Article originally posted on Travelers.com on March 2023
Water damage due to a plumbing problem in your home can be life-changing. But there are some common signs that homeowners can look for, and steps they can take, to help avoid a major water issue at home.

What Can Cause Common Plumbing Problems?
Manufacturing and design defects.
Installation errors.
Exposure to cleaning products (for example, by storing chemicals under the sink or by cleaning surfaces of plumbing components).

See the Signs and Know Where to Look

Under sinks and washtubs.
Inside access panels near showers, sinks or appliances.
Attachments to toilets, water heaters and appliances.
Basements and crawl spaces.

Next Steps
If you spot any of the above signs with your plumbing, consult a plumbing professional as soon as possible. If your water supply comes from a well, you may also want to get it tested. Water chemistry is often at fault for many common plumbing problems.
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Article originally posted on extraspace.com on March 2nd, 2023
Spring cleaning is an important way to maintain a healthy, happy home. It can help you breathe easier, reduce stress, and create a more welcoming environment for family and guests. Here are our top 10 favorite things from the spring cleaning survival guide.
Make a Plan
A spring cleaning schedule is an excellent way to maximize your time and ensure you don’t get overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Plan for what you can take on today, identify home chores for the week, designate projects for the month, and set overarching cleaning tasks and goals for the season. Creating a well-crafted plan will help you prioritize what surfaces need scrubbing, which rooms could benefit from decluttering, and where new home organization systems should be put into place.
Change Air Filters
Be sure the air in your home stays fresh by swapping out your furnace and air conditioning filters. While you’re at it, switck ...

Article originally posted on kiplinger.com on November 17th, 2022
If you’re planning a home update, addition or another project, make sure you and the contractor agree on some key terms, and put them in writing in a contract. Don’t just sign the contract your remodeler gives you without carefully reading and understanding each provision. Ask a knowledgeable friend or hire a lawyer to review it if you’re confused.

Scope of work 
 The heart of the contract is a description of what type of renovation work will be performed. The more detail, the better chance the homeowner has of getting the desired final product,
Time frame 
Look for a start date and end date for the project. It’s fine for those to be tied to a milestone, such as a permit being granted. For instance, the contractor promises to start work within 30 days of acquiring a permit. That said, work may be delayed for reasons outside the contractor’s control, such as a k ...

Article originally posted on fortune.com on January 19th, 2023
The number of homes in the United States valued at $1 million or more has steadily increased in recent years. A February 2022 report from Redfin showed that a record 8.2% of U.S. homes (or 6 million homes) were valued at $1 million or more. That figure was nearly double the number of homes with such a steep price tag prior to the pandemic. 
If you’re a homebuyer in the market for a property in that costly ballpark, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what your annual salary needs to be to comfortably afford the mortgage payment.
While many factors ultimately impact the answer to that question—including the amount of your down payment, as well as your debt levels and mortgage interest rate—here’s a general guide to how much you need to earn to purchase a $1 million home.
By Kammer’s estimate, the monthly payment for a $1 million home k ...

Article originally posted on housingwire.com on November 21st, 2022
The forecast for the housing market is expected to get gloomier next year before rebounding to 2022 levels in 2024. Fannie Mae‘s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group forecasts single-family home sales to post 5.67 million in 2022 before dropping to 4.42 million in 2023 and then climbing to 5.25 million in 2024.
The latest forecast also projects that total mortgage origination activity is slightly increased at $2.34 trillion in 2022. The mortgage market is projected to slip further, however, to $1.74 trillion in 2023 before climbing to $2.11 trillion the following year, according to the government-sponsored enterprise.
The full effects of rate increases on home sales have yet to be felt, Fannie Mae’s November commentary said. With rates at escalated levels, it is affecting home buyers facing affordability challenges. 
“From our perspective, the good news is that demok ...