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 →
If you’re a recent college grad, you’ve likely heard speeches about pursuing your passions and believing in yourself, but you probably haven’t heard much about establishing a good credit history. Here’s what you need to know. Qualifying for mortgages, auto loans, apartments and even jobs has become dependent, to some… read more →
Law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD’s Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. HUD offers a substantial incentive in the form of a discount of 50% from the list price of the home. In… read more →
Should you trade in your rental digs for a slice of that American Dream? Well is so than: “Go east, young person!” Yes, that’s right. Our data scientists crunched a lot of numbers to come up with the places where you can get the most bang for your buying buck, and… read more →
A reverse mortgage is a loan for senior homeowners that uses the home’s equity as collateral. The loan generally does not have to be repaid until the last surviving homeowner permanently moves out of the property or passes away. At that time, the estate has approximately 6 months to repay… 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 →
“Foreclosure” is a frightening word for a number of reasons. Topping the list? If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you’ll lose your home. However, the misery doesn’t end there. Foreclosure ripples out and affects your credit score, which can hurt your chances of qualifying for a new loan—or another home—in the… read more →
Normally when you buy a house, you don’t want a home with any outstanding liens against it (that’s also why you pay for a title company). But what happens to those houses with outstanding taxes? You can buy those, too. Or you can just buy the lien and profit from that.… read more →
Timing really is everything when it comes to home sales. Getting your asking price, and even attracting multiple buyers, can simply be a factor of the time of year when the home is sold. Spring and Summer Spring brings rain and flowers—and possibly extra green in the final sales price… read more →
Few people look forward to tax season, and when you’re a new homeowner, filing can be even more daunting. Suddenly, you have new forms to fill out and more potential for making a mistake. But taxes aren’t all bad; homeowners get more tax benefits than renters. And if you can avoid… read more →