That’s why we dedicated the entire week of May 13th to posting content geared at helping first time buyers. Our efforts at helping first time home buyers didn’t end with posting content to the Blue Matter blog, we took the conversation to Twitter and shared insights, opinions and questions via the #FirstHome hashtag.

Whether you’ve missed out on any of the content from First Time Home Buyer Week or simply want to revisit anything, here’s a laundry list of the 20 pieces of content we posted.

Monday, May 13th

We Believe in First Time Home Buyers

According the National Association of Realtors, nearly a third of real estate home buyers this year will be entering the housing market for the first time. As a first time buyer, you’ll soon find out that there’s so many roads that need to be navigated before moving into that first home.

Real Estate 101: What Does It Mean to Be Pre-Approved for a Mortgage?

You’ve heard the term before, but do you really know what it means? Don’t feel embarrassed,  I didn’t really understand what it meant or the importance of being pre-approved for a mortgage until I started the process of searching for my first home.

Confessions of a First-Time Homebuyer – The Leap

As with most change, it happens gradually over time as opposed to overnight. So I’m not quite sure when it happened, but I recently realized that I’m ready. I want to own my own home.

Here are the top 3 reasons why I feel like now is the time for me to buy a home:

Real Estate 101: What is a Mortgage? 

In this video, Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty explains the basic points of what a mortgage is.

Tuesday, May 14th

Real Estate 101: The Importance of Interest Rates 

Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty share why interest rates are so important in this latest video.

Confessions of a First-Time Homebuyer – Shopping Surprises

It has been a little over a month since my girlfriend and I took the leap and decided that NOW was the time for us to buy. With five plus years experience working for the Coldwell Banker brand and hours of HGTV television shows under our belts; we thought we’d be grizzled veterans who wouldn’t be surprised by anything. We were wrong.

8 Tips For Finding Your First Home

The following post comes from Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Inc. agent, Kim Knapp. Kim is an experienced agent in Northern Florida and has a great team who has worked with countless first-time home buyers.

Here are her 8 tips to help make finding that first home go as smoothly as possible:

Real Estate 101: Hiring a Real Estate Professional

So you want to hire a real estate professional? Are you just going to hire someone  your friend likes or should you dig a little deeper.

Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty talks about how you should approach trying to find the right person to work with on what is most likely the single greatest purchase of your life.

Wednesday, May 15th

Confessions of a First-Time Homebuyer: Home Inspection

…My girlfriend and I celebrated over dinner and remarked on how incredibly easy everything had been so far. It was true; the whole process had been pretty much conflict free and a walk in the park up until that point. Then we had the home inspection.

Real Estate 101: What Are Home Inspections?

In this video, Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty gives you the lowdown on what a home inspection exactly is and why you want to make sure you have a good partner to help

9 Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors:

Real Estate 101: Understanding Title and Escrow

In this video Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty gives you a simple explanation of what these two terms mean and why they are so important.

Thursday, May 16th

Tips for First Time Home Buyers from Coldwell Banker’s Global Network

With a global network of over 80,000 sales associates you can bet our network has an amazing wealth of knowledge regarding First Time Home Buyers. Here are just a few tips from members of our “Gen Blue” network.

This Ain’t Your Mama’s House! Modern Day Tips for A First Time Home Buyer

Jessica Edwards, a Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, provides real estate advice and tips for first time home buyers.

Adventures in First Time Home Buying (what to look for and what to avoid)

There’s nothing more exciting than researching homes on the internet, sifting through hundreds (maybe thousands) of photos of homes listed for sale until you narrow down the possibilities and compile your list of those you’d like to see in person. In most cases, a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

Property Taxes and Its Impact on How Much Home You Can Buy

Before my girlfriend and I took the “leap” and jumped right into searching for our first home to buy, I was impervious to the joys of property taxes and its huge impact on the amount of home you can buy. From my initial conversation with my mortgage advisor Stephen Kulisek, I learned that upward shifts in the purchase price of a home have minimal impacts on what my monthly payment would be versus seemingly small shifts up in property taxes.

Friday, May 17th

Real Estate 101: Making an Offer on a Home

Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty explains just what happens after that offers is made.

Real Estate 101: Explaining the Closing Process 

Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty gives you the lowdown on what to expect when it comes time to close on that first home.

Common Closing Costs for First Time Buyers

You’ll likely be responsible for a variety of fees and expenses that you and the seller will have to pay at the time of closing. Your lender must provide a good-faith estimate of all settlement costs. The title company or other entity conducting the closing will tell you the required amount for:

Real Estate 101: What is a Walk Through?

In the video above Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty talks about why you want to make sure you are focused when it comes time to do your walk through on your new home.

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Have an amazing Memorial Day Weekend!

If you are spending the holiday at home or just looking for some new recipes to serve at your home this summer, these are for you.

Drinks

Blackberry Prosecco Popsicles

Recipe Here

Patriotic Drink Station

Recipe Here

Summer Margarita (can be made without alcohol)

Recipe Here

Patriotic Punch

Recipe Here

Appetizers

Shrimp Skewers

Recipe Here

Red, White and Blue Bruschetta

Recipe Here

Grilled Eggplant Bites

Recipe Here

Individual Seven Layer Dip

Recipe Here

Entrees

Super Simple Sliders

Recipe Here

Haute Hot Dogs (10 ways)

Recipe Here

Grilled Flatbread

Recipe Here

Stuffed Peppers

Recipe Here

Desserts

S’mores Bar

Recipe Here

Berry Easy Cobbler

Recipe Here

American Flag Cake

Recipe Here

Individual Shortcakes

Recipe Here

According to reports, ‘Hef’ has no plans on moving out of the Playboy Mansion, but purchased the home for his wife Crystal Harris so she would “have a place to call her own.” While not as large and grandiose as their main residence, this 2011 new construction is certainly nothing to sneeze at. It’s nestled in the Hollywood Hills overlooking downtown Los Angeles and is a hop skip and a jump away from the hustle and bustle of the Sunset Strip.

The location of this ultra-modern home is perfect, but the interior is just as fantastic. The home features almost 6,000 square feet and boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms of minimalist chic construction and design. Crystal also gets a theater room, infinity-edge pool, outdoor entertaining terraces and floor to ceiling sliding glass floors to let in that bright California sunshine in.

Not too shabby for a second home!

As the French Open gets underway let’s take a stroll through the City of Light and dream about some amazing places to call home.

Magnifique – $14,757,950

Magnificent is almost an understatement when it comes to this property. Located in the most prestigious private residence of the capital and home to celebrities and businessmen. This haven offers a beautiful terrace and garden with open views and southwest exposure. An entrance gallery overlooking a living room and a dining room on the ground floor and a large fully equipped kitchen and dining area complemented by vintage metal porch. Currently listed by Jeremy Goldnadel of Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure.

Black & White - $7,686,967

This luxury space is fully renovated and decorated by a renowned interior designer. You will be charmed by the luxurious amenities of the property and inspired by the grand contemporary palaces. Currently listed by Hila Cherkoun Sharon with Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure.

Gardens of Ranelagh - $6,929,820

With views of the Gardens of Ranelagh, this exceptional apartment has ornate details and modern touches that make it an inspired living space. The master bedroom suite offers a bathroom and dressing room plus 3 bedrooms and an office. Currently listed by Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure Prestige.

A French Classic - $6,801,490

In a word…exceptional. With panoramic views of the Esplanade des Invalides and in a prestigious Haussmann building is an exceptional apartment of 2300 sqft. Featuring an entrance gallery, a double reception, a dining room, a master suite, 3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 1 shower room, a studio with kitchenette and 1 bedroom 180 sqft and a service room. Currently listed by Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure Prestige.

A Louvre Penthouse – $23,099,400

With panoramic views of the Louvre, this magnificent penthouse of 5000 sq. ft. located in a historical building built by a famous architect. This exceptional property offers incredible volumes and is perfect for entertaining. The penthouse also offers 2 master bedrooms, 2 separate bedrooms, a separate studio and 2 kitchens.Yes, 2 kitchens. Currently listed by Vanda Doncelle with Coldwell Banker PREVIEWS Demeure Prestige

However, for all the benefits building a home can bring, there are still other factors individuals should consider that may influence their decision.

Cost

Consumers who buy an existing home sign on to a mortgage, purchase property insurance and cover closing costs and fees. When it comes to building a house, there are additional costs consumers should weigh, such as the price of purchasing the property the house will sit on. In addition, there may also be contractor fees and the costs of zoning permits, the news source explains. There are other costs that new homeowners will take on, such as purchasing appliances, furniture and making upgrades. In cases where consumers are considering purchasing a home, they may save money on appliances that are being left behind, such as refrigerators or ovens, and making small upgrades themselves.

Individuals should weigh the pros and cons of different costs to make sure they are staying within their budgets and making the right financial decision for their circumstances.

Size

Many individuals opt to build homes when they want a particular number of bedrooms or bonus rooms. However, it’s important not to overlook existing homes that have spaces that can be converted, such as basements and attics, especially if they are more affordable. In addition, bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms can also be renovated for size.

Timing

Consumers who are going back and forth about buying an existing home or building a new one should also take time into account. The process to build a home may take longer than finding an existing home, so individuals should factor in their own timeline for moving. Consumers who are on a time crunch may also want to contact a real estate agent to look at homes in the area to see if any properties meet their needs. Buyers should also take the time it may take to renovate or make upgrades to an existing home into account. When on the fence about building or buying, exploring all available options can help consumers make more informed decisions.

Image via Flickr User Leyla. A

Selling your home is an arduous task and it’s hard to know where to get started. One of the first things you’ll want to tackle is making sure your home is staged and ready for those home shoppers. Any seasoned Coldwell Banker real estate professional can help you with this, but we understand sometimes you may want to get things prepped yourself.

The video above will give you some useful tips on how to stage your home for sale. The insights come from the experts at the Real Estate Staging Association who know how to get a home ready to sell.

Take a look at the video above and if you’ve sold your home before share any staging tips that you found useful in the comments.

What immediately strikes you about this dramatically beautiful home is its uncanny resemblance to the White House. No doubt, this $8.9 million home isn’t on Pennsylvania Avenue, but it’s every bit as luxurious and stunning as its D.C. counterpart.

The home features over 8,000 square feet of truly luxurious living space. From the retractable skylights to the meticulously manicured terrace and gardens, on over to the wine vault and museum-like u shaped gallery; you’d be hard pressed to ever want to leave this estate if you called it ‘home‘.

As per usual, my favorite part of this home would have to be the lower level theater with the projection screen and ultra comfortable seats. A close second would be the playroom located on the same level that could used as a home gym, arcade or basketball court!

Our newest ‘Home of the Week’ is so lovely that it sold within the week since we filmed this episode! We’re sure that plenty of memories will be made by whoever bought this beautiful home. Enjoy!

Tom Cruise is rumored to be selling his Greenwich Village townhouse in NYC.

KCM Blog has a really interesting infographic showing the economic impact of a home sale across the country.

Mortgage rates look to be trending upward.

Think owning a Frank Lloyd Wright home would be pretty great? The Wall Street Journal shares the pleasures and pitfalls of owning a home made by a legend.

This is pretty cool: Use an old bathtub to turn your backyard into a soothing oasis.

About.com has some tips on how to avoid home buyer’s remorse.

Here’s an interesting study on how age and personal finance affect your home preference.

Check out a map that show where home prices have increased since 2009.

And finally, if you missed out on our week’s worth of content dedicated to first time home buyers, click here to see our entire library of first time home buyer content.

Proof of the latter can be seen in the video above which comes to us from our friends over at NBC’s LXTV Open House who got a tour of the home Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian lived in during their recent stint in Miami while shooting their reality show.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate superstar agent team, The Jills,have the listing for the $14.5 million home that boasts 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and over 16,000 sq. ft. For me the best part of the home may be the setting it offers. Amazing views throughout and a spa-like outdoor pool/patio/lounge area.

Check out the video above and see what it’s like to live like a Kardashian.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Hollywood_PR

In the video above Diann Patton of Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty talks about why you want to make sure you are focused when it comes time to do your walk through on your new home.