When it comes time to sell your house, you have one burning question: What is my home worth?In recent years, a proliferation of online resources has emerged to provide you with an answer before you ever consult a human. But while consumers have access to more information than they could have … [Read more...] about 7 online tools to estimate home value, and why your estimate may be wrong
How to get the best deal on a mortgage
Most people will need a mortgage to buy a home. That means that not only do you need to shop for a home, you need to shop for a home loan. But a survey of 2013 borrowers by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that almost half of borrowers didn’t shop around before settling on a … [Read more...] about How to get the best deal on a mortgage
Should you buy longterm care insurance?
As the baby boomers get older, they face an important question: Who is going to take care of them when they can no longer care for themselves?About 13 percent of Americans try to answer this question by buying long-term care insurance, which is a fraction of those who will need help. Yet issues … [Read more...] about Should you buy longterm care insurance?
New ways to sell your home without an agent
Technology has made drastic changes in how Americans shop for real estate. You can see all the homes for sale in a neighborhood with the click of a mouse, and information about nearby home sale prices is easily available.But little has changed in the way real estate is actually bought and sold. … [Read more...] about New ways to sell your home without an agent
How to avoid pesky bank fees
If you think bank fees are getting higher and more numerous, you're right. A study by WalletHub of 35 large banks found that the average consumer checking account has 25 different fees, and the average customer pays about $470 in fees every year."Bank fees are getting more expensive, and they're … [Read more...] about How to avoid pesky bank fees
12 home maintenance chores you should do now
When you think of spring cleaning, things like scrubbing floors, sprucing up cabinets and straightening closets come to mind. But spring is also a good time to perform routine home maintenance. Ignore these crucial home upkeep tasks at your peril. Fail to clean the gutters, for example, and you … [Read more...] about 12 home maintenance chores you should do now
12 tech tools to help sell your home
As the housing market has improved, so has another aspect of real estate: the tech tools available to help you sell your home.“Before the recession, agents were still marketing to other agents,” says Brian Balduf, co-founder and CEO of VHT Studios, which provides digital marketing services … [Read more...] about 12 tech tools to help sell your home
What you need to know before you buy rental property
Investing in rental property has long been a popular option for people who want to diversify their investments beyond stocks and mutual funds. But, unlike those more mainstream investments, rental properties can require significant hands-on work, including dealing with tenants and keeping up with … [Read more...] about What you need to know before you buy rental property
How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
If you’ve decided to buy a home, good luck to you. Your challenge will be not just finding a home you like, but also beating out all the other home buyers who like it and want to make an offer on it, too.The number of homes for sale is low nationwide, particularly in the price ranges desired by … [Read more...] about How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
5 free things to do in Miami
When you see Miami on TV, you see glitz and glamour and celebrities and think everything there must be incredibly expensive. But the Miami of the locals, while still filled with waterfront views and sunlight, is much more affordable.Here are five free or cheap things to do in Miami:Go to the … [Read more...] about 5 free things to do in Miami
Is it time to buy a house? 7 questions to ask
For many people, moving time means decision time: Do we buy a home or find a place to rent? This dilemma doesn’t just face young people starting out, but it also stumps established professionals relocating for a job and empty nesters who have sold the big family home.Corey Fick and his wife, … [Read more...] about Is it time to buy a house? 7 questions to ask
How to get the best refinancing deal
If you're paying an interest rate of more than 5 percent, now may be the time to refinance your home mortgage.Although interest rates have risen slightly in the past few weeks, they are still at historic lows. The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.89 percent in the last week, … [Read more...] about How to get the best refinancing deal
How to get rid of your timeshare
In the glow of the vacation moment, it seems like a wonderful idea: Buy a timeshare so you can return every year to relive the wonderful experience again and again.But years later, when your life has changed and you no longer want to return to the same vacation spot, getting rid of that … [Read more...] about How to get rid of your timeshare
Is the tiny house movement for you?
When life seems too complicated, some people advocate this solution: Move into a smaller home to have a bigger life.For some, the tiny house movement has become a way of life, adjusting to a smaller space and fewer possessions, with a goal of saving money and focusing on relationships and … [Read more...] about Is the tiny house movement for you?
Age in place by joining or forming a retirement village
For every retiree that packs up and moves to Florida, Arizona or some other warm-weather spot, another four or five prefer to stay right where they are. But as they get older, many people find themselves needing more help, whether it's a referral to someone who can fix a leaky toilet, a ride to the … [Read more...] about Age in place by joining or forming a retirement village
