A recent survey from LendingTree.com found there are multiple reasons why Americans would choose to purchase a home instead of renting. Some of the most popular non-financial reasons given include: The flexibility to make the space your own The pride homeownership offers The sense of stability In the same survey, 41% of respondents say they’d rather own a home than rent because of the...

As Ben Franklin once said: “In this world, nothing is certain but death and cleaning your gutters before winter to prevent ice dams”. With that, here are five fall home maintenance activities to start thinking about in the coming weeks. Check your chimney Make sure everything is in order before the first fire of the season. "Creosote buildup causes chimney fires," says Family Handyman. "You should...

If you're brand new to the wonderful world of home loans, you might be a bit overwhelmed by how many different types of financing options are really out there. Both primary loan types (fixed-rate and adjustable-rate) have many variations, so how do you know which one is best for you? Let’s start with Fixed-Rate Mortgages. The most popular loan in today's marketplace is the 30-year fixed. This is a...

Being in-between homes is more common than you think — and we have a plan if it happens to you. At first, it sounds like a problem any seller would love: Your home sold after only days on the market. After all, the fear of a property lingering on the market, enduring possible price cuts, or low ball offers is what keeps many from selling in the first place. While a quick sale is a reason to celebrate,...

When decorating your home, saving money is great. Who doesn't love finding a deal on an item and then not-so-subtly bragging about it when guests come over? Bargain-hunting does, however, have its limits, and the impulse to save now might cost you in the long run. Here are a couple places to splurge, and a couple ways to save when decorating your home. Furniture Furniture is a mixed bag. You can get...

In today's real estate market, homes stay on the market for about 25 days on average before going under contract. That's better than back in 2010, when homes were averaging 140 days to sell, but it's still not fast, and there's no guarantee that your home will sell in 25 days. Location, season, and many other factors affect how quickly you can sell a home. If you need to sell your home quickly, those...

Anyone looking to buy a home faces a major obstacle, coming up with that hefty down payment. The standard advice is to have a least 20% of the purchase price saved up, and for good reason. Sure, there are mortgage options that allow you to make a down payment of less than 20%. But that will mean having to take out PMI, private mortgage insurance. As you’ll soon see, this is something you’d be better to...

Create a beautiful outdoor cooking space for relaxing and entertaining all summer long. Summer temperatures start to rise, no one wants to spend time inside sweating over a hot stove. With an outdoor kitchen, you can make the most of the beautiful warm nights by spending them with your friends and family. Whether you have thousands to spend or a just few hundred to splurge, create your own outdoor...

With forbearance plans about to come to an end, many are concerned the housing market will experience a wave of foreclosures like what happened after the housing bubble 15 years ago. Here are four reasons why that won’t happen. 1. There are fewer homeowners in trouble this time After the last housing crash, about 9.3 million households lost their home to a foreclosure, short sale, or because they...

Ready to finally take that extended vacation this summer? Since it’s probably been a minute (or 751,680 minutes) since you’ve last traveled, here are a few helpful reminders for ensuring your home stays mishap free while you’re away. Set Your Thermostat If you have an AC, heatpump, or evaporative cooling unit, make sure to leave it on to prevent mold, mildew, and other conditions caused by heat...