Posts with tag 'buying a home'

My sister and brother-in-law bought a house over the summer, and from the start, they have wanted to change and update the kitchen. It is dated both in appearance and somewhat in functionality. While I was visiting them for Thanksgiving, my sister told me that she opted to get Thanksgiving dinner from a local restaurant rather than cook at home because her oven is so small. This is true; the oven itself is tiny, though the entire stove and oven unit itself is normal-sized. This had us talking, and put us on the topic of finding out just how old the oven truly is.

After some quick research, we determined her oven was a model made in 1982—making it over 40 years old! Albeit small, that oven works completely fine, and so does the stovetop. It reminds me of my late grandmother's house, which was a scene ripped out of a magazine from the 1970s. Each one of her appliances was that Coppertone brown from that era, but they all still worked: The fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer were all still in operation when I last was in that house, which would have been sometime in the 2010s, right before she sold it.

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Buying a house can be a daunting task. Shopping for the right home within budget and managing the logistics can be a challenge, but you also need to ensure you get approved for a mortgage. And that's not always easy. Preparing your finances first is key.

To know how to set a realistic budget for when you do find that perfect home and to understand what limitations you might face when it comes to borrowing, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is essential.

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Discover the latest issue of Journey Home by Badger Peabody & Smith Realty—a magazine that celebrates life in New Hampshire's mountain communities. Inside, readers will find stunning property showcases, tips on fun activities you can do outside for all ages, best area bookstores, tips for making your home functional and stylish and more. 

Ready to explore! Click here to read the full magazine: View the...

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As you approach a different phase of your life, the idea of downsizing holds both practical and emotional significance. The process is often more than just a real estate transaction. It is a journey that balances finances, lifestyle aspirations, and the emotions tied to leaving a beloved home.

Finding the right time to downsize is highly personal. Some people downsize as soon as they retire, eager to embrace a new chapter. Others may when they face mobility challenges or when maintaining a large property becomes increasingly burdensome. Key indicators that it might be time include: unused rooms or spaces accumulating clutter; difficulty with stairs, outdoor maintenance, or other aspects of the...

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The weather has been hot lately, with no end (or rain) in sight. On one hand, it's a nice break from the early summer rainfall we were seeing through June and most of July, with thunderstorms rolling through every single weekend, but it feels a little unbearable to exist in temperatures hitting over 90 degrees every day. I am not much of an outdoorsy person in the summertime anyway, but even the most simple tasks like preparing to take recycling and garbage to the dump can feel like something better suited for the early morning or late afternoon, just to avoid even fifteen minutes of walking to and from the car and house in the heat.

I recently met some folks from Arizona, and they were commenting that even though th...

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