Allyson Sabbagh

Mandatory membership in a homeowners association (HOA) can significantly impact your satisfaction with a new home. Learn how you can thoroughly vet HOAs while searching for a house.

Homeowners associations can be a boon, or bust, for buyers. Here's how to vet HOAs when house hunting While shopping for new homes is already competitive, prospective buyers should be aware of homeowners associations and investigate if they are the right fit.

Locking your mortgage rate could help you save money in the long run if the time is right. But it's not a must-do for every occasion -- here's what you need to know.

What does it mean to lock in your mortgage rate? Learn all about locking in a mortgage rate and when it's the most useful.

Design trends like Tuscan-style kitchens were all the rage last year, but they may not enjoy the same popularity in 2024.

3 Home Trends on Their Way Out for 2024, According to Zillow You might want to rethink turning your closet into an office.

As temperatures drop, homeowners increasingly rely on heaters and fireplaces to stay comfy. This also increases the risk of fire and carbon monoxide, which means working detectors are essential.

Understanding Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about these fire safety devices.

Due diligence isn't specific to real estate. But understanding what due diligence means in this context and how to put it into action can make your journey to homeownership that much easier.

What to Know About Due Diligence in Real Estate - Realty Times There are a lot of terms you have to be aware of in real estate, and it can be a bit of a complex process to navigate buying a home. One term you may hear is due diligence and due diligence money. Due diligence isn’t a term exclusive to real estate, however. In the general sense, it means that you...

Who says string light decorations are only for the holiday season? You can appreciate the beauty of string lights around your home all year with any of these 13 ideas.

String Lights Aren’t Just for Christmas: 13 Ideas to Decorate With Them Year-Round Don’t pack those string lights away after the holidays. Instead, use them to bring light and a bit of character throughout your home. Whether you have small, colored strands of lights, white LEDs, bulb lights or fairy lights, there are plenty of ways to decorate with string lights. You can go big ...

With winter comes reduced inventory, fewer buyers and a lot of untapped potential. Learn why buying or selling a home during the winter season can be an advantage.

Benefits of Buying and Selling a Home in Winter Is winter secretly the best season to buy or sell your home?

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Saving up to buy a home can take time -- but how much time it takes can also vary by region. Here's a look at states where saving for a house may take more time than most.

Where Does It Take the Longest to Save for a Home? A new study by SelfStorage.com has found that in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it takes the lon...

According to a recent survey, an astonishing 20% of millennials and 68% of Gen Z are living with family to save money, and this trend of multigenerational households is only increasing.

Achieving Homeownership: Which Generations Are Struggling to Leave the Nest? A whopping 68% of young Gen Z adults are choosing to live with family as opposed to independent livi...

Whether you'll be dealing with snow, rain or dirt this winter, these boot trays can keep your entryway looking chic and tidy.

12 Best Boot Trays for a Winter-Ready Entryway With a few cities having seen their first snow days already, alongside it (somehow) being the beginning of November, it’s only a matter of time before the icy weather of winter becomes widespread. While these snowscapes can make the most beautiful winter scenes, we can all agree that they are bett...

Most people consider laminate flooring to be a more cost-effective alternative to hardwood. But are you aware of these major differences between the two?

Laminate vs. Solid Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better? Laminate flooring is an easy-to-install alternative to hardwood flooring. Learn the pros and cons of laminate vs. solid hardwood flooring.

Unmarried couples now make up 18% of all first-time homebuyers. If you're considering making a similar move, here's what you need to know before you do.

More unmarried couples are buying homes together. What to know before you do Unmarried first-time homebuyers make up a large portion of the market for the first time. While they are making it possible, there are a few things to consider.

As time goes by and children leave the household, a once cozy home can start to feel a little large and empty. But other benefits to downsizing are less obvious.

12 Reasons Why You’ll Be Happier in a Smaller Home - Becoming Minimalist Recently, my parents downsized their home to a smaller house. While on vacation in South Dakota (yeah, I vacation in South Dakota), I got to see it for the first time. During our stay, I was surprised at how often my mother commented that “they just love their smaller house.” I wasn’t so much ...

Tired of renting but on the fence about buying a home? Before you make any rash decisions, here are four key considerations that most people overlook when weighing their options.

Buying Versus Renting: 4 Frequently Overlooked Considerations | Renovated What are some considerations that people overlook when deciding between buying versus renting? Discover four factors you may have missed.

Learn the definitions and pros and cons of conforming and nonconforming loans.

Conforming & Nonconforming Loans Which is right for you?

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Purchasing your first home is not only exciting, but it's also a learning experience. Here are six things that happen when you become a homeowner, some of which you might not expect.

6 Things That Happen When You Become a Homeowner - Realty Times Becoming a homeowner is more than having a set of keys and your name on the deed. You may have a rush of emotions the day you take possession and recognize you now have your place in the world—literally. And that’s just the beginning. Here are a few more things you can expect. {loadmoduleid 306}...

The comfort, safety and monetary value of your home heavily depend on a consistent routine of year-round maintenance. This all-seasons maintenance guide outlines which tasks to perform and when.

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist A home maintenance checklist is the best way to extend your appliances’ and home structure’s lifespan.

Looking for something new for your decor this fall? These 22 color schemes could be the perfect solution.

22 Fall Color Schemes to Incorporate This Season Welcome autumn with these cozy color pairings, including red, orange, brown, and yellow shades.

Did you know that the risk of house fires increases around this time of year? These five fire prevention tips can help keep your home safe during the holidays.

5 Ways to Prevent Home Fires During the Holidays Learn how to mitigate common holiday fire hazards.

It can be easy to forget that these areas of your house could use a thorough cleaning on occasion.

18 Spots in Your Home You Probably Never Clean—But Definitely Should When was the last time you scrubbed your shower curtain, or the cabinet your pull-out trash can is in? Address these and other germy areas ASAP!

Find out how location impacts property taxes and which five cities charge the highest rates.

5 cities with the highest property tax rates. Here's why rates can vary so much from place to place There are several reasons why property taxes vary so much by city. Here's what homeowners need to know.

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Thinking of putting a fence around your backyard? Establish your property line first. Knowing where your land begins and ends is the best way to avoid property disputes with neighbors.

How Do I Find My Property Line: 6 Ways to Do It | Renovated Planning to install a fence? Before you do anything, learn six ways to find your property line to avoid disputes with neighbors.

Most loans not only require a down payment but also come with closing costs. Where do you find the cash? Here are a few ideas.

4 Sources for Down Payment and Closing Cost Cash - Realty Times Most loan programs today require some sort of a down payment. Even as low as 3% of the sales price while there are a couple of programs that don’t require a down payment of any sort. Those being the VA home loan program and the USDA program designed for rural areas.  VA loans are restricted t...

Why does your mortgage preapproval expire, and what steps can you take if yours is about to? You can find everything you need to know in this week's newsletter.

My Preapproval Expired -- Now What? Don't panic if your loan limit changes.

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According to a recent survey, almost 40% of first-time homebuyers under the age of 30 leveraged cash from family members or inheritance to afford their downpayment.

Nearly 40% of homebuyers under 30 relied on cash gift or inheritance from family for down payment First-time homebuyers are increasingly reliant on seniors to assist with a down payment, according to new research from Redfin.

Are you thinking of giving your bathroom a makeover? Check out these 20 shower tile ideas.

20 Shower Tile Ideas That Make a Splash Updating your bath and looking for shower tile ideas? From all-white shower tiles to bold patterns, these fresh solutions will help you reimagine your space.