Today's Current News, Opinion & Advice
The cost of living is going up and continuing to rise. Unfortunately, that means the cost of apartment hunting is up, as well. If you’re going to have to pay more for rent, you’re also going to have to pay more for things like security deposits. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things…
iBuying is changing the real estate landscape; offering consumers an option to cash out equity, where time is more important than milking the last dime out of a home’s value. It works a bit like a car purchaser trading in their old vehicle rather than spending countless hours and money trying to sell it online.…
Over the years real estate has proven to be one of the most profitable investing strategies. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that just any investment property will bring high return and success to its owner. The secret to making money in real estate is finding profitable rental properties. If you are a new real estate investor…
Have you checked out USDA loans?If you’re a low- or moderate-income homebuyer who doesn’t have a lot of money for a down payment and who needs lenient credit requirements, you (or your lender) are probably focused on FHA loans. But if you haven’t taken a look at USDA loans, you may be missing out on…
Thinking about remodeling? You’re not alone. According to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, spending in this sector is up more than 50 percent in the United States since 2010. The study found that, “Spending on improvements and repairs to the US housing stock continued on an upward trend in 2017, setting a…
The smart home of tomorrow is the functional home of today. We need not wait, we need not promise, we need not predict what will be—what may be—when we know what is: that we have the means to create smart kitchens without buying new appliances, that we can improve our health and make our homes…
The World Health Organization says falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injuries worldwide after road traffic crashes. Here are some easy ways to make your stairs safe for everyone in the family. Scary but true: there were more than 50,000 emergency visits for injuries from falls on stairs in Ontario in 2015, according…
Americans are obsessed with murder. Whether it’s fictionalized accounts in books or on the movie screen, or true life tales, which are, as Forbes says, “having a moment right now,” we just can’t get enough of the grizzly stuff. But is there a cap? Do we just want to see and watch and read about…
While some home upgrades are purely personal, like adding a wine cellar or a Christmas package wrapping room, others will actually help increase the value of your home. The right home upgrade can make all the difference in how much your home is worth. Check out below for some great ideas. Replace the Windows Poorly…
First time home buyers who dip their newbie toes in the mortgage waters might soon find out there’s a lot more to know than originally thought. It is a brand new world with lots of new terms, people and businesses and it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Heck, even seasoned buyers can find…
A first home is a special milestone. This is a chance to leap into the first steps into full fledged adulthood. One of the most important aspects of buying a new home is finding the funds for a down payment. Most lenders require the prospective applicant to demonstrate they have saved a certain amount of…
If you are concerned about climate change and global warming, then you may be thinking about reducing your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions you produce over a period of time. No matter how large or small your carbon footprint is, every little bit you reduce can help the…
Congratulations on your new home! It’s been a long stressful journey getting to where you are now. You’ve had to give up your old home, decide whether you can afford a new one, and then move your entire life to a new state or a new neighborhood. It’s been stressful, but you’re almost through. Most…
Yeah, things like jobs and real estate values are important, but you know what really matters? The strength of your football team. Yes, for some people, there is no greater motivator to move to a city than whether or not there’s an NFL team to root for, and the chances of them actually ending up…
If you or someone you know is retired or retiring soon and planning on buying a “forever” home, there are some things to know as it relates to qualifying income. For most, retiring means living on less and essentially downsizing financially. The regular 1st and 15th paycheck is in the rear view mirror and now…
You know how important first impressions are. When you’re selling your home, you have one chance to make potential buyers believe it’s the place they want to put their money into. There are several projects that you can complete to draw the attention of people that are looking for their forever homes. One of the…
More and more homeowners are looking to save money, gain valuable experience, and take pride in their places by doing their own home fixes and renovations. But when do you know if a project is DIY-worthy or DIY-crazy? We’re looking at five of the most popular projects to determine whether you can have at it…
Do you have all the digital tools it takes to make you a leader in the real estate field? Are you in touch with what buyers are really looking for—and how they’re going about trying to find it? How robust is your social media presence? The National Association of Realtors’ new infographic, “2019 Real Estate…
Even if you currently have no children, but plan to in the future, you might benefit from buying as if you do. PJ Wade explains why a recent research report offers home buyers without children serious food for thought. If you don’t have children, but you and your partner share the solid conviction that your…
Okay, let’s say someone decides to put their home up for sale. The real estate market seems to be doing pretty well and the home is worth more than what the owners paid for it. And, according to the homeowner’s calculations, there will be enough cash after the sale for a down payment on a…
As a responsible citizen of Earth, you understand that our planet could use some help maintaining its fragile balance. You also understand that each person can do their part to help. Reducing energy use is an easy way to provide such assistance and it starts at home with your energy consumption. You can combine style…
It does not matter if you bought a newly built home, a fixer-upper or a condo in a maintained community— owning your own place usually brings about a home improvement itch in some people. Even if it doesn’t, at some point it will require us to do some basic maintenance and repair tasks. Before you…
When it comes to roofing materials, there are few choices that offer the durability and performance of metal. They’re the strongest roofs around, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Metal roofs can come in many different shapes and sizes. The types of metal used in roofing all have different pros and cons, what you decide…
Starbucks just released a new pumpkin flavored drink and the Halloween gear is starting to replace the patio furniture outside the supermarket. That must mean fall is near. If you’re anything like us, the first freeze hits us and we remember all those projects we wanted to do and never started—projects that will help protect…
