8 Ideas for Sprucing Up a Rental

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / June 24, 2019 / Comments Off on 8 Ideas for Sprucing Up a Rental

Renting a place may not sound appealing to the individualist who really wants a unique home, but sometimes you have no choice while living the nomadic military lifestyle. Making permanent changes in a rental home or apartment is a definite no-go, and the last thing you want to be faced with during a surprise PCS […]

What We Wish You Knew Before Buying a Home

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / June 17, 2019 / Comments Off on What We Wish You Knew Before Buying a Home

Experienced real estate agents are accustomed to working with clients who have a wide range of knowledge, from first-time buyers just learning words like “mortgage” and “escrow” to multiple property investors exchanging homes as tax shelters. Those of us who primarily serve a military market are more likely to work with clients looking for their […]

Real Estate Jargon 101

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / June 10, 2019 / Comments Off on Real Estate Jargon 101

As a military family, you no doubt know your share of jargon. You’ve got the acronyms all nailed down and speak the language. (You probably even say things you don’t realize are military jargon until someone not in the military looks at you strangely—things like o-dark-thirty.) But real estate has its own language. Here’s a […]

How Much Should I Have in My Rainy Day Fund?

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / June 3, 2019 / Comments Off on How Much Should I Have in My Rainy Day Fund?

When you’re factoring in the expenses of home ownership, the cost of things like your mortgage, taxes, and insurance are calculated. And there’s a general sense of “I’ll need to plan to cover the cost of repairs and maintenance.” But how much do you need to have accessible (saved) to cover the expense of home […]

DIY: Outdoor Privacy

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / May 27, 2019 / Comments Off on DIY: Outdoor Privacy

You love your neighbors (hopefully). You love the feeling of community and togetherness. Chances are also high that you like privacy and boundaries as well. Most folks think of fences when they think of privacy. But fences can be a prohibitively expensive proposition, particularly if you’re not likely to be in your current home for […]

“Happy Memorial Day Weekend”?

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / May 24, 2019 / Comments Off on “Happy Memorial Day Weekend”?

It is a phrase that many of us have probably heard and even maybe uttered a time or two in our lives. It is late May and we are having lunch with a coworker or friend and as we head in our separate directions at the end of the meal we blurt out, “Have a […]

Neighborhood Fun

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / May 20, 2019 / Comments Off on Neighborhood Fun

Your neighbors are important because everyone wants to live in a nice neighborhood. Because we, despite living in a world that’s seemingly constantly connected, feel disconnected and long for the idyllic streets of our childhood (or the heartwarming movies we watch). Because we fantasize about our kids, fresh into yet another military move, bonding instantly […]

Home Ownership or Adventure?

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / May 13, 2019 / Comments Off on Home Ownership or Adventure?

Home ownership is the American dream for many military families. The idea of setting down roots, even temporary ones, can be incredibly appealing when you’re so often on the move. Also appealing is the idea of traveling the world—getting to decide where you want to go for a change, rather than being at the mercy […]

10 Tips for Spring-Cleaning Your House

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / May 6, 2019 / Comments Off on 10 Tips for Spring-Cleaning Your House

There’s something miraculous about spring. The skies are bright, the sun is shining, everything is new and fresh and beginning to blossom. It’s as though the earth has given us a do-over button, and it’s the perfect time to bring that feeling to your home with a good spring-cleaning. Most of us love the results […]

Let\’s get organized with \”Home Search Tracking Sheets\”!

By Melissa Diaz, Realtor® / April 29, 2019 / Comments Off on Let\’s get organized with \”Home Search Tracking Sheets\”!

Searching for the right home can be such a rush! You\’ve casually looked at homes online for months, stalked your favorites as they went under contract, and maybe even sold before you were ready. Now you\’re finally hopping in the car to get inside the properties that made the initial cut. You may be visiting a dozen […]