First Time Home Buyer

October 2, 2012 - 11:12 AM
fall checklist to prepare home for winter
Fall is coming. Already the days are shorter, the air cooler, the sunlight diffused with yellowy gold. Fall is a time of pumpkins and apples, warm cider, days spent jumping in piles of multi-colored leaves.  It’s also a time for homeowners to get some important stuff done—before the weather turns inclement. Read More

Winter Is Around the Corner. Is Your Home Ready? A Checklist of Fall Tasks for New Homeowners

prepare your home this fallFall is coming. Already the days are shorter, the air cooler, the sunlight diffused with yellowy gold. Fall is a time of pumpkins and apples, warm cider, days spent jumping in piles of multi-colored leaves.  It’s also a time for homeowners to get some important stuff done—before the weather turns inclement. If you’re a new homeowner like me, this could be your first fall ever being officially responsible for your home.

September 30, 2012 - 8:50 PM
what is prefab
"Pre-fab": Though this term sounds modern, it’s actually a very old practice in the building of homes. And these days, it can be quite gorgeous. Today we bring you the second installment in our series on types of homes a new buyer has to choose from. Part 1 was on condos. Part 2, as you may have guessed, is Read More

Definitions for New Buyers: What Exactly Is Prefab?

"Pre-fab": Though this term sounds modern, it’s actually a very old practice in the building of homes. And these days, it can be quite gorgeous. Today we bring you the second installment in our series on types of homes a new buyer has to choose from. Part 1 was on condos. Part 2, as you may have guessed, is prefab.

Defining "Prefab"

September 19, 2012 - 10:57 AM
ZipRealty home search
Curious about a different city? Maybe even a different state? Moving out of your immediate comfort zone is both exhilarating and terrifying, and the only way to make it more the former and less the latter is to arm yourself well with knowledge. And ZipRealty puts all of that knowledge at your fingertips. Read More

Using a ZipRealty Home Search to "Meet" Your New Community

Curious about a different city? Maybe even a different state? Moving out of your immediate comfort zone is both exhilarating and terrifying, and the only way to make it more the former and less the latter is to arm yourself well with knowledge. And ZipRealty puts all of that knowledge at your fingertips.

September 16, 2012 - 11:48 PM
PCI house
Many homebuyers today want to reduce our impact on the environment as well as the size of our utility bills and remodeling costs. Green construction then is a win-win for us. It’s a especially a win-win when it’s not just ecologically and economically responsible, but gorgeous as well. Today I showcase 3 Read More

3 Homes Showcasing New-- and Gorgeous-- Green Construction

Many homebuyers today want to reduce our impact on the environment as well as the size of our utility bills and remodeling costs. Green construction then is a win-win for us. It’s a especially a win-win when it’s not just ecologically and economically responsible, but gorgeous as well. Today I showcase 3 unusually beautiful eco-conscience houses, and give you some links to similar resources as those used to make these homes come to (green) life.

PCI House

September 12, 2012 - 9:37 AM
Wood paneled ceiling
New homeowner, look up. That big expanse above your head? It does a lot more than keep the rain out. In fact, keeping you warm and snug is more your roof’s job. Your ceiling on the other hand becomes part of your home’s overall aesthetic. Yes, it has practical applications too, but because of those practical Read More

3 DIY Ideas for Transforming Your Ceiling, Transforming Your Home

New homeowner, look up. That big expanse above your head? It does a lot more than keep the rain out. In fact, keeping you warm and snug is more your roof’s job. Your ceiling on the other hand becomes part of your home’s overall aesthetic. Yes, it has practical applications too, but because of those practical concerns, we might easily overlook the fact that we can enhance, remodel, paint, embellish, and otherwise improve the look of our ceilings—and in doing so, improve  the look of our whole home.

Pretty and Practical

August 21, 2012 - 6:51 PM
  I’m finally living in my first home, and I know I’m lucky, so don’t think this blog is a complaint. But when my husband and I bought this house, a classic Portland, OR 1920’s farmhouse with 3 bedrooms and a converted attic, I told myself the one bathroom—a tiny bathroom at that—wasn’t a problem. I thought Read More
August 16, 2012 - 11:02 AM
Ever looked at the floating homes in Seattle and thought to yourself...I'd kind of love that. I have, but I've never had the chance to experience one from inside. Now I can, and so can you. The Floating Home tour is coming soon. On 9/9 from 12pm-5pm, you can tour up to 12 houseboats, everything from a Read More

Seattle Floating Home Tour: Would You Love to Live, Literally, on the Water?

Ever looked at the floating homes in Seattle and thought to yourself...I'd kind of love that. I have, but I've never had the chance to experience one from inside. Now I can, and so can you. The Floating Home tour is coming soon. On 9/9 from 12pm-5pm, you can tour up to 12 houseboats, everything from a diminuative cottage to incredibly large and modern home on the water.

August 15, 2012 - 12:55 AM
Tips for single women buyers in 2012
In the words of Aretha Franklin, sisters are doing it for themselves. For two years running, single women have purchased homes more often than single men. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2011 almost twice as many single women (20% of all home purchases) bought homes as their single male Read More

Great Tips for Single Women Buyers

women homebuyersIn the words of Aretha Franklin, sisters are doing it for themselves. For two years running, single women have purchased homes more often than single men. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2011 almost twice as many single women (20% of all home purchases) bought homes as their single male peers (12%). And in 2010, that ratio was 21:10.

August 9, 2012 - 10:50 AM
With the inventory shortage and home prices going up (but still way down from their pre-recession levels), there has been a huge influx of all-cash offers in the housing market. Cash offers are infamous for winning bidding wars and swaying sellers, because as we all know: money talks. Obviously cash offers Read More

Must Be the Money: the Almighty All-Cash Offer

With the inventory shortage and home prices going up (but still way down from their pre-recession levels), there has been a huge influx of all-cash offers in the housing market. Cash offers are infamous for winning bidding wars and swaying sellers, because as we all know: money talks.

August 1, 2012 - 10:28 AM
Families want good schools with housing
With summer coming to an end (sorry, kids!), we thought now would be a good time to check in with the nation’s best schools, and how property values fare near those schools. We know parents have to balance both economy and the strong desire to give their children the best education possible. With that in Read More

3 States Offering Award Winning Public Schools

families want good schoolsWith summer coming to an end (sorry, kids!), we thought now would be a good time to check in with the nation’s best schools, and how property values fare near those schools. We know parents have to balance both economy and the strong desire to give their children the best education possible. With that in mind, today we focus on public high schools.

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