My HOME Page at Red 1 Realty

05/29/2026

If you’re planning to buy, small mortgage rate differences can add up fast, so it helps to know what lenders are looking for.

Mortgage rates can make a big difference in what your monthly payment looks like, so this is a useful read before you start house hunting. Bankrate walks through practical steps like improving your credit, lowering debt, saving more upfront, and comparing offers from multiple lenders. It’s a good ...

05/28/2026

Experts encourage homebuyers to understand the various types of incentives, when and why they're offered, and how to make the most of these deals before buying a new-construction home.

Builder incentives are promotions offered by developers that, much like a coupon, cut the cost of purchasing property in that community. Incentives are increasingly common today to entice cash-strapped buyers to make an offer, yet these discounts aren't always as simple as a straight price cut.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

If you’ve been tracking affordability in Ohio, this shows how differently home values are moving from one city to another.

Home prices are still climbing quickly in several Ohio cities, even as the broader housing market feels calmer than it did during the pandemic rush. The article highlights how local demand, inventory levels, and affordability continue to shape prices differently from one community to the next. For b...

05/26/2026

Adaptive reuse can preserve a familiar local building while also helping meet the need for more places to live.

As school enrollment falls in some communities, older buildings are being reimagined as apartments instead of sitting empty. It’s a practical example of adaptive reuse: keeping a familiar local structure while giving it a new purpose that fits today’s housing needs. These projects can be complic...

05/25/2026

Buyers in Ohio are seeing a market that’s more balanced than the ultra-competitive conditions people got used to a few years ago.

Ohio’s spring housing market is giving buyers a little more flexibility than they’ve had in recent years, with inventory improving in many areas and competition easing compared with the peak pandemic market. At the same time, affordability is still front and center for a lot of households, espec...

05/24/2026

Renovations almost always take longer and cost more than expected, so it's worth building in a little extra room in both your budget and your timeline.

Renovating can be exciting, but the projects that go most smoothly usually start with a realistic budget and a clear plan. This Houzz article walks through some of the biggest lessons homeowners learn along the way, from choosing the right contractor to preparing for unexpected costs. If you're thin...

05/23/2026

Nothing dates a space quite like a trend. While they may shine in the moment, their shelf life is notoriously short—and when embraced a little too eagerly, they can become a homeowner’s biggest regret (their ultimate design “ick,” if you will).

After years of trying to appease Instagram with the Kim K-inspired, barely-there aesthetic—think stark white walls, minimal art, and harsh restraint—the pendulum is finally swinging in the opposite direction. In design is entering a course correction. Warmth, lived-in character, and personal exp...

05/22/2026

Retirees also explore side hustles like house sitting and renting unused space, and overseas options such as Greece’s low-tax Golden Visa.

Average mortgage rates for second homes stand at about 7.03%, roughly 0.25% to 0.50% higher than primary residences. Still, retirees in high-demand areas are renting properties to cover mortgages, HOA dues, and management fees, sometimes generating extra profit. Experts stress treating the venture l...

05/21/2026

Design is moving back toward rooms that feel lived-in, layered, and connected to the outdoors instead of cold or overly polished.

All-white interiors had a long run, but home design is starting to feel warmer again across Canada and the U.S. Think natural wood, stone, textured fabrics, layered lighting, and colors that make a room feel comfortable instead of staged. This is especially easy to see in mountain, cottage, and reso...

05/19/2026

This May specifically, could be a smart time to get started, as the product has unique advantages in today's economic environment. Below, we'll detail three advantages worth knowing now.

News in late April that the Federal Reserve was keeping interest rates on hold once again, and not proceeding with a rate cut that would benefit millions, wasn't unexpected. But it was still a disappointing development for many, especially seniors and older adults who have been contending with eleva...