3 Tips for Moving with Pets Moving to a new home can be stressful for anyone, especially your pets. But with a little consideration and planning, you can ensure that your next move will go more smoothly for you and your pets. Before the Move Moving with a companion animal usually means moving with a cat or dog. While these animals may react similarly to changes within the home, cats and dogs will, for the most part, respond to a family relocation with different behaviors. In general, cats are more focused on their surroundings and don’t adapt to change as readily as their canine counterpart ..read more

5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Wellness Recognized each year in April, National Financial Literacy Month focuses on helping people access the knowledge they need to manage their finances effectively which enables them to set and reach meaningful financial goals. It’s never too late to start taking control of your financial future! Here are five tips that can help improve your financial wellness! Set and Commit to a Monthly Budget You need to know your monthly spending habits and how to allocate your funds wisely. Developing a budget based on your monthly income, expenses, and savings will ..read more

Mortgage Tips for Unmarried Couples If you’re in a committed relationship but marriage is on the back burner, your dream of buying a home doesn’t have to be. In fact, eighteen percent of all first-time home buyers in 2022 were unmarried couples, according to an annual report with the National Association of Realtors. While this trend is on the rise, it is still important to understand the risks while learning how to avoid the potential pitfalls. Ask the Awkward Questions No one wants to think about the potential for breaking up down the road but taking the step towards home ownership requir ..read more

3 Reasons Why You Need A Mortgage Pre-Approval When you decide to enter the homebuying market, it’s tempting to immediately start browsing listings to see what’s available. However, the crucial first move for any homebuyer is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Here are three reasons why pre-approval should be your first step in the homebuying process! Know What You Can Borrow and Afford If you’re pre-approved, you have a better sense of your budget, what you can afford, and ultimately how much you’re eligible to borrow for your mortgage. This way, you’re less apt to fall in love with a ho ..read more

5 Ways to Build Healthy Credit A strong credit score is important if you want to buy a house one day. Whether you’re new to credit or want to see your score go even higher, here are some expert tips on building healthy credit! Pay All of Your Bills on Time It may sound simple, but this is one of the most important factors in how your score is determined. From a lender’s perspective, a person’s ability to keep up with their credit card payments indicates that they are capable of taking out a loan and paying it back. But your credit score isn’t just impacted by your credit card bills. You nee ..read more

How to Select a Moving Company Moving is never an easy task to undertake, and it adds plenty of stress to an already taxing situation. Hiring quality movers is a must, so check out these hiring tips before picking your moving company! Research Company Licensing The FMCSA or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regularly conducts safety, economic and legal compliance audits to protect consumers from moving fraud, and this data is available through public record. The agency’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System allows you to check whether a mover is licensed and insured, as we ..read more

4 Tips for Long-Distance House Hunting Searching for a house locally can present plenty of challenges, but it can become infinitely more complicated when you add in hundreds of miles to the equation. If you are finding yourself in the middle of doing some long-distance house-hunting, here are a few critical factors to keep in mind! Do Your Homework When looking at relocating to an unfamiliar area, so many other factors must be considered on top of finding the perfect house. For example, what are average local commute times, what are crime rates in the area, and, most importantly, how do the ..read more

5 Reasons to Buy a House this Winter If you’re in the market for a new home, there’s no need to freeze your search during the winter months! While it is not the popular time of the year for house hunting, the home-buying market can work in your favor with timing on your side, competition at a minimum, and real estate agents and other housing professionals readily available during the winter season. So, throw on your winter coat and take advantage of these winter buying benefits! Winter-Tested Houses Harsher weather in the winter months may reveal flaws to buyers and home inspectors, so it’s ..read more

6 Strategies to Get a Better Interest Rate For many homebuyers, the interest rate is one of the most important factors they look at when house hunting. What most buyers do not understand, however, is that mortgage rates are determined by many factors. Market conditions obviously play a major role, but there are some qualifying factors within the buyer’s control that can help secure a lower rate. Here are six smart strategies for you to consider! Increase Your Credit Score The higher your credit score, the less risk you appear to have when applying for a mortgage with a lender. Paying your b ..read more

5 Tips for Choosing A Reliable Home Inspector Doing a quick search for home inspectors in your area will come up with numerous options, but as with so many professions, some inspectors are better than others. Here are some handy tips that can assist you in your search for a reliable home inspector! Ask Your Realtor for References One of the best resources for picking a home inspector should be your realtor. If your agent has been in business for any length of time, they have probably encountered quite a few home inspectors. By observation, your agent can see who does a thorough job and who ..read more