A greater number of structural fires occur in the winter months. In colder weather, homeowners crank up the heat, using space heaters and electric blankets. But leaving them on too long or placing them too close to flammable objects can spark fires quickly, realtor.com® warns.“A substantial portion of the structure fire increase is caused by heating fires,” according to a study by the United States Fires Administration, “The Seasonal Natu
The winter “bomb cyclone” is spiraling across the eastern U.S., expected to bring heavy snowfall and high winds. In Southern states, in particular, the storm could damage homes and roadways that were not built for snowstorms.Here are some problems to watch for:Leaky roofs.Roofs are usually built flatter in the South than up North, which can cause damages during a snowstorm. Once the snow melts, it can get under shingles and cause water damage
Madison, Wis., offers the best balance between work and play. In fact, Midwestern cities placed in four of the top five spots in a new study by SmartAsset, a personal finance website.SmartAsset analyzed the data on the 100 largest U.S. cities across 10 metrics. Those metrics included concentration of entertainment establishments, bars and restaurants, housing costs, home values, average weeks worked, average hours worked, average commute times, u
Some places may be more inspiring than others for keeping your goals on track for the new year.Realtor.com®’s research team analyzed the 100 largest U.S. metros to figure out where it’s easiest for residents to keep their top new year’s resolutions, like getting healthier, putting finances in order, improving their minds, or setting out to find adventure.To determine the best places to get healthy, the research team looked at the number of
Across the country, neighbors are fighting against development of affordable housing, even if the proposals are far from their homes. Homeowners increasingly want to have a say on what development occurs in their communities beyond their own lot boundaries.As such, developers are struggling to build affordable housing for seniors, high-rises, and tiny homes.Homeowners are concerned about the quality of their schools and safety of neighborhood par
Many real estate professionals say that narrowing your customer base can actually increase your business pipeline. “A niche creates the ability for you to more easily build trust among potential clientele, which increases the likelihood of you gaining new clientele and therefore closing more deals,” writes Chadwick Ciocci, founder and CEO of Chilton & Chadwick in a recent article for Forbes.com. For example, a real estate professional f
Homes at higher elevations in hurricane-risk coastal areas are gaining value at a faster pace than those closer to sea level, CBS News reports.The trend is particularly evident in places like Miami, where “climate gentrification” is becoming a common buzzword. The term is used to describe the increasing role that volatile weather patterns and rising sea levels are playing in reconfiguring land values. Some experts say climate change could
Idaho saw the largest percentage of inbound moves in 2017, according to a recent report by Atlas Van Lines, a national moving company. About 65 percent of moves there were made by those relocating to the state, instead of moving away from it.Atlas Van Lines, which conducted nearly 7,300 relocations in 2017, looked at the percentage of moves in and out of each state to determine the states with the highest number of inbound moves. “Historically
Interior designers are trained to know what works and doesn’t work in a home. Some designers recently advised against purchasing certain home furnishings, whether you are staging a home or moving into one. Avoid these interior design eyesores for the sake of a home’s style:Overstuffed chairs.“I get that lounge chairs are comfortable, but they’re truly the elephant in the room,” Karen Gray-Plaisted, a home staging and decor pro with D
Entertainment areas—wet bars and dry bars—are places to prepare beverages for guests. But these spaces may be losing appeal and could make your listing look dated, designers say.First, make sure you know the difference between a wet bar versus a dry bar. Simply enough, a wet bar has a sink, allowing glasses to easily be rinsed, while a dry bar does not.Home bars became trendy in the 1970s and 1980s. More homeowners outfitted their basements w
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