Jen Wilson's Blog Posts

Downsize Your Home, Rightsize Your Life: How to Choose the Ideal Smaller Home

When you've lived somewhere for many years, it can be tough to say goodbye. But if you (or a loved one) currently have a home that is bigger than necessary or is too high maintenance, it may be time

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35 Tips to Furnish Your New Home for Less

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting experiences in life. And if you’re like most homebuyers, you’ll be planning your furniture placement before the ink dries on your offer

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Top 7 Tips To Attract the Best Offers for Your Home

Not long ago, home sellers were in their heyday, as historically-low mortgage rates triggered a real estate buying frenzy. However, it’s no longer as simple to sell a home. Higher prices and

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7 Common Homebuyer Regrets (And How To Avoid Them)

Most new homebuyers don't regret becoming homeowners. In fact, one survey found that 80% of recent buyers are glad they found their current homes.[1] But, research shows that even the most-satisfied

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Renovate or Relocate? 3 Questions To Help You Decide

Does your current home no longer serve your needs?If so, you may be torn between relocating to a new home or renovating your existing one. This can be a difficult choice, and there’s a lot to

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National Real Estate Market Update for 2023 (June)

There’s an old adage in real estate: location, location, location. But ever since the Federal Reserve began its series of inflation-fighting interest rate hikes last year, a new mantra has

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How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget

It's not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1 Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while

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Stress-Free Home Cleaning: 27 Practical Tactics for Busy Households

Keeping a clean and orderly home is a challenge for many of us. Between busy work schedules, social obligations, and family commitments, it’s tough to keep up with daily chores—let alone

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My Home Didn’t Sell! Now What?

When it comes to listing their home, most home sellers want three things: 1) to make a lot of money, 2) to put in minimal time and effort, and 3) to sell quickly. But the reality is, selling a home

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Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023

One of the greatest benefits of being a homeowner is the freedom to make your home your own. However, it’s important to consider how your design choices could impact your property’s.

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20 Ways to Save Money and Stretch Your Household Budgetc

These days, it seems like everyone’s looking for ways to cut costs and stretch their income further. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your household expenses

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Move-Up vs. Second Home: Which One Is Right For You?

The pandemic has changed the way many of us live, work, and attend school—and those changes have impacted our priorities when it comes to choosing a home. According to a recent survey by The

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5 Secrets Buyers and Sellers Must Know About Virtual Home Tours

For years now, virtual home tours have helped real estate buyers far and wide find the perfect home. From long-distance military personnel being relocated, to investors expanding their portfolio, to

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Why Real Estate Investing Makes (Dollars and) Sense

Turn on the television or scroll through Facebook, and chances are you’ll see at least one advertisement for a group or “guru” who promises to teach you how to “get rich&

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Could Rising Home Prices Impact Your Net Worth?

Learn how to determine your current net worth and how an investment in real estate can help improve your bottom line. Among its many impacts, COVID-19 has had a pronounced effect on the housing

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Mortgage Payoff Calculator

One of the best ways to pay down your mortgage faster is to pay a little more than the minimum mortgage payment each month!  By putting more than the required amount toward the principle,

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Refinance Calculator

Want to take advantage of the low interest rates?  Or want to pull some cash out of the equity you've built up in your home?  Maybe a refinance is an option!  Use this calculator to

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7 Steps to a Seamless Move

 Whatever your reasons are for relocating to a new area, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re moving across across town or across the country, you’ll be changing more

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Top 10 Myths That Trip Up First-Time Home Buyers

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably received your share of advice from family and friends. Add to that the constant stream of TV shows, news segments, and social

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Hedge Against Inflation With These 3 Real Estate Investment Types

The annual inflation rate in the United States is currently around 7.5% (March 2022)—the highest it has been since 1982.1 It doesn’t matter if you’re a cashier, lawyer, plumber, or

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10 Pro Tips for a Smooth Home Move

The process of buying a new home can be both exhilarating and exhausting. But the journey doesn’t stop when you close on your property. On the contrary, you still have quite a bit to do

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8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate!

Mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride this year, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. And even the experts are divided when it comes to predicting

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9 Tips for Buying and Selling Your Home at the Same Time

Selling your home when you still need to shop for a new one can feel daunting to even the most seasoned homeowner––especially when the demand for new homes keeps rising, but the supply

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5 Step Strategy for Downsizing Your Home

In our “bigger is better” culture, there’s an expectation that each home should be larger and grander than the last. But life changes like divorce, kids leaving for college, or

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Shut Down Home Intruders With These 7 Safety Strategies

According to the FBI, more than one million burglaries are committed in the United States each year, with victims suffering an estimated $3 billion in combined property losses.1 Fortunately, there

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New Build or Existing Home: Which One Is Right for You?

Home buyers today are facing a huge dilemma. There simply aren’t enough homes for sale.1 Nationwide, there were 1.27 million active listings in September, down 13% from the previous year.

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Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers and the “Instant Cash Offer”

  Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell

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Home for the Holidays: How To Stretch Your Budget in a Season of Inflation

You don't have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style—even in this season of inflation. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still

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