As the population gets older, a growing number of adult children are deciding to have an elderly parent move in with them. This allows family members of multiple generations to spend time together regularly, which has physical and mental health benefits for older adults. A multigenerational living arrangement also costs significantly less than assisted living or nursing home care. If you’re thinking about creating an in-law apartment for your parents, here are some tips on how to make it safe.

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Building equity in your house is one of the biggest financial advantages of homeownership. And right now, homeowners across the country are sitting on   record amounts   of it.

Here’s a look at how that equity could be a game changer for you, and why it’ll flip your perspective from “Why would I move right now?” to “Why wouldn’t I?”

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When you sell your house, ideally, you want it to go something like this: your house sells for top dollar, you get it sold quickly, and it all goes down without a hitch.

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In today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated tools for everything — including figuring out how much your house is worth. But be careful. The automated estimates you’re seeing online often miss key details that affect the true market value of your home.

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Many homeowners waste electricity due to misunderstandings or misinformation. If you’re making one or more of these mistakes, you might be able to significantly lower your utility bills with a few simple changes.

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One of the biggest questions on everyone’s minds right now is: when will mortgage rates come down? After several years of rising rates and a lot of bouncing around in 2024, we’re all eager for some relief.

While no one can project where rates will go with complete accuracy or the exact timing, experts offer some insight into what we might see going into next year. Here’s what the latest forecasts show.

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With the holidays right around the corner, homeowners planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait? Some may even consider taking their house off the market until next spring. But is that the best choice? Because at this time of year, your home can really stand out.

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Wonderful job to our agents Jane Horne, Vicki Millehan and Debbie Shelton for their rankings within the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network in the third quarter of 2024!

Jane Sullivan Horne ranked 2nd place in Virginia in the category of Agents Total GCI.

Vicki Millehan and Debbie Shelton ranked 1st place in Virginia in the category of Small Teams Total GCI.

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Did you know? Homeowners are often able to put more money down when they buy their next home. That’s because, once they sell, they can use the equity they have in their current house toward their next down payment. And it’s why as home equity reaches a new height, the median down payment has too.

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Hurricane-force winds and torrential rain can devastate entire cities. The Smith Mountain Lake area typically isn't in the direct path of hurricanes, but can still be at risk of damage by the outer bands of strong storms. You can make changes to protect your house. While it’s not possible to prevent hurricane damage altogether, you can significantly reduce the risk.

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