Financing

There’s a lot that goes into selling and buying a new home. First-time buyers and even serial homebuyers are often overwhelmed by how long the process takes. Real estate agents play a key role in making the experience easier for clients, but let’s face it: not all approaches are created equal. Here in part four of our Inside the Homeowner’s Journey blog series, we discuss how agents can deliver even more value to their clients throughout the process of selling and buying their new home.

A mortgage is a loan you take out on a piece of land or real estate when you don’t have all the cash-on hand to buy, improve or maintain it on your own. A bank or other financial institution will lend you the money under the condition that you repay the loaned amount by a set number of years and also pay interest on the borrowed amount during that time. Since buying a home is most people’s largest purchase, a mortgage is likely to be your biggest debt but also a "good debt". Homeownership is seen as a sign of financial stability, even if you're a co-borrower. Being able to maintain a mortgage payment shows lenders and creditors that you are fiscally responsible. According to Zillow research, 78% of buyers used a mortgage to purchase a home and more than half (58%) of them used the mortgage to finance between 81% and 97% of the sale price — meaning borrowers put down less than 20% on the home.

A farmhouse sink. LED lighting. A pot filler. You might think these relatively low-cost home upgrades wouldn’t add much value, but our research shows that these and other home upgrades with modest price tags could pay for themselves — or even generate big returns — when you sell your home. An analysis of more than 271 features in the listing descriptions of 1.98 million homes sold in 2022 found that some home improvements are associated with higher than expected sales prices.* The features analyzed won’t guarantee that your home will sell for more if you include them in a for-sale listing. But the following upgrades — gleaned from those listings — offers a good starting point for moderately priced home renovation ideas that could add value to your home while making life a little sweeter.

Painting is an affordable upgrade that doesn’t take a significant time investment and produces dramatic results. We’re confident that this weekend DIY will instantly make your space feel fresh, clean and reflective of your individual style.

Whether you're an agent, broker, or property manager, staying ahead of the curve is crucial to succeed. This article will delve into ten effective ways for real estate professionals to excel in the current market, encompassing timely strategies and best practices.

Today, households remain a top contributor to emitting greenhouse gases. Studies link 20% of greenhouse gas emissions to household consumption. As a homeowner, you can contribute to a healthier world by switching to an energy-efficient home. People design energy-efficient homes to reduce energy consumption. You can achieve this by using energy-efficient appliances, improving insulation, and more. Are you wondering how all these are beneficial? Home energy efficiency is one of the biggest home trends this year. Still not convinced? Read on to learn how you can benefit from an energy-efficient home!

Whether you're selling next year or in the next ten years, there are a few upgrades that will always be worthwhile. We're here to talk about them. Read on to learn a few of our favorite home renovation ideas that add value to your home.

You don't have to pay a huge amount to switch to an energy-efficient home. You can take baby steps. This checklist will help you live greener.

Surely everybody knows by now that 2020-2022 was all about white, blue, green, and rustic wood. But, as the saying goes, those are so last year! What are the home trends for 2023? Luckily for you, we've put together this handy list of what's hot with interior designers today—and what will be worth investing in over the next few years! So don't delay: get ahead of the curve on these top home decor trends before they become passé.

Experts say that selling a home might be challenging in the coming year. If you plan on selling sometime in the near future, you need to make your home as appealing as possible. How will you increase your home's value to attract buyers?

If you want to take your business to the next level, it's important to start thinking about building a network of ambassadors. Your network is an extension of you and will help elevate your business in several ways, allowing you access to new leads and additional marketing strategies. Additionally, a strong network can provide valuable support and advice when you need it most. The Ivy platform has the solutions you need to develop a solid ambassador marketing strategy.

We all know that feeling of coming home after a long day and realizing you’re just not satisfied with the space. Sometimes, we need help to bring our dreams of a perfect home to life. This is why Ivy has taken it upon themselves to revolutionize the home industry by bringing together some of the best specialists under one roof. No more searching endlessly for different pieces of advice from different professionals - let Ivy do all the work for you!