Brian Ripp's Blog

Eight West Coast cities are among the top 10 sellers’ markets in the country, led by San Jose, Calif., San Francisco and Las Vegas, according to Zillow. In sellers’ markets, homes tend to sell close to the asking price and listings spend less time on the market. At the other end of the spectrum, ...

A growing number of homeownersare focusing on using their home space more efficiently and personalizing it to suit their lifestyle, according to a survey by Better Home & Gardens.  More than one-third of homeowners (38%) surveyed say they are spending more time planning design changes for their h...

The stigma attached to buying a foreclosure seems to be fading. According to a new survey released by Realtor.com, nearly two-thirds of homebuyers (64.9 percent) say they are likely to buy a foreclosure compared to 25.3 percent who said the same in October 2009. A majority of buyers (92.1 percent...

In sometimes-complicated relationships between residents and their condo or homeowner associations, neighborly love can go only so far.  When it comes to association decorum, the more you know about the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions), the better.  It’s the homeowner’s job to reinf...

If you are considering buying or selling a home, you may think you will “save some money” and do it yourself.  But did you know that by using a knowledgeable real estate professional, you are more likely to save not only money, but also valuable time and energy?  With the many tasks you are curre...

Simple and affordable do-it-yourself projects can greatly increase a home’s resale value, according to HomeGains annual home improvement and staging survey.  The marketing company surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals to discover which DIYhome improvement projects five sellers the biggest...

A mantle can be the place where you highlight treasured family photos; it can also be a show-stopping focal point for your room.  Whether you like minimalistic design or prefer to be surrounded with your favorite objects, here are some ideas to help you decorate your mantle: * Go Bold.  If you te...

There may be some good news on the jobs front, which could give the housing market a boost.  Some employersplan to add new jobs in 2012, but many are waiting to see how the enconomy fares before ramping up their hiring plans, according to CareerBuilder’s annual job forecast.  Nearly onin four emp...

Fixed-rate loans accounted for more than 95% of all refinance loans in the 4th, regardless of whether the original loan was an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or a fixed-rate, according to a report by Freddie Mac.  Nearly two-thirds of borrowers who had a hybrid ARM (58%) chose a fixed-rate loan d...

Can’t afford a full kitchen makeover?  Sprucing up the cabinetry is an easy fix for a fraction of the cost. There are two options:  replacing or refacing.  Refacing includes covering the existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts with wood or plastic veneer and replacing knobs and door hinges; repl...