October 26, 2018
Rates for home loans ticked up, and may be starting to take a toll on buyer demand, according to data out this week. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.86% in the Oct. 25 week, up one basis point, mortgage finance provider Freddie Mac said Thursday. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.29%, up from 4.26%. The 5-year […]
October 24, 2018
On the surface, being a landlord seems pretty simple. You find a tenant and wait for the first of every month for rent checks to pour in. At the end of the lease you repeat the process and start all over again. Anyone who owns rental property knows this isn’t exactly how things work. There are always […]
October 22, 2018
“When are you going to grow up and buy a home?” “You know you’re throwing money away on rent, right?” “You’re not an adult until you buy a home.” Those are just a handful of the phrases I hear on a regular basis. I’m a 33-year-old renter. Many people take this to mean that […]
October 19, 2018
Finding deals is one thing, funding them is another. There are a handful of ways you can fund your next purchase. While all the exotic stated income and 100% loan products are long gone, there are other options available. Some require some upfront capital, but most of them require nothing more than a plan in place […]
October 17, 2018
Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images If you’re house hunting, you’re probably getting snowed with advice from well-meaning friends and family members on which neighborhoods are hot, how so-and-so is selling a place you have to see … and plenty more. That’s all fine if you have an insatiable appetite for info, but what if you’re a bit more discerning about […]
October 15, 2018
It’s that time of year again: Amazon Prime Day! Prime Day is great for scoring deals on just about anything you could need at home, from a hairdryer to a new couch. But, it’s not for the faint of heart. Prime Day only happens once a year on Amazon.com, and the deals sell out fast. […]
October 12, 2018
Mold and mildew can cause problems in the bathroom. The culprit is excess moisture so it is important to be able to direct moist air out of the room quickly. An open window is often an efficient way to circulate air in the bathroom. If there is no window or if a bathroom has a […]
October 10, 2018
Lackluster listings abound — learn to cut through the clutter and spot the keepers. Whether you’re looking for an apartment, single-family house or townhome — and whether you’re in a city, the suburbs or a small town — be prepared to spend a lot of time online and even more time driving around to tour the […]
October 8, 2018
Everyone in business makes mistakes. When you are self-employed your mistakes tend to sting a little bit more. Instead of explaining yourself to a boss, there is nobody to blame but yourself. Under the right circumstances a mistake can be used a learning experience. However, if you continue to make the same mistake again eventually […]
October 5, 2018
Don’t let the mold panic set in just yet — it might not be as bad as you think. Mold is everywhere. It grows on the sides of houses, it blackens surfaces like brick and concrete, and it thrives in the soil of your yard and garden. Indoors, mold lives in sink drains, shower grout, […]