Desire To Retire

10 Mortgage Tips For 2013

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:35:03 PST

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the best time to refinance or get a mortgage to buy a home, think of 2013 as your last chance to act. With good credit, persistence and some shopping skills, you can still snag phenomenal deals this year — even if you are underwater on your loan. Here are 10 Mortgage Tips to help you with your mortgage decisions in 2013.

American Dream of Owning a House Still Alive

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:32:23 PST

Here’s some good news for the housing market going into the new year. Real estate company Trulia’s recent survey found consumer optimism about homeownership is on a rebound. The positive outlook on the market is also trickling down to the section of renters who, during the recession, thought they would never buy a home. The survey also found that rising prices in 2013 will unleash sellers into the market.

Top 10 Real Estate Trends for 2013

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:47:02 PST

Could 2013 be the new 1997?

After six years of lackluster sales and falling prices, 1997 was the year that launched a tripling of home prices within a decade. Will 2013 – coming after a seven-year housingdownturn -- be the next turnaround year?

Could 2013 be the next turnaround year for the housing market? Forecasters say yes. Assuming the recession or global uncertainty don't upend the economy, home sales and prices will go up, sales will be brisk, and inventories and interest rates will stay relatively low, economists and real estate industry experts say.

Forecasters say yes.

Title Insurance: Who Needs It?

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:21:51 PST

During the real estate transaction (especially if you're a first-time buyer), you're hit with so many foreign terms, fees and requirements your head spins. One of those strange and unfamiliar costs is title insurance. In most cases, borrowers have no option—either you get title insurance (among other requirements) or you don't get a loan.

3 Simple Projects to Increase Your Home’s Resale Value

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:45:03 PST

When it comes to remodeling there are a few general rules that apply to every home. One: it never hurts to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom. Two: focus on improving or increasing your home's livable space. Three: if you're going to remodel, make sure you spend the money to do it right.

Five Pitfalls That Keep Buyers From Finding The Right Home

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:34:14 PST

Buying a home is like searching for a mate. You'll go on many first dates and in the end, the one that has most but maybe not all of the characteristics that you want, will win your heart.

However, first-time buyers and sometimes even serial homebuyers are disappointed by how long the process takes. Yet they may not understand how their expectations, beliefs, and lack of action may be causing the delay in finding the right home.

Staging With Superior Interior Design

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:17:53 PST

The housing market is improving and that's good news for you if you are a seller who has been waiting on the sidelines for higher prices.

Housing prices are on the rise and the good news gets even better if you are ready to sell and heed sale-price-maximizing tips from a top-rated interior designer.

Ring in the holidays with real estate

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:12:14 PST

The holiday season is a busy time for most people. No one has time for anything because "this time of year is crazy," right? That doesn't mean the real estate market shuts down. In fact, the period from Thanksgiving through New Year's can be a great time to buy or sell a house.

Think I'm nuts? Hear me out.

Winterize your home: A procrastinator’s manual

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:19:51 PST

These measures — some finished in only a few minutes--will lower your heating bills and help prevent property damage.

WOULD YOU LEAVE your dining room window wide open all winter? Not preparing your house for the season is the equivalent of doing just that, according to Bill Stack, the energy-efficiency spokesman for the utility company NSTAR. “People can relate to that analogy,” Stack says. Most can also relate to the Department of Energy statistic that making your home more airtight and efficient can save you up to 25 percent on utility bills. Another benefit: Winterizing can stave off later repairs, according to Angie Hicks, cofounder of the consumer website Angie’s List. “We hear this time and time again,” says Hicks, “that a lot of big emergency calls are really the result of skipping out on basic maintenance: cleaning gutters, keeping the roof in good shape, insulating, caulking. Sometimes they take a little bit of time, but they’re not typically real expensive items, and some are things you can probably do yourself if you just know what needs to be done.”

Confident Home Buying: Is This The House For Me?

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 17:36:42 PST

Buying a house is likely the single largest investment you'll make and, like a good marriage, if it's the right one, it may last a lifetime. But how can you be confident in your home buying, especially if you're a first-time buyer? With so many homes to choose from, how do you know if this house is the one?

Damaged Credit Scores Could Trip Up Freddie & Fannie Short-Sale Program

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:27:21 PST

Regulators exploring fix to protect underwater borrowers who have never missed a payment

Without some last-minute gymnastics, underwater homeowners participating in Fannie and Freddie's ambitious new plan to allow short sales by borrowers who haven't missed a loan payment could see their credit scores dented just as severely as if they'd gone into foreclosure after months of nonpayment.

Five Areas That Can Hurt Your Appraisal

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:50:07 PST

Fall is nearly here and, chances are, your life is going to be getting much busier. On the home front you have school and kids' extracurricular activities starting up. On the work front, you're heading into conference and travel season, not to mention the race to get it all done before the holidays and year end. The last thing you need is major home maintenance added to the list, so here are 9 things to do right now before fall gets into full swing: