1. Don’t Skip Self-Care Keeping your kids sane through a remodel starts with keeping yourself sane. Children pick up on your emotions. If you’re stressed, exhausted, and anxious, they’ll reflect those feelings right back at you. “When you’re in an airplane, they say put the oxygen mask on yourself first, then you can help the …
Keep Your Kids Happy and Yourself Sane During a Remodel: 5 Tips Read More »
A company called Property Transfer Services is sending letters to homeowners across the country encouraging them to get a copy of their property deed for only $83. Don’t bite at that offer. It’s a rip-off, and Property Transfer Services has a failing grade of “F” from the Delaware Better Business Bureau. You can get a …
Home prices rose strongly in the lion’s share of U.S. metro areas in the fourth quarter of 2013, data from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® shows. As homes became more expensive, however, they became less affordable, particularly for Western homebuyers. The national median existing single-family home price was $196,900 in the fourth quarter, up 10.1% …
Rising Home Prices Create Affordability Issues for Homebuyers Read More »
A raft of new mortgage lending rules going into effect this month change the way consumers borrow and pay back home loans. Designed to put behind us the irresponsible lending that disrupted the housing market and badly damaged the U.S. economy, the changes: Protect you from bad mortgage lenders. Set clear standards for what a …
How Much Tougher is It to Get Approved for a Mortgage? Read More »
Think it took a long time to close your last purchase or refi mortgage? How about more than seven hours? That’s what happened to a couple of folks I know in Texas, and theirs is just one of many stories I’ve heard about things, ranging from interest rates that rise to mysterious appearance of random …
Want to Complain About Your Lousy Mortgage Closing? Read More »
1. Expanding Living Space — Outside Florida’s called the Sunshine State for a reason, but what’s the point of all that vitamin D without a proper spot to enjoy it? When Jane Watkins purchased her Miami home 13 years ago, it offered a pool and plenty of yardage — but little outdoor living space. Watkins …
Lasting Love: 3 Ways Your Remodel Will Keep You Happy for Years to Come Read More »
They bought a new piece of PVC pipe to replace the cracked one. “We installed it, glued it, gave it 24 hours to cure. The next day we turned on the water and it busted at the seams. We had extra pipe and did it again, this time allowing it to cure for two days. …
This Common DIY Mistake Can End Up Costing You a Bundle. These 5 Tips Will Protect You Read More »
A DIY painting job doesn’t have to equal crooked lines, besmirched floors, and ceramic sinks speckled with robin’s egg blue. Use these simple painting tips and tricks from the pros to make the process faster and less messy — and ensure a gorgeous end result. 1. Soak Brushes in Fabric Softener to Keep Bristles Soft …
They’ll Think You Cheated and Hired a Pro If You Use These 5 Painting Hacks Read More »
Almost four out of 10 homeowners go over budget when doing a remodel, according to a 2014 report from home improvement site Houzz. Another stat that’ll make you think: Only one in five comes in under budget. Protect your bottom line with these five tips: 1. Reconsider DIY DIY is cheaper, right? Not necessarily, …
Low interest rates, an improving job market, and an increase in the number of new and existing homes for sale fueled a 3.3% increase in the number of homes under contract to sell in July, data from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® show. “Steady job additions to the economy are helping family finances and giving …
As a Homebuyer You Have More Choices in Many Markets Read More »
