Even though the supply of houses has yet to catch up with the demand as we wished it would. Home prices have remained affordable to many of the buyer's delight. This is all thanks to two positive trends we all are enjoying this year.

These two factors have helped keep housing affordable despite low supply of houses for sale driving up prices. First American's Chief Economist, Mark Fleming, explains the impact,

"Ongoing supply shortages remain the main driver of the performance gap as the housing market continues to face an inventory impasse - you can't buy what's not for sale.

However, an unexpected affordability surge, driven primarily by lower-than-anticipated mortgage rates, rising wages and favorable demographics, has boosted housing demand."

Mortgage interest rates had been on the rise for most of 2018 before reaching their peak in November at 4.94%. According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates last week came in at 4.20%.

Average ...

Replacing your mattress can be exhausting. Navigating the stores and websites, debating between foam and springs, and determining how much to spend can leave you feeling like you need a good nap.

Here are the factors you should consider when you’re shopping for a perfect night's sleep.


Mattress construction: The most popular mattress types are inner spring mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and adjustable air mattresses. Each has pros and cons when it comes to durability and comfort customization.


?Firmness: Mattress firmness plays a huge role in the quality of your sleep. Mattresses that are too firm or too soft can cause aches and pains, so it's recommended that you test a mattress for 10-to 15 minutes in store before making a purchase.


Sleeping position: Your mattress should match your sleeping style (side, back, face-down, etc.). You want a mattress that keeps your spine in proper alignment. For example, some mattresses are better for side sleepers, w ...

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but after you’ve completed the purchase and moved in, you're responsible for maintenance. In other words, you no longer have a landlord to fix that running toilet or a leaky faucet.

Luckily, you don't need an arsenal of tools to handle most home maintenance fixes. These five tools will cover most of your basic projects. ? 


Cordless drill. A cordless drill is a must-have for installing cabinets, drawer pulls, hinges, picture frames, shelves and hooks, and more. Whether it's for do-it-yourself projects or repairs, you'll use your cordless drill just about every month.


Drain cleaners. Shower and bathroom sink drains are susceptible to clogs because of the daily buildup of hair and whisker clippings. You can use chemical clog removers like Drano, but they're expensive and the lingering chemical scent is unpleasant. Instead, buy some plastic drain cleaners that can reach into the drain to pull out the clog of hair and gunk ...

Pets are family - do you have a plan for your pet in an emergency? Including pets in emergency plans helps your family's ability to respond to an emergency. Be prepared: make a plan and prepare a disaster kit for your pet.

Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there's no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It'll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. ...

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to upsize to a larger home. A bigger family, an increase in income, the need for a home workspace or perhaps a change of lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there a number of questions to consider before you decide upsizing is the next step for you.

Remodeling and adding to your home is one option for creating more space, but it can be costly, and the size of your property may be prohibitive. That's when moving to a bigger home becomes the best solution. ?

WHERE DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?
The first thought when upsizing your home is to simply consider square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms. But it's important to take a more critical approach to how your space will actually be used. If you have younger children (or possibly more on the way), then focusing on bedrooms and bathrooms makes sense. But if your children are closer to heading off to college or starting their own families, it may be better to prioritize group spaces l ...