Amy Black - Elevations Real Estate

06/22/2026

There are plenty of trustworthy contractors who do great work but you should always look out for potential red flags:
1. Reluctance to provide references or financial information
2. Pressure to make an immediate decision
3. Unusually low bids compared to other contractors
4. Lack of proper licensing or insurance
5. Unwillingness to obtain necessary permits

06/18/2026

06/15/2026

Continuing my post from last week, here are aways to reduce your mortgage rate when buying a home:
1. Use seller concessions
2. Do a temporary mortgage rate buy down
3. Use an adjustable-rate mortgage
4. Use HomeReady or Home Possible loans
5. Get multiple mortgage rate quotes

06/12/2026

* Interest rates are higher but there are still ways to lower your mortgage rate when buying a home.
* Please keep in mind some of the tips may work better for some than
others depending on each individual’s situations.
* Visit the LINK BELOW to read up more
1. Use a first-time homebuyer mortgage program
2. Shorten your closing date into 15-day increments
3. Pay for mortgage discount points
4. Raise your credit score by 20 points
5. Increase your downpayment to the next 5%

Lower mortgage rates by improving credit scores, buying discount points, comparing lenders, using first-time buyer programs, or choosing shorter loan terms.

06/03/2026

* The timeline for purchasing a home is impacted by a number of different factors but Redfin has outlined the process and estimated turn around for each step.
* Looking to buy?
* 💬 Contact me!
1. Research: 1-14 days
2. Find an agent: 1-7 days
3. Get preapproved: 1 week or less
4. Begin touring homes: a few days to a few months

05/20/2026

* On the topic of home sizes, there are pros to a smaller home.
* Generally a tiny house is less than 1,000 square feet, an average home is around 2,5000 square feet and a large home is 4,000 square feet or bigger.
* Is a small home the right fit for you? Consider this 👇
1. Easier to maintain
2. Lower cost for less square footage
3. Lower tax assessment
4. Lower utility bills

05/18/2026

* Continuing on the topic of home size here are some facts to help you decide
how big of a home you need.
* As a reminder, your budget should always be the first consideration and will heavily influence these factors.
1. How many bedrooms do I need? It’s best to have a bedroom for each family member with an additional room for guests. However, if you have a big family this may not be an option.
2. How many bathrooms do I need? On average, a home with 3 bedrooms should have 2 bathrooms.
3. Do I need a primary bedroom and bath? This tends to be more expensive but your home will have higher resale value if you plan to sell in the future.
4. How large does my kitchen need to be? On average a kitchen accounts for up to 15% of a home’s overall square footage but the age of the home can affect this.