Mark Ross's Blog Posts

We’ve all bought things we regret, but if there’s one purchase you don’t want to get wrong, it’s a home. Once you’re in, you’re in—no return policies allowed.The COVID-19 pandemic

There it is: your home! Just sitting on the market. It’s been like that for some time now, and it’s starting to look a little … desperate. Last-guy-at-the-bar desperate. You consider reducing

The home appraisal process is just a formality when buying real estate, right? You’ve found the house you love and put in a good offer, and it was accepted! It’s time to break out the Dom P�

For sellers, getting multiple offers on a house is a dream. But for buyers who have fallen in love with a particular property, hearing that their offer is one of many can be maddening. Having to

When you’re not home, little doubts can plague you. Did I lock the door? Did I leave a key for the housekeeper? Is the AC still on full blast? Smart home devices can resolve those questions and

If you’re wondering how to sell a house to a family member, first, a bit of congratulations are in order. You’ve found a buyer! The most strenuous part of the home-selling process is already.

This is the tale of two basements in otherwise comparable houses. One is a finished basement with a den, bedroom, and full bathroom. The other basement has some Sheetrock, an exposed toilet, and a

A favorite pastime of many buyers scrolling through real estate listings—or walking through an open house—is fantasizing about what life could be like in that home.You might spot a swanky “Mad

As home prices continue to rise and inflation sends the cost of daily living into the stratosphere, more people are looking for simple ways to make paying the bills easier.Many homebuyers are hoping

Oregon residents may not pay sales tax, but property taxes are fact of life for homeowners in the state. The good news is that it’s easy to pay your Oregon property tax. On top of that, these

When a home’s status changes to sale pending, it means the seller has accepted the buyer’s offer and both parties are ready to move forward. Hooray!But even when all signs point to go, sometimes

If you’ve recently gone under contract to buy a home, you’ve probably been told by your real estate agent to find a title company. In that case, you may be wondering what a title company does?

Here’s an understatement for you: Buying a home today is not the same as it used to be. In fact, it’s a whole new ballgame.The COVID-19 pandemic, of course, is largely to blame—throwing the

Between kids learning from home and parents working from home, the pandemic has meant some families are together 24/7. All that togetherness could mean a noisy house, but not if you install sound

You may feel confident that you know your property lines just by looking at your house and yard. The neighbor's fence and where you mow your grass all seem to match the boundaries between other

You may be wondering if there are tax deductions when selling a home. And the answer is: You bet!Sure, you may remember way back to 2018 and its new tax code—aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act�

For many newlyweds, buying a home makes their union feel even more official. After all, finding the perfect space to grow old together may seem like the most romantic thing a new couple can do.Yet

The volatility over the past few days in the stock and cryptocurrency markets has left many on edge—especially as it comes on the heels of a nation grappling with yet another COVID-19 variant,

A kitchen remodel is among the most popular renovation projects for homeowners, but it can quickly become the most expensive. According to HomeAdvisor, the average kitchen remodel costs $25,656, or

If you’re a single parent, it’s arguably more challenging to buy a home than for those in a partnership with dual incomes. Yet it’s easy to see why so many single parents are eager to purchase

If you’re one of those lucky people who own a home in a “hot” area, it’s a pretty sweet feeling. You made a good real estate call. If you decide to sell, all signs point to it being an easy

Many people might picture homeownership as an event that happens only after two people get married and start a financial partnership. Some mortgages are still structured to reflect that idea. But

Here’s the scenario: Your house is on the market and you have interested buyers, but they are concerned about the roof. Maybe your home has a bit of damage from the last storm, but it’s nothing

With an ever-growing number of households throughout the U.S., homebuyer activity has highlighted the housing shortage across the U.S. in 2021 – in particular for homes at entry- and mid-level

With home prices climbing to a record, this year’s housing boom left some hopeful buyers frustrated, discouraged and stuck with a big lump sum of cash.Home buyers typically save between 5% and 20%

Confession: All my life, I’ve wanted a chaise lounge. Chalk it up to Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda canoodling on one in “The Lady Eve.” A chaise always seemed like a highly comfortable

Let’s say you’re selling your house. And before you even get a chance to snap listing photos and put it on the market, a buyer comes along. Perhaps the buyer makes you an offer you just can’t

Purchasing a home and paying for a child’s college education are some of the biggest expenses parents will face. So if you come into some extra cash, such as an inheritance or major bonus at work,

As a real estate agent in upstate New York, I can say with confidence that home sellers are in a great mood these days. And who can blame them? In this seller’s market where homes go fast and for

Most would-be homebuyers start their journey by gathering a down payment. This money is crucial to snagging a mortgage and getting that much closer to homeownership.But when you’re shelling out

How much does a home inspection cost? According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a typical home inspection cost might range from $300 to $500. In most cases, it’s well

If you own your own business, chances are you have a limited liability company (LLC) or, at the very least, you know what that is. Business owners may choose to buy a home using an LLC or under

People love to dole out unsolicited advice. Some of it is actually useful. Other tips you hear, though, may do more harm than good—particularly when it comes to your credit score.Establishing

Record home price appreciation in recent years has pushed tappable home equity to new heights.According to a report published by data vendor Black Knight this week, the third quarter of 2021 saw a

If you’re selling your home, you might wonder if there are common repairs needed after a home inspection. Most buyers, after all, won’t commit to purchasing a place until there’s been a

Light the Deck or PatioThe sun sets sooner on your outdoor living space in the fall, but that shouldn’t limit the hours you use your deck or patio. Adding low-voltage or solar outdoor lighting

In today's low-inventory housing market, homebuyers are looking for any way to get a leg up on the competition when putting in an offer on their desired home.If you have the means, an all-cash offer

Are you selling your home and reviewing several offers? Congratulations! You’re well on your way to getting as much as possible out of what is likely your largest asset.But when it comes to

There’s nothing special about our home in Provo, UT. Built in 1943 amid many blocks of similar-looking World War II cottages, the floor plan spans a mere 814 square feet, with two bedrooms, one

If you’re buying a new home while selling the one you’re currently living in, you’ll definitely be glad to know what a rent-back agreement is.As you might imagine, this double transaction can

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 probably don’t let strangers wander through your house checking out bedrooms and opening refrigerator doors on a random Tuesday, right? Yet when you decide to sell your home, letting outsiders

You love your home, but spacewise, you’re bursting at the seams. Building an extension seems daunting, but moving out of your fabulous neighborhood is off the table. Hmm … you do have that two

Brenda Schmerl was eager to renovate her bathroom—and, after learning her upgrades would cost around $16,000, had assumed she would finance her project with a home equity line of credit, or HELOC

Not sure you can buy a home on your own? Or handle a monthly mortgage payment? Here’s an intriguing—if somewhat tricky—option: You could buy a property with a family member (or three).Families

As the crisp air settles in, you might be planning a fall renovation. Maybe you’ll finally replace that horribly lumpy sofa or get around to painting your 1970s bathroom a warm rose instead of

Desktop appraisals, a temporary flexibility implemented in March 2020 to keep the mortgage industry afloat amid lockdowns and social distancing, will become permanent, the Federal Housing Finance

When the federal moratorium on evictions ended in August, many feared that hundreds of thousands of tenants would soon be out on the streets. More than six weeks later, that hasn’t happened,

One-third of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, a new report from Redfin found. This is up from 30% during the same period a year prior and 2

If you’re a first-time homebuyer (or a longtime homeowner) out there searching for your new home, you may spend quite a lot of time touring houses with your real estate agent.But what happens if

Economists at Fannie Mae expect an increase in mortgage rates and home prices in 2022 due to higher inflation, a tightening of monetary policy, and low home inventory.Fannie Mae in its October

Homebuilder confidence continued to rise in October despite increasing affordability issues due to rising material prices and ongoing shortages, according to the latest National Association of Home

Thinking about evicting a family member with no lease? If you’re feeling more than a bit guilty over the prospect—well, don’t be so hard on yourself: You have plenty of company on this one

Curious about the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor? Well, the seller’s agent is typically the person who draws up a real estate purchase agreement. So what happens if the home is

If you’re in the process of buying a home, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the term “Sale Pending” or “Pending Offer” on more than a few real estate listings—perhaps even on the very

Congrats! You just sold your home in a week for thousands of dollars over the asking price. You may be eyeing that sell price with wide eyes, amazed that a large amount of money will soon be in your

Is there a lien on my property?” If this is something you’re wondering about, then you’ll definitely want to find out, pronto. You might think you already know about any liens on a property

Despite record-high home prices, home equity may not save some borrowers in forbearance from foreclosure, according to a Black Knight’s report published Monday. Since 2010, around 10% of borrowers

The temps are starting to drop; the smell of wood smoke is in the air.Temps are more chilly than warm. That's when veteran homeowners know it's time to do these six things if they want to avoid

Fall means crisp weather, pumpkin-spiced everything, and school and work officially back in session. Since many parents and children spent much of the past 18 months learning and working from home,

Servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume dropped last week to a level below 3.00% for the first time in 18 months. The total number of loans in forbearance decreased by four basis points to 2.96%

Come spring, excited gardeners drive to nurseries, load up their cars and go home to plant. That’s tradition. But fall planting also ranks high as a time to put plants in the ground.Nurseries may

Limited inventory, supply chain disruptions and concerns about inflation have led economists at Fannie Mae to lower their mortgage origination forecasts for the remainder of this year and into 2022

When you make an offer on a house, you might be wondering: How long does it take a home seller to respond to your offer?There’s nothing worse than sitting around waiting—especially when you’re

Servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume fell once again last week, as exits remained elevated compared to requests or re-entries. The total number of loans in forbearance dropped by eight basis

How much does it cost to build a house? The median price of constructing a single-family home is $296,652. That’s for an average-sized house of 2,594 square feet, which boils down to $115 per

You probably never thought that purchasing a new car could impair your ability to get a mortgage for a home. It’s one of several moves that you should consider carefully before applying for a big

While it might seem premature to think about selling a home before you even buy it, it’s important to remember that a house is an investment. And in an ideal world, investments make money—not

If you’re hoping to buy a house, the very first dollar figure you’ll want to know is the home’s price, of course. But a close second is its cost for each square foot—and the average cost for

Many of today’s homebuyers are suffering from sticker shock—and not just over astronomical home prices.Nearly half of homeowners, 44%, report they weren’t aware of the costs associated with

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term mortgage rates were marginally higher this week as the recovering economy appeared stalled against the backdrop of a wave of new delta variant coronavirus.

You’ve heard the stories: Maybe your neighbors sold their fixer-upper as is for $100,000 over asking price. Or your friends were deluged with crazed homebuyers engaged in a bidding war within 24

Ah, September. The weather is changing, and we're getting back to our normal, post-summer routines.It's also a great time to give the house a little extra love and maintenance.Stain the DeckHelp

The numbers: Home prices continued to grow at a record pace in June, according to a leading barometer.The latest edition of the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed that home prices

Homeownership isn’t for everyone. You may be at a point in your life where it simply doesn’t make sense to invest in a piece of real estate. Certainly, there are many credible reasons to resist

In a hot seller's market, a homebuyer will try just about anything to get a leg up on the competition and – when possible – strike a deal in their favor. Talk of escalation clauses, appraisal

Imagine you’ve finally found your dream home and have put in an offer, and you’re declined—not due to anything you’ve done wrong, but because someone’s stolen your identity.Sound far

If you love browsing real estate listings, you’re not alone. “I’m always looking at real estate listings—even now, almost a year past closing,” says Kathleen Luttschyn, a design writer who

A significant amount of time and money is required to turn a backyard into a swimming-pool oasis. As an alternative, some homeowners may opt for a less expensive above-ground swimming pool instead

You like the idea of owning a home, but you feel you may be missing out on an opportunity to earn money at the same time. If only there were a way to live on property you own but also take on

Mortgage credit availability increased marginally in July following a big downturn in June, according to a report released by the Mortgage Bankers Association on Thursday.The MBA Mortgage Credit

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 2.87% for the week ending in August 12, according to mortgage rates data released Thursday by Freddie Mac‘s PMMS.The increase follows six

Like most major milestones in life, becoming a first-time homeowner comes with quite a few learning curves. Even after you close on the house and it becomes officially yours, there’s still a lot

Home prices notched their biggest annual growth since 1979 in June, during an extra-hot summer for real estate, fueled by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Nationally, sale prices shot up 17.2% in June

Take a few minutes out of your pool time this month to do these four tasks.Then you'll have more time to eat popcorn in front of the fire next January.#1 Call the Snow Plow NowIf you live in snow

How do most homes ignite during a wildfire? A floating ember or piece of burning wood touches down on a roof, gutter, in a vent, under a deck, or on a porch and ignites leaves and debris, says the

Since early 2020, banks across the U.S. have been banned from foreclosing on homes as part of the federal government’s efforts to assist families feeling economic pain caused by the pandemic. On

When it's hot outside, smart homeowners focus their energies inside on these four tasks.You know: Like taking advantage of your nice, cool basement.#1 Organize the BasementThe two most common types

There is a certain leap of faith that all buyers take when they make an offer on a new home. If the market is especially competitive, it’s not uncommon for prospective buyers to see a property

Borrowers who fell behind on their mortgages during the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to face economic hardship will get help from a Biden administration program announced on Friday, a bid to

Want to become a landlord? You’re in good company! In today’s hot housing market, rents are on the rise, which may have you wondering whether it’s time to consider becoming a landlord and

When COVID-19 struck New York City, dietitian Lisa Moskovitz was living in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan with her commercial banker husband and 2-year-old twin boys. They had no balcony, no

For the 20th straight week, servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume dropped — this time a staggering 26 basis points, to 3.50% in the period ending July 11, per a survey from the Mortgage

Imagine you find your dream home: It has a pool, a second-floor terrace and a home office that gets just the right amount of natural sunlight. But it’s at the top of your price range, and even if

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is officially axing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s controversial adverse market refinance fee.Starting in August, lenders will no longer be required to pay

Today’s red-hot housing market has buyers in a frenzy. With low interest rates expected to rise and a meager home supply, competition is stiff. Finding ways to stand out presents a real challenge

For the 18th straight week, servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume fell. It dropped four basis points to 3.87% last week, according to a survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The MBA

You did the research, found a real estate agent you thought was right for the job, and signed an agreement to let the pro list your property. But if time passes—and if your house doesn’t sell�

The anxiety of buying a new home can form in any number of ways, and you might find yourself questioning the property you've chosen: Is the backyard really that small? Is the soil contaminated from

The shortage of available starter homes feels like yet another hurdle blocking some millennials’ path to traditional money milestones.“It just feels like every little thing keeps getting put on

More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in May, a surprising rebound after months of cooling in the housing market, where lack of inventory has pushed prices to record levels.The National

Though the number of high-quality refi candidates grew from 12 to more than 14 million from March through May — a 15% increase — actual refinance rate locks dropped by 27% over the same period,

WASHINGTON—The Federal Housing Administration is relaxing the way it assesses student-loan debt when weighing eligibility for homebuying assistance as the Biden administration pushes to help lower

When you’re shopping for a home, you might encounter certain homes listed as FSBO. Short for “for sale by owner,” these are properties that homeowners are selling on their own, typically to

After what feels like the longest ever stretch of months stuck indoors, summer—glorious summer—is finally upon us. But before you get too comfy and curl up in a hammock with a delicious blended

Historically, the most active time for buying and selling real estate is when the weather gets warm, and it is expected to blossom this year as the housing market springs back to life nationwide.If

Owning a home comes with certain responsibilities. There is no landlord to call when a sink stops draining or the lawn needs mowing. Regular home maintenance is essential to lengthening the lifespan

There’s a host of reasons for downsizing to a smaller home. You might want to pocket the savings and build upon your nest egg. Maybe you’re ready for a new adventure and eager to move to a high

Deciding to have our house painted was a big decision, but once we made it, we couldn’t wait to see the final results. But wait we did.What we hadn’t anticipated was all the prep work that went

Luis Gazitua put his Florida home up for sale in April when he saw the influx of clients coming from out of state to buy homes at prices he had never dreamed of.Within days of listing it, his three

Two years ago, we painted a major living area in our home—a large, open-concept space that contains our family room and kitchen, with high ceilings and lots of natural light. We took it from a

One thing we all have too much of (especially post-pandemic) are cleaning supplies. Whether you store yours under a kitchen sink, in the bathroom, in a closet—or all of the above—we’re here to

New legislation would extend a benefit similar to Veterans Affairs (VA) loans to first responders and teachers who buy homes.U.S. Representatives John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Al Lawson (D-Fla.), John

Moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter, jettisoning the dead weight of your unneeded stuff before you haul it into your new home.Yet while the very best time to cut your losses is before you

Homeowners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project. And with good reason: Kitchens are the hub of home life and a source of pride.A significant portion of

As you scroll through the real estate listings, you might spot a few that say the house is “under contract.” But what does “under contract” mean?In most cases, a property is listed as �

The current state of the housing market may have you expanding your options to try to find a home that you can afford. A fixer-upper that needs some updating and a little love can feel like a

The lazy days of summer officially kick off Memorial Day weekend.Giving your home a little extra love this month can save you time and money.#1 Chill With a New FridgeIs yours leaking water, cooling

We're all about indulging in Starbucks' latest seasonal concoction or this season's "it" bag. (OK, maybe a knockoff version of this season's "it" bag.) Trends are just plain fun — and they keep

If you live in a small space, you’re used to having to come up with clever solutions to maximize your home’s potential. So whether you’re looking to renovate a studio apartment or small house,

You can just picture it: a pretty cottage garden overflowing your front yard, with tons of heavy, scented blooms.Well, at least you can picture it with your eyes closed. With your eyes open all you

The Federal Housing Finance Agency didn’t have a set date for its new refi option targeted to low-income borrowers when it announced the program last week. But on Wednesday, both Fannie Mae and

For the third consecutive week, mortgage rates managed to remain under 3%, dropping three basis points last week to an average of 2.96%, according to Freddie Mac‘s PMMS.Despite consistent

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) finalized a rule on Monday that will require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop plans that would ensure upon their eventual exit from conservatorship,

In a fast-moving housing market where you compete with homebuyers who make an offer within hours of a house going on the market, you'll do anything you can to make your bid more competitive. You can

It’s a seller’s market in many parts of the country right now. But if you’re serious about selling your house fast, you need to make sure your bathrooms are updated to impress.“Kitchens and

If you’re raring to buy a home, chances are you’ll need a mortgage. But which kind of mortgage should you get?Home loans aren’t one size fits all, but come in a variety of forms to suit home

A clogged toilet can be embarrassing, and the thought of calling a plumber for such an issue can feel like an overreaction. But that clogged toilet, a backed-up sink or suddenly high water bill

You’ve imagined it: that party you’ll throw (and the happy dance you’ll undoubtedly do) the day you pay off your mortgage. Ah, the joy of being debt-free and the full owner of your home!But

Making an offer on a house is exciting, but when you know you're competing with other buyers, it's hard to know if your offer will appeal most to the home seller.Buyers can make a more enticing bid

The coronavirus pandemic raised the temperature considerably on the nation’s housing market. The past year has been marked by soaring prices, logic-defying offers over asking price, and steep

Tired of having your already cramped bedroom do double duty as a home office and at-home gym? It might be time to upsize. But while getting more space may seem enticing, upsizing can hold pitfalls

Imagine sitting down to dinner a few weeks after your move to a new house. Your new kitchen table has just arrived, you unpacked your last box earlier that day, and your favorite tunes are playing.

When you think of home organization tasks, you probably picture that nightmare junk drawer in the kitchen or your closet stuffed with clothes you never wear. But now that the warm weather has you

With everyone spending more time at home, many people are embarking on home improvement projects that, alas, never seem to get finished. Like that half-painted laundry room or the closet

The demand for home remodels is expected to remain strong—even as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ease as vaccinations rise and people are no longer trapped inside their abodes obsessing over all

A new report from Redfin shows that homes listed midweek sell for an average of $1,700 more than homes listed on the weekend, based on homes sold above their list price from July 2020 through

In what will be known to future generations as the Great Reshuffling, a recent Zillow survey showed that more than 1 in 10 Americans reported moving in the past 12 months, either by choice or by

Homeowners with a mortgage often hear about the benefits of refinancing—to snag a lower interest rate, reduce their monthly loan payments, and tap into their home equity. The list of advantages is

If you're buying a home, the listing likely includes the square footage, a key selling point. But if you make an offer that's accepted and you've moved onto the home appraisal step in the process,

Which is the better investment, owning a home or owning stocks? If you ask most Americans, chances are they prefer the former.A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York examined consumer

No matter how hard you try, it's easy to overlook some spots when you spring clean — because you're blind to what you see and use every day in your own home.So before you say you're done with your

Unless you live in a Hollywood Hills mansion, you probably don't have space to store years of tax and insurance paperwork, warranties, and repair receipts related to your home.But you need that

Note: In light of COVID-19 crisis, the IRS has extended the income tax payment and filing deadline for individual and business returns from April 15, 2021, until May 17, 2021. This relief does not

Note: In light of COVID-19 crisis, the IRS has extended the income tax payment and filing deadline for individual and business returns from April 15, 2021, until May 17, 2021. This relief does not

For homebuyers financing their purchase with a mortgage, a home appraisal is often a required step of the process in order to get an approved loan and close on the deal.A home appraisal can be a

The median home sale price increased 16% year-over-year to $331,590 – an all-time high, per a report this week from Redfin. But that’s not stopping buyers from snatching up homes days after�

Remember lazy Sunday afternoons when home buyers could leisurely hop from open house to open house, partaking of wine and cheese laid out to reel in more foot traffic—the more the merrier.Much can

When you design your own home from the ground up, the sky’s the limit when it comes to design. You get to choose the architectural style, the floor plan, and all the flourishes that make this

When you buy a home, you can usually rely on a standard mortgage to pay for it. But when you build your home from the ground up, a regular mortgage may not suffice. Instead, you might need a

No one likes to overpay. But if you're looking to hire a home improvement professional to do some work, you might not know what’s a fair price. Services like installing a deck, repairing a roof,

Building a home is a huge investment of time and money. The exciting part: You’ll get exactly what you want in your dream home. But building something from nothing can also become a terrifyingly

Your living room isn't just a place to sit in your free time. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic called for work and school to take place at home, a living room has always been a family gathering

Borrowers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may be eligible for an additional forbearance extension of up to six months, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Thursday.On.

U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week but remain near historic lows as the pandemic-hobbled economy strains toward recovery with more Americans getting vaccinated against the coronavirus

The total number of mortgages in forbearance declined seven basis points to 5.22% in the week ending Feb. 14, according to the latest estimate from the Mortgage Bankers Association.The trade group

The numbers: Home prices rose at the fastest pace in seven years, according to the leading barometer released Tuesday.The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city price index posted a 10.1% year-over-year

Capital gains tax is the income tax you pay on gains from selling capital assets—including real estate. So if you have sold or are selling a house, what does this mean for you?If you sell your

The FHFA released its 2021 Scorecard for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Common Securitization Solutions on Tuesday, adding new resolution planning requirements for the GSEs.The resolution planning

That dark time when winter is like that friend who can't take a hint to leave.Give a push with these four easy tasks that'll help usher in spring.#1 Deep-Clean Your EntrywaySnow. Salt. Boots..

It’s a big question with no easy answer: Should you keep renting, or is it time to think about buying a home?One of the major benefits of being a homeowner is building equity with each mortgage

Amid the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans opted to pause their monthly mortgage payments. That choice could have implications for their taxes this year —

With your backyard being the new summer hangout, it’s about time to spruce it up. But what if your budget is already stretched tight?Well, if you don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty, we've

There’s no doubt we’re in a seller’s housing market. With inventory at record lows, demand surging and prices on the rise, buying — even just finding — a home in today’s market is quite

Starry-eyed first-time home buyers are getting a rude awakening to the realities of today's high-stakes home-buying market.The coronavirus pandemic supercharged the housing market, as buyers

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how many words can a video convey? Video has become the most widespread medium to digest information, so it makes sense that video found its way into

What are the tax benefits of owning a home? Plenty of homeowners are asking themselves this right around now as they prepare to file their taxes.You may recall the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—the most

Is 2021 the year you're going to buy a real estate investment property? If you have your sights set on flipping a house for a big profit, you likely know how much work is involved. Sure, popular

Getting a home improvement project to pay off is notoriously tricky. There's no guarantee you'll recoup the money you pour into a bathroom remodel or an outdoor kitchen. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic

Single-family housing starts ended 2020 on a high note, rising 12% in December to a 1.338 million unit pace – the highest pace since 2006, according to the Census Bureau.That’s up 27.8% from one

Fannie Mae‘s latest forecast projects economic growth to hit 5.3% in 2021, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from what the government-sponsored enterprise projected last month.The forecasted

In December, AmTrust Title Insurance Company announced the hiring of seasoned underwriter Mary Shelley as its midwest region agency underwriter. We took the opportunity to talk to Shelley, who has

President-elect Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus, unveiled Thursday as the American Rescue Plan, includes a call for extending the national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until Sept.,

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ll stand the best chance in a buyer’s housing market, where listings are flush, demand is low and buyers have the upper hand — not to mention most of the

Are you considering purchasing a home for the first time? Then you’re probably already saving money for your down payment. But what about all the other costs needed to complete the transaction?

A super-easy plan for getting organized without adding to your home-is-school, home-is-work, home-is-everything time burden.Did you ever notice that your self-improvement pacts with yourself are

Start looking for that contractor NOW if you want your project done by summer’s end.Whew. The holidays are done. The new year has rung in.That's when smart homeowners know it's time to do these

New homeowners may have heard that winterization is important, but in the hubbub of your first year living in a home you own (finally!), it can be easy to overlook the need to prepare for the cold

When my husband and I were house hunting, properties that had plastic taped over the windows or draft catchers below the exterior doors gave us pause: Did that mean the house wasn’t energy

In normal circumstances, selling a house involves interacting with a lot of people. In-person house tours, roundtable closings, and handshakes are all standard formalities.But in a world rocked by

Single-family housing starts continued their seven-month climb in November, coming in to the highest level since 2007, according to the Census Bureau.Housing starts rose 1.2% in November compared to

Savvy home buyers know that winter is typically a good time to embark on a house hunt, since much of their competition stays holed up at home until spring. But this winter, buyers might notice that

Given massive year-over-year gains in home prices, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is increasing its 2021 loan limit in most of the U.S. to $356,362, an increase of nearly $25,000 over�

Existing home sales came in at a whopping 6,850,000, beating estimates with the highest print since 2006. Days on market fell from 36 days to 21 days on a year-over-year basis. Cash buyers remain at

Some believe that the end of summer also marks the final days of enjoying outdoor barbecues, parties, and casual get-togethers. Yet, just by adding a few design elements to your outdoor space, you

You need to come up with some cash, fast. Maybe you have a leaky roof that desperately needs fixing or you need help paying for your kid's first semester of college. But where do you turn?If you're

Home trends come and go, but social distancing and staying at home have ushered in a new way of life—and some of those changes have spurred home trends that are likely to stick around well past

Selling a home in winter is often a slow process. Since many home buyers traditionally hunker down as the temperature drops, particularly during the holidays, home sellers with real estate on the

If your house is bursting at the seams, or simply short on storage options, the solution may be as close as your garage. To make the best use of this space, however, you first need to corral its

In a series of bizarre things happening in 2020, add a rare blue hunter’s moon on Halloween to that list.If you’re outside on this spooky night, don’t expect to look up and see a blue tinted

For generations, people have been drawn to big-city life by the irresistible lure of career opportunities, cultural riches, and the sheer excitement of rubbing shoulders with hundreds of thousands�

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of home prices in 19* U.S. cities rose 5.7% in August from a year ago, the greatest year-over-year gain since 2018, driven unsurprisingly by tightened supply

If you imagined 2020 was the year you would finally list your house for sale, you may have hit the brakes on those plans when the coronavirus pandemic arrived.But now, we’re more than six months

The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose two points to 85 in October – the highest score the series has ever recorded since its inception 35 years ago

As much as we all wish we could go back to a time when social distancing was a foreign concept and masks were just something you wore with a Halloween costume, it’s clear by now that COVID-19’

The health and economic crisis has made 2020 a horrific year for many Americans. Added to all that misery we had terrible fires in the West and hurricanes in the East.  From my perspective,

In the largest increase since 2013, luxury home sales rose 41.5% in the third quarter, according to a new report from Redfin.While sales in this segment of the housing market have skyrocketed, the

For the second consecutive month, Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index, a composite index designed to track consumers’ desire to sell or buy a home, gained 3.5 points in September to 81

You may be planning for a major kitchen renovation, including new appliances, plumbing, countertops or cabinets. Instead, you may be aiming to spruce up the space with a smaller budget. A kitchen

This year's coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying recession have turned a lot of people's financial plans upside down. But those millennials who've been lucky enough to hang onto their jobs are

If you weren't one of the bajillion people jumping on the quarantine garden trend these past few months, you might think your chances of producing a plentiful bounty in your own backyard have

Ah, fall: The nip of the first chill in the air. The colorful foliage. The pumpkin spice lattes. The pumpkin spice everything.Oh yeah, and the long list of home maintenance tasks awaiting you at the

Riddle me this: How can home sales grow when we have no homes to buy?When a monthly home sales print fails to meet expectations the excuse often used is that inventory is too low to meet the demand.

Home-price growth began accelerating in July, a sign that the slowdown in home prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic may be reversing.The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index,

Despite mortgage ratesrising slightly from a previous all-time low, mortgage applications gained 6.8% last week, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association.The refinance index

These days, things are changing so fast, it’s tough to keep up. That’s especially true in the mortgage industry, where interest rates and the overall home loan landscape are shifting with such

By the time my husband and I put in an offer on a home (for the third time) in August, we were exhausted by the home-buying process—and we hadn't even bought a home yet.Even in the midsize town in

U.S. homeowners with mortgages witnessed a 6.6% year-over-year increase in their equity in the second quarter of 2020 – representing a cumulative gain of $620 billion for the nation and an$

While at the beginning of the year it seemed like Millennials and Generation Z were going to take hold of the housing market in 2020, the pandemic drastically changed that prediction.For the first

It's been six months since many of us were last in the office, tapping away on our ergonomic keyboards and drawing on whiteboards in conference rooms during (gasp!) in-person meetings.Since then, we

Even with refinancings driving a record $1.1 trillion in originations in the second quarter and testing the limits of lenders’ capacity, LOs, mortgage executives and economists say all the

Average mortgage rates for 30-year and 15-year mortgages fell to all-time lows this week, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday.The 30-year average is 2.86%, breaking the prior low of 2.88% set

Preparations for your move to a new home are underway and you’re starting to pack, get rid of items you don’t need and schedule movers. But you’re not ready to move until you’ve set up your

U.S. lenders issued a staggering $1.1 trillion in home loans between April and June, marking the biggest quarter in at least two decades, according to mortgage data firm Black Knight. The record

Buying a home often entails also buying various types of insurance to protect your property, and one type you might need to get is called title insurance.So what is title insurance? When you buy a

The deadliest pandemic in more than a century has failed to derail the housing market because of the lowest mortgage rates ever recorded coupled with a shift in how people use their homes.“The

As you approach closing day for your home purchase, you’re going to hear a lot of discussion about the deed and title of your property. Both are an important part of owning real estate, but it can

Four days ahead of its previous expiration date, the Federal Housing Finance Agency extended its moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for borrowers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and

A mother-in-law suite is a private living space that is either attached or separated from a larger home but on the same property. As the name suggests, it can be used by the parents of the,

Whether you are house hunting in the suburbs or searching for an apartment in the city, there is an endless supply of information to take in and evaluate before you decide to submit an offer. This

The numbers: Sales of previously-owned homes in the U.S. rose 24.7% between June and July to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Friday

The forbearance rate for mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dropped to 4.94% in the first week of August, the first time it’s been below 5% since April, the Mortgage Bankers

EQUITY IS A TERM USED in different contexts within business and investing, as well as in real estate and marketing.There are different types of equity that represent various classes of ownership or

For nearly 16 years, Beverly Willett lived with her husband and two daughters in what was her dream home: a four-story, 4,000-square-foot brownstone in Brooklyn, N.Y. But sometimes when life,

After three weeks of increases, mortgage applications fell 0.8% last week as mortgage rates continued to sit near record lows, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association.The

The U.S. homeownership rate soared to an almost 12-year high in the second quarter as low interest rates allowed more Americans to qualify for mortgages.The homeownership rate jumped to 67.9%, the

A monarch butterfly at the butterfly house at the Elkton Community Education Center and along the Umpqua River.Terry Richard/StaffFragile, beautiful and fascinating, butterflies flutter their way

The HEROES Act, a bill introduced and passed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in May, could be signed this week, offering homeowners and renters much-needed relief in light of the COVID-19

Oh, your poor, sad patio. Not a comfy seat to be had, and that cracked concrete . . . well, it probably looked really great when disco was king. Whether you love to entertain friends or bask in

How to DIY Your Own Outdoor Movie TheaterThere’s nothing quite like watching a movie on a big screen, but many of us will be forgoing indoor movie theaters for the immediate future. And while-

The total number of loans in forbearance fell for the sixth week in a row to 7.74% of servicers’ portfolio volume, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association. As the country braces

The numbers: The index of pending home sales rose 16.6% in June as compared with May, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.The increase comes after pending home sales experienced

Buying a home in a community with a homeowners association comes with many perks—such as a maintenance crew to take care of the lawn, gym, swimming pool, or other shared areas enjoyed by HOA

You have a lot of decisions to make when choosing what home to buy: where you’re going to live, the size of the home and the amount of work you're willing to put into it.You may want to move in

Creating a safe, accessible, and comfortable living environment is something everyone can relate to these days, whether it's having a convenient work-from-home station or finding cost-efficient ways

In the age of coronavirus, video tours are quickly becoming the go-to alternative to in-person tours. But for prospective buyers, there's more to the process than asking your smartphone-wielding

In an age of misinformation, something as simple as cleaning a cloth face mask can become incredibly confusing. What should you use to clean it? How should you clean it, and how often?We’ve likely

Taking care of your home this season isn’t just about getting in on all those trending summer looks and beautifying the backyard. It’s also about getting all those dreaded seasonal maintenance

Millions of Americans struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments because of COVID-19 have received relief through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.But mortgage

That lone ant roaming the kitchen counter may not seem like a big deal. Maybe it's even kind of cute. But think again.A few random ants can actually mean a major problem if not treated at the:

The anxiety of buying a new home can form in any number of ways, and you might find yourself questioning the property you’ve chosen: Is the backyard really that small? Is the soil contaminated

It's heeeere: tax time.Granted, this year, the coronavirus pandemic prompted the Internal Revenue Service to extend the usual April 15 deadline to July 15. That might have seemed like plenty of�

Want your new vegetable garden to survive—and even thrive? You might need to start thinking hard about succession. And no, we're not talking about corporate dynasties, or even the buzzy show on.

For the past several years, the trend among many luxury homebuyers in the U.S. has been clear: bigger isn’t necessarily better.Buyers who could easily have sprung for sprawling estates have

In April, after Virginia enacted a stay-at-home order due to the spread of the coronavirus, Ruth Boyer O'Dea found herself alone in a three-floor, five-bedroom residence in Arlington listed for a

There’s a good chance you have home improvement plans in the near future, whether you just closed on a fixer-upper or you’re looking to update the house you’ve lived in for 20 years.A well

Finding your dream home isn’t easy. You'll spend a lot of time to scouring online listings, attending open houses and scoping out neighborhoods – and you may still come up empty-handed.Maybe

Curb appeal: It's the make-or-break first impression of your home. It either beckons a second look or turns buyers off entirely. And now, in the age of the coronavirus, curb appeal is more vital

Graduations, birthdays, and holiday celebrations look a little different this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. OK, a lot different. Virtual events have filled the gaps, of course, but it

Whether you've planted vegetables or flowers in your yard lately, you've likely noticed some dismaying intruders: weeds.Whether they're dandelions, bindweed, spurge, or some other growth, weeds rob

Getting a mortgage, paying your mortgage, refinancing your mortgage: These are all major undertakings, but during a pandemic, all of it becomes more complicated. Sometimes a lot more complicated.But

Until recently, the prognosis for the housing market wasn't great. With the economy in a free fall, home sellers swiftly took down their "For Sale" signs and many buyers chose to wait out the

Those hoping the coronavirus-fueled recession will bring another round of bargain-basement real estate prices are likely out of luck.Even with the pandemic raging, a battered economy, and the

It’s been nearly two months since the number of borrowers who need forbearance on their mortgage began spiking due to coronavirus shutdowns, but it looks like the forbearance curve may be

Working from home, or WFH, isn't just common in the workforce today – it's increasingly the norm. Companies and employees are realizing that a lot of work can be accomplished without actually

There’s a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine -- and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be.Flat paint has no shine;-

With nearly 4 million borrowers in forbearance on their mortgage, we still don’t have a complete picture of what happens when forbearance periods end. Borrowers got some clarity on the situation

Mike and Crystal Green couldn’t have picked a worse time to look for a new home. In mid-February, Mike was offered a promotion to be regional sales manager at Chatsworth Products, a computer

During the current financial crisis, you may ponder the idea of simply stopping payment on your mortgage. It is an option that some may want to consider in difficult times, but it is a bad decision

No home improvement project revives, beautifies and protects a house as quickly, effectively and affordably as exterior painting. A new coat of paint can completely transform the look of your home.

A month and a half into a national emergency that has shuttered the economy as the U.S. battles with the coronavirus pandemic, the real estate market is already bearing the impacts of the health

Those who are fortunate enough to still be collecting a paycheck while quarantined or sheltering in place might expect to build up some serious savings. While you work from home, you're avoiding

Few moments are as exciting for home sellers and homebuyers as when a “sold” badge is added to the For Sale sign in front of your property. But when you drive through neighborhoods, especially

A letter arrives in the mail and tells you your mortgage has been sold. It also informs you to send your monthly payments to a new address. Don’t panic! This happens all the time, and you shouldn

Spring is the perfect time to open up the windows in your house and clean every surface inch, but there’s no reason to spend more time on this task than necessary.Use these tips to quickly get

Homeowners are asking for breaks on their mortgage payments in droves, as millions of Americans face the prospect of unemployment or reduced income because of the coronanvirus pandemic. But

The coronavirus crisis has thrown a number of wrinkles into the home-selling process. Stock market fluctuations and job layoffs have some buyers rethinking whether to commit to a property purchase.

Is it a good idea, or even possible, to buy a new home, site unseen, during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place lockdown?The adage, “where there is a will, there is a way,” certainly holds true –

In French, it means superior force. However, in legalese, the term force majeure refers to a clause that can allow a person or business to extricate themselves from a contract.“In general, it’s

Selling a home can be a headache. It often takes longer and costs more than you think, and it can be an emotional drain. That’s in normal times. Selling a home during a pandemic will add a slew of

Packing up and moving has always been remarkably stressful in and of itself. Moving during the coronavirus pandemic, when everyone across the nation is supposed to be staying put to lower their risk

If you've been thinking about buying a home for a while, you may have marked your calendar back in the winter to start your house hunt right about now. After all, spring typically kicks off the

Real-estate agents are rushing to help home buyers and sellers close pending house sales, as the pandemic poses unprecedented obstacles to a high-touch process traditionally done in person.House

Next week, Daryl and Kathy Storment will be moving about 300 miles west from their home in Eastern Washington, a rural area known for rolling hills and big fields—toward the center of the country

As businesses across the United States have been mandated to close their doors in a desperate effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, people have been losing their jobs left and right. Now, we're

With April 1 right around the corner, residential landlords across the country are waiting to see how bad of a hit they’ll be taking from the coronavirus pandemic.Millions of Americans have lost

The mortgage industry’s biggest trade and lobbying groups are banding together to push the federal government for widespread relief for all borrowers affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the U.

Households with two working parents, or a single working parent, have long struggled to balance careers and family time, but at least one thing hasn't been on those parents' plates: school.Now,

With the economy in near shambles, layoffs becoming widespread, and more of the country under orders to shelter in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, historically low mortgage

Pay attention to high-touch areas of your home – especially those you don't normally disinfect.The COVID-19 virus probably has you spending just about all of your time at home these days, so it�

Determining property lines can provide you with information for needed legal changes to your home and backyard.You may feel confident that you know your property lines just by looking at your house

There is plenty to worry about as the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. ratchets up, a prolonged recession becomes likelier, and more Americans' jobs are in jeopardy. But to ease some of the

If you inherit a house, or any other kind of property, you may feel as if you've been thrown into the deep end of real estate ownership. Not only must you deal with the loss of a loved one, but you

In his lifetime, Kerney Overman Jr. built a thriving construction company, a close-knit family and a charming beach cottage one block off the Atlantic Ocean in North Carolina. But at around age 70,

What is a home warranty? In a nutshell, it's a policy a homeowner pays for that covers the cost of repairing many home appliances if they break down.After all, lots of things you buy come with a

Mortgage applications soared 55% this week from one week prior, and demand for refinances rose to an almost 11-year high, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.The deluge came after rates

You're going to save money with DIY home improvement projects. Sure, everybody knows that.But did you know how much? Cut professionals out of the equation and you can save half the cost of a-

Mortgage rates have just dropped to the lowest level in almost 50 years, compelling both homeowners and home buyers to get off the couch to take advantage of record-level savings on their.“

The Federal Reserve just cut its benchmark interest rate — but don’t expect lower mortgage rates as a result.The Fed made the rare move to lower the federal funds rate by a half-point to a range

The numbers: Sales of newly-constructed homes in the U.S. soared 7.9% on a monthly basis in January to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 764,000, the government reported Wednesday.That figure

If you're lucky enough to have a spare room, in-law suite, or second home, there's a good chance you've considered renting it out. Put a bed in there, post it on Airbnb, and count the cash rolling,

You may be wondering if there are tax deductions when selling a home. And the answer is: You bet!Sure, you may remember 2018's new tax code—aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—changed some rules for

When you’re house hunting, budget is everything. It dictates how much home you can reasonably afford, and therefore which homes you look at. After all, you don’t want to end up house poor or

In a home foreclosure sale, the seller is actually a bank or mortgage lender. In this scenario, the lender has seized a property from the previous owners who were unable to pay their mortgage. Now,

Maybe it’s been a while since your living room got any love. We get it—it’s easy to get sidetracked by all the different ways you can upgrade your kitchen or bathroom.But the living room has

In mid-January, Kim Colaprete held an open house for a property that had just hit the market in Seattle. With nearly 100 people attending over two days, it was a busy event, says the broker of Team

For most homeowners, the hardest part of any home renovation project isn't the work itself – it's finding a competent and reliable contractor to do the job. Installing kitchen cabinets, knocking

Even as mortgage rates hover around five-decade lows, home buyers may still feel the affordability squeeze thanks to rising property values.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.47% during the

It probably won’t come as a surprise to those in the mortgage business that the fourth quarter of 2019 was a big one, considering that originations continued to rise throughout the year thanks to

It probably won’t come as a surprise to those in the mortgage business that the fourth quarter of 2019 was a big one, considering that originations continued to rise throughout the year thanks to

Mortgage rates are resting near record lows — and that’s spurring a wave of refinancing activity as Americans look to take advantage of the savings a cheaper interest rate could bring.Refinance

It’s unclear when the next recession will come. But a recent report argues that when it does the U.S. housing market is unlikely to adversely affected in any major way.Researchers at First

A three-year low in the average U.S. rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage pushed the number of “refi eligible” borrowers to 11.3 million, the second-highest on record, according to Black Knight

HOMEBUYERS ARE typically told that they're making a great investment by purchasing their primary residence.Houses are sold as wealth-building tools – a way to escape "throwing money away" on rent.

What are the tax benefits of owning a home? Plenty of homeowners are asking themselves this right around now as they prepare to file their taxes. You may recall the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—the

If you’ve been following our "New Year, Clean House" series, then you know that you're almost done giving your home a refresh. By now, hopefully, you've reclaimed your bed, turned your bathroom

Every year, top resolutions for the New Year include working out more and losing weight. Going to the gym is one way to meet these goals. However, a monthly membership can really inflate your.

Point2 Homes, a real estate listing website, analyzed the language in 1.2 million home listings across the U.S. and came up with the most common phrases.The three most frequently-used feature

Changes in how the most widely used credit score in the U.S. is calculated will likely make it harder for many Americans to get loans.Fair Isaac Corp., creator of FICO scores, will soon start

You do your best to be a good neighbor, but there’s always room for improvement. Here's an idea: This year, take some extra steps and make a bit more effort to be an even better neighbor. It'll

Whether you have one kid or eight, the odds are good their tiny rooms are filled to the brim with stuff, especially after the holiday season. And it's easy to let that slide, as long as the kids are

This is the tale of two basements in otherwise comparable houses. One is a finished basement with a den, bedroom, and full bathroom. The other basement has some Sheetrock, an exposed toilet, and a

Home maintenance in the winter? You heard us right, snow dogs. Just because the flurries may be drifting all over the yard and temps are dipping perilously close to the freezing mark, it doesn't

Investors need a plan to properly manage an inheritance.(GETTY IMAGES)RECEIVING AN inheritance can be a double-edged sword.On the one hand, it's overwhelming, thanks to the intense emotions

When you find you can't make your mortgage payments, contact your lender to discuss options that may help you get back on your feet without losing your house.Even the most careful planners and

The new decade has kicked off with a fairly stable interest-rate environment for home loans.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.72% during the week ending Jan. 2, down two basis points from

The home-buying season used to kick off sometime in spring, as the snow began to melt and people tried to plan for a summer move-in. But in recent years, the limited supply of homes for sale has

Plenty of online resources exist to help you calculate your mortgage accurately. (GETTY IMAGES)WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR monthly mortgage payment, you're not just paying off the sticker price of the.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will let mortgage borrowers nationwide take out home loans over $500,000 in 2020.The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Tuesday that it will increase the limit on

Taking care the basic things will create a path toward financial wellness and help position an investor for retirement.(GETTY IMAGES)WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK of wealth management, they often conflate

If you're hoping to secure a new address in 2020, you've picked an excellent time to enter, or re-enter, the real estate market. Interest rates are still near record lows, and in many areas across

Mortgage REITs are one way to invest in real estate bonds.(GETTY IMAGES)WITH THE EXCITING performance of the stock market in 2019, it's easy to overlook the real estate bond market. But real estate

The laundry room is perhaps the least visible room in your home, but it serves a vital purpose—and we spend a lot of time there. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time

Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do in your life — and signing the mortgage for that house will probably be one of the most terrifying.Since navigating the home loan

Your search for the perfect house involves more than just the home itself. Beyond seeking out the perfect number of bedrooms and an entertainment-ready backyard, you also need to find the right

Letting strangers in your house while you're not there can be a difficult part of the home selling process. Protect your belongings and identity by removing valuables and any paperwork that has your

Drastic changes, such as a sudden drop in interest rates, may make it expedient to refinance a mortgage early.(GETTY IMAGES)IF YOU'VE HAD YOUR mortgage for a while or have built equity in your home,

While the idea of avoiding mortgage payments may be tempting, you'll miss out on some tax breaks and reduce your ability to invest elsewhere. (Piotr Powietrzynski/Getty Images)In today’s low

Clean up the clutter in your home and be willing to negotiate with buyers.Selling your home may seem like a mystifying process, but it doesn't require any hidden knowledge that the real estate

For many of us, the decision to rent or buy is dictated by our income. If the monthly costs of homeownership take up no more than 30% of your income and you can afford a down payment, then buying a

Part of the thrill of a renovation is dreaming up a brand-new look for your home. The best part of the process is, of course, walking through the finished rooms and settling into your new space.But

We’ve all heard about spring-cleaning, but what about pre-holiday cleaning? That should be a thing, too! After all, with the holiday season right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to

Although mortgage rates now stand higher than they did just a couple months ago, more people are applying for loans to buy homes.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.75% during the week ending

If you own a home, there's a pretty good chance you've wielded a paintbrush a time or two. And even if you haven't, chances are that you will eventually.It might seem like picking up a paintbrush

Shopping for title insurance may not be the most thrilling step in buying a house, but it is one of the most important.Before you can own a home, or "take title" to a property, most lenders will

CLOSING COSTS ARE EASY to overlook when you're buying your first home, as you're probably most concerned about the house purchase price, your down payment and the mortgage interest rate. But it's a

What you should know about working with clients who choose this unusual avenue to homeownership.A small but growing share of home buyers is forging an alternative path to homeownership that is ripe

Use humidity, a car product, and more wow ideas to save cleaning time.When cleaning your home, why not do it in such a way that'll keep your home cleaner with less effort?Here are 7 ways to keep

Homes don’t clean themselves. But these easy-peasy rules (wake and make!) will make you feel like they do.Here's the thing you may have noticed about houses: They don't clean themselves.Which is

Brrr! With temperatures tumbling, there’s nothing better than nestling in some cozy blankets in front of a wood-burning fireplace. The sound of crackling wood and the heat radiating on your

Extreme winter weather can leave neighborhoods and communities without power or other public services for long periods of time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warns.It's a smart idea to

After you make an offer on a house and it's accepted by the seller, you'll be asked to put down an earnest money deposit to show your commitment to this purchase. But while you might be gung-ho to

Moisture keeps your skin fresh and plump, but, sadly, it’s not doing your home any favors. In fact, according to Steve Worsley, owner of CNC Contractor Services, a mold consultation and mitigation

A bank will likely deem a 15-Year mortgage plan less risky than a 30-year plan, but that plan gives you less flexibility. (GETTY IMAGES)MORTGAGES COME WITH many options, and one of them is your loan

No matter how many episodes of “House Hunters” or “Love It or List It” you've watched, buying a home inevitably comes with surprises. Though a sharp real estate agent will help you navigate

winyuu/iStockThe cooling temperatures of autumn offer a long-awaited break from summer's scorching heat, but you won't relax for long—the beautiful colors of the leaves also signal that yardwork

Cooler weather is coming — prep your home for its arrival while it's still nice outside.The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. The kids are trudging off to school again

Tempura/iStockTo the inexperienced, painting a wall may seem like a larger-scale version of coloring inside the lines. But painting should never be considered an elementary task. Painting

BanksPhotos/iStockWhen it comes to selling a house, you want to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. For years, that meant targeting baby boomers and Gen Xers; but today, millennials are

Taking on a home improvement project can increase your property’s value, address small issues before they become large problems, and make your house more livable. But while small projects may

If it’s been a while since you gave much thought to the literal roof over your head, now’s the time to make sure all is well. Determining whether your roof needs to be repaired or replaced is a

Hopeful buyers are willing to go to great lengths to save enough for a down payment. (Getty Images)There comes a point for many prospective first-time homebuyers when nearly everything you do is

LTV measures for lenders the risk of a loan defaulting. (GETTY IMAGES)WHETHER YOU'RE borrowing to buy a home, car, recreational vehicle or a similar asset, you can expect to use the asset you're

Lighting, inside and outside your home, is key to deterring would-be burglars. Lights inside indicate someone is home, and timed lighting when you're not there helps give the illusion you are.-

Home buyers are always looking for a bargain. But if you're really looking to save some dough, consider a sheriff's sale. As the name suggests, it's a real estate sale that involves your local

Oh, the things you could do with your home if only you had the money. Remodel the kitchen, overhaul that ugly bathroom, or just fix the roof. But who has thousands of dollars just lying around to be

Spring just on the horizon means your heater is about to go dormant for a while. Hooray! But be forewarned: You're likely to notice a burning smell once you turn it back on at the start of the next

Prepping your home for the holidays isn't just about putting up decorations. Prepare your house so visitors who either stay for the evening or for a few nights feel welcome and safe. Maybe it's

Although the nation’s trade war is projected to weaken future economic growth, Freddie Mac’s September Forecast indicates the housing market is likely to maintain its strength well into the.�

Young first-time homebuyers are often attracted to spaces with plenty of room for entertaining friends and family. Stage your home so it showcases those spots and help potential buyers envision

It's one of those home-buying riddles that many think is all but unsolvable: How can a home buyer get a mortgage with bad credit? After all, if your credit score is abysmal, you may as well kiss

Part of making your home healthier is keeping unwelcome bacteria, dirt and toxins from getting inside. Have your family and friends take shoes off at the door to avoid tracking in dirt and keep your

Many homeowners with mortgages have considered refinancing at some point or another. Refinancing a mortgage essentially replaces your current mortgage with a new loan. It's an especially enticing

Living in a community managed by a homeowners association (HOA) means that you're obligated to follow certain rules and regulations. Depending upon your HOA, these rules can be very particular—so

Thinking about buying a fixer-upper? Join the club. Blame it on the popularity of renovation reality TV or just the fact that people are searching for deals, but many home buyers are willing to

Millennial home buyers are going to some troubling lengths to foot the bill for their first homes, according to a new survey.Millennials are more likely than their older counterparts to fund their

Many homes across the United States are part of an HOA, or homeowners association. So what does that mean?In a nutshell, an HOA helps ensure that your community looks its best and functions.

Ever spend the night at a friend’s or relative’s house where they reveal some quirky shortcoming in their home? Say, the light switch in the guest room works the opposite way you'd expect (down

To embrace the fall season at home while your property is on the market, consider subtle details that keep your decor from going overboard.As you consider the best way to sell a house, one thing to

Decorating any part of a home, especially outdoor space, lets you tap into the creative side of your brain.But when the space is a small terrace or patio, too much creativity can be a bad thing.

Owning a home means you can build equity, take advantage of tax deductions, and partake in a little something called the American dream. For the past couple of years, the U.S. homeownership rate has

WASHINGTON—A type of unconventional mortgage that focuses on a borrower’s assets to vet repayment ability has drawn a warning from regulators for banks to maintain tight underwriting standards

Owning a home is likely your biggest asset, but also your biggest expense. Between the mortgage, insurance, unexpected repairs like roof damage, property taxes, and possibly homeowners association

Buyers put a lot of their focus on the kitchen. After all, it can be one of the most expensive rooms to remodel and its features and conditions can make or break a sale.Designers recently shared a

Congratulations: You're moving out, and on to your next home! Now all you have to do is pack up your things and skedaddle, right?Not so fast. If you're still trying to sell your current home, you'll

WASHINGTON—Sales of previously owned U.S. homes picked up in July, suggesting that lower mortgage rates are beginning to drive sales after a weak spring selling season.Existing-home sales rose 2%

They don't call it a forever home for nothing. Most of us buy with the intent of staying a long time—sometimes indefinitely. But here's the rub: Things change. Life takes us in a different

Wondering how to buy land? There's something thrilling about the idea of buying your own piece of vacant land—raw, untouched real estate on which you can build your dream home from the ground up.

What makes a home really special? Whether it is a grand mansion or a two-bedroom apartment, what are the attributes that the trained eye of a real estate expert are zeroing in on when she views a

Whether you're buying or selling a home, one question that's always front and center is the price: How much is a home worth? That's a tricky question to answer, but probably the best starting point

Should you prepay

Even if you’re new to this whole selling-a-house thing, chances are good you’ve heard of a home appraisal. And if you know just a little about the process, you know that the appraisal—a value

Pending home sales rose in June, with activity particularly brisk in the western part of the U.S., a trade group said Tuesday.The National Association of Realtors® said pending home sales climbed 2

Need a crash course on real estate terms? This glossary will get you started.DTI, PMI, LTV … TBH, it can be hard to keep all this stuff straight. This lexicon of real estate terms and acronyms

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is set to eliminate a regulatory loophole that made getting a mortgage more feasible for thousands of Americans.The consumer watchdog agency announced this

Once you make an offer on a home and it's accepted, there's a process lasting a few weeks before you close the transaction. During this window of time, buyers are often told to "do their due

Bumble's relationship pros explain how to get over the house that stole your heart.You had such big dreams for the two of you. You were ready to make the big commitment. You thought you’d grow old

The idea of moving can sound like a great adventure, but for most people, the actual process of moving is a giant headache, or much worse. In fact, a lot of people equate it to some of life's

Buying a foreclosure home, also known as a distressed property, might seem like a less expensive way to get into your next place. These homes usually sell for about 15% below the home's actual.

Some would argue that there are few household chores worse than laundry—the tedious rinse-and-repeat cycle that sprawls over our domestic calendars. After all, there's a reason it's called

When you’re in the middle of selling a home and buying a new one, the question inevitably comes up: Can’t I just use the same agent for both transactions—wouldn’t that make things easier?

Installing smoke alarms is a task that most homeowners can tackle on their own. But proper installation and maintenance are vital to ensuring that your alarm actually works in an emergency. However,

You’ve lived in your home for years and haven't exactly been on top of regular maintenance tasks. Now, your windows are covered in plastic wrap to cut down on the cold drafts, your ceiling seems

Quite a bit has changed since the housing bubble burst and the world plunged into a bleak recession. Rampant layoffs have been replaced by a booming economy and hiring sprees. A housing market

Whether it’s a luxurious $45 million estate in California or a modest $250,000 two-bedroom house in Ohio, marketing a home’s stress-relieving qualities is a growing trend. Today, developers,

A retaining wall is a practical outdoor feature that can help keep your yard in top form, but it's often overlooked—or misunderstood. In its most basic form, it's a structure that holds soil in

The right level of curb appeal can make neighbors do a double take—for the right reasons. Plus, it can up your property's resale value. Improving your curb appeal often includes manicured

On a recent Sunday night my husband came out to the garden, where I had been working since dawn. He looked concerned.“What are you doing?” he asked in the sort of gentle tone a staff

With soaring prices, hordes of competition, and a dearth of properties for sale, snagging the right home for the right price is no easy task. And it's even worse for first-time buyers.Of the buyers

Other survey insights underscore frustration with the home buying processYou’ve listed your home for sale, and no one is taking the bait. One month passes, then two. How long do you wait before

What is a water hammer? When something goes bump in the night, it could be water moving through your valves and pipes. But when you hear loud banging coming from your plumbing or valves, it's a

Selling your house is not as simple as just putting it on the market and waiting for offers from eager buyers to roll in. (Ah, if only...) If you have any hope that your sale will go smoothly, you

The much discussed—and, in some quarters, much feared—housing slowdown may be coming to an end.The real estate softening that began last summer, marked by a surge in homes hitting the market and

What is a tankless water heater? Also called “demand-type” or “instantaneous water heaters,” these devices deliver warm water only when you want it. Conventional water heaters, on the other

Mulch, a layer of organic material laid over your soil, is a gardener's secret weapon. When done correctly, mulching can conserve the soil’s moisture, slow the erosion process, and help to

Many homeowners who purchase a fixer-upper say it was because they believed they’d save money. But they actually end up spending about the same or more than if they had opted for a move-in-ready

Dogs have such a negative reaction to some of the activities associated with the Fourth of July – fireworks, parades, parties, alcohol consumption – you’d think they’re unpatriotic.Of,

While many homeowners reach a point where they decide to sell their place, here's an alternative I'm considering for my own home: Rather than sell, I may rent it out instead.When I bought my condo

These days, house flipping is a popular concept. There are entire TV shows devoted to it. It may even be something you’ve thought about doing yourself.The premise is simple: You buy a home that

Imagine attending an open house and stepping into a newly remodeled master bathroom complete with brand-new Carrara marble tiling and a luxurious free-standing tub. Home improvements like this are

What is a hard money lender? The real estate term may conjure up visions of crooked-nosed guys who'll cut off a borrower's pinkie finger for flaking on a hard money loan. But you can rest assured

Do you get your earnest money back at closing? If you're buying a house and planning to finance the purchase with the help of a mortgage, the question is bound to come up. The short answer is: You

Ellie Mae report shows borrowers are in better shape financiallyA strong labor market coupled with lower borrowing costs has put Americans in better shape to get a mortgage, based on average FICO

Taking on a home renovation can improve your property's value, remedy any nagging structural or cosmetic flaws, and generally make your place way more comfortable to live in. All good!But hold on: