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Umbrella Plants & Other Popular Indoor Trees That Are Toxic to Pets

Unfortunately, many popular houseplants are toxic to pets. Many of the small tree varieties commonly grown as houseplants, like the umbrella plant, can make both humans and animals sick if ingested. Here is a basic guide to popular indoor trees pet owners should avoid: Umbrella Plant Umbrella plants are named for their whorl-pattern leaves creating …

What Buyers Should Know About Bridge Loans

Like traditional mortgages, bridge loans are commonplace in real estate transactions. This form of short-term loan can help buyers in a variety of situations, including covering a down payment or using it as a second mortgage. Here is some important information to know about bridge loans: What is a bridge loan? A bridge loan is …

Tips for Navigating a Hot Housing Market

In real estate, a “hot market” refers to a market with lower inventory and higher demand. When the market is hot, there is more competition for property and this can make buying a home more difficult. If you’re trying to buy a home, here are some tips for how to navigate a hot market. Start …

How to Add Marble to Your Home Decor

Marble has always been a luxurious choice for interior finishes. However, while it remains an expensive choice, it’s much more accessible and easy to use in everyday homes than before. If you can splurge on marble finishes, the choice can increase the value of your home and create a sense of luxury in your life. …

Remodeling: Quick tidbits you don’t want to forget

Home improvement projects often fall into three categories: bathrooms, kitchens and enhancements for curb appeal. While each of these has its importance to increasing the resale value of your home, many basic elements and features are often overlooked, such as the information gathering phase. Here are a couple of quick reminders to jump into before …

What Affects the Housing Market? Understanding the Basics

Whether you’re buying or selling a house, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the housing market. However, that can be a lot more complicated than it seems. Many factors affect both your local and national housing markets, some of which can be hard to track and quantify. However, there are some basics you …

How Smart Home Technology Might Save You Time & Energy

Smart home technology has delighted many recently. Life can be hectic with so much to do daily. Adding in smart home devices helps you complete tasks efficiently and effectively. This article provides a great guide to smart home ideas to make your daily life easier. Use smart outlets Do you have older electronics? Adding smart …

How Much House Can You Really Afford?

Prospective buyers should consider their financial circumstances and types of mortgages to understand their ideal homebuying budget. Buying a new home is an exciting step in anyone’s life. Before you start looking at housing listings, however, you should know just how much house you can really afford. Proper financial planning and mortgage research can help …

Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Home

Your Debt-To-Income Ratio When determining what you can and cannot afford in a house, looking at your monthly and annual income compared to your overall expenses can help give you an idea of your financial ability to purchase a home. This is known as your debt-to-income ratio, and it’s the percentage of your pretax income that goes toward …

5 Easy-Care Plants for Your Entryway

Many houseplants are high maintenance, but luckily you don’t have to work hard to keep some of the most impressive looking plants. If you want to add plants to your entryway for decoration and a good first impression, there are excellent options that don’t require a green thumb. Here are some suggestions for impressive but …