Should a Seller Get a Pre-Inspection for their Home?
Reverse Mortgages: New Rules Make Them Safer for Homeowners
The promises of a reverse mortgage -- never having to pay a mortgage bill again and using your home's equity to finance retirement -- can sound too good to be true. It almost was too good to be true during the Great Recession, when more borrowers were withdrawing most of their home equity at closing [...]
Why We Fall in Love—With Houses
Falling in love can be wonderful—and finding the perfect house can make a house-hunter weak in the knees. As Valentine’s Day approaches, a survey by Realtor.com shows that falling head-over-heels for a house is fairly common—69% of respondents reported that they have had a home crush. House-hunters with a “home crush,” as defined in the [...]
Mortgage Rates to Rise
The Federal Reserve's announcement Wednesday that it would reduce its bond-buying by $10 billion a month was seen generally as a moderate start to the highly anticipated taper. As such, mortgage rates, which follow bond yields, did not rise dramatically, as some had predicted. "I was relieved by how the market has reacted so far [...]
Home Prices Expected to Rise at least 3.3 Percent Annually though 2017
The housing recovery is expected to grow at an annualized rate 0.6 percent through the third quarter of this year, then gain momentum and prices are projected to grow 3.7 percent between the third quarters of 2013 and 2014 until settling down to 3.3 percent annual increases over the next three years according to Fiserv, [...]
Small Upgrades That Go A Long Way
No one wants to spend a fortune when it comes to selling a home, but most want to spruce up a few areas to make their property more appealing to potential buyers. There are several types of small improvements individuals can make that can transform the look of a home without forcing them to break [...]
How to Limit Spending When Getting A Home Ready To Sell
It is common for homeowners to think that selling a home is an expensive endeavor, which may in turn cause them to hold off on putting their home on the market. From repairs to staging the process can seem overwhelming. However, with the advice of a real estate agent, sellers often find there are several [...]
For Sale by Owner: Why Going Solo May Not Be Going Smart
Those that choose to sell their own homes often hope to avoid the commission paid to real estate agents. While those familiar with the housing market and process of selling a home may enjoy a successful sale, plenty of inexperienced home sellers have encountered nothing but headaches. Besides limiting the number of potential buyers, the [...]
Where Do You Want To Be When The Economy Revives?
Here are some positive possibilities: • In a home that the temporary slowdown in real estate made it possible for you to own… with its value climbing and your equity growing rapidly. • Living in a larger home with amenities you never expected to have… yours because you acted when others were fearful. • The [...]
Staying On Top Of Green Energy Trends
Homeowners are commonly advised to consider energy-efficient improvements before selling a home, but the ever-evolving field of environmental technology makes it tough to stay on top of the most beneficial – and practical – green energy developments. While it might impress the neighbors to convert a standard home into an energy-saving powerhouse, doing so can [...]