Bài đăng

Buying a New Build? What to Know as a First-Time Homebuyer

Hình ảnh
Buying a home is one of the largest investments you’ll ever make. While many first-time homebuyers consider a starter home, you may be wondering if buying new construction is a better choice. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer considering new construction in Boise, Idaho or building a home in Miami, Florida , you’ll have a different experience than someone buying an existing home on the open market. In this Redfin article, we’ll outline the new construction process, including the pros and cons of buying a new build and financing options. Not every new construction purchase works the same way. You might buy a completed or nearly completed spec home, choose a home being built in a planned community, or build a custom home on your own land. Your timeline, customization options, financing, and responsibilities can vary depending on which route you take.  Should you build or buy your first home? When buying your first home , one question first-time buyers ask is whether they...

7 Home Improvements to Skip Before Listing Your Home

Hình ảnh
Thinking about tackling a long list of renovation projects before putting your home on the market? It’s a common instinct, but bigger isn’t always better when it comes to preparing your home to sell. While some updates can make your home more appealing, others can cost thousands of dollars without adding enough value to justify the expense. Whether you’re selling a home in Chicago, IL , or preparing to list a house in West Palm Beach, FL , knowing which improvements to skip can help you focus your time and budget on updates that leave the best impression on buyers. 1. Skip major remodels before listing A full kitchen or bathroom remodel might seem like a smart investment, but these projects are often expensive and time consuming. Unless the space has significant damage or functional issues, there’s a good chance buyers would rather personalize these rooms themselves. Steve Slavin at Slavin Property Group , has seen this play out repeatedly with his clients. ...

3 Things You Can Actually Control About Your Mortgage Rate Right Now

Hình ảnh
If you're trying to buy a home, affordability is probably what keeps you up at night. from Keeping Current Matters https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2026/09/21/3-things-you-can-actually-control-about-your-mortgage-rate-right-now/

Does a New Roof Increase Home Value? Cost, ROI, and When it’s Worth It

Hình ảnh
Let’s get right to it: Does a new roof increase home value?  Yes, a new roof can increase home value , but the amount depends on the condition of the existing roof, the roofing material, local market conditions, and buyer expectations. Replacing an aging or damaged roof may have a greater impact than replacing one that still has plenty of useful life.  In this Redfin guide, we’ll look at how a new roof can affect resale value and appraisal, what roof replacement may cost, and how to decide whether repairing or replacing your roof makes sense  – whether you’re planning to sell or simply want to boost your home’s curb appeal, from Denver, CO to Boston, MA . How much value does a new roof add?  A new roof can boost your home’s value, but homeowners typically won’t recoup the full cost of replacement when they sell. According to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, an asphalt-shingle roof replacement costs about $31,871 nationally and adds an estimated $21,501 in resale value, al...

What Is a Floor Plan? How to Read One When Buying a Home

Hình ảnh
Listing photos are designed to make a home look its best. They’re shot at the right time of day, staged carefully, and framed to show each room from an appealing angle. What they can’t always tell you is whether the layout actually works for you. Are the bedrooms close enough to the bathrooms? Does the kitchen feel open or closed off? Will your furniture fit the way you’re picturing it? That’s where a floor plan comes in. Whether you’re browsing homes in Seattle, WA or comparing condos in Miami, FL , you may be asking, what is a floor plan, and what can it tell you about a home? Reading one can help you look beyond listing photos and decide whether a layout fits your furniture, routines, and needs. A floor plan is a scaled, overhead diagram that shows the layout of a home, including rooms, walls, doors, windows, and how spaces connect. When you’re buying a home , a floor plan can help you understand room placement, compare dimensions, evaluate traffic f...

How Floor Plans Help Buyers Compare Homes

Hình ảnh
Here’s a scenario most house hunters know well: you’ve toured four homes in a weekend, the photos all looked great online, and now you’re sitting at home trying to remember which one had the open kitchen and which one had the awkward hallway. The listings blur together, and you’re back to scrolling instead of deciding. That’s exactly the problem a floor plan solves. Whether you’re comparing condos in Chicago, IL or narrowing down single-family homes in Austin,TX , floor plans show how rooms connect, how space is arranged, and how a home might function day to day. That’s why floor plans matter when comparing homes beyond what listing photos show. Floor plans help buyers compare homes by showing how rooms connect, how space is distributed, and whether a layout may work for their needs. They can also make it easier to compare room dimensions, furniture placement, traffic flow, and other details that may be difficult to judge from listing photos...

Is It a Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?

Hình ảnh
Key takeaways It’s a buyer’s market in a majority of U.S. housing markets , meaning homebuyers have the upper hand. Sellers came back in August, but buyers held off as economic worries and historic unaffordability kept them on the sidelines. The Sun Belt is home to the strongest buyer’s markets; the Midwest, Northeast, and Bay Area are home to the remaining seller’s markets. Housing markets vary widely, so take into account local market dynamics and talk with an agent to get the full picture. The U.S. is in the strongest buyer’s market on record . Following the pandemic-fueled seller’s market in 2021, sellers now outnumber buyers by nearly 58% – a historic share. In numeric terms, there are an estimated 1.53 million sellers and 972,000 buyers in the market today. Generally, the greater the seller surplus, the stronger the buyer’s market and the more leverage they have. However, at the core of the housing market is a historic affordability crisis, making conditions feel anythin...