We’re officially into fall, and if you’ve been thinking about buying a home, we’re quickly approaching the best days of the year to do it. According to a study from ATTOM Data Solutions, October, November, and December claim nine out of the year’s 10 best home buying days overall. The study looked at 18 [...]
If you're applying for a conventional mortgage loan, you'll usually need at least 20% down if you want to avoid private mortgage insurance (typically just referred to as PMI). PMI protects the lender if a borrower defaults, and it makes monthly payments higher the entire time a borrower has to carry it. Doesn't sound [...]
Student loan debt is making it harder for Americans, especially younger ones, to become homeowners. Among individuals ages 24 to 32, homeownership fell from 45% to 36% between 2005 and 2014, according to the Federal Reserve. Sure, there are several different factors that play into the rate of homeownership — but the Fed noted [...]
With mortgage rates at historic lows at the time of publication, many homeowners are wondering: is it time to refinance? Though a refinance has the potential to bring about some serious benefits (a lower payment, less interest paid, a quicker pay-off timeline, for example), the truth is it's not right for everyone. It's important [...]
If you’re like most home sellers, you want to minimize the time your property is on the market. For one, showings and open houses are inconvenient. You have to leave your home at the drop of a hat, keep it clean 24-7, and let complete strangers onto your private property (and even into your [...]
Managing your money can be difficult. You’ve got bills to pay, income to track, and countless other expenses you need to cover throughout the year, all while saving for retirement (and a rainy day). Though there are apps and online budget tools that can help here, sometimes it’s just best to go back to [...]
As with anything, homes are subject to wear and tear. Systems break down, roofs age, and over time, things just aren’t as perfect and pristine as they once were. This poses a dilemma when it comes time to sell. On the one hand, homeowners can repair the issues and try to maximize the sales [...]
So you’re finally making the leap. You’re getting out of the rent race, buying a house, and moving onward and upward. Congrats! Buying a home is a really big deal. It usually means more space, more freedom with your design and decor decisions, and more pride in your property. But let’s not kid ourselves: [...]
When Amazon announced it was planning to build a second headquarters in North America, tons of cities put on their Sunday best and tried to woo the mega corporation. But, why? As Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat put it, Amazon would undoubtedly be detonating a "prosperity bomb" in the winning city. He saw it [...]