Adding a DIY fire pit to your backyard is an excellent way to keep the fun going long after dark. Instead of an unsightly dirt fire pit, spend a day making a new statement piece for your yard. If you’re wondering how to build a fire pit — we’ll show you how. When selecting and building your DIY fire pit, make sure you avoid using wet stones. If you are using river rocks, be sure to give them several...
Let's face it – it's been a long winter, but brighter and warmer days are upon us. If you're the type of person who likes to be prepared, it isn't too early to gear up for lawn and garden season. Here are some tips to help you hit the ground running this spring: Test the content of your soil with a kit. Soil test kits are designed to determine levels of PH, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and...
Have you found yourself dreaming of your own Walden Pond lately? Whether you're looking to build a luxury retreat or you just want a natural escape, the dream of scooping up an undervalued piece of land is an understandable one. But before you break out the flannel, it's important to remember that buying land is different from buying property with a structure already on it. Here are some things to keep in...
The 10-year yield is used as a proxy for mortgage rates. It's also seen as a sign of investor sentiment about the economy. Treasury bond yields (or rates) are tracked by investors for many reasons. The yields are paid by the U.S. government as interest for borrowing money via selling the bond. But what does this mean and how do you find yield information? Treasury Bills are loans to the federal...
Deciding whether or not to refinance an existing mortgage typically means running some numbers. You can do this on your own, but it’s helpful to get the professional assistance of a loan officer. It mostly boils down to how much you’ll save each month, but there are other considerations. First, the change in rate isn’t everything. Old school rules say that it’s a good idea to refinance if...
It might seem strange that mortgage companies use gross monthly income when determining affordability instead of 'take-home' pay. After all, it's the take-home pay that consumers use for their monthly expenses and bills - including the mortgage. But there are a few good reasons why lenders use the gross amount. First, it's universal. Lenders A, B, and C all use gross monthly income to calculate...
This year has been nonstop uncertainty. The coronavirus pandemic led to shutdowns and major changes to our everyday lives. Those changes are likely to continue as we head into winter. Cities have been hard-hit, not only in terms of public health, but also economically. Despite everything, the housing market is one thing that's been consistently strong this year. So, what do experts think next year will...
It’s not too late to address a few home maintenance musts before winter fully sets in. Here’s a list of last-minute winterization tasks to knock out before you go into hibernation mode. Check and clean the gutters one last time. As the last leaves have fallen, take time now to make sure your gutters are completely cleared out. Blockages can create ice dams, which will damage your gutters and prevent...
If you live in a house for two of the previous five years, you owe little or no taxes on its sale. Knowing the tax laws can make a considerable difference in the tax picture when you sell a building, whether it’s your residence or a property that was previously your residence. Betting on the house: Rules for property sales Real estate agent Shelley Bridge vividly recalls how a love affair once cost a...
If you're thinking about buying a house right now, you're probably wondering how best to go about it. The truth is, you can still do in-person tours in some places, depending on the local regulations, but many people are buying homes right now without stepping foot inside until the deal is done. Sight unseen deals are nothing new, but up until recently they were used mostly for foreign buyers,...
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