Remodeling a home, even in minor ways, can increase a family’s comfort and enjoyment. But whether or not they’re planning to sell, many homeowners considering an upgrade wonder how much the planned project will increase the value of their home. Surprisingly, design experts say, sometimes not as much as the remodel might cost. Certain home …
Which Remodeling Projects Will Add the Most Value to Your Home? Read More »
A backyard pool can look like a lot of fun when you’re house-hunting. Summer days full of swimming and splashing around your pool can be great fun, but sooner or later you’re going to have to face the costs that come with a pool. Here are some of the costs of pool ownership: Maintenance: Before …
Choosing roof materials is like a great hairdo because your roof plays a big role in the overall style and quality of your home. If you are deciding which roof to install on a new home or are replacing your present one, here’s how you can achieve beautiful curb appeal and functionality while staying within …
How Roof Materials Impact the Look and Feel of Your Home Read More »
Whether it’s embarrassment or a messy home sale transaction you want to avoid, clearing up some title restrictions before a home sale can make both less problematic. Home sellers may be asked to clear up any problems found in a title report before the sale proceeds. To prevent being surprised by a buyer’s request, sellers …
Title Problems to Resolve Before Selling Your Home Read More »
There are more materials, colors, and patterns available in kitchen countertops than ever before—and since many are close in price, the decision may be even harder. The product testers at Consumer Reports scratched, stained and scorched seven of the leading contenders. What they found may help potential remodelers narrow their choice of materials: No two …
Counter Intelligence: Which Countertop Is Right for You? Read More »
A minor kitchen remodel such as changing hardware, resurfacing cabinets and other minor improvements can earn a return on investment of 83 percent, according to the 2016 Cost vs Value Report by Remodeling Magazine. An 83 percent return means that for every $100 spent on improvements, the home’s value increases by $83, on average. That won’t pay …
Kitchen Problems to Look for before Buying a Fixer-Upper Read More »
Are you looking to refinance? If you want to get a second mortgage so you can make renovations to your home, it can be difficult if you have poor credit. A second mortgage can use a home’s equity as collateral for a second home loan, allowing up to 80 percent of a home’s value to …
Refinance Options for Those With Low Credit Scores Read More »
While most condominiums are apartments, a townhouse is attached to one or more houses and can run the gamut from duplexes and triplexes to communities with hundreds of homes. Buyers separately own their homes and the land on which the houses sit. With a condominium, the unit owners jointly own the land and this common …
Experts Define How Condominiums Differ from Townhouses Read More »
Mortgage rates have been relatively low for years. Seeing them inch up can cause home shoppers to panic and possibly put their home purchase on hold. The good news is that there are options when mortgage rates are rising. First, it’s worthwhile knowing that small increases in mortgage interest rates shouldn’t affect buyers too much …
It protects them should you default on the loan, especially if you fail to make payments in the early years of the loan when more is owed on it. Foreclosure, property fix-up, and resale costs could result in a loss on the mortgage loan. That is a bad situation the lender wants to avoid. So …
Expert Insights: Why Do Lenders Require a Down Payment? Read More »
