Touring homes is both fun and stressful. If it's your first time touring a house, especially as a first-time homebuyer, it's easy to get into the excitement and miss out on important details. Being prepared before hand by knowing what you want and what to look out for can be super helpful. If possible, tour the home in-person. You'll be able to get the best feel for the home and how it meshes with you and your needs/wants. 
More than likely, you'll be touring several homes in one day. Make sure to take notes and photos to be able to remember your thoughts and details about each home. Open and close doors, flip light switches, and don't forget to look at the exterior of the home. Minor cosmetic details, like paint colors or hardware finishes, are nothing to fret about too much. Those are things that you can change. However, there are red flags to look out for. Your agent, though, should be able to point out any potential problems and answer any of your questions during the tour. ...

Summer vacation season is here! So many of us are planning our vacations, the fun beach trips, and getting away for a while. But vacations also mean being away from the house. That means more risk for the security of your home. During the summer, burglaries do happen more often given that people are not in their homes for extended periods of time. There are things that you can do to protect your home, though!

1. Lock All Windows and Doors Before You Leave
It seems simple enough. You may even be thinking, "who wouldn't do that??" But it's never a bad idea to double and triple check that your windows and doors are properly shut and locked. These will be the first areas that a burglar will try to access. A few weeks before your planned vacation, test your locks. That way, you'll have time to hire a locksmith to replace any locks that need it.
2. Install a Home Security System
Home security systems greatly reduce the chance that a home will be burglarized. Many systems nowadays . ...