byDanielle Procopio Feb 16, 2016 Clean living is in vogue. Key Takeaways Healthy, sustainable green living isn’t a new idea, but it is rapidly becoming a top item on homebuyers’ wish lists. Homebuilders and tech companies are embracing the wants and needs of today’s consumer. The market is changing, and demand is growing for sustainable
First, let’s tackle whether it makes sense to become a homeowner. Writing a monthly rent check can seem like throwing away money, but piling mortgage debt on top of student loans can create a long-term budget crunch. “With student loan debt, your asset is your education and no one can take that anyway,” said Certified
Millennials, gather ’round. This is a tale you might find hard to believe, but it’s true: A long, long time ago, there was such a thing as an interest rate hike. Really! Yes, back before mankind had Twitter or iPads or even iPhones, your parents used to worry about interest-rate increases. And they had much
Theresa King of Illinois knows lots of young people who dream of owning their own home. It’s ingrained in the American psyche, like turkey on Thanksgiving. But Theresa sees it differently. She calls her decision to rent a home instead of buying her smartest financial move. In 2000, she found herself in a situation she
It just got a little easier to navigate the complicated mortgage process. New disclosure rules went into effect in the mortgage world Saturday that require lenders to provide home buyers two new forms that clearly detail their loan terms. “For consumers, it’s going to be viewed as an improvement in what can be a somewhat
Home remodeling projects can come up for many different reasons. Your spouse got a new job and could use a home office. Your kitchen hasn’t been updated since 1973. You’ve heard if the right homebuyer were to come along, a hot tub could equal bonus bucks in your pocket. When considering a remodeling project, how
Over the last week, the markets have taken a beating. The overall US stock market has declined 9.9% since last Monday[1], which is in line with the overall international market which has gone down 9.7%[2]. The overall bond market held steady by going up 0.4%[3]. Let us take a look at the big picture for
Jun 24, 2015 Buying a home is a big decision and can be even more overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the city or state where you’re moving. It’s not just about finding a home with four walls; it’s about finding a community that fits your lifestyle and personality. And as a real estate agent,
Here is a simple fun exercise you can do to work on improving your personal finances. It is credit card fasting and is exactly what the name implies and is no different than fasting to improve your physical health. There are countless reports and experts that promote the benefits of fasting for our physical health.
Renting vs. Buying When it comes to deciding whether to rent or buy your next home, it all boils down to the golden rule of real estate: location, location, location. Renting can make complete sense in one city, while it would be a money drain in another. And the length of time you plan to