Moving to a new home because you have to can be a drag. Truthfully, the act of moving is a big drag for any reason! But when it's not your choice, not the optimum time, or you're moving for reasons other than because you've fallen in love with a new home and are moving up, it really stinks. But that doesn't mean you have to approach the move like it's a death sentence. Change makes you flexible," said beliefnet. And, it can also make you smarter. "If things never changed, you'd never learn anything [...]

Most home fires are preventable, but sometimes common sense isn't so common. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it's not too early to protect your loved ones and your home from fire damage, by simply following sensible suggestions. 1. Have your furnace checked. It's worth the money to hire a professional to inspect and service your furnace once a year. If it's going to conk out, it's better to know trouble is coming. 2. Have your chimneys and vents checked. Fireplaces produce creosote which can ignite. If you light fires frequently, you need [...]

Making infrastructure a major consideration when you buy a home is a smart investment strategy that many people overlook. Much in the way that buying in a good school district pushes up the value of your property regardless of whether you have kids, locating property near good infrastructure historically affects appreciation rates positively. This works both ways, of course, and Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2015 explicitly expresses concerns about how lack of infrastructure spending and maintenance will damage the value of real estate holdings this upcoming year. The quality of roads, water access, [...]

An excerpt from a news story read: "Bridgett Freeman of Sheboygan stole more than $11,000 from the Westridge Homeowner's Association in West Bend. Thursday, she was sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation, and was ordered to pay back $11,617.41. She said she was sorry." From time to time, these stories make national news. While embezzlers can be found in virtually every type of business, homeowner associations are not immune. In fact, because of the volunteer nature of HOAs, business practices tend to be somewhat lax and HOAs are even more [...]

Moving in the winter can be treacherous if you live in a cold climate, and accidents are prone to happen when carrying heavy furniture and boxes across slippery or icy surfaces. This is bad news for everybody involved, but in the instances of serious injury these scenarios leave property owners open to some forms of legal liability. This is known as premise liability. However, not all forms of liability apply, and there are several ways to limit the liability a property owner faces. Typically, for premise liability to apply, the following conditions must be [...]

Everyone has disagreements with loved ones. But if arguing is too frequent, you could have deep unresolved issues in your marriage. This is the worst time for you to buy a house. Not only will you take your troubles with you, the challenges of owning a home will be made that much harder, including paying a mortgage that may be higher than you're currently paying in rent. Buying a home is a commitment and a responsibility. To be successful homeowners, your goal should be to maintain and enhance the value of your home. It's [...]