale...

According to the National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 92% of home buyers use the Internet as a source of information when house hunting.  Reaching those buyers is the key to achieving increased interest in the market and speed of sale...

Summer is the time for fun outside with family and friends. However, it’s also when many accidents occur around the home. Keep your family, friends and neighbors safe with these tips.  Children’s drowning deaths and injuries are highest between the months of May and...

Pest infestations not only cause damage, they can also take a chunk out of a  homeowner’s wallet. Here are a few ways to prevent critters from calling your house “home.” Homeowners who sought professional pest control did so to get rid of ants, spiders, termites and...

Summertime is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. In addition to providing hours of enjoyment, your landscaping may also add up to 14% to the resale value of your home.*   Whether you’re thinking of updating your landscape before you list your home or you just...

Your home is often the largest investment you will make in you lifetime, so it’s important to make sure that it stays in great condition.  A well-maintained home is not only more livable, it may also fetch more money at resale when the time comes.     © 2015...

A home is the largest investment that most people will make in their lives.  Use this helpful checklist to make sure that it stays in tip-top shape by staying on top of its maintenance.   Home Maintenance Checklist Spring: ___ Clear gutters of debris ___...

While garage sales are an ideal way to get rid of the stuff you don’t want anymore, the Internet may be the best place to sell valuable items that you want to get rid of for top dollar. Here are a few sites to help you get started.

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