Q: How do I find the best real estate agent? And, how do I choose which real estate agent to use? I'm learning a lot going through the process of "properly" selling my house. I interviewed five real estate agents the Saturday before last, and I was amazed by the range of differences in their [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The FHA mortgage insurance reduction of 0.25% would have saved 2 million borrowers an estimated $900 per year, according to documentation written by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For homes costing $185,000, the typical borrower would save $500. While $500 in savings doesn't sound like a lot, when you're a first-time buyer [...]
Q: I’m thinking of starting a home remodeling business with one of my close friends. He knows the most about the home remodeling business because he has done it in the past and was successful with it. The only difference now is he doesn't have the capital and has a low credit score due to [...]
Will Donald Trump affect the housing market in 2017? That's the question on the mind of every Realtor, mortgage lender, home inspector, contractor and housing industry observer. The answer probably won't be known until well after the inauguration - mostly because Trump hasn't been clear about where his priorities or loyalties lie when it comes [...]
