Blog - Melissa Grillo

Real Estate Info, Renting

Rent vs. Own?

Renting vs Owning – Which is Right for You? If you’re thinking about moving this year, you may wonder if renting or owning is the best choice? While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to the matter, there are certain questions you should ask yourself to decide. Do you Have Long-Term Plans? When you buy […]
Home Buying, Home Ownership, Real Estate Info, Renting

Rent vs. Own – Why Own?

Why Rent When you can Own a Home? If you’re tired of renting, you aren’t alone. According to the NerdWallet Homebuyer Report, 84 percent of Americans say buying a home is a priority. An impressive 100 million Americans are ready or feel good about it too. If you’re still on the fence, wondering if you […]
Home Ownership, Real Estate Info

Updating Your Holiday Decor

Home Decorating Tips for the Holidays 2021 There’s something magical about decorating for the holidays. This year we could all use a little magic in our lives! If you’re looking for the hottest (and cheapest) ways to get the most out of your holiday decorating this year, read on. Decorate the Front Porch With […]
Home Ownership, Real Estate Info

Sprucing Up Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank

Easy Kitchen Updates on a Budget If there’s one area of your home that you can see the largest return on your investment, it’s the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home and the first area most buyers look at when considering buying a home. Not all home renovations increase your home’s value or […]

Real Estate Info Rent vs. Own? Renting vs Owning – Which is Right for You? If you’re thinking about moving this year, you may wonder if renting or owning is the best choice? While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to the matter, there are certain questions you should ask yourself to decide. Do you Have Long-Term Plans? When you buy […]

Home Buying Rent vs. Own – Why Own? Why Rent When you can Own a Home? If you’re tired of renting, you aren’t alone. According to the NerdWallet Homebuyer Report, 84 percent of Americans say buying a home is a priority. An impressive 100 million Americans are ready or feel good about it too. If you’re still on the fence, wondering if you […]

Home Ownership Updating Your Holiday Decor Home Decorating Tips for the Holidays 2021 There’s something magical about decorating for the holidays. This year we could all use a little magic in our lives! If you’re looking for the hottest (and cheapest) ways to get the most out of your holiday decorating this year, read on. Decorate the Front Porch With […]

Home Ownership Sprucing Up Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank Easy Kitchen Updates on a Budget If there’s one area of your home that you can see the largest return on your investment, it’s the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home and the first area most buyers look at when considering buying a home. Not all home renovations increase your home’s value or […]

Home Ownership What Updates Are the Best? Top 5 Improvements that Increase Home Value Did you know that not every home improvement gives you a dollar-for-dollar return or even a ‘good’ return on your investment? Knowing which home improvements matter and will give you a good return on your investment is important, especially if you’re thinking about selling your home soon. […]

Home Selling Why Didn’t My House Sell? \ The #1 Reason Homes Don’t Sell (and How to Fix It) You heard it’s a seller’s market right now so you couldn’t wait to sell your home. Except it’s sitting and you don’t know why. You have plenty of people walk through it or inquire about it, but you aren’t receiving bids. What’s the […]

Home Selling Selling Luxury Real Estate Tips for Selling a Luxury Home – What is the Fastest way to Sell an Expensive House? Selling a luxury home creates a unique situation. You don’t have the same large target audience you’d have selling an ‘average home.’ You must tailor your marketing strategies to attract the right buyer while knowing how to […]

Home Selling Flipping 101 How to Flip Houses for Beginners – Everything you Need to Know Flipping houses can make you money, and even be fun. It may not be as fun or easy as you see them on reality TV shows, but there is certainly money to be made if you can do it right. If you’re […]

Investors Investing 101 How to Invest in Real Estate – Here’s What you Need to Know Diversifying your portfolio with a real estate investment can be a great way to solidify your retirement income or create monthly cash flow. There’s no better time than today to invest in real estate, especially with the low mortgage rates available. […]

Luxury Real Estate Is Your Home a Luxury Property? What Makes a Home High-End? High-end or luxury homes are in a category all by themselves when you’re looking for a home. Most have incredible views, eccentric features, and are so large that it’s hard to picture your family living in something so grand. But today, luxury homes or high-end homes are often misconstrued. […]

Investors An Investor Rule to Know! What is the 70% Rule when Flipping Houses? If you’re thinking about flipping houses, you have to know how to bid on a property. Pay too much for a home and you’ll leave yourself with little to no profits when you sell. If you bid too low, though, you could lose the property. So […]

Home Buying Buyers and Sellers Shouldn’t Meet, But Why? Why do Realtors not Want Buyers and Sellers to Meet? If you’ve ever used a real estate agent to buy or sell a home, you’ve likely noticed that the sellers usually aren’t around when buyers walk through the home. Buyers rarely (if ever) talk to the seller either. Everything goes through the real estate […]

Home Buying What Buyers Need to Know Before Getting Started… How to Prepare to Buy Your First Home? Buying your first home is exciting and overwhelming all at once. Before you get in over your head, use these simple tips to best prepare you for one of the largest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Save for a Down Payment The earlier you can […]

Home Ownership Home Renovation: Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck! Which Home Renovations Generate the Highest ROI? Did you know that not all home renovations affect your home’s value? In other words, your ROI could be next to nothing on some renovations. Even if you do see a return on your investment, it’s sometimes less than half of what you paid. Was it […]

Home Selling How to Get a Higher Appraisal My Tips for a Higher Home Appraisal The home appraisal determines how much you’ll get for your home. You could ask for any price you want, but if your buyers need financing, it all depends on the appraised value. While you can’t control the market value (how much other homes sell for), you can […]

Home Buying Calculating Debt to Income How to Calculate your Debt-to-Income Ratio If you’re in the market to buy a house, your mortgage lender will look at a couple of main factors to determine if you qualify. Most people know they check your credit score and credit history, but they aren’t aware of the debt-to-income ratio and how it works. What […]