Lee Redwood's Blog

When searching for a new house, most homebuyers have a mental image of their ideal abode. Since few homes will already have every ideal amenity or luxury a buyer wants, most people break down their wish list into two categories. a) A ‘nice to have’ list for luxury items or conveniences that may o...

It is a sure bet that when a prospective buyer visits your home, the kitchen will be a room that can either spark interest or leave a bad impression. A kitchen is seen as a gathering place and an area for a lot of social interaction. Not to mention the fact that it is a food preparation area. For...

Whether you are living in a small apartment or a large rambling house, no other room will take as much punishment as the bathroom. This is after all, a room you will see early in the morning and late at night and, depending on how many people are in your household, will have a lot of activity. Th...

“We’ll just have to check your credit score.” You have probably heard this phrase if you have made a purchase that requires financing. Unless you are one of those people that have an unlimited supply of cash, most likely you’ve borrowed to buy a new car or pay for some other major expense. While ...

It’s no secret that the U.S. housing market has taken a beating over the last few years and still remains flat-lined when it comes to recovery, but new figures indicate the number of home owners submerged under a sea of debt is still increasing with the total number of foreclosures expected to in...

It won’t be the nicest ‘welcome home’ message you’ve ever received, but if you arrive home and find an eviction notice attached to your door there is no need to panic. An eviction notice does not mean you will be out on the street the following morning surrounded by your personal belongings. What...

Credit mistakes are easily made. However, a strong credit score is needed for the most important purchase you’ll ever make. Incredibly, a 100 point difference can mean spending  an extra $40,000 on a 30 year mortgage. Obviously, bankruptcy and foreclosure devastates your score. But there are othe...

Could lowering your energy bill help close that sale? Imagine, there’s a buyer ready to make a stunning offer. They’ve toured the house and the garden – it’s exactly what they’re after. On the way out they ask “so what’s the average bill for this place?” As energy costs rise, your home’s efficien...

Here’s a rule of thumb. For every dollar your house saves in utility costs, your home value increases $20. Homes powered by solar energy will, on average, sell for more. Keep the rule of thumb in mind. If solar panels save you $1,500 a year, your home value increase would be $30,000. A report fro...

Ten or fifteen years ago a steady real estate market would have been considered boring and uneventful. After six years of escalating craziness followed by three years of a downturn that has terrorized a good part of the nation, boring is starting to look pretty good. If you are hoping to see an i...