After years of drowning with underwater mortgages, American homeowners are starting to swim toward the shallow end as the housing market recovers. Rising home values and increased home equity are spelling relief for many people. Here are four signs that the housing market is recovering: 1. Unemployment is falling. In order to have a strong [...]
The housing market crash has left many homeowners stuck in their homes, unable to sell or relocate. Without any equity and an underwater mortgage, these homeowners have been desperately searching for relief. Recently, several companies have been seen advertising what seems like a potential lifesaver for these folks. If you are stuck in your home, but want or [...]
Deciding to rent your home instead of selling it is not an easy decision, particularly if you were not planning on becoming a real estate investor in the first place. Homeowners often make this choice when they have their backs against a wall—they cannot sell, but they also cannot stay. If you find yourself stuck [...]
Is the U.S. shifting from a nation of homeowners (and aspiring homeowners) to a nation of long-term renters? It may depend on your perspective of homeownership. Homeownership has been trending down, while renters are snapping up vacant properties. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, homeownership may be at its lowest rate since the [...]
I purchased my first home a year ago, but since then interest rates have dropped and my credit has improved. Can I refinance already? Yes, in theory you can, but you have to figure out if you should. It depends largely on whether you have a prepayment penalty built into your mortgage contract, what you [...]
For the past five years, most homeowners have been watching their homeowners insurance rates go up, even as their homes drop in value. This has led some homeowners to wonder: If my home is worth less, shouldn’t it cost less to insure? Unfortunately there is no insurance break on the horizon for homeowners, regardless of [...]
One of the most frequent real estate questions I get asked is about prepaying mortgages. There’s a lot of push and pull in the minds of many homeowners when it comes to deciding between prepaying their mortgages and investing that money elsewhere. Most of the time, prepaying your mortgage is a perfectly good and reasonable [...]
Foreclosure is scary. Before the bubble burst and the housing crisis hit, it was taboo to go through foreclosure. Now it’s almost common. And, unfortunately, despite the rosier outlook for the real estate market, too many homeowners are still facing foreclosure. The most important thing for any homeowner in this situation to know is that [...]
This past year was big for the real estate market—it’s the first time we’ve seen year-over-year increases in home prices since the market crashed around 2008. Interest rates remain low, and refinances, loan modifications, and short sales are all up—but it’s not all good news. Foreclosure rates are still on a rollercoaster ride—the real estate [...]
Nothing says “I care” quite like a handmade holiday gift. Bonus: Homemade gifts can be a great way to stretch your gift budget and to let the whole family flex their creative skills. Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your DIY holiday gift list: Whatever you make, go assembly line. In other words, plan [...]
