Finding the right apartment to rent is tough enough. Renting an apartment on a budget is even tougher. Between the application fees, moving fees and stress of finding the right apartment (in the right neighborhood and at the right price), the best thing you can do is carefully figure out how much you can afford [...]
If you own a home, you're probably thinking about the top tax benefits of homeownership. But you may not know how your single biggest asset (your home) can help you save on your tax bill. You probably already know that your biggest asset could also help you save on your taxes. It's the "how" that's [...]
How clean should you leave your house when selling? That's what this new homeowner wants to know after the sellers left a mess for her at move-in. Q: I want to know how clean should a seller leave a house after the closing? My husband and I recently took possession of our new home this past [...]
If you're thinking about buying a house in 2017, you might be a Millennial. According to the National Association of Realtors 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Survey, Millennials have begun buying homes. It helps to know who falls into which generation: The eldest Americans are part of the so-called Silent Generation (born 1925 [...]
Need a credit card fast? If you choose that credit card wisely, it can reduce financial stress caused later by soaring APRs and a multitude of late fees. And remember: While credit cards and credit card debt can be a huge source of financial stress, particularly if you build up a significant balance, they can [...]
Studies have shown time and time again that money stress is bad for marriages and can sometimes even lead to divorce. Last month, in honor of Valentine's Day, Reuters Money got a bunch of financial experts together for a Love and Money Twitter chat aimed at helping couples work through their dollar-based differences and keep their [...]
Home prices are rising fairly dramatically, but those eye-popping increases could be unsustainable in 2017. According to the S&P/Case-Shiller index, home prices rose 5.8 percent annualized gain in December, a pretty dramatic increase, even as mortgage interest rates rose. Housing experts say that as the cost of buying a home accelerates, you shouldn't be seeing [...]
Are mortgage interest rates rising or falling in 2017? Home buyers and borrowers are wondering what the mortgage interest rates trend will be in 2017, so they can time their purchase or refinance. While trying to time mortgage market moves is dicey, the consensus from leading economists is that the outlook for interest rates won't [...]
According to data compiled by ATTOM Data Solutions, February is a great month for home buyers, sellers and owners, which translates into it being a better time for home bargains than the so-called “traditional” homebuying seasons of spring and fall. A combination of fewer buyers competing for homes (and the resulting lower home prices) often [...]
Q: Should I stretch my budget to buy a house? I'm thinking about buying a first house but I'd have to really stretch my budget to afford it. And, to complicate things, I don't plan to stay in this first house more than for five years. Is it worth stretching my budget to buy if I'm [...]
