Liz Isham, Realtor

02/02/2026

The verdict is in! What were you hoping for? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/groundhog_day

01/31/2026

Are home warranties worth the money? Be sure to review the details noted here before purchasing.

Home warranties often provide peace of mind to wary home buyers, but are they worth the cost? Let’s look at how home warranties work and weigh the pros and cons. Home warranty basics. Home warranties provide for the repair of certain systems in a house in exchange for an annual fee of between $300...

01/30/2026

Your roof stands between you and the weather outside. How is it built and how do you keep it in good shape?

You buy a house to literally put “a roof over your head,” so having a trustworthy roof is vital. What are the key components to a roof and how do you keep it in good condition? Layer upon layer. From the ground, only the outermost layer of the roof is visible. That outer layer, made of shingles,...

01/28/2026

House hunting with children? A (mostly) stress-free guide to including the kids.

While house hunting with children isn’t the perfect scenario, sometimes it just can’t be avoided. Instead of letting the kids get the best of you, have a game plan in place that keeps them busy and keeps your sanity intact. Here are a few tips. Call in a favor or hire a sitter. During the hectic...

01/26/2026

Want your house to outshine the competition? Here are six tips for putting the finishing touches on your home.

It goes without saying that you want your home to shine when prospective buyers view your home. Yet you’d be surprised how many sellers skimp on this important step in the home-selling process. Here are six keys to unlocking maximum appeal. Clean house inside and out. Not only should the regular m...

01/24/2026

Retirement reality check: Should you preserve your nest egg or pay off your mortgage before you retire? Here are some considerations.

The Baby Boom generation is carrying more mortgage debt into retirement than any generation before it, bucking conventional wisdom that you shouldn’t enter retirement until you’re debt-free. Who’s right? What’s the best path for you? Here are several factors to consider. Losing a tax break. ...

01/23/2026

We think of our homes as safe havens, but houses can be dangerous places when it comes to kids. Here’s a comprehensive guide to keep kids safe.

If you have a new baby in the house, it’s time to start thinking about childproofing your home. Babies become mobile sooner than you think and it is up to you to keep them safe from household perils. Check online or at a home-improvement or baby supply store for a wide selection of latches, gates,...

01/21/2026

Your home is your castle, right? But only to a certain extent. Protect your property by learning key legal terms and how they impact your purchase.

When you buy a home you may expect that you have complete freedom to do what you want with the property, that’s likely not the case. You will probably discover an encumbrance, or limitation, legally imposed upon you regarding its use. In other words, an encumbrance is any claim or interest held by...

01/19/2026

In honor of the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/martin_luther_king,_jr._day

01/17/2026

Don’t take your home heat source for granted. Here are the basics of how these important systems work.

Nothing beats a warm evening at home when the winter wind is howling. You might not give your heater a second thought…until it stops working. Here’s a quick tutorial on how they operate so you can stay warm this winter. Types of heaters. The main difference among most heaters is the fuel source....

01/16/2026

Friend or foe? What does the HOA mean to you as a homeowner?

Homeowners associations provoke strong emotions. Depending on who you ask, they are viewed as either the neighborhood’s protector of home values or, in some cases, a small group of residents who take community rule enforcement to the extreme. What is an HOA and why do they exist? Simply put, an HO...

01/14/2026

The mortgage approval process is stressful enough without inadvertently setting off an alarm with the lender. Here are the dos and don’ts of the approval process.

The mortgage approval process is rigorous. Since the housing bubble burst in 2008, federal regulators have ratcheted up their standards. Here’s a list of the do’s and don’ts to be approved. Do this. Brace yourself to comply with the documentation process, which is extensive. Always be truthful...