What’s going to happen with interest rates in the near future?

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What’s going to happen with mortgage interest rates this year? To answer today’s question, I think it’s important to look at what has happened in the past. Over the last year or so, we’ve seen interest rates plummet due to the pandemic, and mortgage rates dropped significantly when the Federal Reserve was pumping tons of money into mortgage-backed securities.
"The days of getting a 2% interest rate are over."

More recently, the Fed has slowly been removing the amount they’re putting into buying those securities, which caused interest rates to climb. In addition to that, we’re also noticing a lot of volatility in the stock market; people are pulling money out of stocks and buying bonds.
The trajectory of interest rates has been going up significantly as far as mortgages are concerned. ...

Here are a few tips to help save on your year-end real estate taxes. 

Today we have some year-end real estate tax tips to share with you. We’re coming up to the end of the year, so these tips should help save you some money. Don’t worry; we’ll keep it simple and stay out of the technical details.
In the next few weeks, you should get your end-of-year mortgage statement, which shows how much interest you’ve paid. If you’re itemizing your taxes, give this to your accountant, and they should be able to get you some benefits.
Since COVID hit, many people are working from home. If you have a dedicated home office or workspace, there may be a tax deduction that you can take. You should reach out to your tax professional if this applies to you.
If you’ve bought or sold real estate this year, start looking for those closing statements. Your accountant will request those documents to make sure you’ve itemized all the expenses that can be wr ...

These five updates will add value to your bathroom when it’s time to sell.

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What are some great improvements to make to your bathroom? The first step is to look at the major issues that buyers will notice immediately. Then you can move on to other projects that add value.
1. Replace carpeted flooring. Carpet stands out—people don’t want carpet to get wet and end up moldy. Builders put carpet in because it’s cheap, but you should install another type of flooring such as tile.
2. Expand shower space. Large showers are very popular, and bathtubs are not as desirable right now. Though some people feel a tub is a must-have, generally you get more value from having a larger shower rather than a shower/tub combo.
3. Change the wall surroundings in the shower. Marble is fairly standard, but putting in tile or another upgraded material is preferred.
4. Shower extras. Adding. ...

Here are some of the best ways to increase the value of your kitchen.

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Today I’m coming to you from one of our home projects to show you some examples of ways to increase value in your kitchen with simple updates. You can see before-and-after photos of the project in the video above.
1. Expand. At the house in question, we weren’t able to knock out walls in the galley kitchen, which is very narrow. However, if you can open up your kitchen and connect it more to the family and/or great room, it will add quite a bit of value.
2. Updating the countertops and cabinets. These are a bit more expensive to change, but replacing outdated items in these areas can give your kitchen more value. Cabinet hardware is a good, low-cost way to boost value, as well.
3. Upgrade your lighting. Simply switching your light bulbs to LEDs can better illuminate the kitchen, making it look brighter and l. ...

Here are the renovations to consider to boost your home’s value.

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Many people in today’s market are refinancing their homes and pulling equity out so they can afford upgrades. As a result, one of the most common questions I’m getting right now is: Which renovations increase my home’s value the most?
The kitchen and bathroom areas will give you the most bang for your buck, and in the video above, I’ve provided several slides of renovations that I’ve been a part of to help demonstrate some basic tips you can apply to your home.
First, open up your kitchen as much as possible. For example, the kitchen at 0:59 could be improved by removing the walls that separate it from the living room. You can also add more counter space or an island with bar seating. Other options include refurbishing the cabinets, replacing appliances, and refinishing the floors.
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