Homes make strange noises. They’re built of many different materials — glass, concrete, wood — that expand and contract at different rates. But still, the most noise your house should make is a popping sound, like your knuckles cracking, and only once in a while .If your home is making… read more →
Everyone dreams of calling a house their home. Nothing can make you feel more secure than becoming a homeowner, unless buying will create financial problems of its own. Make sure you do the research associated with making this life changing transition. Here are a few points to consider as you weigh… read more →
With home prices rising, big real estate investors have discovered another source of cheap property: bad mortgages. American Homes 4 Rent, the second-largest single-family landlord after Blackstone Group, are stepping up acquisitions of nonperforming loans, or NPLs, to expand their holdings of homes to operate as rental properties. Hedge funds,… read more →
Rent, heat, electricity, student loans and groceries—living expenses can add up quickly. While some of these expenses can’t be avoided (you do, after all, need a place to live), others are unnecessarily causing you to go over your monthly budget. Whether it’s figuring out effective ways to reduce your bills or… read more →
Are ants in your house driving you buggy? Wait! Don’t step on that ant! Stomping on every ant you see in your kitchen won’t solve your insect problem. And that ant scurrying across your floor might be the key to wiping out an entire ant colony. Check out these 10 expert tips… read more →
You might think you’ve stashed away enough money for retirement, but planning for the costs of your post-work years is no simple task. Many workers find themselves confronting hidden costs after they leave the workforce. The worst part? Those hidden costs have a habit of rising over the years. Pre-retirees… read more →
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead by an hour before bedtime of Saturday March 8, 2014. Daylight saving time begins at 2am on Sunday March 9, 2014. Losing that hour of sleep signals that spring is right around the corner and you need to be awake to ready your… read more →
Eager buyers shopping for homes in today’s modestly recovered housing markets might be disappointed to discover not many homes are available for sale. This shortage of inventory means homebuyers in some areas have but few — if any — for-sale homes to choose from. Home Prices Helping Rising home prices… read more →
It’s true that Federal Housing Administration mortgage loans are more expensive in 2014. But as mortgage rates and premiums rise, it’s also true that FHA borrowers have an advantage over those with conventional mortgages: FHA loans are assumable, which means that when it comes time to sell, buyers can take… read more →
U.S. mortgage rates for 30-year loans climbed for a third week, increasing borrowing costs as harsh weather contributes to slowing demand for homes. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.37 percent this week, up from 4.33 percent, Freddie Mac said on Thursday. The average 15-year rate rose… read more →