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FHA. 30-year conventional. 15-year term. With so many loan options out there, how do you know which is best? There is not one across-the-board winner because everyone’s situation is different. But there are pros and cons of each that might make one loan work better for you. We’re comparing and contrasting some of the most popular options to help you make the best choice when buying a house.  30-year fixed-rate conventional This is a 30-year loan with rates that are fixed every month...

It's an unfortunate fact that thieves often target homes on the real estate market. Sometimes these thieves are serial offenders, but they can also be prospective buyers or real estate agents gone rogue. To minimize temptation, store your valuables, especially fine jewelry, in a safe and secure place whenever you have potential buyers or agents in your home. Avoid leaving valuables unsecured in easy-to-access areas. We've outlined several ways to avoid mistakes and keep your valuables safe befor...

There are different scenarios where you might be interested in the feasibility of managing an Airbnb remotely. Maybe you have a second home or are considering one that when you aren’t using it, you’d like to rent on Airbnb. This is common. Another scenario might be if you want to travel the world for a while or take a sabbatical, and you want to rent out your primary residence while you do so. How possible is it to manage an Airbnb remotely? Have a Local Team There’s going to be no way to ...

Your front yard is the red carpet inviting buyers into the beauty that is your home. If it's rugged, messy and unkempt, buyers will take one look and then keep on driving to the next property on their list. Don't let that happen by making your front yard luscious and as amazing as the inside of your home. What areas should you focus on in your front yard? Where do you start? To help you break down the revitalization of your front yard, here are the steps you should take: 1. Cut the grass. Buyers...

A home equity line of credit is a type of financing that pulls value from your home. You’re accessing your equity, and some of the reasons you might tap into it include: • Home improvements• Debt consolidation• Long-term investments• Emergency expenses• Business expenses Home improvement is largely the main reason people get HELOCs. You can upgrade your home or make it more functional for your needs. You might use your home equity to finance a large, value-increasing home project lik...

Ever wonder why some homes sell and others don't? There is no magical fairy dust that can turn a loser of a house into a palace. And, in fact, if there were such a think as magical fairy dust, sprinkling it in your home would make a big mess, and that's a big no-no if you want to sell. Getting your home sold is not all that hard if you stick to the basics. But if you've got some of the problems below, you may just be sitting on that unsellable home for a while. Problem No. 1: Because your home i...

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a house when it comes to home value and appealing to buyers while trying to sell. For this reason, it's important to pay special attention to your kitchen when preparing a house to sell or building a house for the first time. The following is a guide for how to build a modern, desirable kitchen that will work to sell your house for you. Keep It Clean Because the kitchen is a room that sees significant use, it can get grimy and worn down easily. U...

Buyers are looking for ways to get an edge over sellers. One way is to find out how much sellers owe their lenders on homes for sale. With this knowledge, they can gauge how much negotiation room the seller might have. In a seller's market, knowing what the seller owes can help the buyer formulate an offer the seller will accept, avoiding an expensive bidding war with other buyers. In a normal market or a buyer's market, the buyer hopes that the seller will accept an offer that is lower than cur...

There are different scenarios where you might be interested in buying a property at an auction. It could be that you want a fixer-upper as your new home, and you want a good deal. You might also be considering an investment. For example, you can buy a property at auction and flip it or rehab it and rent it out. Regardless of what you’re looking for, real estate auctions can be exciting and can offer great deals, but they can also be stressful and intimidating. Going to a real estate auction an...

Homeownership. It shifts so many things. If you're coming from an apartment, you may experience conveniences like direct-access garages and walls that aren't shared for the first time. If you've been renting a home, you will probably feel a new sense of security and peace of mind once the mortgage is in our name. Not to mention the itch to repaint, re-imagine, and redo at least a few dozen things. Want to know just how becoming a homeowner can change your life? Read on. 1. Financial security &qu...