Ivania Portillo, Realtor

05/10/2026

Wishing all the great moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!

05/09/2026

Most homeowners know the nerve-grating sound of a chirping smoke alarm. Too often the chirp begins in the middle of the night. Here’s how to stop that annoying sound and get some sleep.

Nearly every homeowner has experienced the maddening intermittent chirping of a smoke alarm, too often in the middle of the night. Though it may seem the chirp is just there to annoy you, it’s actually designed to alert you that your smoke alarm needs attention. Here’s how to stop a chirping smo...

05/07/2026

You want to jump into the real estate investment business but need capital. Here’s a short tutorial on available sources of money.

The challenge to enter into investment real estate is raising the capital necessary to buy and renovate. Here’s how to finance your investment property.

05/05/2026

Wishing you a happy & festive Cinco de Mayo!

05/03/2026

Are you ready to negotiate the sale price of your home with a buyer? Use these strategies to get top dollar.

When you get an offer to buy your house, take a deep breath and set aside your emotions. It’s time to negotiate using solid numbers based on the real estate market’s current conditions in your area. Crunch the numbers. Ideally, you and your agent did a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA before l...

05/02/2026

If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your house or car, whose insurance is responsible? Check out our tutorial for the answer.

To paraphrase an ancient riddle, if a tree falls on your house or car, it definitely makes a sound. But whose insurance pays for the damage?

04/30/2026

FHA loans help many financially challenged buyers achieve the goal of homeownership. But to protect lenders and buyers, the agency has minimum standards for the property’s condition. Here’s what you need to know before you begin your home search.

The FHA accommodating lending standards help financially challenged Americans to achieve the dream of homeownership. What are these requirements?

04/28/2026

Ocean hues provide a sense of calm and tranquility. Would you consider these colors for your next bedroom update?

04/26/2026

If you think that repairs are likely going to be needed to your home, you may want to go ahead and have an inspection done before listing so that you can be proactive and minimize the punch list that's forthcoming. Here are some more good reasons to have this done.

In certain situations,the seller should be proactive and spring for a pre listing home inspection. When is this a good idea?

04/25/2026

While you’re checking your home’s insulation, inspect the caulking around the outside of your windows and doorframes. Energy loss in these areas could undermine your insulation upgrades.

If you live in a home built before 1980, you may be able to slash your energy costs by increasing your home’s insulation. Here’s what you need to know.

04/23/2026

Section 8 housing vouchers are designed to help low-income, disabled and elderly people afford decent housing. Here is how they work.

The federal government offers assistance to allow low-income families, disabled people and the elderly to rent homes through the Section 8 Housing program.