Here is the latest Real Estate News from the NASDAQ.
Dont Fall for These Tricks When Buying a Home
When someone is selling a house, it’s only natural they use every means possible to cast their home in the best possible light. But sometimes, sellers can cross the line into deceit. And unfortunately, there are some real estate tricks that can hide flaws in a home for sale . Here are six common tricks to watch out
Stop! 6 Ways Youre Sabotaging Your Mortgage Preapproval
Homebuyers make a lot of mistakes that hurt their chances of getting a mortgage preapproval from their lender. You don’t want to join their ranks and sabotage your home purchase. To find out what those missteps are, we talked to two lending experts: Casey Fleming, a mortgage advisor with C2 Financial Corp. in San
Thinking of Buying? The Real Cost of Owning a Home
Owning a home means you can blow out a wall to create a more spacious kitchen or paint your bedroom a flaming fuchsia — things that are certainly deposit-forfeiting and likely eviction-motivating offenses in rental land. Let’s say you want to buy your own place, but you want to know if it’s really a good idea for
Short on Existing-Home Options? 4 Reasons to Buy New
Buying a home in some markets is like being in a gladiator ring. Multiple rounds of showings and getting into — and losing — bidding wars can leave you feeling defeated. If you’re growing weary of wading through an increasingly shrinking inventory of resales, there’s another possibility worth considering: buying new
Ask Brianna: Should I Keep Renting or Buy a House?
Ask Brianna” is a Q&A column for 20-somethings, or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to [email protected] . This week’s question:
7 Money Traps to Avoid When Moving
Moving can be expensive. According to U.S. News & World Report, average intrastate moving costs in 2014 totaled $1,170, while interstate rates averaged $5,630. However, the price can vary dramatically depending on where you live, where you’re moving and how much stuff you’re moving, according to Michael Keaton,
Foreign Buyers Widening Range of US Real Estate Investments
By Brad Walker, CEO of Income& People of notable wealth from other countries have been interested in buying prime US real estate for some time. The trend actually stretches all the way back to the mid-19 th century when wealthy Europeans first began buying homes in the US in some numbers. In recent history, the
5 Must-Know Tips for Selling Your Home
By Winnie Sun Learn more about Winnie on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Selling your home is a big decision that requires significant preparation, including listing your property and meeting with potential agents. Once you’ve done that, it can still take weeks or even months to find a buyer, depending on the
Why Starter Homes Arent What They Used to Be
The concept of a “starter home” is quickly becoming a real estate relic, like track lighting and brass hardware. Time was, young families with average incomes who were shopping for a first house would choose a small one in an affordable neighborhood — maybe with just a hint of a yard and a carport, rather than a
Details Buried In The Fine Print of Renters Insurance Policies
More tenants than ever are buying renters insurance but are they reading the fine print and fully understanding their coverage? Without reviewing the details, they might unknowingly be underinsured or have coverage they didn’t realize they had. Renters insurance policies are fairly straightforward. They cover a
10 Open House Red Flags Before Buying a Home
House hunting can be a fun, yet stressful, process. From figuring out the most affordable places to buy a home to deciding on what amenities you want in your dream house, there are many steps in the home-buying process. But perhaps one of the most important steps is touring the open house. As a prospective
The 50 Altered States of American Housing
Oh the horror! Movies that is. Its summertime and once again they’re out there, all those shriek-worthy trailers just waiting to pounce. They’ll grab you by the psyche and parade just for you and your mind’s viewing pleasure an all-inclusive review of your horror genre past. And if you happen to have been born
Renters Insurance for the Technology-Savvy
Renters insurance policies are all relatively similar to one another, but there are policies that might be better suited for some individuals – especially those who are technology-savvy. All renters insurance policies cover a policyholder’s personal property, gives them liability protection and offers loss of use
How To Choose a Renters Insurance Company
Choosing a renters insurance company isn’t like buying a house, but it’s a decision that should not be taken lightly. Renters could miss out on saving money, additional coverage or a better customer experience without taking the right considerations. These are some of the things tenants need to think about when
How Your Clutter Is Costing You Money
Just because you aren’t living like one of the people on TV’s “Hoarders” doesn’t mean your home is as organized as it could be. In fact, living with clutter can have a profoundly negative effect on your daily life and even cost you money. Here are six surprising ways clutter could be costing you . They just might
Perils a Renters Insurance Policy Wont Cover
Most tenants are familiar with what renters insurance covers, but what about the things excluded from coverage? Wrongfully assuming a specific peril is covered by a renters insurance policy could be devastating to the policyholder and whoever else who else might depend on that coverage. Thankfully, there are a
25 Tricks to Sell Your House for a Bigger Profit
It takes a savvy home seller to negotiate top dollar for their home. That’s why GOBankingRates.com talked to the experts and compiled their 25 best tips on how to add value to your home before you put it on the market so you can get the best price possible. Click through to find out what they said. 1. Stage
Commercial Real Estate Checks into the Heartbreak Hotel
“I walk a lonely street.” Written in 1955, those five haunting words were all one man left of himself before leaping to his death from his hotel room window. According to a story that ran all those years ago in the Miami Herald, it would seem that he had heartbreakingly embraced the loneliness of being unknown and
Patch Of Land: A Different Kind Of Crowd-Funded Real Estate Platform
CEO and co-founder of Patch of Land , Jason Fritton and his brother Brian, started in 2010 with an idea about a crowd-funded real estate platform. The idea was to fill a vacuum not being filled by traditional bank lenders. Since then the company has returned more than $20 million in principal and interest payments
20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Homes Value
Homeowners looking to sell soon or sometime down the road often invest in home renovations to boost their home’s value for a resale. Some home improvements, however, can actually hurt your home’s value. Sometimes, these home renovations are done particularly with a resale in mind. Other times, they’re simply done
Why Mortgage Rates Are Not Moving Up Despite Prime Rate Increase
By Brad Walker, CEO of Income& The conundrum of why mortgage rates continue to slip months after the Federal Reserve raised the prime rate is just one of the perplexing economic puzzles the Governors of the Federal Reserve are going to have to figure out as they try to “normalize” the US economy. No matter what
Steps to Buying Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is something every tenant should have and it’s easy to purchase. However, there are right and wrong ways to go about buying a policy . These are the steps tenants should follow when purchasing renters insurance. Before You Begin Shopping For many, the first step is shopping for renters insurance
Five Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
We’ve all seen House Hunters on HGTV. But contrary to popular belief, watching the show a few times does not make you a real estate expert. When you’re buying a home for the first time, it’s easy to get excited about the future and lose sight of some crucial things that need to be considered. While perusing the
Why Renters Insurance Is Important When It Comes To Leaks
Many renters, especially young ones, aren’t living in brand new buildings with a long list of amenities. Some might be in buildings nearing 100 years of age and the chances of something like a leak happening might be high. Even though it is the responsibility of a property owner to maintain a rental unit, tenants
Can You Buy a House With a Credit Card? Maybe, But You Shouldnt
Buying a house with a credit card sounds impossible, right? It’s not. As long as you have enough available credit to cover the cost, you could borrow the money on your credit card and buy the house outright. But although you may be able to pull it off in certain circumstances, we definitely wouldn’t recommend it.
Make Buying a Home Easier With 3 Smart Money Moves Now
If you’re fresh out of college and settling in at your first or second job, homeownership might be out of sight, out of mind. But there’s a lot you can do in your 20s to better position yourself for buying a home when the time is right . You’ve got plenty of company if you’re not ready to house-hunt just yet.
7 Keys To Knowing If Its Time To Buy A Starter Home
It’s the question for newbie buyers: Buy a starter home, or wait to buy something better? There is no “right” answer. But there are a handful of factors worth considering. Here are 7 questions to ask when you’re trying to decide whether: To buy a starter home now and upgrade to a better place later. Or wait a
3 Things to Remember When Shopping for Renters Insurance
Renters account for roughly 43 million households in the U.S. and while only 40% of renters have renters insurance, the number is slowly climbing. More and more people are shopping for renters insurance and there are a number of things tenants should keep in mind before purchasing a policy. Gain a full understanding
House Flipping Gone Awry: 7 Warning Signs That A Flip Is A Flop
Thanks to such cable TV fare as “Flip or Flop,” “Property Brothers” and “Love It or List It,” most of us are well-versed in the process of flipping a subpar home for a quick sale. While house flipping is intended to give sellers a fast profit, how can buyers tell a flip from a flop? To find out, we saddled up with
Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged: Where Mortgage Rates Are Headed Now
The Federal Reserve left short-term interest rates alone today, as was widely expected. But the central bank’s policy setting committee meets again late next month and three more times before the end of the year — and Fed Chair Janet Yellen has practically guaranteed higher rates in the near future. A rate hike is
First-Time Home Buyer? Prepare For Hidden Costs
You’re finally ready to take the plunge and buy your first home. Purchasing a home can be a smart decision – albeit a huge financial one – if you’re tired of watching your rent money go down the drain every month. Owning a home not only gives you a place to truly call your own, but it also helps you build equity.
The Worst Credit Mistakes New Homeowners Make
Every year, thousands of new homeowners engage in risky credit practices that put their financial well-being at risk. We outlined the biggest mistakes homeowners commit, and go over why these practices should generally be avoided. Some of them may seem tempting at first glance. Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll
4 Ways To Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
It’s simple to pay off a mortgage earlier. But should you? That’s a complicated question. For many people, their mortgage carries an interest rate that’s lower than they could average in retirement or investment accounts. And that means the “extra” money you could throw at a mortgage might actually earn you a lot
Mortgage Lenders Should Never Choose Your Homeowners Insurance
A shocking number of homebuyers forgo the opportunity to purchase their own homeowners insurance policy and it could cost them thousands of dollars in the long run. Homes are the biggest investment most people make in their lifetime, so many people have to take out a mortgage and pay for the home (and the interest)
North America is Expecting a Harsh Wildfire Season: Heres How to Prepare
Many parts of North America, including the southwest U.S., are expecting a exceptionally dry wildfire season, even after El Nino-fueled storms resulted in more rainfall in the than typically seen. Wildfire season in North America generally spans May through August but the frequency of severe fires, like the Horse
How a Pool Affects Your Homeowners Insurance
If you are thinking of buying or building a swimming pool, we recommend you contact your home insurance company first. Pools are a liability and, like trampolines , are an “attractive nuisance.” The owner of a pool is liable for anyone who uses it whether they have permission to or not. Home insurance generally
Debt-to-Income Ratio Matters When Youre Buying a House
Your debt-to-income ratio plays a large role in whether you’re ready and able to qualify for a mortgage. This figure, the percentage of your income that goes toward paying your monthly debts, helps lenders figure out how big a monthly mortgage payment you can handle. It’s as important as your credit score and job
Should I Rush to Refinance Before the Fed Decides on Rates?
The Federal Reserve decided to leave short-term interest rates unchanged when it met in April but left open the possibility of raising rates in mid-June. News of the Fed’s decisions are always of interest to homeowners and prospective homeowners, because short-term rates have an effect (though not a direct one) on
5 Tips For Buying A Home If You Have Student Loans
When Kristin and Sean Couch were ready to buy their first home, they feared that one thing would hold them back: Kristin’s student loans. Her broadcast journalism master’s degree from Syracuse University had left her more than $80,000 in debt. The Couches are part of a generation that’s delaying major life
Take the Emotion out of Buying a Home
By Daniel Friedman Learn more about Daniel on NerdWallet’s Ask An Advisor You may feel the urge to buy a house , but is it the right decision? There can be advantages and disadvantages to homeownership, but when it comes to such large financial transactions, the best thing you can do is take the emotion out
What You Gain – And Lose – With a 15-Year Mortgage
Lower interest rates have made refinancing a smart option for many homeowners. You might be able to lower your monthly payment or even “cash out” your mortgage, letting you consolidate other debts or fund large expenses, such as home renovations or your children’s college educations. Lower refinance rates are also
Should You Restart Your 30-Year Mortgage When You Refinance?
Low mortgage interest rates have made refinancing a good option for many homeowners who can sign up for a lower rate and even take cash out of their home equity while still lowering monthly payments. But what if the homeowners already have a few years of equity built up in the home — should they take on a new,
Strategies for Saving during the Home-buying Process
Cars, like homes, are one of those big-ticket items that many of us don’t completely pay down the day we sign our paperwork. Sticker prices are as high as ever, as the average new car costs $33,453, according to Kelley Blue Book. And as loan terms lengthen – more than half of buyers have five plus years to pay it
What to Expect From a Home Inspection
A home inspection is a lot like a test-driving a new car, only better. Instead of just punching the accelerator and a few dash buttons to see what they do, during a home inspection you’ll have a knowledgeable professional along with you, pointing out details and potential problems you might not notice otherwise. A
Self-Directed IRA Plans Offer Real Estate Investing Options
By Dmitriy Fomichenko Learn more about Dmitriy on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor How do you picture your retirement? In our mind’s eye, most of us probably imagine getting rid of all of our debt and being able to cover our daily expenses with passive income. A vast majority of Americans are struggling to achieve
From Packing Supplies to Truck Rentals, How Much Your Next Move Will Cost
So you’ve rented, or bought a new home, or maybe you’re moving in with your significant other, or back into your parents’ house. You’re staring down one of life’s top stressors: moving. It’s something the average American does about 11 times in their life, but it never really gets easier, only harder as you
Simple Tips to Sell Your Home for the Right Price This Summer
By Tom Salomone Learn more about Tom on NerdWallet’s Ask An Advisor If you are considering putting your home on the market , summer may be the perfect time. The frenzy of the spring buying season has ended, meaning there are fewer houses listed and competing for buyers’ attention. Tax refunds have been sent
Wondering If Its Time to Buy Instead of Rent?
To buy or to rent –- that is the question. And it’s a common one for those of us looking to lay down roots, perhaps for the first time. Before we get into the two routes to take -– and the advantages of each -– let’s break down a fallacy: Homeowners do, in fact, build equity with their mortgage payments, but they
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage?
Is it a good idea to pay off your house as soon as possible — or should you refinance your mortgage to take advantage of lower interest rates, reduce your monthly payment and use the extra money for other needs, such as contributing to retirement accounts? NerdWallet asked members of our Ask an Advisor network
Help Pay Your Rent…By Renting Out Your Room, Apartment
The math is pretty straightforward. If you pay $1,200 per month for your apartment in a desirable neighborhood, you’re essentially paying $40 per night to call it home. Now say you rent it out for $120 the next Friday or Saturday night you are out of town, traveling on business or staying at a friend’s place. That’s
The Most Likely Reasons Home Insurance Claims Are Filed
Fluctuating homeowners insurance rates can cause policyholders to jump to conclusions about claims in their local area and their intuition is frequently misleading. Lightning strikes, fires, theft and liability claims are costly and affect the cost of homeowners insurance, but they are not the most frequent claims
The Costs Of Buying A Home Comes In These 3 Big Waves
Many millennials want to buy a home because they know it can be cheaper than renting. Truth be told, however, buying is complicated, and it’s not easy to figure out how much money you’ll need. The costs come in 3 waves: Before purchase. The down payment. Origination and closing costs. 1st wave: Before purchase
8 Reasons You Shouldnt Retire to a Tiny House
Shutterstock photo If you’re closing in on retirement, chances are good that you’ve already started thinking about ways to scale back your lifestyle, decrease costs and declutter your living space. As the tiny house movement gains momentum, many pre-retirees are looking to small spaces as possible solutions for
10 Reasons You Should Retire to a Tiny House
Shutterstock photo Retirees often opt to downsize to smaller houses. However, some of today’s seniors are taking this trend to another level by jumping on the tiny home bandwagon. In fact, 40 percent of current tiny house owners are 50 or older, according to SeniorPlanet.org. Retiring to a tiny house can
High Net Worth Individuals Often Face Complicated Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is fundamentally the same whether it covers a $100,000 home or a $10 million home, but high net worth individuals often face more complicated insurance risks. Many wealthy individuals have valuable personal property, a vacation home or household staff and those things are not favorable in the
Outdoor Home Renovations? Think Budget and Scope
By Nino Sitchinava Learn more about Nino on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Many homeowners view their outdoor spaces as their own personal oases, places where they can relax, dine and spend time with their friends and loved ones. In light of this, it makes sense that homeowners consider investing in major
Homebuyers, When You See Something Offensive, Tell The Agent
Homebuyers see all sorts of potentially offensive things in sellers’ homes . The list includes everything from dirty underwear, feces-flinging pets, animal-head trophies and drug paraphernalia to swastikas, Confederate flags and shrines to rival sports teams. Some sellers don’t realize that prospective homebuyers
What You Should Know About Reverse Mortgages
Advertisements for reverse mortgages can give the false impression that they are an easy, cost free way for retirees to finance vacations and leisurely lifestyles. But reverse mortgages aren’t free money, and misusing them or misunderstanding how
The Huge, Hidden Costs of Owning a Home
First-time homebuyer Teresa Hair had owned her house less than two months when water started bubbling up through the guest bedroom floor. “The whole floor was just covered,” says Hair, a 34-year-old attorney who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. “I pulled up all the laminate flooring and there was an inch of water.”
How to Search for a Home
When house-hunting fever strikes, it can hit hard. You’ll probably download a home search app or two and jump into the car, ready to explore a new neighborhood. Before you do, here are answers to some questions that might pop up along the way. What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor? All
How Paying Rent Can Affect Your Credit
A lot of people who don’t have much in the way of a credit history do have a history of paying rent on time. If that information showed up on their credit reports, it might help their scores. You can’t report rent payments yourself. But rent-reporting services can get your credit reports to reflect your rent
How to Pay Off Your Mortgage in 10 Years
Paying off your mortgage in 10 years might sound impossible, and it is — for some homeowners. In fact, some people need decades to pay back the home loan they borrowed from the bank. However, for the financially savvy, paying off a mortgage ahead of schedule is possible. It just requires some strategic planning and
Refinancing Your Home to Pay Off Debt: The Pros and Cons
Declining mortgage interest rates in recent years have coincided with increasing levels of consumer debt for many Americans. Those trends have made more people consider mortgage refinancing as a way to reduce their consumer debt burden. In the most typical scenario, a consumer obtains a new mortgage at an interest
Deciding Whether Home Repair Warranties Are Worth the Cost
By Kathryn Hauer , EA, CFP Learn more about Kathryn on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Say it’s the fifth day of temperatures over 98 degrees in South Carolina during a summer of record heat. Your air conditioning system has kept you cool through it all — until now. The unit is still spinning, but the air coming
Tips to Save Money by Refinancing Your Mortgage
With mortgage rates hitting historic lows in recent years, refinancing has become a popular option for homeowners. The benefits of refinancing include lower monthly payments, locked-in low rates and extra cash available every month for purposes ranging from home repairs to paying down consumer debt. The decision
Tax Deductions: Homeownership Has Its Privileges
Remember the day you moved into your first house? From the moment you slid that shiny new key into the lock to the moment you drifted off to sleep in the bedroom that was now yours, you knew this date would always be stamped on your memory. What’s more, you may even have a soft spot in your heart for the 15th of
6 Wallet-Stretching Tips for Renters
By Winnie Sun Learn more about Winnie on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Rent has long been the biggest expenditure in many people’s budgets — about 30% of a renter’s income has traditionally gone to the landlord. And today that percentage is on the rise . But as a smart renter will tell you, you don’t need to
The Secret Costs to Owning a Tiny Home
The tiny house movement is sweeping across the U.S — and for good reason. Tiny houses are a way to own a piece of the American dream at a lower price point. The average cost of a new home sold in the U.S. in 2015 was $358,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, the average cost of a tiny house, if you
Towers of Dabble: Commercial Real Estate Signals Trouble Ahead?
Man’s long determined history of dabbling in the building of touted towers, surely not for his self-gratification, but rather to bring him closer to God, has rarely been met with benevolence. Maybe God doesn’t like man, who He created after all, attempting to smash through His glass ceiling. Consider, if you will,
13 Real Estate Secrets Only Insiders Know
The real estate market can be tough for everyone, whether you’re a buyer, seller, agent, broker or an investor. One minute the market can be hot — the next, it’s barely sizzling. The only way to become a true real estate expert and net a significant profit is to learn from the best. So whether you’re looking to
First-Time Homebuyers: Time to Consider Rent-to-Own?
A rent-to-own home, or lease-purchase agreement, might seem like the perfect solution for the can’t-quite-get-there homebuyer. Maybe your credit needs a few touch-ups, or you don’t have a down payment in the bank yet. A lease-purchase agreement can get you in a home of your own while you sort out the buying details,
6 Things Your Home Inspector Will Look For
What exactly is that home inspector looking for when he climbs up on to the roof, descends into the basement or slides into the crawlspace? “When I’m looking at a house, I’m looking at a thousand things,” says Kurt Mitenbuler, owner of Kurt Mitenbuler & Associates. Along with diagnosing potential safety hazards and
5 Ways to Avoid Costly Home Renovation Mistakes
A home renovation can be time-consuming, and you want the end result to be worth the hard work. If you make a home-remodel mistake, however, it could turn your dream project into a nightmare. So how can you avoid costly renovation mistakes? We’ve gathered five tips to help you make sure you’re heading into the right
Get Top Dollar When Selling Your Home
By Tom Salomone Learn more about Tom on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor The beginning of spring brings many things: warmer temperatures, longer days, baseball, blooming flowers (and the consequent allergies) and a sense of renewal after a long winter. When it comes to home sales, spring also means the busy
4 Home Improvements That Dont Pay (and 4 Better Options)
It’s nice to live in a home that’s designed just the way you like, even if you have to spend money on remodeling. But when it comes to increasing a home’s value, some pricey home improvements won’t come close to matching the amount of money you put in. If you don’t plan on moving in the near future, recouping money
20 Cheap Renovations That Increase Your Homes Value
You don’t have to spend big bucks to increase your home’s value . In fact, lower-cost home improvement projects tend to return a greater value, according to Remodeling magazine’s “2015 Cost vs. Value Report.” So if you want to spruce up your home but have a limited budget, there are plenty of inexpensive projects
Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Homebuyers
Here’s a secret for first-time homebuyers: No two homebuying experiences are ever the same. Even with a Zillow sneak peek, a shopper never really knows what homes will look like until they see them in person or what snags they’ll encounter once mortgage lenders and home inspectors get involved. For some people, it’s
20 Quick Ways to Save for a New Home While Renting
If you’re renting, but dream of owning a place of your own , you’re not alone. Only one in 10 people who rent said they prefer renting over owning, according to a survey by financial services company Wells Fargo. Two-thirds of those surveyed view home ownership as an accomplishment to be proud of or a dream come
Understanding Renters Insurance
f you rent your home, much of the responsibility of maintaining the dwelling falls to your landlord, including insurance for the structure itself. But a landlord’s insurance doesn’t extend to a renter’s personal belongings. If disaster struck your home — such as a fire or storm — the landlord’s insurance would pay
Still Renting? Youre Missing These Tax Advantages
By Tom Salomone Learn more about Tom on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor It’s that time of year when we all sharpen our pencils (or, more accurately, open our laptops) and get ready for tax time. If you were among the millions of first-time homebuyers in 2015, you’re in for a nice surprise this tax season.
5 Dirt-Cheap Home Staging Ideas
Appearance is everything when selling a home. That’s where home staging comes in. But hiring a professional stager to prepare the home for prospective buyers can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour, according to Jessica Page, a Realtor with Innovative Real Estate near Denver. Fortunately, homeowners can take
2015 Saw Most Home Flippers In U.S. Since 2007, RealtyTrac Says
The number of Americans who flipped homes last year was the most since the housing bubble burst a decade ago, says a new RealtyTrac report, and it happened as the number of flips per investor continued to fall from
Clients Moving to Low-Tax States? Document Carefully to Avoid Tax Disputes
Living in a low-tax state can bring savings that add up to a small fortune over time — and clients living in high-tax states may want to consider a move to low-tax paradises like Florida or Texas. Advisors should help their clients choose a state that makes sense and prepare to document every step of the move.
How to Decide Whether You Should Remodel or Move
It’s not easy to decide whether you should remodel your home or it makes more sense to move. But if you’re asking the question, chances are you’ll be better off making some kind of change. Maybe your home no longer fits your family’s needs, or perhaps it’s showing signs of age. A home renovation might fix the
The Unexpected Expenses of Moving
Moving comes with a number of headaches. Whether you’ve been offered a dream job in another state, made the decision to upgrade from an apartment to a house or just want to relocate to a different area of town, don’t let these hidden expenses catch you off guard. The average cost of an in-state move is $1,170, while
10 Signs Youre Not Saving Enough to Buy a House
By Alaina Tweddale The process of buying a house is the biggest financial commitment most people ever make. That’s why you should make sure you’re financially ready before you start shopping for your dream home. Here are 10 common signs you’re not saving enough to make your dream of buying a house a reality. 1.
Wintering South To-Dos
The weather is supposed to get chilly (if not downright cold) and you may already have packed your bags to head south for the winter. Before you surrender to daydreams of sandals and shorts on New Year’s Day, here
Wary Investors Kicking Back More Mortgages
New consumer-disclosure requirements are doing more than delaying the closings of some home loans. Now the mortgage industry is sounding a bigger alarm, claiming some investors are refusing to buy certain loans once they close because of potential compliance failures. The bottleneck is happening when lenders
3 Things to Consider About Buying a House
By Forrest Baumhover Learn more about Forrest on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Owning a home is not without its challenges. It’s the largest purchase most people will ever make, and it represents major responsibilities in the way of maintenance and other ongoing costs. Still, a properly mortgaged house is
Disruption In Just 8 Minutes? How Quicken Loans Is Revolutionizing The Mortgage Market
By Jim Probasco A space shuttle reaches orbit just eight minutes after launch. Now, in that same eight minutes, a Quicken Loans Rocket Mortgage client can obtain full approval for a mortgage loan or refinance. That’s the pitch Quicken is making to current and potential homebuyers. More than 500 Detroit-based
7 Financial New Years Resolutions You Should Make if You Want to Buy a House in 2016
By Elyssa Kirkham Buying a home and obtaining a mortgage are no easy tasks. You need to have your finances in good order if you hope to get approved for a loan to buy a home. If you want to buy a house in 2016, here are several New Year’s resolutions to follow through on that can help make you a
10 Home Renovations that Will Pay You Back
By Alaina Tweddale When it’s time to remodel, many homeowners want to choose the projects that offer the greatest potential to recoup their financial outlay. It’s understandable: The average bathroom remodel costs more than $16,000, a garage addition can cost more than $50,000 and adding a master suite or second
Mortgage vs. Investing
Should you invest with your spare cash or pay off your mortgage early? As with most financial planning decisions, the answer is not black and white. One of the most common questions facing families is whether to accelerate mortgage
5 Reasons You Should Get a Personal Loan For Home Improvements
By Amy Fontinelle for Bankrate.com A homeowner’s first instinct is to get a home equity loan or line of credit when they need money for a home improvement project. But in many cases, a personal loan, despite its higher interest rate, is a better choice. With a personal loan, you know your total borrowing costs at
3 Tax Considerations When Selling Your Home
Selling your home is a big
What Happens if I Drop My Home Insurance Policy?
Most lenders require you to have a home insurance policy in place before they will grant you a loan to buy a house. Because of this, some hopeful homeowners may choose the first policy they’re quoted. The issue with only getting one quote is that providers, coverage, discounts and costs vary widely, and after an
5 Tips For Buying A Foreclosed Home
Buying a foreclosed home is a little different from buying a typical resale. In many cases: Only 1 real estate agent is involved. The seller wants a preapproval letter from a lender before accepting an offer. There is little, if any, room for negotiation. The home comes as-is, and it’s up to the buyer to pay
What Factors Determine The Value Of Your Home?
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer in need of home insurance or you’re putting your home on the market, you must first determine the value of your home to accurately protect or sell it. Homes depreciate over time, and establishing a house’s value can be complicated, as many aspects are considered. The following
Two Ways to Determine How Much House You Can Afford
By Christopher Allen Learn more about Christopher on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Buying your first home is an exciting process, but it’s not just about finding the features you want. If you’re like most people, price plays a major role in your decision. After all, even if you feel confident that you can afford
Debate: Rent vs. Buy
Spring is only 38 days away a time for fresh starts and, for some, a new home. Before you head out to open houses, your first question should be Should I own a home at this time? Your second
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