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 […]
Paying $83 for Your Home Deed is $80 Too Much Read More »
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 »
“You adapt to the smells around you,” says Dr. Richard Doty, the director of the Smell and Taste Center at the University of Pennsylvania. On a sensory level, your processing mechanism becomes less sensitive to the continuous stimuli. Or, on a cognitive level, you can become habituated to the smells and basically learn to ignore
How Solar Water Heaters Work Solar water heaters operate in one of two ways: either as a direct system or as an indirect system. A direct system warms water by circulating it via pipes through rooftop solar collectors. An indirect system, also known as a closed-loop system, relies on a non-freezing heat transfer liquid. The
Tax Credits for Solar Water Heaters 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 »
This is why we tracked down a domestic guru to help us with this article. No matter how hard it is to find dirt hideaways on your own, a little expert advice can make it alllll OK. Jan M. Dougherty, author of “The Lost Art of House Cleaning: A Clean House Is a Happy Home,”
7 Spots You Keep Missing When You Clean That Everyone But You Notices Read More »
