As new home designs have become bigger and more elaborate in recent years, so too have the expectations of homeowners regarding what goes into these houses. It seems as though the idea of the “smart home” has been around for decades, with people envisioning robotic servants and appliances that respond to homeowner demands included as
Why Every Buyer Needs a House Inspection
October 23, 2015 by
Most but not every home buyer requires a home inspection but every one of them should. Buyers of new homes and buyers that receive a warranty are the most likely to skip the house inspection. Every purchase offer should be made with a house inspection contingency clause. Every house has some problems, be those major
Five tricks for upping the value of an older home
August 26, 2015 by
Before placing your home up for sale you may want to make some simple repairs and changes. Not only can this help it sell faster, but can also increase the value, giving you more money.
Foreclosures and FICO Scores Where Do You Stand
July 31, 2015 by
It’s past the time that want-to-be home buyers understand the real relationship between a previous foreclosure and the current impact on credit scores. Much of the impact on today’s credit score has little or nothing to do with a foreclosure happening three to six years ago. Known as boomerang buyers, according to the National Association
New Way to Help Protect U.S. Homeowners
June 30, 2015 by
CUNA Mutual Group (founded in 1935) recently launched a new mortgage payment protection product for credit unions and their members. This new product covers mortgage payments in the event of a borrower’s death, disability, or involuntary unemployment. Credit unions that offer it are leveraging a comprehensive insurance and training program that protects members’ home mortgages.
The highest, and the lowest, property tax rates in the U.S.
March 11, 2015 by
Home owners who have owned five to 15 years had the highest effective property tax rates while those who have owned more than 20 years had the lowest, according to the U.S. Property Tax Rates Report for 2014, conducted by RealtyTrac.
91% of Renters Still Dream of Home Ownership
December 10, 2014 by
Though renters say they dream of owning a home one day, most of them will need to keep renting for at least the next three years, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by Freddie Mac
More Retirees Fail To Pay Off Their Mortgages
November 6, 2014 by
A new Census Bureau report shows an alarming rate of older households carrying home debt well into retirement, and the amount of debt they’re carrying has risen over recent years.
Why Won’t More Renters Become Homeowners?
September 10, 2014 by
Many households, particularly among younger professionals, are choosing to rent longer, despite surging rental costs. What is driving the sluggish transition from renting to home ownership?
Survey: Most Buyers Underestimate Impact of PMI
June 11, 2014 by
Sixty-five percent of home owners with private mortgage insurance (PMI) say that the additional cost has prompted them to pay a higher monthly mortgage payment than they had originally expected
