Buying or selling a house is more stressful than getting divorced, going bankrupt or getting fired, according to a survey of 2,000 adults by EstatesDirect.com. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by home buying with your loved one, you’re not alone. Figuring out how to merge your lifestyles, budgets and expectations
Living closer to work is so desired many people would pay more for housing and make a lateral job move for find more affordable housing closer to work.
The Urban Land Institute’s “Lack of Affordable Housing Near Jobs” study revealed an acute awareness of the jobs/affordable housing
The American Dream has been synonymous with home ownership for as long as most of us can remember. After three decades as a licensed real estate agent and investor, I have bought into that dream and sold that dream to others more times than I can recall. Spending money
Buyers who rely on what they see and don’t ask their real estate professional key questions, often “see” less that the whole picture regarding suitability and value when touring a listing. PJ Wade shares Six Essential Questions for Seeing It All When Viewing Property.
When buyers attend
Having a rental property can be a great investment. Not only can it appreciate, but many times the rent you receive from tenants will also cover most (or all) of the mortgage.
Of course, it’s not exactly passive income. You’ll probably be managing renters, hiring yard care
Buying stuff can be stressful. Cheap out, and you could regret it. Overspend, and you’ll cut into your budget. Knowing the best time of year to buy appliances and other household items can lessen the anxiety.
Here’s a list of the best time of year for sales:
Furniture: January and July
You could save 30% to
As a smart seller, you’ll want your home in tip-top shape — but you don’t want to eat into your profits by overspending on home improvements. You won’t be around to enjoy them anyway. The key is to focus on the most important repairs to make before selling a house to ensure
How much is that kitchen remodel going to cost you? That’s a hard number to nail down. It’s not like you can cost compare on Amazon.
Instead, you need to research, create a budget, and track your expenses. Having your own kitchen remodel worksheet can help. Download it here. (You’ll be prompted to make a copy of the
If you’re serious about buying a home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a critical step. It’s also a tedious one. Lenders seem to want a mountain of documents and have so many {{ start_tip 124 }}requirements.{{ end_tip }}
Yet the payoff is worth it. Most agents recommend mortgage pre-approval because it strengthens your offer. Sellers like
Are closing costs tax deductible? What about mortgage interest? Or property taxes? The answer is, maddeningly, “It depends.”
Basically, you’ll want to itemize if you have deductions totaling more than the standard deduction, which is $12,000 for single people and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly. Every taxpayer gets this deduction,