Barbara Ballinger
Barbara's Articles
Smart Homes, Smart Locations
Priorities change. More home owners today seek convenience and safety as two of their top buying considerations. For example, when choosing neighborhoods, Millennials put a premium on convenience, wanting an easy commute or walkable access to employment centers, shopping, fitness and recreational amenities. On the other end of the spectrum, some Boomers are giving up.....
Home Warranty May Be Owner’s Best Friend
We usually buy insurance for those just-in-case times – for auto accidents, for medical emergencies or in case our home is damaged by fire, wind or flood. But what about a home warranty? Is such coverage necessary, or just another home expense? We already have many expenses like the mortgage, real-estate taxes and assortment of.....
Home Industry Leaders Collaborate on Homes for Veterans
Renting or buying a home requires persistence and the ability to save for security deposits or down payment. Then there’s a need for additional funds to furnish the apartment or home, pay the monthly rent or mortgage, and have money left for electricity, heat, food, and clothing. We shouldn’t forget the six-month emergency nest egg.....
Debunking Common Reverse Mortgage Myths
Although the reverse mortgage program is supported by the Federal government and the loans have been available for nearly 60 years, reverse mortgages have not consistently been used as a financial planning tool. That’s changing, however, primarily because of consumer protections, including limits on loan proceeds, required counseling and the addition of a Financial Assessment,.....
Home Offices: Practical & Prominent
As more people work from home who are either self-employed or have flexible hours and can work remotely, the home office has become an important, practical and prominent residential feature. According to data from GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed population, has grown by 140 percent since 2005, nearly10 times faster than the rest of.....
7 Tips to Designing Your Dream Kitchen
Kitchens remain the center of family living—a place to cook, eat, gather and entertain, and a prime reason many buyers gravitate to one house versus another. New appliances, sturdy cabinets, functional countertops and sensible layout may pique buyer interest. Similarly, a disappointing plan, poor lighting and dated equipment may crater a possible transaction, or conversely.....