Since the number of homes for sale is low today, it can feel challenging to find one that checks all your boxes. But if you know which features are absolutely essential in your next home and which ones are just nice bonuses, you can land a home that fits your needs. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, explains it like this: […]

Decorating may be a whole lot of fun, but some decisions can make your head hurt. Here are some answers to commonly asked decorating questions. ⁠ How High Above a Sofa Should You Hang Art? It is best to keep artwork 8 inches above the sofa. That way, people can enjoy it whether they are […]

Almost every industry is currently struggling with supply chain disruptions. This also applies to the current U.S. housing market, where buyer demand far exceeds housing supply. Purchaser demand is very strong right now. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their latest Existing Home Sales Report which reveals that sales surged in January. Existing home sales rose […]

A recent survey revealed that many consumers believe there’s a housing bubble beginning to form. That feeling is understandable, as year-over-year home price appreciation is still in the double digits. However, this market is very different than it was during the housing crash 15 years ago. Here are four key reasons why today is nothing like the […]

In an annual Gallup poll, Americans chose real estate as the best long-term investment. And it’s not the first time it’s topped the list, either. Real estate has been on a winning streak for the past eight years, consistently gaining traction as the best long-term investment (see graph below): If you’re thinking about purchasing a home this year, this […]

If you’re looking to buy a home, you may be wondering how your student loan debt could impact those plans. Do you have to wait until you’ve paid off your student loans before you can buy your first home? Or could you qualify for a home loan with that debt? To give you the answers […]

When you’re selling any item, you usually want to sell it for the greatest profit possible. That happens when there’s a strong demand and a limited supply for that item. In the real estate market, that time is right now. If you’re thinking of selling your house this year, here are two reasons why now’s […]

The Super Bowl 56 is almost here and it is a fun evening of food and games. For a little friendly competition with family and friends either in person or virtually, check out these Super Bowl 2022 Commercial Bingo Cards!  CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO ALL THE BINGO CARDS: https://bit.ly/superbowlbingocards

According to a Gallup poll, real estate has been rated the best long-term investment for 8 years in a row. The consensus is clear: Real Estate – 41% Stocks/Mutual Funds – 26% Gold – 18% Savings Account/CDs – 9% Bonds – 3% Real estate has been steadily gaining ground over the past 11 years. You’re […]

Designing for wellness at home means creating spaces that are good for physical and mental health. It incorporates everything from improving air quality to using textures, materials, colors, shapes and furniture layouts that ease anxiety and make us feel closer to nature. ⁠ Wabi-Sabi “Wabi-sabi” is a Japanese term that essentially means finding beauty in […]

Last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac jumped from 3.22% to 3.45%. That’s the highest point it’s been in almost two years. If you’re thinking about buying a home, this news may have come as a bit of a shock. But the truth is, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Experts have been calling for rates to […]

After almost two years of double-digit increases, many experts thought home price appreciation would decelerate or happen at a slower pace in the last quarter of 2021. However, the latest Home Price Insights Report from CoreLogic indicates while prices may have plateaued, appreciation has definitely not slowed. The following graph shows year-over-year appreciation throughout 2021. December data has not […]

Are you one of the many renters thinking about where you’ll live the next time your lease is up? Before you decide whether to look for a new house or another apartment, it’s important to understand the true costs of renting in 2022. As a renter, you should know rents have been rising since 1988 (see graph below): In […]

Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying market since historically about 40 percent of home sales occur between April and July. However, this year’s expected to be much different than the norm. Here are five reasons to list your house now […]

When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus on the non-financial benefits, like the security or stability a home provides. But what about equity? While it can be overlooked, a homeowner’s equity helps build long-term wealth over time. Here’s a look at what equity is and […]

With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac climbing above 3%, rising rates are one of the topics dominating the discussion in the housing market today. And since experts project rates will rise further in the coming months, that conversation isn’t going away any time soon. But as a homebuyer, what do rates above 3% really mean? Today’s Average Mortgage Rate […]

Want to know an easy way to bring a smile to a child’s face? Have Santa send them a personalized letter! The Cross Group has coordinated with the Big Man in Red to send letters to good boys and girls all across the US. It is very simple, just follow this link! https://bit.ly/2021SantaLetter And would […]

Rents have increased significantly this year. The latest National Rent Report from Apartmentlist.com shows rents are rising at a rate much higher than the three years leading up to the pandemic: Since January of this year, the national median rent has increased by a staggering 16.4 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to September averaged just […]

Benjamin Moore just announced the Color of the Year for 2022 and we’re ready to grab our paintbrushes.  The popular paint and coatings brand announced the exciting news in a press release this week, revealing that the color for the new year is October Mist 1495, “a gently shaded sage that quietly anchors while encouraging creative expression […]

If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, chances are you’ve heard talk about today’s rising home prices. And while this increase in home values is great news for sellers, you may be wondering what the future holds. Will prices continue to rise with time, or should you expect them to fall? To answer that […]