If you want to know how to live your best financial life, you’ve come to the right place! Here, you’ll find everything from information on insurance, investments, and owning rental property to advice on savings and retirement.
When you buy a home, your mortgage is sold to you by a banker or broker on the primary mortgage market. When that first lender sells your mortgage to another firm, your mortgage enters the secondary market. Does it make any difference to you as a consumer? Primary mortgage market. When you decide to buy… Read more »
Each month you send off a hefty chunk of money to your mortgage company. If you’re like most people, it represents 25 percent to 30 percent of your income. That payment is split into as many as five parts. Take a look. The payment against the principal amount of the loan. Say you took out… Read more »
Your “handyman special” needs so much work, you’re not sure it’s worth the time, effort and money it will take. Here’s a step-by-step approach to evaluating your fixer upper. Before selling, ask yourself if you can afford to fix the house. List the most important things that need repair and get estimates from reputable contractors…. Read more »
The beauty of a lawn comes with a price: mowing, lots of water, plus bags of fertilizer, weed and pest control. The amount of time, sweat and resources going into the yard may eventually overwhelm your pride in it. You could hire someone to maintain the lawn, but one way or the other, it’s costing… Read more »
In the aftermath of a storm, it’s important for homeowners to have a game plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to insurance and FEMA claims that will save you time, money and aggravation. Before the storm The first step to handling weather damage should occur long before the first wind blows. While life is normal, take… Read more »
If your home is significantly damaged by a storm, you will likely feel overwhelmed and confused just when you are faced with making several major repair decisions. Take a deep breath and let us walk you through the mess. Judge your home’s livability. Can you live in the home while it is being repaired? Is… Read more »
If you’ve always shoveled the snow around your home — or paid someone to do it — you might find yourself asking yourself: Is it time to buy a snowblower? Let’s examine the pros and cons. How often does it snow? This is the first question you need to ask yourself when considering a snow… Read more »
As people age, routine movement around the home may become a challenge. If seniors choose to age in place, what can be done to ensure comfort and safety when simply moving about the house? Let’s take a look. A ramp makes a house more accessible to those using wheelchairs or walkers. Eliminating a curb at… Read more »
Aging in place can be a great comfort to senior adults, especially when necessary renovations make familiar surroundings more accessible. That’s particularly true in the kitchen, which is a bustling place during meal preparation and the center of family life. For starters, an open kitchen floorplan is a big help to a family member using… Read more »
Aging in place can be a great comfort to senior adults, especially when necessary renovations make familiar surroundings more accessible. That’s particularly true with bathrooms, where comfort and safety must be considered as loved ones’ mobility and dexterity diminish. Doorways need to be 36 inches wide to accommodate a wheelchair. This includes both the bathroom… Read more »
It seems obvious that a garage should be used as a place to park your cars, but many folks have unintentionally turned their garages into giant storage rooms. If you’re guilty as charged, let the purging begin. Before you know it, your cars will replace all the clutter and you might even make yourself some… Read more »
Evicting a tenant from a rental property is one of the most unpleasant tasks a landlord faces. Consult the laws in your state carefully, then proceed professionally and courteously. Here is a brief summary from the landlord’s perspective. Three types of termination. Most states recognize three types of termination notices to tenants. Pay Rent or… Read more »
If you are a new landlord, it’s crucial to learn about the Fair Housing Act. Though it was established as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, it’s as relevant today as it was nearly 50 years ago. Established to eliminate discrimination against certain protected classes of people in the sale and rental of… Read more »
One of the greatest benefits of owning a rental property is its wealth-building capabilities — other people are paying for your equity in the property. With the right location, your earning potential is great. Earning higher rents. Owning a rental house or condo in a high-demand area likely will command excellent rental fees in peak… Read more »
If you’ve ever considered buying a house or apartment building as an investment rental property, think about doing so in a college town where you can rent to students. The potential for steady, top-dollar revenue is excellent, though there are risks. The pluses Renting your investment property to college students means almost never having to… Read more »
Thanks to today’s online and cell phone technology, pretty much everyone has the opportunity to be a landlord. Using services such as Airbnb and HomeAway, you can rent out your home to travelers visiting your community. Interested? Let’s take a look. Ask questions. Do you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association? If so,… Read more »
Stereotypes aside, men and women think differently when it comes to home finances and debt. Who is more careful with money? Who is the bigger risk taker? Take a look at some numbers. Who takes on more debt? Women tend to take on less overall debt than men, according to a 2014 Bankrate.com article exploring… Read more »
Whether you rent an apartment, duplex or house, getting along well with your landlord and neighbors is vital. Unless you want to be packing up and moving, it pays to be a model tenant. Check out these basic guidelines and you’ll be well on your way to being a responsible and respectful renter. Read your… Read more »
Few things can be more wrenching and make you feel more vulnerable than when your home suffers major damage from a flood or a fire. You realize how suddenly life can take a shocking turn. You also want to get your life back to normal quickly. How do you find trusted professional help? When a… Read more »
Homeownership is the dream of millions of Americans, and should never be denied because of an applicant’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, marital status or age. In 1974, Congress sought to remove such discriminatory obstacles from the approval process. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act was created to weed out discriminatory practices in lending. It’s… Read more »
