Friday, March 13, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
Let's talk about LVP. Luxury vinyl plank is everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It has become the default choice for homeowners and flippers alike. I even have it in my own house.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With LVP
It is practical. It is waterproof. You can put it in every single room, including bathrooms and kitchens, without spending a second worrying about water damage.
My mother in law has those high end hand scraped wood floors. She literally follows us around with a towel if we drip a single drop of water. My floors? I do not care. Spill away. The peace of mind is worth the investment alone.
Built for the Chaos of Real Life
If you have kids or pets, you already know that traditional wood floors get destroyed. Scratches. Dings. Water stains. Even engineered wood cannot handle the daily chaos of a busy household.
I actually got a quote once to sand and restain our old wood floors. The price was $4 a square foot. When you realize that is basically the same cost as installing b ...
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Thursday, March 12, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
Want to boost your home's value before selling? Skip the expensive renovations. Forget the gut-job kitchen or the massive bathroom remodel that takes six months to finish. Instead, focus on curb appeal.
The exterior of your house is the very first thing a buyer sees. Before they even step through the front door, they have already decided how much they think your home is worth. If the outside looks neglected, they’ll subconsciously assume the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are neglected too.
Here are the cheap upgrades that give you massive ROI:
Re-stain Your Fence
Huge ROI. A weathered, graying fence makes the whole property look tired. A fresh stain makes the entire exterior feel updated and well-maintained. It is way cheaper than replacing pickets or hiring a crew for a full tear-out. Buyers notice. Trust me.
Add a Tall Gate With an Arched Entryway
If your fence faces the street, this makes a big impression. This is a secret weapon for homeowners because it ...
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
The Homeowners Who Have Been Stuck for Years
There is a group of homeowners who have felt stuck for years.
And in 2026, many of them are finally going to move.
To understand why, we have to go back to what happened during the pandemic housing boom.
In 2020 and 2021, millions of homeowners across the country refinanced their mortgages into historically low interest rates around 3 percent. For many people, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to lock in an extremely low monthly mortgage payment.
And they took it.
At the time, it felt like a financial win. But over the past few years, it has created a new challenge in the housing market.
The “Locked In” Mortgage Effect
Many homeowners who refinanced into a 3 percent mortgage rate now feel stuck in their current home.
Their needs have changed. Their family has grown. They may have started working from home and need a dedicated office. Some want a bigger yard or access to a better school district. Others may have c ...
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Monday, March 9, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
Mortgage Rates Are Finally Moving
Mortgage rates just dropped below 6 percent, and the impact on the housing market is immediate.
My lender friends’ phones will not stop ringing.
Mortgage applications have more than tripled. No, that is not a typo.
People who have been sitting on the sidelines for months are suddenly starting to think, “Maybe I can actually buy a home right now.”
When mortgage interest rates drop, it changes the entire conversation around buying a house. Buyers who felt priced out a few months ago are taking another look at the market. People who paused their home search are jumping back in. And lenders are seeing a major increase in mortgage pre approval requests because buyers want to understand what these lower rates mean for their buying power.
What Lower Mortgage Rates Mean for DFW Home Buyers
If you are thinking about buying a home in the DFW area, here is what you need to know.
First, you do not actually know your home buying budget unt. ...
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Thursday, March 5, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
You're selling your house.You've got $10K to spend on upgrades.
So the question becomes simple. Do you put it into the kitchen or the bathroom?
At first glance, most people immediately say kitchen. Kitchens sell houses. Buyers walk in and picture their life there. Morning coffee at the island. Dinner with friends. Natural light coming through the window above the sink. It is one of the most emotional rooms in the home.
And they are not wrong.
A kitchen remodel typically brings a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
That is a strong return. In many cases you can get your investment back and sometimes even a little more.
But here is where it gets interesting.
Bathroom remodels also bring a return of about 100 to 110 percent.
Same range. Same return.
So if the ROI is the same, what is the difference?
Cost.
Bathrooms are usually much less expensive to update than kitchens. That means you can invest less money and still see the same percentage return when the home sells.
When y ...
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