Home Equity

The largest single asset most people have continues to be a home of their own.

A recent survey found that the equity we have in our homes outweighs the value of our investment portfolios, on average, by a ratio of 3 to 1. With stock prices still volatile, many families remain focused on preserving and protecting the equity in their homes.

Therefore, home improvement and home maintenance have become extremely important to home sellers. Deferred maintenance definitely lowers a home’s value.

The three most common areas of deferred maintenance that affect a home’s selling price are:

* Water damage
* Pests
* Roofs needing repair or replacement

Refraining from deferring maintainance on these items will go a long way to helping you maintain your home's best value.