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 →
The competition for rental homes is heating up. That increase in demand is driving up rents in some markets. Consider these eye-opening statistics: 25% of renters spend more than half of their income on rent and utilities, according to a recent study. Another quarter of renters spend between 30% and… read more →
If your tenants don’t own pets, they’re in the minority. That’s the finding of a new survey, in which a full 75% of renters said they owned one or more pets. That’s up a staggering 32% since last year. Most of these pets are cats and dogs, with fish trailing… read more →
A real estate owned (REO) home is one that is owned by a lending institution as a result of forfeiture or failure to make mortgage payments. REO homes are popular with investors and home buyers looking for a deal. When a homeowner defaults on a mortgage loan, the property ends up at… read more →
Love is blind but mortgage companies surely are not. This fact of life is one many newlyweds encounter when hunting for their first home and discover their cumulative credit is far from lovable. So what happens to their “American Dream” when one spouse’s credit is terrific but the other’s isn’t?… read more →
Finding an affordable and comfortable apartment can be an incredibly time-consuming process. Add a large dog to the mix, and it’s next to impossible. That’s what Jan Even, owner of a 90-pound Rottweiler mix, experienced during her Bay Area apartment search. She was planning to rent in San Francisco or… read more →
Being a landlord can be tough. On top of juggling taxes and investing your time and money into getting your place rented, you also have to keep your tenants happy. Before you rent out your place, you should know what your responsibilities are. The Basics Landlords are required to offer… read more →
We get it. Refinancing can seem stressful—who wants to crunch numbers and talk with lenders when you already have your home? But there’s something more stressful than refinancing: leaving free money on the table. Rates are at historic lows, and many experts believe the only direction they can go is up in… read more →
To transform your garden into an Edenic land of bounty, think of swapping your pretty-but-useless ornamental plants for edible ones. Instead of ornamental hedges around the sides, use apple or citrus trees. You can train them to grow against a wall by tying them to a frame—this is called espalier.… read more →
It turns out, finding a pet-friendly rental is a hassle for just about everyone these days—no matter who you are. Pet resumes might be the next big trend in renting. And even if a potential landlord doesn’t ask for one for your canine, you might want to have one ready. Four-Legged Networking… read more →