A pile of paperwork thuds onto the table at the closing of any home sale or refinance. One of the key documents is the HUD-1, a government-mandated settlement statement that dissects the costs of the deal. It also assures borrowers that they are receiving the loan upon which they agreed. Here’s a… read more →
Find some family fun this last weekend of summer. The Washington, DC area has some great outdoor events going on this Labor Day Weekend. Here are some suggestions: Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival August 31-Sept. 2, 2013. The Kennedy Center hosts more than 25 local theater companies in… read more →
More money-flush homebuyers are plunking down cash for their properties, and they’re reaping a bevy of benefits that come with cutting lenders out of the buying equation. Sure, mortgage rates are low and enticing, but they can trigger red-tape migraines. At the closing table, more buyers are paying in green –… read more →
A professional home inspector will go from room to room testing the heating, air-conditioning, plumbing, electrical, appliances and smoke detectors. He or she will also evaluate the structure, roof, interior and exterior of the home. What the home inspector finds to be positive and negative about the home will greatly… read more →
Living alone? You trendsetter, you. The Census says 33 million of us live solo. That’s a quarter of American households, according to the National Association of Realtors. The popularization of the solo life — in 1970, one-person households comprised just 17% of all households — is a historic change in human… read more →
Sometimes a walk through your garden can instill a sense of calm. Picking dead floers from plants, rearranging pots, repositioning a small seating area offer ways to putter in your garden and revamp its style. Here are 5 ideas to de clutter your garden space and create a more inviting… read more →
A home is one of the most valuable assets most people will ever own. Unfortunately, some major perils can befall a house and put a serious dent in the value of that asset. Many of these perils are much more insidious than a fire or natural disaster. Read on to… read more →
As summer comes to a close, many children have mixed opinions about going back to school. Some look forward to seeing friends thay have not seen since June, others dread the beginning of being loaded down with homework. Its a mixed bag of emotions and all children take it with… read more →
For many couples, it makes sense to buy a home before tying the knot. It’s a decision more couples are now making. A recent survey found that 1 in 4 married couples between the ages of 18 and 34 purchased a first home together before marriage. The trend follows the increase in… read more →
You might think buying or selling on your own will save money, but it could be more costly in the long run. The proliferation of services that help homebuyers and sellers complete their own real-estate transactions is relatively recent, and it may have you wondering whether using a real-estate agent… read more →