Advice

In the future, purchasing a condo may become easier thanks to potential new FHA borrowing guidelines. For nearly a decade the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has urged the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to make it easier for condo buyers to qualify for FHA-issued mortgages. Recently the Department of Housing ... Read More...

Every year, thousands of people make the move from a house to a condo. Some are new college grads buying their first place. Others are empty nesters looking for a place to retire. And while these people may come from different walks of life, they all have one thing in ... Read More...

These days, many people (particularly millennials) eschew homeownership, choosing instead to rent houses, apartments, and condos. In fact, renters are a large, growing demographic within the real estate market. As the renting population grows, more and more people are faced with one dreaded question: How do I decorate this place? You ... Read More...

All residents of a condominium community have been made aware of the important-yet-somewhat-mysterious “condo board.” That’s the body which must approve certain requests, can raise fees or expenses, and may even levy fines or other penalties. But you might be wondering: What exactly does the condo board do? Who works for ... Read More...

Spring is finally here. The days are getting longer, flowers are in bloom, the clouds are parting, and the sun is shining through your windows… revealing a ton of dirt that you didn’t notice all winter. Spring is the perfect time to get your condo in tip-top shape. But when ... Read More...

Most condo owners have heard at least one story about a crime being committed at a condo community. What steps can residents take to reduce the potential for criminal activity? Get More Cameras? When it comes to condo security, the first thing that comes to mind is the presence of cameras. Closed-circuit ... Read More...

When does less become more? It happens gradually, as we age. What we begin to realize is that the less you have, the less you need to pay for and the less you need to take care of. When you finally decide to downsize, although the decision sounds simple, there ... Read More...

A recent article in RISMedia’s Housecall (First-Time Homebuyers: Financial Missteps and Opportunities) looked at the profile of first-time real estate buyers. Single women continue to outpace single men as homebuyers, according to the National Association of homebuyers, while single men only made up 8%. The profile also shows that women ... Read More...

"Those little terrors! Can’t they just stop running around and making noise? I’m trying to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet!” “Those old curmudgeons! Can’t they just stop grumbling and leave us alone? We’re trying to play by ourselves!” These two starkly differing viewpoints can be found in many condominiums these ... Read More...

Over the years, our world has become increasingly conscious of the environment. People are working to protect the planet all around the world, from massive conservation efforts to things we do every day in our homes. This is great – but it can be tough to truly “go green” when ... Read More...