When you apply for a mortgage, your personal information becomes part of the public record. This means that you may start receiving unsolicited calls, emails, texts, and mailings from mortgage lenders and insurance companies offering you credit and insurance options. While it's understandable that these offers may seem convenient at first glance, they can quickly become overwhelming and intrusive.

The good news is, you have the power to take control of your privacy and opt out of these prescree...

Buying your first home can have significant tax implications, both in terms of tax deductions and tax credits. Here are a few ways that buying your first home can affect your taxes:

Mortgage interest deduction: You may be able to deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage from your taxable income. This can significantly reduce your tax bill, particularly in the early years of your mortgage when you are paying a lot of interest. Property tax deduction: You can also deduct the property taxes...

When getting ready to buy a home, especially for the first time, there are many questions that come along with it. One of these questions usually is, “where do I start?” Because we like to make things as smooth as possible at Lewith & Freeman, here is our home buying checklist to help get you started on your journey!

1. Make sure your finances are in order It is important that you understand what your lending institution expects from you before and during the home buying process. You will have...

Home maintenance is key to help keep your property clean, safe and in its best condition. And as each season in Northeastern Pennsylvania brings us different weather conditions, we want our homes to be well-prepared to face the impending seasonal changes without any damage or destruction. As we get ready for fall and continue into winter, and to help homeowners from falling behind, we’ve accumulated the most important interior and exterior tasks to check off your Fall home maintenance list!

▢ C...

“Be Prepared to Move Quickly” is the best advice a serious buyer can receive in this challenging real estate market.  The current market is extremely competitive because there are so many more buyers than there are sellers offering homes available for purchase.  So, yes, it is important to be fully pre-approved for mortgage loan financing and securing a pre-approval letter should be the first step of the buying process.  In fact, in today’s market, we find that many sellers expect submission of...

For most people, a home is their largest financial investment so securing top dollar in a sale is crucial. Even though it may seem simple, selling a home is a complex process that requires a significant amount of experience, expertise, time, and effort. In support of this claim, a recent NAR report shows that the percentage of people who list their homes on their own (For Sale by Owner or “FSBO”) has reached its lowest point in almost 40 years. This is due, in large part, to the reality that it...

Focusing on the curb appeal of your home provides many benefits. It makes you a better neighbor and provides a welcome sight for your arrival at the end of the day. The beautification process also ensures that you will gain more enjoyment from your home’s outdoor space and adds to your overall property value. Being strategic with curb appeal improvements can even detract criminals and save energy.

When you’re ready to improve your home’s outdoor surroundings, remember to engage the experts at y...