Making the Summer Move

With the kids out of school, it’s no wonder that summer is the most popular time of year for families to move. Here are some tips to offer your clients as they prepare to move to a new home during the summer months. With some advance planning, they will be able to spend less time moving in and This will help you remain calmer and complete the unpacking process more...

Housing advice from Moms

Moms are the greatest. Although many moms are working today, they are still run the roost at home and have the best advise when it comes to home ownership. In honor of Mothers Day, Century 21 Hometown Realty celebrates the wisdom of mothers. Here is advice that we were able to locate from Moms. How much can you afford? Lenders like PrimeLending, our mortgage partner play a significant role in...

How to adjust your underwater mortgage

Bakersfield’s real estate bust was certainly one of the worst in the country, and because of that, many homeowners have faced real challenges when evaluating the mortgage on their home. To a lesser extent, there was also plenty of pain felt by homeowners along the Central Coast too. Underwater homeowners wistfully listen to radio ads boasting refinances with ‘record low interest rates’, knowing that taking advantage of those rates in...

Foreclosure rates drop nearly 15% in San Luis Obsipo County

Here is another great sign of economic stability and home ownership stability in San Luis Obispo County. According to CoreLogic, The Foreclosure 12 - Month Percentage shows the percentage change in home foreclosures in San Luis Obispo County. CoreLogic records this data from banks and public record sources.                     Century 21 Hometown Realty has been working with consumers on short sales...

Aiming to sell takes focus

When selling a home in an unfavorable market, it can be hard to face some facts. Most likely, your home will not command the price you want. It might be hard to cut your losses and move on. And you may find you have more emotional ties to selling your home than logical ones. Such feelings are not a surprise, says retirement expert Jan Cullinane, author of “The New Retirement:...

Preparing for a Home Inspection

For buyers and sellers alike, home inspections are a crucial part of the home-buying and -selling process. While setting up a home inspection once you have an offer on your home is an important piece of the puzzle, taking the time to prepare for the inspection can be just as essential. Home sellers who take the time to get ready for the inspection will pave the way for a smoother inspection...

Is There Lasting Value in Remodeling Trends?

When you’re spending thousands to remodel a kitchen or bath, you want those updates to last a while. To help you get ahead of and sort out the kitchen and bathroom trends -- pity the last fool to install an avocado appliance in the 1970s. Enjoy your home; remodel so that you love where you live. Still, with a couple of exceptions, these five kitchen and bath trends offer lasting...

Hard Water is Harsh on Appliances

 Most Americans have hard water flowing through their plumbing, and it's taking a silent, but pricey toll on their water-using appliances and pipes. "If you think you're not affected, think again: 85 percent of Americans have hard water," says Angie Hicks, founder of the website dedicated to consumer reviews of contractors and service companies. "Water with a high mineral count is really hard on your appliances and can take years...

Simple Tips to Increase Your Central Coast Curb Appeal

Have you been wanting to change the look of your house but aren't sure what you can do to increase your curb appeal? Handyman Connection, one of the largest networks of home repair and remodeling contractors in North America, has released a few home improvement ideas to help you enhance the street view of your home. The front door is the gateway to your home and can often be an easy...

Five ways to instantly add curb appeal to your home

Homes WASH THE HOUSE Before you scrape any paint or plant more azaleas, wash the dirt, mildew, and general grunge off the outside of your house. REALTORS® say washing a house can add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sale prices of some houses. A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush can remove the dust and dirt that have splashed onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and...