Buying a home for someone who's disabled can present some significant challenges. Not only does the disabled individual have to go and look at houses, but they may require separate financing options -- and they will need to be very conscientious about the properties that they consider. If you're helping someone disabled buy a home (or if you're disabled and buying...
I’ll admit it: I’m a planner. I prefer to be on time, prepared and as in control as possible in this otherwise out-of-control world. So it’s no surprise that I started sizing up this empty nest thing a couple of years ago, quizzing parents who had lived through it, eye-balling the occasional blog post on the topic, and partaking in impromptu therapy sessions...
By Matt Metcalf A few weeks ago, I met with clients to discuss their real estate needs and desires. “We really want a home in an area that will have long-term appeal,” the couple said. “That’s important to us.” I nodded. “Let’s go get a Starbucks,” I responded. “What?” They asked, visibly confused. “Why?” I smiled. “I’ll show you – trust...
On the top of the homepage for housecreep.com, we learn that "housecreep" is a verb meaning: to research and expose homes with secrets, criminal histories and unexplained mysteries. (Thus, housecreep is our new favorite real estate site.) Housecreep is where some of the darker aspects of real estate come to life. Their tagline: "Where walls talk - murder houses,...
When you think of housing in America, you might think of the crowded urban areas or suburbia, with houses tucked neatly in rows. This is because urban areas grow at a rate four times faster than rural spaces, and according to a new report, this won't be changing anytime soon. In fact, according to the research report The Future of Rural Housing, growth in rural America will...
If you’ve ever planned a trip to Boston, odds are Beacon Hill made it onto your must-see list. You probably wrote it down between Fenway Park and the Freedom Trail solely based on its characteristic cobblestone streets and really nice houses. That’s fair. Been there, done that. The thing is that this high-end neighborhood is also worth its salt when it comes to...
Argh, matey! A new trend in housing is afloat in Denmark, with college students from Copenhagen solving their cash-strapped housing woes with a series of floating apartments. The Copenhagen-based housing startup Urban Rigger designed a series of low-cost modular housing to float in Copenhagen’s urban harbors. At only $600 a month (a real deal in the trendy city),...
What makes a happy community? That’s what HomeAdvisor sought to find out when it launched its Homeowner Happiness Survey. Here’s what their 18,000 respondents had to say about the traits that help create a happy community:
1. Accessibility
Practical commutes and access to cultural hotspots are important parts of a happy community. Well-planned highway systems...
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on October 25, 2016. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest. By Cary Teller Homes cost a lot of money to maintain. But are you spending extra money unnecessarily on upkeep? Here are the 10 most expensive mistakes you could be making in your home. 1. Using Traditional Light...
As a real estate professional, you may have come into contact with a spooky space. Self-slamming doors, footsteps on the stairs, the laughter of small children - we've heard all about haunted houses here on Housecall. But are there any disclosure laws for selling a haunted house? With Halloween haunting us from right around the corner, Western Michigan University-Cooley...
