Cheryl Bourland's blog

As homes become more and more tightly sealed in the quest for better energy efficiency, there is also a growing need for better ventilation systems. Older homes allow more outside air to circulate through the house, increasing the load on the HVAC system but keeping air relatively "fresh" (of course, this depends entirely on the outside air quality); in contrast, newer homes have vastly improved their energy efficiency by sealing exterior air leaks at the cost of recirculating "stale" air. Luckily, there are already good solutions available to homeowners to help solve these ventilation issues.

One of the best things about owning your own home is the ability to change the interior in any way you want. Do you love pink carpet and wood paneling? Go for it! (Well, maybe don't go that far.) However, if selling your home is anywhere in the foreseeable future, then you should put some effort into keeping your interior design relatively conventional. While most current design choices won't make or break a sale, there are some common trends that can seriously turn off buyers.

Mortgage rates fell once again this week, making this their sixth straight week of decline and their lowest point since September 2017. This is good news for prospective home buyers, as the drop in rates has generated a corresponding increase in home affordability across the country. It also means that millions of current home owners stand to save thousands of dollars by refinancing their mortgages!