Buyers who put less than 20 percent down on a home might find themselves with a higher-than-expected monthly payment. The extra money, which often takes first-time homebuyers by surprise, is for private mortgage insurance. What...
Buyers who put less than 20 percent down on a home might find themselves with a higher-than-expected monthly payment. The extra money, which often takes first-time homebuyers by surprise, is for private mortgage insurance. What...
Ask homeowners what builds value in their homes and they likely will name things like kitchen upgrades, a new deck or other hard assets. What may not come to mind as readily is the value...
One of the documents central to the purchase of real estate is the deed, the legal instrument by which title or ownership is transferred. You don’t necessarily need to know all the legal fine points,...
Mortgage lending is yet another industry that has undergone massive change by the internet. Online lenders advertise fast and easy transactions while traditional lenders offer more personal service. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s...
It’s perfect! After lots of home shopping you’ve found the house you want. Now it’s time to make an offer. But how do you come up with a number that is affordable, yet competitive? In...
Many structural components make up a house, but three are arguably the most important: the foundation, the walls and the roof. Everything else depends on those three. Walls stand on the foundation and support the...
The financial world hangs on the mere hint of a possible interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve. But what about rank-and-file consumers? What does the Federal Reserve do, and how does it affect what...
When searching out home-financing opportunities, it’s worthwhile to see if you qualify for government programs that offer attractive terms. The loans are usually administered through a private mortgage lender, but are insured by the federal...
When you buy a home you may expect that you have complete freedom to do what you want with the property, that’s likely not the case. You will probably discover an encumbrance, or limitation, legally...
If you enjoy an annual trek to the mountains or beach, and enjoy the simplicity of staying at the same place, a timeshare purchase might be a good option for you. If you like a...
