When you hire an appraiser, you are hiring someone to provide their opinion. Granted this is an unbiased and professional opinion based on analyzing data and forming that opinion,...

    Affordability is the name of the game in 2020 and the 10 hottest housing markets in the US, as ranked by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), are all very similar. They all...

Originally Posted on Redfin by Lexi Klinkenberg   Building home equity is one of the many financial benefits to homeownership, but sometimes it's hard to know where to start. Increasing...

  It’s time to move and you and your family have reached the decision that you know you want a new home.  The resale market just won’t do this time! You want something bigger, more...

    Just the thought of the mortgage process is often intimidating to some people, and understandably so. Even if you have been through the pre approval process before, chances are...

    There are approximately 2 million active real estate licensees in the country, and your goal is to select the best person who is knowledgeable, trustworthy and will diligently...

  Appraisers often get asked by homeowners, “Does a messy house affect an appraisal?”  Of much more concern to an appraiser then a messy home would be any physical, functional or...

    When contemplating selling your home you will soon enough ask the question, how long does it take to sell a house? Location, condition, pricing, economic conditions and even...

    When it comes time to buy or sell a home, the question might arise, "Why should I hire a Realtor?"  The answer from experts is pretty compelling.  Hiring a professional with...

  It’s your honeymoon on Paradise Island.  In a nearby cay, two millennials snorkel beneath the clear blue sea while an elderly couple awaits the day’s sunset while relaxing on a...

  When a seller first lists a property, often they unintentionally, or intentionally, fail to disclose all facts to their own Realtor.  This can cause a huge problem later which could even...

  When you think of roses – think of Tyler, Texas, nicknamed the Rose Capital of America with a long history of cultivating, processing and shipping roses all over the USA.  The rose...

    You most likely purchased your home for stability and equity. When it’s time to move on you rightfully are ready to capitalize on your investment, years of hard work, timely...

  You love your location, but you are growing to dislike your home. It is simply too small, awkward and out of date, so you consider moving.   Remodel Your House   After...

    It is said that one of the top 5 most stressful life events a person can endure is purchasing their home.  Considering that a home is, most likely, the single most expensive...

    Your home is your castle, but putting it on the market requires a paradigm shift: it is now a commodity to be sold. And, it is going to be in competition with others on the...

Originally Posted at DW Slater Company Appraisal Blog       Are you considering buying a house near railroad tracks?  or Are you already living near railroad tracks?  How...

  The hustle and bustle of city life can be deemed an urban orgasm to city dwellers who long to live close to swag eateries, arts venues, the avoidance of nagging traffic, and if you’re...

  Hardwood, laminate, tile, carpet, or luxury vinyl?   How does one know which are the best flooring choices?   “Start with the end in mind -- what is your vision for your...

    A homebuyer approaches the largest single investment of his or her life with feelings of excitement and a bit of anxiety.  The buyer selected a property, presented an offer that...

  Anniversary!   Today at Consumer Home Value we’re thrilled to announce the celebration of one year since this website began.  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed providing consumers trusted,...

    Building a new home is one of the most exciting and terrifying choices you can make.  As the most expensive investment most people will make in their lifetime, choosing to buy a...

      At different seasons in life many of us will face the need to downsize to a smaller home or apartment.  Maybe you're an empty nester or there are other circumstances...

    Whether you’re in your first apartment or just moving into your dream house the joy of a home is often centered around the kitchen.  Although we talk a lot about the technical...

    Real estate markets are seasonal.  For families with children, the optimal time to move is when kids are out of school.  Spring-time is when homes first come on the market and...

Originally Posted at Riverfront Appraisal Blog   Owensboro’s most expensive home has sold:  16 Stone Creek Park.  And it sold at almost a $2 Million loss.   According to MLS...

        Depending where you live, autumn signals cooler temperatures and a reminder that winter is around the corner.  It’s a great time to perform seasonal...

      Over the years I’ve enjoyed renting rooms in several private homes.  As the renter, here are a list of things I’ve learned that could bring some insight to both...

Source: Freddie Mac®         PITI, ARM, LTV, FRM… homebuying acronyms making your head spin?  We’ve got you covered.  Like every other industry, the mortgage...

    When you want to sell your home, one of the first considerations is usually,  “What should the list price be?”   This critical and often under analyzed price can...

Originally posted here at Consumer Home Value     Many real estate appraisers provide pre-listing appraisal reports for sellers.  Having an appraisal done is an investment that...

Originally posted at Herring Consulting Company Blog       Appraisers are the worst, aren’t they?  Always working against agents!   OK, real estate agents and...

        In our last episode, our slightly-manic, reluctant, do-it-yourselfer, finally started the process of painting kitchen cabinets. That worried painter was...

    Woo hoo! I have finally started the process of painting my kitchen cabinets. Here is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide on how to prepare your cabinets for paint. Be warned....

      Featured on Forbes list of most expensive real estate in Houston, Southside Place is an independent city within Houston's inner loop.  Good location, great schools,...

    The home buying process can certainly be a stressful time and process. Not to add insult to injury, but there are even more things to consider when moving to a new area. You are...

    I’m keeping a secret from my husband. I feel bad about it, but I just can’t get up the nerve to tell him.   First, let me tell you the...

    Some contend the residential real estate appraisal business is in crisis.  Others teach never to waste a good crisis.  Assuming the former is true, let's take advantage of...

Originally posted at Herring Consulting Co Blog on September 13, 2018     You should never leave money on the table.   Unless you’re at a restaurant, in which case you...

  In the Real Estate World, this time of year is also known Selling Season! With kids out of school families are ready to move over the summer break. To new construction builders, this means...

  Once upon a time we were a family of four living in Houston. At that time, our brood was 1 sleep deprived stay-at-home mom, 1 overextended dad, a calm and compliant 4 year old son, a rowdy...

    Opendoor seems to be quite the topic of conversation these days.  Is this the stress-free real estate model of the future?  Or is the ibuyer model simply a gimmick?  There...

        A decade ago my husband and I purchased our first home together in Austin. It was 1800 mostly well configured square feet with a decadent 3 full baths, 2 of...

    I was 30 years old. My house was paid off, I had $90,000 in cash, and I was ready to step foot in the real estate market and buy my first rental house.   "Don't do...

  Appraisers complete various type of reports for lenders and homeowners. The big factors that affect the cost of a home appraisal is the location, purpose of the appraisal, size of the home...

When I was a little girl in India, we had coconut trees on our property and ever so often a man would come by, climb up the tree and bring down some coconuts.  It was fun to watch, and little did I...

A few week ago, while making our green juice my hubby asked for his to be just celery. That was different. I looked at him curiously and he elaborated about this new celery juice trend and all the...

For a green juice to be a long-term replacement for morning coffee it must be two things, quick and delicious.  This has been my go-to recipe for many years. It’s three basic ingredients with an...

Luckily my husband and I are on the same page on exchanging gifts. We both prefer experiences in lieu of stuff. It doesn’t always happen that the trip or outing or event we plan can happen on the...

I’ve been making this pudding for about eight years and with the chocoholics in my house it’s still a favorite. If you’re a chocolate lover I must warn you this could very well be your new...

Every man that’s lucky enough to be a dad has received the beautiful gift to be a leader, a friend, and a guide, through a child’s journey in life. I am lucky to have a dad who truly enjoys...