The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) brings good news for homeowners looking to upgrade their energy systems. Between now and 2032, you have the opportunity to benefit from various tax credits made available under this new law. One significant change from previous legislation is the removal of a lifetime cap on tax credits. While there's a maximum of $3,200 per year, you can claim this amount annually until 2032. To make the most of these savings, consider spacing out your upgrades wisely. Here's a list of some eligible upgrades.
It's been a year of low volume sales in the twin cities real estate market. Closed sales are down 25% from last year. Nearly all the indicators suggest we are moving towards a more balanced market: Inventory is down, pending sales have decreased, and days on the market have increased. However, when you look at the median sale price and housing affordability, it becomes evident that the market still favors sellers.
So, grubs decided to make a feast out of our yard, and we grew tired of mowing that steep hill. The solution? We decided to transform it into a native prairie landscape, complete with a cool switchback trail. We'd been toying with this idea for a while but got stuck in the whole overthinking phase. Then, this year, we said, "Let's just do it!"
Homeowners remodel, redesign, and restructure their homes for a variety of reasons. In smart news, we share a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that takes a deep dive into the reasons a homeowner remodels, the outcome of taking on projects, and the increased happiness found in the home once a project is completed. The report also contains:
· The typical cost of 19 remodeling and replacement projects, as estimated by members of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI)
· How much appeal each project is likely to have for buyers, according to REALTORS®
· How much REALTORS® estimates that homeowners can recover on the cost of the projects if they sell the home.
With the Fed raising interest rates in 2022 at a pace not seen since the 1980’s and the projections that they will continue to raise them to 5.25% - 5.50% (currently they are 4.50% - 4.75%) by the end of this year, you may be wondering, “how has this affected my payment on a mortgage or my buying power if I want to keep my payment the same”. Well let’s look at an example:
It all started over 10 years ago when we met a woman that would today become a client and the feature of this months real story.
Aside from new construction, homes within Minneapolis were built in the early 1900s. Most with stairs at the front entry and many without a main floor bathroom or bedroom. Needless to say, it's rare to find a barrier free, wheel chair accessible Two-Story home anywhere in Minneapolis that allows you to "Age in Place".
Sure, we use our Alexa & Google Dot to stream news and music, but it seems tech is about to fully take over our homes; door bells with video to show you who is at your front door, new appliances that you can operate from afar and so much more. Whether you still have a flip phone and dial up internet or are the first in line for the latest Apple smart watch, here is a great article to help you decide if having a smart home is worth it to you.
Do plants really clean the air? Which ones do it best? These were my questions when I began my research. Little did I know I was quickly to become disillusioned and even down-right mad at what I was reading - I had shared Facebook posts with the best house plants to clean the air in your home! Now, I find out this science-based theory had generally been debunked.
