You will often hear real estate professionals, personal finance gurus, and know-it-all relatives talking about how home renovation choices can affect your resale value. And while I don’t think that these experts are necessarily wrong, they often only tell half of the story. Homeowners should embark on home improvement projects because they want to live […]
It’s a deceptively simple question: do you want to own your home in 15 years or 30? We all know the pros and cons of each term — the shorter mortgage term has higher monthly payments, but you build equity more quickly and pay less over the life of the mortgage, whereas the 30 year […]
Mortgage rates are near historic lows. Predictions that credit downgrade for the U.S. would send mortgage rates soaring haven’t come to pass (not yet, at least). So far, there are still chances to get incredibly low mortgage rates, whether you are buying a home, or refinancing your current mortgage. However, before you get too excited […]
For the frugal-minded home buyer, purchasing a foreclosed-upon house may seem like a no-brainer. Houses go into foreclosure when the owner cannot make payments, and the bank simply wants to cut its losses for as much as it possibly can, usually at a price below the market value for the home. With the implosion of […]
Sean Platt, a gifted writer who also provides clients with a wide range of content marketing services, had bought his house during the real estate peak. Recently, he lost his house. I’ve read Sean’s post describing his ordeal with great interest, realizing that it gives readers a glimpse not just into a fascinating, personal story […]
When it comes to retirement, many people rely on their homes. We are told over and over again that our homes are investments, and that they are our biggest assets. As a result, many people rely on home appreciation to help fund their retirement. The recent real estate market crash has been contributing to a […]
