Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience. Refrigerator/freezer Energy-efficiency… read more →
The challenge of buying a home for the first time can seem so daunting that it’s tempting to either just go with the first house that falls in your price range or continue to rent. To help you demystify the process and get the most out of the purchase, we’ll… read more →
Mortgage rates in the U.S. fell, sending costs for 30-year loans to the lowest since early February as the Federal Reserve confirmed its commitment to provide support for the economic recovery. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.27 percent this week, down from 4.34 percent, according to… read more →
As the weather warms up and flowers begin to blossom, Americans with grassy yards will soon be thinking about mowing and lawn care. The National Gardening Association estimates that U.S. households spent roughly $29.5 billion on their lawns and gardens in 2013, an average of about $347 per household. Lawn… read more →
Here’s the dirty little secret about home renovations: Some of them may not pay off. Of course, the value of a renovation doesn’t depend on the resale price alone, which makes deciding whether to do one more complicated than just crunching numbers. For anyone trying to decide whether to take on… read more →
In a perfect world, landlords and tenants would work together like a well-oiled machine, both generously doing their part to keep each other happy and not disturb their neighbors’ “peaceful enjoyment of the premises,” as phrased in Mississippi’s landlord-tenant law. In fact, lots of tenant-landlord relationships fit this description, but we’ve… read more →
As a homeowner, the need for home repairs and restorations is ultimately inevitable. At some point, you will most likely turn to someone to make changes to your property. As a landlord or investor, referring a contractor puts your word on the line. Putting your trust into a complete stranger… read more →
Retirees need to budget carefully to stay within their fixed income. If the value of their investments sinks after retirement, seniors often have little choice but to spend less or return to the workforce. But there are plenty of ways to make a little of extra cash without having to… read more →
New-home construction has seen consistent growth in the past three years, and sales of new homes are expected to increase by about 16 percent, or 580,000 homes, in 2014, according to Kiplingers Economic Outlooks. And as more homes are built, new architecture trends will begin to appear — slowly. Building is not… read more →
Most renters sign a standard 12-month lease when renting an apartment, but there is another option available: the month-to-month lease. This type of lease certainly isn’t right for everyone, but given the right circumstances, it may be exactly what you need. Pros of a month-to-month lease Some renters prefer shorter-term… read more →