What Are The Pros And Cons Of Covenants, Codes and Restrictions?

There is a joke about gated communities that says the walls are not just there to keep the people out but to keep the residents in. Living in a gated community that is subject to the rules of a homeowners' association (HOA) can be a pleasant or a severely irritating experience, depending on the perspective a homeowner has about lifestyles. The Good, Bad, And Ugly About CC&Rs Gated and master-planned communities may have an HOA and also may have covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that are part of the property rights (or lack thereof) that a home buyer accepts when…
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Boom Or Bubble? – Home Prices Hit Record Highs Across America

The rapidly rising home prices currently found in many parts of the United States make it seem like the Great Recession of 2008 never happened. It took approximately eight years for home prices to recover the values that were equivalent to those they had before the recession. After reaching this point of recovery, since around 2016, real estate prices have been going up very quickly in many cities. The Best Recovered Housing Markets Here are the fully-recovered housing markets analyzed by ATTOM data service for the second quarter of 2019 that have exceeded the peak valuations from before the recession.…
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Important Tips To Help Kids Adjust To The Move

Moving takes a certain amount of adjustment. Kids of all ages may need a little help getting used to the new environment. Help kids adjust to the move by keeping the following in mind.  Kids Are Resilient Don't overly worry about how your kids will adjust to the move. Kids are resilient. They tend to acclimate to new situations fairly quickly. It may even be that your kids get used to the move before you do! Make Friends With Other Parents You could facilitate your kids' making new friends by making friends with parents of kids the same age as…
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Should You Brace For A Potential Market Downturn Next Year?

Don't panic, a looming recession may be good news for those wanting to sell their homes. The experts say this recession may happen in 2020, so there is still plenty of time to make plans for how to deal with a potential economic downturn. In many parts of America, especially in popular cities, the real estate markets are super hot for sellers. Home sales are coming in at prices that are record highs. For sellers in these hot markets, it might be time to sell. For buyers, able to wait until next year, the prices may come down. What The…
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A $400,000 Profit From Flipping A Single House?

Flipping homes is popular once again. It took about eight years after the Great Recession that started in 2006 for home prices to rebound to the levels seen before the recession. Then, by 2016, in many areas, home prices started to rapidly increase. The increases in home prices caused more flipping activity due to the potential profits. CNN reports the average gross profit on a flipped home sold during the past three years was about 50%. In 2017, one real estate speculator took nearly one million dollars ($985,00) in cash and bought a home in an "as-is" condition, sight-unseen. That…
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How Important Is The Land Around A Potential Home?

When viewing a potential home, how much consideration should you give to the surrounding land? In many ways, the land should be carefully regarded, since land is the thing that is hardest to alter. You can rip up carpet, paint walls and even knock down walls, but it takes a lot more effort to change land.  Mature Landscaping  Mature landscaping is typically cited as a benefit, but what if you're the type who enjoys looking out at wide open spaces? It could also be that the mature landscaping - older trees - are situated dangerously near the house. Weakened trees…
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