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House hunting is about more than finding the right home at the right price. You can find the perfect house … but if it’s not in the right area of town to match yours and your family’s lifestyle and needs, you won’t be happy there in the long run. 

Here are our tips for narrowing down neighborhoods:

1. Think Ahead

How far are you willing to commute? If you don’t have children now, do you plan on having them in the future? How important is it to you to be able to walk places? How long do you plan on being in this home? If you’d like to be in your future home for an extended period of time, it’s important that you consider what you want your life to look like a few years down the road. A longer commute may seem ok now, but will you feel the same…

Children thrive on routine. Most parents will tell you that even small changes can be a major hiccup for a little one’s schedule. With this in mind, the prospect of moving—whether its just to a new home or a new city entirely—can be really daunting. Here are a few tips to make this process easier:

1. Discuss the move with the kids

The most important part in making kids comfortable with the idea of moving is by talking about it. Call a family meeting and give them as much information about the move as soon as possible. Explain to the kids the reasoning behind it and how excited you are about the changes. Although the response from them may be negative, be receptive to their feelings and try to explain to them the positive aspects of the move.…

There are a lot of common misconceptions surrounding real estate agents and real estate in general. Let us set the record straight by debunking these 7 common real estate myths: 

Myth #1 — Agents get incentives to recommend lenders/title companies/inspectors.

This is definitely untrue—against the law, actually—thanks to the 1974 instatement of RESPA: the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. This law prevents any type of kickbacks or favors to real estate agents from vendors which means that any recommendation from an agent is typically based on his/her experience with that particular individual. By recommending them, the agent is only trying to make sure you have an efficient process. 

Myth #2 — Real estate agents try to upsell you to make…

If you’ve noticed the ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard next door has finally gone and been replaced with a moving truck, it’s about time to introduce yourself to your new neighbors! 

Beyond creating important community ties, a friendly watchful neighbor can be an amazing person to have in your corner. If you are leaving an empty home behind to go on vacation, it’s great to know someone has your back if they see a strange car in your drive. 

Foster a great neighbor to neighbor relationship from the get go by introducing yourself—and come bearing gifts! 

Here are our top six favorite housewarming gifts:

1. Baked Goods

A basket of cookies, a cake or a loaf of freshly baked bread is a great way to let a new neighbor know they are…

You have your closing date scheduled, and it’s almost time to sell your place or get the keys to your new home! Here’s a few things to expect as you’re making your way to the closing table:

Be Adaptable

Even though the date has been scheduled, there are often delays that are out of yours or your Realtor’s control. With your paperwork filtering through the hands of the lender, the underwriters and/or the closing attorney, there are many opportunities for hiccups along the way. Although this can be inconvenient with scheduling your move, be sure to have a back-up plan of a place to stay and know the cancellation policy of your moving company in the event that there’s a slight delay in your closing day.

What to Bring

Your title company,…

Most home buyers don’t realize that one of the best tools for staying organized while finding the perfect home is right in their back pocket—their smartphone. Here are five of our favorite apps for the home search process and beyond: 

AroundMe

Platform: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

You found a house that has good potential…but is it within walking distance to places you need? The AroundMe app quickly identifies where you are to show you a complete list of nearby businesses and attractions, including the distance from your current location. Search for the nearest grocery store, restaurant bank/ATM, bar, coffee shop, gas station, hospital, hotel, movie theater, restaurant, etc. and view every listing on a map.

Keller-Williams Realty Home Search…

For the first time in nearly a decade, America’s interest rates have seen an increase. 

The rate hike is a small one—with the Federal Reserve raising rates on December 17, 2015 from a range of 0% to 0.25% to a range of 0.25% to 0.5%—but will have an impact on many new home buyers. 

Although the increase isn’t a welcomed change for investors and home buyers, it’s a good indicator of the economy healing and becoming stronger since the Great Recession. Thankfully the unemployment rate is now at 5%, as opposed to 10% in 2009 during the worst of the job crisis. Now that more than 12 million jobs have been added since the recession and wages are finally beginning to creep upward, the economy is looking much better than it has the last few years. 

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Live in a piece of local history at the Old Graysville Grist Mill! This beautiful Ringgold, Georgia property is a perfect option for a residence, restaurant, bed and breakfast, or retail space. 

Originally built in 1849, the mill was burned during the Civil War and then rebuilt. It continued to operate as a grist mill until the 1950s until it was rebuilt and served as a residence from 1987-1993. 

Located on 24.8 acres, this historic property is accessible via a private suspension bridge with a half mile of scenic frontage on the Chickamauga Creek, as well as a railroad track. Enjoy spectacular views of your own 8-foot waterfall! Enjoy endless possibilities that include rooftop dining, lazy river, canoe, fishing, paddle boarding and at this…

Rock Spring, Georgia’s newest up-and-coming family home neighborhood, Station Pointe, is now under construction. 

“The Station Pointe neighborhood is located in scenic Rock Spring within just a short drive of downtown Chattanooga and all that the city has to offer,” says Realtor Nathan Torgerson. “The neighborhood features 41 lots with six homes currently being built. The homes all offer spacious yards, a front porch and deck, and some have ponds for an additional outdoor feature.”

Homes, with a range of approximately 1,500 to 2,300 square feet, are all located on large lots and are built with the modern family’s needs in mind. Three homes will be completed by the end of October, and all of the homes will feature incredible amenities such as…

There are very few things more stressful than moving. It’s no small task to gather up years of life in one home to start fresh in another. But moving doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. With a bit of organization and pre-planning, you can make your next move go without a hitch! 

Here are our top 7 tips for a stress-free move. Also be sure to download our checklist to see step by step what should be done in the months, weeks and days leading up to your move: Ultimate Moving Checklist PDF. 

1. Start collecting supplies sooner rather than later

You should start packing as soon as your moving date is inked on the calendar. But you can’t very well do that if you don’t have the supplies you need. There is nothing more annoying than being…