If you have the time and money, building your own home is the only option that ensures the home is everything you want and need. Your imagination and your budget (and any rules and regulations the property must legally abide by) are your only limits. Unless you are buying all the tools and materials, donning a pair of carpenter’s overalls and a hardhat, and constructing it with your hands, building the home is a relatively easy and straightforward process if you seek out the proper guidance.

The steps to building your own home are:

Find the land

First, you need to find the plot of land you want. Speaking to a real estate agent who specializes in land purchases will help expedite the process. They will know the lots available that meet

A down payment of 20% or more has been the ideal amount to put down on a home for quite some time. It is a robust number that shows financial stability and puts a home buyer in an excellent position for loan approval, affordable monthly payments and immediate equity accrual. If you don’t have 20% to put down, which is far more than most of us can comfortably put down, your dream of home ownership is not over – far from it. 20% is ideal, but not the norm. The average home price in Maryland is $250,000 and 20% of that number is 50,000. Who has that?

So, how much of a down payment do you really need to buy a new home?

Home Down Payment of 3.5 Percent

If you choose an FHA loan, you could give a down payment as low as 3.5%. FHA loans are

Two identical homes are next to each other. Same specs, same price, same “For Sale” sign out front but one sign has that glorious, red “SOLD” proudly slapped on it. So, why would the same home sell while the other languishes on the market? The difference could very likely be one important and sometimes overlooked part of home selling – staging. Putting effort into the careful and deliberate staging of a home to fully bring out its appeal for potential buyers. A properly staged home will maximize its selling points while also leaving a positive emotional impression. Good staging can truly connect a buyer to your home and result in a quick sale.

Staging techniques to help sell your home

Here are some of the techniques that professional

If you are retiring, you probably own a home and are about to finally see the fruits of the 401k you’ve been diligently nurturing for decades. So, you will likely have plenty of money to put towards the luxury home of your dreams and live the retired life in style and comfort. While it seems like you are going to afford it easily, retirement can be a long time, and there are important factors that will play into whether or not you can afford a luxury home in the long run.

Negotiating a Mortgage for your Luxury Retirement Home

30-year mortgagesare the most popular because they carry the lowest monthly payment. However, retirees should look to the 15-year loan. A lot can happen in 30 years, and as we age, we tend to have increased expenses

Purchasing a home is likely to be one of the largest and most exhilarating decisions both financially and emotionally that you will ever make in your lifetime. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of house hunting. Our minds wander with the endless possibilities of how to make the homes our own. However, a home is still a financial decision with a serious impact on your future. So, how do we know the investment will be a fruitful one? There are no guarantees with homes. However, we can take certain factors into consideration to ensure we are putting ourselves in the best position.

Here are some of the most important questions to consider when purchasing a home:

Can you afford a new home?

When you buy a home, it isn’t just about