The spring season can bring about dangers to a home from strong wind gusts, rains, and fluctuating temperatures. Be sure to take steps to protect your home this season.1. Check outside faucets and exteriors for flood risks.Inspect your outside hose faucets for any damage from the winter. Hold your thumb over the opening. If the flow stops completely, the pipe indoors could possibly be damaged and may need to be replaced. Also, check the hose for
The number of homeowners who are planning to take on home improvement projects or repairs this year is expected to increase 6.7 percent, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. As more owners look to remodel, they may be weighing how to fund their renovations.One-third of affluent homeowners—those who earn at least $100,000 a year—plan to use credit cards to pay for home renovation projects, according to a new
Baltimore, home to Johns Hopkins University, ranks as the top college town housing market where buying makes more financial sense than renting, according to a new analysis by realtor.com®. In Baltimore, the average monthly homeownership cost of $775 is more affordable than the average $1,443 monthly cost of renting.For its rankings, realtor.com® compared the average monthly rental costs to the average monthly home payment (including mortgage, p
How to stay competitive in a crowded arena where time is money and engagement matters Speed-to-lead is essential, and all these tools get you there. You have to invest in trying new ways to increase your conversions, and the online lead conversion cake can be slice different ways: Pure AI, computer-assisted and good old human contact.If online lead generation is one of the pillars of your business, then you’re already well-versed in the hustle
James can be reached at:James Melton909-281-0425jmelton4re@icloud.comiPro Real Estate was founded on the idea of building a better living with champion service. We focus on incorporating and mastering the latest technologies and procedures keeping you above the crowd. Our team of professionals set a stronger standard of business, abide by a strict code of ethics and give superior service.We have the experience necessary to make your real estate
Total mortgage activity—which includes applications for refinancings and home purchases—rose 2.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis as homeowners rushed to take advantage of lower mortgage rates.The refinance market was what drove last week’s increase, rising 7 percent week over week as mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level since November 2016. Still, refinance activity remains about 34 percent below where it was a year ago, the Mo
New buyers are gradually increasing their stake in the housing market. First-timers comprised 32 percent of existing-home sales in March, up from 30 percent a year ago and 29 percent in 2014.The looming threat of interest rate increases may be prompting more buyers to enter the market this year. But also, sustained job and income growth is playing a role, according to last month's REALTORS® Confidence Index. The aging of the millennial generat
As the White House shifts its focus to tax reform, analysts are examining who will benefit from the proposal announced Wednesday afternoon. The New York Times reported yesterday that this week’s stock market surge could be attributed to President Donald Trump’s call to cut the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, from 35 percent. However, the article goes on to note that optimism on Wall Street doesn’t always translate to growth on Main Street
As the Trump administration unveils its plan to reform the U.S. income tax system, NAR President-elect Elizabeth Mendenhall visited key lawmakers on both sides of the aisle yesterday to remind them of the central role the mortgage interest deduction and other tax code provisions have long played in incentivizing Americans to become homeowners. Removing or diluting those incentives, which make it possible for millions of Americans to own a home, w
It's important to thank your customers for their business, and that couldn't be easier with the rise of social media as a mass communications method. Gratitude should be at the core of a marketer’s brand, says Bardi Toto Drake, author of “The Power of Asking.” She encourages marketers to avoid “bragging and selling” strategies but instead find ways to show gratitude to increase business. She offers some of the following tips on how in a
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