Lisa's Real Estate Blog

If you are working from home, physical distancing, had a trip or event canceled, or are lost without your favorite sports game, we’ve put together a list of ways to give back during this time. If you need anything or have any questions, ...

Charles Schwab, Toyota and Jamba Juice are three very different companies with one thing in common: They moved out of their California headquarters to make a new home in North Texas. Companies have been leaving California in droves for years, ...

Whether you’re buying a new home or refinancing an existing mortgage, shopping around for a good interest rate might save you money. At the very least, rate shopping can help you confirm you’re getting a good deal. But there’s an ...

Most of the time, if you think about taking out a loan to purchase real estate, you’re likely picturing a single-family home. Depending on your needs and the properties available in the area you’re searching, though, you may find that ...

When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, so a pricing decision often relies on comparisons to several recent ...

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation ...

What's the number one hurdle for renters making the leap to homeownership? That pesky down payment. Even with an FHA loan that only requires a minimum of 3.5% down, the thought of setting aside several thousand dollars is daunting (and for some, ...

Why is there so much paperwork mandated by the lenders for a mortgage loan application when buying a home today? It seems that they need to know everything about you and requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry ...

Use these 10 tips to increase your home’s curb appeal and find out how an attractive and well-maintained landscape can add as much as 10 percent to its value! Potential home buyers form their first impression of a home from its curb appeal....

It’s almost time for school to start up again. Are you in a great school district? Find out your schools’ scores here: https://bit.ly/2sxHyDX If you have school-age children, it’s important to be sure that you are in a highly rated ...

In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their homes on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons why this might not be a ...

Folks, it’s 2019! Contrary to what you might have heard, a buyer’s first impression is no longer that special moment when they first pull up to check out your curb appeal. In fact, more often than not, they’ve already ...

There’s no more important time to work on your credit score than when you’re about to apply for a mortgage. Improving your credit can save you a ton of money—we’re talking about thousands of dollars over the life of the loan....

As the events of the last few years in the real estate industry show, people forget about the tremendous financial responsibility of purchasing a home at their peril. Here are a few tips for dealing with the dollar signs so that you can take ...

When house hunting, this question is worth considering—and the answer isn't as simple as you might think. The number of floors in a home affects not just the way it looks, but also how easy it is to navigate and maintain, how much you'll pay ...

Looking to buy a home? Here are five essential tips for making the process as smooth as possible. Get your finances in order. Start by getting a full picture of your credit. Obtain copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and ...

Making Friends When you Move You’ve made it! You’ve successfully moved to a new city or town, and after tackling the most urgent post-move tasks, now you begin to wonder how to make friends in a new city. You’re probably well ...

Each January, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcases cutting-edge technology by companies from around the world. This year, home automation showed up in a big way, including these unveilings for tech-loving homeowners. 1. Smart ...

There has been some discussion recently on home prices in relation to mortgage rates. Some believe if there is a rapid rise of mortgage rates, home prices should decrease. Logically it makes the most sense for the price of the house to drop when ...