Owning a home can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also come with headaches involving taxes, permits, upkeep and repair, fees, insurance and more. Look for more information here in our articles, blog posts, videos and radio shows about what it means to be a homeowner.
Management Company Obligated To Pay For Fence
A home owner would like to replace their fence and believes the management of the development is obligated to pay one half the cost. They could try sending a letter to the property manager by certified mail (return receipt requested) along with a copy by regular mail. In the letter, they need to make sure to outline the scope of the work and the expected cost.
Housing Market Includes Minority Home Buyers
As America grows more diverse so does the housing market. The numbers of minority home buyers are increasing steadily and real estate agents who specialize in helping minority home buyers can expect a strong market. Minority home buyers include Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans as well as other immigrants. Learn about some minority home buying trends here.
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae Meet HUD Housing Goals
HUD sets home ownership rate goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to enable each year and the two met the housing goals consistently. To increase rates of home ownership, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac try to encourage banks to make home loans to low-income and minority Americans. Learn also how home ownership benefits a community.
Home Improvement And Home Repair Needs? Hire A Handyman
With time at a premium, an increasing number of Americans are hiring one of an estimated 30,000 handymen to tackle small home improvement and home repair jobs. Handymen can make home improvement and home repair jobs stress free. Because many Americans don't have the skills to handle even small home improvement and home repair jobs, handymen become the perfect home helpers.
Seller Must Have Title Insurance
Why should I purchase title insurance when my house is paid for? Title insurance companies provide the service of searching the public records and furnishing a report called a title insurance commitment. The cost of title insurance varies greatly from state to state. Title insurance should not be thought of a a real insurance policy. Think of it as a cost of selling your home.
Refinanced Mortgage: Fees Associated When Homeowner Pays Off Mortgage
When you pay off a refinanced mortgage you may be hit with several fees. There are a number of fees the mortgage lender charges when a homeowner pays off the mortgage, such as processing and faxing fees. Learn what the fees associated are with paying off a refinanced mortgage.
A Canceled Wedding Impacts Homeowner
A woman canceled her wedding but is still on the mortgage loan for the home she bought with her fiance. Until the fiance refinances the mortgage, the woman will be responsible for 50 percent of the mortgage. Keeping her name on the deed to the home will give the ex-fiance a reason to refinance the home in only his name.
Multi-Family Housing: Two Families, One House?
At first blush, multi-family housing makes a lot of sense. Move in with your friends and split your mortgage in half. Lenders even offer special multi-family financing. But it's not something to jump into too quickly. Make sure you're on the same page when it comes to the mortgage and maintenance. If you're buying this multi-family building as partners with the idea of converting it later into separate ownership (like a condo), then you should have an attorney draw up a partnership agreement that spells out these issues and others, like what happens if one family decides to sell.