Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

Amid growing economic uncertainty, the American dream of homeownership might seem nearly impossible to achieve—particularly for families who are seeking to buy a property in one of the nation’s least affordable states. Now, a state-by-state affordability analysis carried out by Realtor.com® economists is revealing the true cost of homeownership for the average family of four, detailing exactly […]

Nervous about selling? These 10 steps will walk you through it. Have you been thinking, ‘I want to sell my house, but where do I start?’ If so, you’re not alone. The typical seller lives in their home for eight years before putting it up for sale, and they spend an average of about three […]

There are differences in cost, space, and how repairs get done. There are a ton of questions you may be asking yourself as a renter who’s looking for a new place to live. Whether to choose an apartment in a multi-family building or a single-family house may be among them. There are upsides and downsides […]

Pulling together all your documentation now will speed up your application process. Here’s a checklist of what you’ll need. Renting a home, especially in a busy market, usually means you have to move fast. Even when you find zillions of rentals on Zillow, there may be only one or two that you want to call home […]

Get answers to top questions and tips on how to prepare for the busiest time of year. We’ll cut to the chase: As the spring home-buying season gets going, home buyers may find themselves with more time to shop and more homes to choose from across most of the country. That’s good news if you’ve […]

Data-driven seller strategies like listing on the MLS could add more than $50,000 to your bottom line. Nationally, the super-charged sellers’ market over the past few years has turned to a neutral one where buyers and sellers are on more equal footing. This requires sellers to be strategic, not only in their pricing, but in marketing their […]

Tickets to the first national football championship in 1967 cost $10. Today’s would cover a mortgage payment — or even a down payment. Hardcore football fans hoping to snag tickets to The Big Game expect to pay thousands of dollars for a single seat — and in some cases, many multiples of what home buyers […]

Get the best picture possible before you commit to living together. No matter if you’re planning to live with someone you know or a total stranger, it helps to prepare a list of questions to ask a potential roommate. How they answer your questions will give you an idea of what it may be like […]

Once upon a time, if an apartment building had a pool, it was uptown. These days it takes a lot more than that to stand out. Do they offer something that can get you out of your unit? Does the apartment have an on-site restaurant? What about a crafting room, supplies included?  New research from Zillow […]

Before signing a new lease, take a deep breath and one more careful look around to make sure things as good as they seem. Few things can crush your spirit more than getting scammed or tricked during your search for a new rental home. Moving under a deadline can leave you open to being preyed on or […]