By, Katie Conroy

Maintaining a home and yard can eat up precious free time that could be spent on hobbies, exercise and social activities. Sizing down your belongings and reducing upkeep with a smaller house can add back time and save you money. Just make sure you think about your pet's current and future accommodations throughout your downsizing process. Read on for some tips from Marin Real Estate. 

Be Efficient

You probably have an idea of your budget and what you want in a new home, but before you start searching, reach out to your mortgage lender to get pre-approved. Lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio to pinpoint how much you can realistically pay each month. You can calculate this by adding your existing monthly debt…

By, Lucille Rosetti

Starting a business can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor, and it's never been easier to run a business from your home. Unfortunately, your current residence may not be able to support your new venture. With the proper planning and care, you can smoothly transition between homes while getting your company off the ground. Here, Marin Real Estate offers this guide that explains how to make it happen.

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Search With Discretion 

Rather than letting your current space dictate what sort of business you can start, let the company you want to create decide where you move. A custom apparel company, for instance, will need considerable space to store and process inventory, while a house cleaning service may…

By, Lisa Roberts

There are many reasons people decide to buy a new home. Perhaps your growing family now requires a home that can house a larger family, so everyone has their own space. Or you need to relocate for a new job opportunity quickly. And just like there are reasons for purchasing a new home, home buyers also face many common fears. Most of these can be easily remedied, even if they seem unsolvable. Let's go through these five common fears home buyers face and possible solutions.

Common fear No 1: Interstate moving

Interstate moving can be very frightening. For instance, if you are moving from a state like Florida to California, there can be a lot of unexpected changes and differences in the real estate market. Another part of…

By, Lucille Rosetti

If you’re looking for your dream home, you may not be able to find exactly what you’re searching for. Rather than settling, consider building your own custom home. This allows you to participate in the design process from the beginning, from the blueprints to material choices and landscape options. From Marin Real Estate, here’s a guide through the process of building your dream custom home.

How to Establish Your Budget 

Experts recommend working with a lender to get preapproved for a home construction loan as a first step if you’re thinking about building a house. You’ll learn the maximum amount you can borrow and how much of a down payment is required. You’ll need to be comfortable with the down payment and monthly…

Whether you're moving for work or family or the desire for a major change, transitioning to a new state can be a stressful process. You can smooth it out, though, by doing your research and making preparations ahead of time. Read on to learn about some tips and tricks to make your transition seamless.

Do Your Research

Since you're heading to California, you'll want to research ahead of your move to get an idea of what you'll experience when you get there. You should know, for instance, that the cost of living does tend to be on the high side in California. For instance, the average home costs about $476,000, and renters can expect to spend around $1,429 a month. Transportation costs and insurance tend to run a bit higher than the national…

A home is meant to be a safe haven for anyone in the household. However, as people age, they become increasingly susceptible to injuries in the home. A trip to the kitchen can be enough to cause a severe fall, and many seniors end up in the hospital every year as a result of an accident in the home. 

Common places such as bathrooms, stairs, kitchens, or living rooms can become hazardous for seniors. Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to make your home safe and comfortable for aging loved ones. It all depends on what safety risks are most prevalent in your home. 

Home Upgrades to Invest In to Increase Home Safety for Seniors

If you're wondering what you can do to increase safety for seniors in your home, you're in luck. In this…

Getting into the house flipping business can unlock lucrative profits and exciting opportunities. If you think it’s just a young person’s game, though, think again — plenty of seniors are discovering just how rewarding this endeavor can be. It could even help to fund your retirement! Every senior who aspires to flip houses should know how to get started and how to make key improvements before selling a home. Learn how seniors can hire qualified contractors, make strategic upgrades, and see big profits from the house-flipping industry.

Assessing How Much Work Needs to Be Done

One of the first steps to flipping a house is assessing just how much work must be done. The nature of flipping means that you’ll often be investing in properties that are…

By, Lisa Roberts

The choice to rent or purchase in California is influenced by various variables, including your income, the quantity of your down payment, the typical rent in the region, and the length of time you want to stay in the area. Renting vs. Buying in California is a tough question, but the good thing is that you don’t need to go there to buy or rent a property. Some agencies or firms can help you with that. So let's see what a better option is. 

If you decide to buy a property, be truthful to yourself about your finances. Don't indulge in irrational illusions about luxurious residences entirely out of your price range. You might be able to achieve some of these goals by making significant sacrifices, but is that worth it?

Renting…

By, Lisa Roberts

If you have a growing or a large family, you understand that living in a spacious home can sometimes feel small. This is why one of the crucial home features every large family needs isn't just space. Instead, the area you have needs to be functional and, therefore, cater to everyone's needs no matter the age. For instance, if you're having a new baby, it would be best to have a nursery set up or nursery elements in your bedroom. So, whether you are building from scratch or buying a new home, we will share the essential features a large family home needs to make your life easier.

The list of home features every family needs

All families are unique and different. Therefore, a family home should be a safe shelter for everyone…

By, Lisa Roberts

We all know how important the security of our home is. It is, after all, a place where we should feel safe and comfortable. However, could that need for security influence the value of our home? You might be planning to sell your home and are wondering whether installing a security system will help you in that endeavor. We are here to tell you how a home security system can increase home value.

A Home Security System Can Attract More Buyers

Everyone wants to feel safe in their own home. For this reason, many people who are looking to buy a house are concerned about the safety of the property. A security system can help you with the sale by affording you more leads. If you have a security system in place, you will be able to…