Phil's Blog

People move for a variety of reasons, but before you make that big decision, sit down and consider what it is you're trying to accomplish. Obviously, if you don't like your neighborhood, that's one thing. But, if it's a new kitchen, extra bedroom, or just a facelift you desire, that's an entirely...

After doing some research into existing home sales by the NAR, the market is slowly turning around. According to the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales increased last month as buyers responded to more favorable housing affordability conditions. Existing-home sales -- including...

Many home owners remove and clean their window screens before storing them for the winter. This can prolong the life of the screen, and -- if you clean the windows too -- will make your winter view crystal clear. Here are a few tips to make the task easier: * Remove the screens from the window fr...

The term "loan discount points" is somewhat misleading. First off, there's no discount involved. Secondly, it's not about points, it's about dollars. Loan discount points are a one-time fee charged by the lender at closing in order to give you a lower interest rate on your loan. Each point is 1 p...

  I came acros a recent report from the National Assoc of Realtors regarding the slowing down of existing home sales that I thought was interesting. "Existing-home sales were down in August following a healthy gain in July as tight mortgage credit curtailed activity. Sales rose in the Midwest and...

If your current water heater is on its last leg, or you've decided you need a better unit to suit your needs, consider a tankless water heater when you go shopping. Tankless water heaters can save energy and money and deliver an endless flow of hot water. While a conventional tank-style water hea...

You've most likely heard that location, location, location is the most important factor in real estate. While this may be true, another important factor to consider as you try to find the best neighborhoods for resale value is the quality of the local school system. Even if you don't have childre...

I recently lost a dog due to old age. Her name was Jazzy and she was 14 years old. Talk about a loss, It will be a while before I get over her as she was a great dog. It got me thinking about homeowners that are thinking about adding a pet to their family. I came up with a few suggestions to cons...

I just ran across some very optimistic information about home sales in the future. This is good news for all of us. The report is as follows: According to a mid-August report by the National Association of Realtors®, some improvement is projected for existing-home sales in the months ahead, with ...