Thinking about refinancing? Before you do, put some time and effort — and some money too — into sprucing up. For anyone selling a home, sprucing up is a no-brainer. Repairs, upgrades, painting and landscaping can raise the sales price. But homeowners who are staying put and refinancing often don’t… read more →
In recent years, officials in many of the nation’s most expensive housing markets have embraced “micro-apartments” as a way to provide less-expensive housing for young renters. They are betting that the tiny apartments — generally the size of a hotel room for about half the rent of a full-size apartment… read more →
A lot of attention has been paid to the fact that mortgage rates are expected to rise throughout 2014. As mortgage rates creep upward in this year, borrowers need remember that rates will still be historically low and nowhere near the interest rates consumers faced in the early 1980s. Four… read more →
Before the days of online real estate listings, you knew a home sale was pending because you’d see a big red sticker across the “for sale” sign on the front lawn. But for home buyers searching listings online, it’s common to discover the words “pending” or “sale pending” only after… read more →
So, you’ve got it bad for “the one” — you know, the one that keeps you awake at night fantasizing about the day when you can be together. Wait a second. We aren’t talking about that one — we’re referring to a different kind of love affair: a “home crush.”… read more →
For housing, it was a tale of two halves in 2013. During the first half, unusually low supplies of homes and low rates spurred bidding wars, pushing prices up sharply. During the second half, the frenzy cooled amid a sudden spike in interest rates. While more markets are now reporting… read more →
The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 4.23 percent this week, the lowest since November. U.S. mortgage rates for 30-year loans fell for a fifth week as stock market volatility and weaker-than-expected economic reports drove investors to the safety of the government bonds that guide borrowing costs. The… read more →
The steps we take now can pave the way to our Financial Future. Some good and some bad choices can sway us towards years of debt or a strong Retirement. We chose the top 4 categories that impact your short term and long term Financial future. We rated these choices… read more →
(VIRGINIA) – There has never been a better time to refinance your home. That’s because of a little-known government program called the Home Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP). This allows Americans to refinance their homes at shockingly low rates, and reduce their payments by as much as $4,905 a year. But here’s… read more →
With tightening credit markets, low savings rates and stagnant wages, many first-time homebuyers find themselves struggling to amass a down payment. The solution? Parents! Twenty-seven percent of first-time homebuyers received a down payment as a gift from “the good ol’ bank of mom and dad,” says Walter Molony, economics spokesperson for… read more →