Using Social Media to Inspire Your Decor Choices
The longest-running peril of social media continues to be the omnipresent misperception of those around you based on their own “selective sharing.”
3 Tips to Prep a Home for a 360 Virtual Tour
Buyers and sellers alike want options to view homes remotely and keep everyone involved in a transaction as safe as possible.
How to use a mortgage gift fund for your down payment | Betty Most Agency
Down payment gifts, or mortgage gift funds, are increasing in popularity as more and more first-time homebuyers enter the market.
6 Easy Ways To Organize Your Kitchen That’ll Make Cooking Less Stressful
Whether you’re following a new recipe, preparing multiple dishes at once or simply desire to cook in a clean, stress-free environment, organization is key.
Tips for Moving with Dogs, Cats or Other Pets
After you’ve completed your home sale with pets, there are some things to keep in mind as you move into a new property with your furry friend. Moving homes can be a confusing time for your pets, but there are tips you can implement to make the transition for your animals as seamless as possible.
Five Questions to Ask at an Open House
If you’re a homebuyer attending open houses, it’s important to know the etiquette — and good questions to ask
Can You Own a Home Even if You Have Student Loan Debt?
If your goal is to own a house, keep in mind that four in 10 first-time homebuyers are paying off student loans. So, buying a home with debt is possible.
Should You Renovate Your Bathroom Before Selling?
If your bathroom hasn’t been updated at all since 1968, it may be time to replace everything from the pea-green countertops to the dingy bathtub.
How You Can Avoid Home and Finance-Related Scams
Scammers are targeting everyone and seem to zero in particularly on seniors.
How to Make a Small Room Look Larger
Here are insights you can use to decorate, design, and declutter the small rooms in your home to make them look bigger and appear more spacious.
United Against Racial Injustice
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of George Floyd, and to everyone in our communities deeply impacted by this grave injustice.
How to Choose Between Two Great Homes
Here are insights you can use as you choose between multiple properties for sale in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Six Questions to Ask Before Selling Your Home
Whether you’re hoping to sell your current home and merge households or downsize — or move into a new property that you’ve had your sights set on, there are some things you should ask yourself. Here are insights you can use when considering selling your home. Not only will these six questions guide your first steps, but they’ll also [...]
What is a Conventional Loan, and Who Should Apply for it? | Betty Most Agency
Researching loan options? For the right buyer, conventional loans can provide many benefits.
How to Start Composting in the Twin Cities
And now, for the most glamorous story you’ll read all day. Whether you’re an organics-bin pro or a composting newbie, it’s time to take stock in your trash—small switches can go a long way.
Once and For All: Carpet or Hardwood?
As hardwood and inexpensive laminate alternatives continue to rise in popularity, carpet is starting to get a bad rap.
Selling? How to Establish a Price for Your Property
Here are insights you can use as you establish a fair, market-driven price for your property.
Betty Most Agency: COVID-19 and Home Closings
At the Betty Most Agency, we are working from our home office (during the COVID-19 outbreak) and as always, we will continue to give you the best service possible.
How Changes to FICO Scoring Could Impact Buyers
The way FICO scores are calculated is changing this summer, and the move could make it tougher for some Americans to get approved for a mortgage, The Wall Street Journal reports. Fair Isaac Corporation, more commonly known as FICO, will soon start more harshly penalizing the scores of consumers who have rising debt levels or who fall [...]
3 Staging Trends That May Turn Off Buyers
Home staging can show off a home in its best light. Adding simple, updated decor can make a space feel warm and inviting. But there are a few popular trends in home design that stagers say you should avoid when prepping a home for sale: Too many mixed metals Mixed metals are a hot home [...]
Major Loan Types Every Homebuyer Should Know
Buyers must choose between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, and they’ll have to determine if they want a conventional or government-backed loan.
January Expected to Be Hot for Home Shoppers
The busy home-shopping season will start early in January this year, according to forecasters.
Should You Sell Your Home Over the Holidays?
Serious buyers are still out there and the holidays may be a great time for you to list your home.
Why do buyers love mid-century modern?
Mid-century modern – the design trend is taking over everything from furniture to wall decor to light fixtures.
How to Make Your Houseguest Feel Like a Rock Star
Give your guests the rock-star treatment with a few thoughtful and easy ideas for your guest room.
Why Millennials Love Mid-Century Modern Homes So Much
Mid-Century Modern design gets name-dropped a lot these days and can be seen everywhere from the Museum of Modern Art to the Target catalog.
If I hope to buy a house in the next year, how can I prepare my finances? What expenses should I minimize or avoid?
Most homebuyers prepare in advance by saving for a down payment, but the down payment is only one financial factor of many that buyers need to have in order before getting a mortgage.
How Do I Choose the Right Size Rug for a Room?
Choosing the right rug for a space can be tricky if you don’t know the rules that interior designers live by.
After lightning destroyed home, owner rebuilt $1.9M Prior Lake estate
Not many homeowners can say they built the same house twice. Mike and Kathy Viola can. In 2007, the couple built a large “European country casual” home on 2.5 acres in Prior Lake overlooking the Credit River basin.
iBuyers: What you need to know about selling your home with an online investment firm
Key insights:
Large online investment firms known as “iBuyers” provide automated offers to home sellers.
Before selling with an iBuyer, homeowners should know how their algorithms work to generate offers — and how these offers may differ from a traditional buyer’s offer.
New data shows that selling to an iBuyer could cost the seller 2-3 times more than when they sell with a traditional real estate agent who earns a commission.