JJ & Ainsley Gordon, The Gordon Group

Cheering up your home with some spring decor is the perfect way to prepare for warmer days and more sunshine. Here are some options to prepare your home for the next season! ADD AN HERB GARDEN While they may not last outdoors with the sporadic weather of spring, bringing potted herbs into your home and letting them soak up sunlight in a kitchen window is the perfect way to add life to your home  and  have access to fresh herbs while you’re cooking.  THINK SPRING   If you are all about DIY-ing, creating simple decorations can add a pop of seasonal color to your home. Take that pair of rain boots you don’t wear anymore and turn them into planters - add bright floral arrangements and use your new decor item as an inviting piece by your front door. POPS OF COLOR Neutral and sleek is all the rage right now, but adding a pop of color in your normal decor can add a cheerful touch to your home. Swap out your kitchen napkins or tablecloth with something a little...

Are you thinking about buying a home and just don’t know where to start? Before you even begin looking at homes, consider how much you may need to save to make the process as smooth as possible for you, especially in the long run. While there are situations where you don’t need a large down payment for a home, having one can save you money down the road.  Saving for a down payment is slightly different than other large savings, like retirement. With those savings, you can set aside smaller amounts or invest the money. Because you will need your down payment sooner rather than later, those saving methods won’t be beneficial to you. Here are some steps to take to save up for your dream home! 1. Determine How Much You Need There is a general rule of thumb in real estate, the rule of 28, that says your maximum mortgage payment should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. Sitting down with a mortgage lender will help you find out how much of a mortgage you qualify for ba...

Buying a home is exciting whether it’s your first home or your fifth. But while buying a home can be a real adventure, many owners put their home on the market while trying to find a new house. As a homeowner, you can try to sell while looking for something new, but it can get a little tricky. Read on for tips on how to make this process as smooth as possible. EVALUATE YOUR LOCAL MARKET It would seem like selling your home before putting an offer on a different one would be the best option when it comes to buying/selling, but it can really depend on the local real estate market. If you have the time, research the market in your city or desired area. This will let you know whether it’s a buyer or seller market. The type of real estate market in your locale can really dictate whether or not the process will be quick or drawn out. The general rule of thumb is to sell first in a buyer’s market, and buy first in a seller’s market; but this isn’t always the case since every ...

Taking the plunge and listing can be an exhilarating decision, but doing so without asking yourself some  important questions could leave you scrambling to figure out what you're going to do should your home be a highly sought-after property. If you're toying with the idea of listing, ask yourself the questions below before you make your final decision.    HOW MUCH IS MY HOME WORTH? Unless you consistently check real estate prices in your area or are comparing comparable homes in your neighborhood, it's likely you may not know the true value of your home. If you're thinking of selling, it's important to find out how much your home is worth. If you are dreaming of a new neighborhood, with the hopes that you'll make a good amount of money off your current residence, do your due diligence and ensure your home is worth what you think. The last thing you want is to find out your home is worth less than you thought and your dream neighborhoo...

If you’re looking to start a-new this coming year, why not have a checklist of things you can do for your home to give it a fresh start to 2019? There’s nothing better than a clean home, and it’s a great way to begin a brand new year. Start With The Little Things Many of us, whether we rent or own, tend to overlook the little things. But even the little things can make a huge impact on our homes. Add these to your home’s new year checklist: Check batteries on fire/smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. We hate hearing the chirp of a dying smoke detector in the middle of the night - be proactive and change out all the batteries now! Clean your clothes dryer. Vacuum out lint from the dryer vent. Too much lint can be a fire hazard if it’s accumulated over time. Also, if you have too much lint build up, your dryer may not even work at maximum power. Clean vents and registers. Things can get stuck in and even build up in your home’s vents and registers. Wipe...