Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

From assembling your team to making your wish list, here’s how to get your home-buying journey off to a strong start. The real estate market can be competitive and a little overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to prepare yourself mentally and financially before buying a house. Preparing to buy a home can […]

When buying a house feels unaffordable, knowing how your personal financial situation fits into the bigger picture can help inform your moving decisions. Home prices have taken off in the last few years, making affordability a growing concern for buyers, sellers and renters who want to become homeowners some day. Knowing what factors contribute to […]

From pet-friendly rentals to new buyer markets, 2025 should be calmer and cozier on the home front. With 2024 fast receding in the rear view, it’s time to look ahead to see what buyers, sellers and renters can expect over the next year.  2025 should prove to be another breather year for prospective buyers with […]

Homes in these relatively affordable markets sell faster than the national average – here’s how to get an edge. In the midst of volatile mortgage rates and affordability challenges for first-time home buyers, it might surprise you that local markets could be experiencing a real estate boom. But that’s exactly what Zillow economists are forecasting […]

An agent and lender weigh in on what to know — and where to look — when building your home-buying team. As you begin your home search, you may ask yourself: should I talk to an agent, or a lender first? The truth is, there’s not really a right or a wrong answer. We spoke […]

From pet-friendly rentals to new buyer markets, 2025 should be calmer and cozier on the home front. With 2024 fast receding in the rear view, it’s time to look ahead to see what buyers, sellers and renters can expect over the next year.  2025 should prove to be another breather year for prospective buyers with […]

Not sure if you should buy a home in this market? These 12 pros and cons can help you decide. The question of “should you buy or rent” is a lot tougher to answer now than it was only four years ago. U.S. home prices have climbed along with interest rates, while rising rents have made it […]

With the wide variety of interior design apps to choose from, the answer may be something in between. If you’re planning out how to design the inside of your home, luckily, there’s an app or virtual tool for just about every part of the process you could think of — from organizing your mood boards […]

Making a strong first virtual impression is more important than ever. Now, you can welcome home buyers into your property through Zillow Immerse. You’ve likely heard the term “curb appeal” at least a few times in your life. Maybe you’re even in the process of sprucing up your own front yard in hopes of attracting […]

Keep your house clean, tidy and pet-free for every showing and open house. To-do list Remove all signs of pets Ensure marketing materials are pet-free Avoid marketing the home as pet-friendly Repair pet damage to home Deep clean the home before listing Deodorize Clean pet hair Remove stains Mask noisy neighbor pets Home buyers and […]