As you undertake the search for your new home, you will envision your lifestyle in the various homes you’ll tour. Are you a person who thrives on hosting guests, throwing parties, or being the destination for your family during the holidays? If so, you must craft a checklist for the must-have features in your ideal entertaining house.

A home that is ideal for entertaining is comfortable, spacious, and has ample areas for both sitting and standing to mingle. Let’s take a look at key elements of design, décor, and scale that will help you find your perfect new home.

A Sweet Guest Suite

Whether it’s meant to host family members or party-goers who unexpectedly find themselves in need of a place to crash, your guest suite is a key element to

Our bodies are composed of 55% to 60% water, so it’s no surprise that homeowners are interested in ways to upgrade their home water quality. From chlorine and heavy metals to unpleasant smells and flavors, there are a number of excellent reasons to first test your water, then take steps to refine your municipal water supply. Read on for a breakdown of the why, the how, and the results you should achieve with various methods.

Is Your Water Safe?

As residents ourselves, we’re pleased to report that the water reaching you throughout Middle Tennessee has been carefully filtered, treated, and tested before it is sent out into your community.

But there’s a catch: water utility companies are not responsible for nor required to ensure that the

Outdoor lighting is truly a multifunctional upgrade for your home. The right lighting will make your home more aesthetically pleasing, safer, and will enhance your home’s existing security measures. To learn more about the best ways to improve your home by adding outdoor lighting, read on.

Outdoor Lighting: Getting Started

Everything you’ve learned about creating appealing indoor lighting systems will translate to your outdoor lighting efforts. A variety of lights emanating from multiple points will result in the ideal diffuse effect.

In every outside space, your goal will be to avoid glare. Lighting should point down, away from the viewers’ eyes. If your home sits up higher than the street, visitors heading up to your home will have a

Getting mortgage pre-approval is one of the first steps toward buying your dream home. Pre-approval boosts the likelihood that the seller will accept your offer and gives you a detailed quote for your homebuying budget. 

But homebuyers often hesitate because they think that pre-approval hurts their credit score. Will it? 

The truth is that it will temporarily lower your score, as is true whenever a creditor pulls your credit report. But the benefits of getting pre-approved outshine the slight dip in your score.

Does a Pre-approval Impact My Credit Score?

A pre-approval usually requires a hard credit inquiry, although a soft inquiry is all that is needed for a pre-qualification. A hard inquiry can lower a borrower's FICO score by about

Follow these tips and expert insight to help you get your budget in order and get yourself ready to buy your first home.

1.) Organize Your Finances

You may know how much you have in your bank accounts, but do you know how much you spend on household expenses and luxuries each month? Or which credit card has the highest interest or balance? 

Getting a good handle on your money starts with a clear idea of where your money is going. This info will also help you determine what you can afford and your homebuying timeline. Start by breaking down your finances into the following categories:

• Start with creating a basic budget for items like housing, groceries, and gas.
• Account for an emergency saving --In case of an accident or other

Baby, it’s cold outside! For many of us, it’s a habit to abandon our outdoor space during the winter months. But, with the right setup, you can enjoy your back yard all year round! Once your yard has been made winter-ready, invite your friends and family to gather ‘round and enjoy cozy days and evenings outdoors with you. You’ll no doubt find that your house becomes a popular winter retreat for those you love.

Set up a Free-Standing Heater

If you’ve ever experienced the warmth and comfort a free-standing heater brings to an outdoor dining table at a restaurant, you already know why we’re recommending one for your place. Most outdoor heaters are powered by propane. They are available in a range of prices and sizes, so you’re sure to find the

If summer is all about updating and expanding our outdoor living spaces, winter is surely the time for heading indoors and reveling in our home’s interior comforts. Winter conjures up images of curling up on the couch in front of a roaring fire with family, sipping hot cocoa and cider, lighting scented candles, and decking every hall with boughs of holly.

When you step back and take a look, does it feel as if your home is lacking a certain something? Not to worry—we’re here to help you have the coziest winter season yet! Today we’re sharing our top ten recommendations for fun and luxurious winter home must-haves!

KitchenAid Electric Kettle
$79.99 - $99.99 from Amazon

Perfect for tea, pour-over coffee, and filling hot water bottles, this

If you are facing a financial or health-related problem or simply going through a new phase in life, you may be thinking about sharing a home with close family or extended family members.

Many people have decided that living in a multigenerational home answers their problems. The number of American adults who have lived in a multigenerational home has more than doubled compared to forty years ago.

It’s no surprise that more and more families are choosing this setup for practical reasons. 

The question is, will this work for you and your family? Let’s dig deeper into how this works and look at tips on making a multigenerational home work for you.

How do you define a multigenerational home?

According to the Pew Research Center, a

Since the start of the millennium, few real estate trends have gained and retained as much popularity as the open floor plan. Though they range from expansive great rooms paired with traditional bedroom configurations to fully open, sun-drenched loft apartments, it’s a fact that no other type of configuration has been in such high demand.

If you’re preparing to look for your first home, or upgrade the home you have, you are no doubt mulling over the pros and cons of open concept living—and you’re correct that such designs aren’t for everyone.

Let’s take a closer look at some important factors to consider before you make such a huge decision.

The Pros

1.) Freedom to Socialize

Open floor plans are perfect for entertaining and spending

If you plan on buying a new house, you should thoroughly research the property that meets your needs. But you shouldn’t only be diligent about the house-hunting part during your research. You would also like to know more about the neighborhood you’re about to relocate to.

If you’re confused about what you should look for in a community, here are ten things to consider in looking for your ideal neighborhood.

1.) Neighborhood Safety

Safety and security should be your top priorities when moving to a new location. Do your homework to research specific crimes in the area. You can also visit the local police department and ask questions about which part of the neighborhood has a higher crime rate.

2.) Parks & Recreation

If you have kids,