When my son and future daughter-in-law asked to use my home as their wedding venue, I was thrilled. COVID has delayed a lot of celebrations and I, for one, am ready to celebrate again (safely outdoors with plenty of vaccinated guests, of course). As the planning began, I realized how similar preparing a home for … Read more
The pandemic has caused a fair number of people to reconsider their career options, either out of necessity after a layoff or because the disruption of COVID-19 has given them a new perspective and their current job just isn’t doing it for them anymore. Although the published unemployment rates suggest there are not many jobs … Read more
Before real estate can change hands, many details must come together so both buyers and sellers feel they are engaging in a fair exchange. Before buyers agree to hand over their hard-earned money or sellers give up their property, they want assurances that everything will be fair and square. One way to provide assurances is … Read more
The pandemic has put many people in the mood to renovate their homes. Between spending way more time at home and not being able to spend money on traditional entertainment such as travel, sports, shows, and fine dining, homeowners are wondering whether now is the time for that new pool, deck, kitchen remodel, or home-office … Read more
When someone says you have discriminating taste, it’s usually meant as a compliment. However, when it comes to being a landlord or selling your house, you should beware which types of discrimination show good taste and which types are against the law. It’s perfectly allowable to discriminate against a potential renter or buyer based on … Read more
As you might suspect, coming up with material for these columns every week can be challenging. This week, as I reviewed industry newsletters, emails from readers, and conversations with my Realtors, it got me thinking about how much has changed since I started in this business and that if I had to do it all … Read more
Have you ever wanted to own the property next to yours? Maybe it would allow you to protect a beautiful view. Maybe it would allow you to bring your aging parent closer so you could provide more support. Maybe you just love that property and would rather have it as your primary residence instead of … Read more
I recently received an email from a reader asking about how to deal with a big, corporate landlord in another state giving smaller, more responsive landlords a bad name. Unfortunately, there are bad apples in every profession, be they police officers, teachers, lawyers, politicians, and even real estate agents. Having said that, when you hear … Read more
Whether you own your own home or live in a rental, homeowners insurance is a worthwhile investment. It covers everything from losses and damages to your house and belongings, as well as some surprising extras. Please keep in mind that I’m about to tell you what’s common, not necessarily what’s in your particular policy. The … Read more