Diedra Hopkins - Realtor

05/13/2026

Should you prime before painting? Ask yourself these questions before you ever pick up a brush or roller.

One of the biggest and most common do-it-yourself projects is painting. Especially for new homeowners, it’s only natural to paint over a room (or four). But, before you head to the paint store, ask yourself a key question: Should I prime the walls before painting? The answer? Maybe. Because primin...

05/11/2026

Just because rates are low, doesn’t mean it’s time to refinance. Know the facts about refinancing your mortgage.

Are you in the market to refinance your home? Before signing any paperwork, it’s best to do your homework. Work the numbers. The top reason for refinancing is to obtain a lower interest rate. Depending on the terms, this could save you several hundred dollars a month. Those savings add up. However...

05/10/2026

Who is credited with creating the Mother’s Day holiday?

Mother’s Day began in 1908 when West Virginia’s Anna Jarvis memorialized her mother, who had cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day to be a national holiday on the second Sunday of May. Today in the United Sta...

05/09/2026

From the basement to the attic, here’s a top to bottom look at choices in stairways.

In large multi-story houses, more than one staircase may exist. Attic stairs are common and some houses may even have an outside staircase for renters or a back set of steps as an entry to upstairs playrooms. Let’s go exploring up one staircase and down another. A showcase. The main (or only) stai...

05/08/2026

There’s no rush when buying a home near water. Family safety, potential flooding and maintenance are key issues to explore.

If you’re in the market for a house with a pond, you’ve got a lot of homework to do before making an offer to purchase. Government regulations, potential flooding, safety issues and added costs are among the concerns that need to be addressed by a prospective buyer. Safety first. Living near a p...

05/06/2026

Buyers love the security of a home warranty. But are they really worthwhile or just a sales gimmick?

As a new homeowner, you may have received a home warranty from the builder or previous owners. It’s a nice perk, yes. But don’t get the false impression your warranty will cover everything that goes wrong in your new home. You might be surprised at what is covered -- and what may not be covered....

05/05/2026

Today, we honor the spirit of resilience and triumph, just like the brave souls who stood tall on the fifth of May. Whether you're searching for your dream casa or listing a property that feels like home, let's raise a toast to the journey ahead!

05/04/2026

How can you save money on big-ticket home purchases? Hint: Look for the blue “Energy Star” label on products.

We’ve all seen the blue Energy Star logos on appliances, windows and even electronics, but what do they mean? Origins and purpose. The Energy Star program was launched in 1992 as a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Star encourages develo...

05/02/2026

To wire or not to wire your new home theater system. Here’s an overview of the pluses and minuses.

While the latest in home theater systems features wireless technology, plenty of audiophiles still want to wire their homes for sound and video, enjoying the pure fidelity delivered over home-designed networks. Listen up for the pros and cons on wireless versus wired technology. Know your number. Of...

05/01/2026

Be sure to study up on all that real estate jargon. Come tax time, it’s important for new homeowners to know.

When buying your first house, the terms and conditions of the mortgage process can be confusing. Here’s a primer on two such terms: points and the origination fee. Origination fee. This is the cost that the mortgage company charges you for borrowing money. When you take out a mortgage, it is a new...

04/29/2026

We have a deal...sort of. Here's how to understand the complexities of contingencies.

When selling a home, an offer to purchase is certainly welcome news, but it may be wise to hold off on any celebrations -- especially if the offer has a contingency clause. What exactly does that mean? A contingency clause or addendum spells out what conditions must be met for the sales contract to....