Updated: Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Peel-And-Stick Countertops and Other Band-Aid Fixes for Your Home
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Band-Aid solutions" are considered quick fixes; They might not provide an ideal or permanent solution in the way that a kitchen renovation would but theyre designed to be done faster and be easier to accomplishand easier on the wallet.nbsp;Whether youre getting ready for company and want your home to look its best without making a huge commitmen...

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4 Ways to Save When Selling Your Home
Written By: Ben Mizes

Selling your home can be a thrilling and very lucrative experience. But for the first-time home seller, it can also be nerve-wracking and deflating.nbsp;Thats because selling the largest investment of your life can be counterintuitively expensive. Getting your home ready to be scrutinized by strangers takes a lot of cash and elbow grease.As the ...

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What Does ‘Fully Amortized’ Mean?
Written By: David Reed

Mortgage loans come in most shapes and sizes such as different interest rates, loan terms and others. One term you may have heard of is fully amortized. Its sort of a mouthful but its an important feature of most loans today. A fully amortized loan is one where the loan is eventually paid off at a predetermined period of time while making regula...

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Automated Underwriting Systems Explained
Written By: David Reed

Automated underwriting systems, or AUS, have been around for a while now. For those not familiar with the term AUS, it might take a little explanation. Is it important to know? Well, maybe not critically so but for those who want to get some behind-the-scenes info on how mortgage loan applications are ultimately approved, this article will tell ...

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HOA Meetings That Soar!
Written By: Richard Thompson

Celebrate Your Success.The annual meeting should be a chance to celebrate successes, hand out recognitions, join members in a common cause and become better acquainted with each other. Use this venue to launch new initiatives or announce good news like awards.Invest in Success.If your annual meeting budget is bare bones, only those with a bone t...

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How Long Should A House Stay on the Market?
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

When you put your house on the market, you obviously want it to sell as fast as possible. Thats not always what happens, though. In 2020, homes spent an average of 25 days on the market, which was down from 30 days. Compare that to 2010, when the average number of days to sell a home was a whopping 140.Its a sellers market right now, especially ...

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Part 2: Questions Protect You...Keep Asking!
Written By: PJ Wade — Decisions & Communities

[Part 1: Suddenly Construction Looms posted May 4 ]The renovation or new-build project next door can leave you with all the headaches of construction without any of the benefits. The owner of the neighboring property will probably move out and rent in quiet comfort until construction is over. Construction noise will be your new alarm clock. Nois...

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How Are Soaring Materials Cost Affecting Real Estate?
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

There are some factors converging in the real estate market right now that are putting home prices at an all-time high. In fact, home prices are so high and bidding wars so common that a lot of buyers are waiting for things to settle down a bit, although we dont know when thats going to happen.So whats behind the increasing home prices around th...

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May Real Estate Roundup
Written By: Realty Times Staff

Freddie Macs results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that "Mortgage rates are down below three percent, continuing to offer many homeowners the potential to refinance and increase their monthly cash flow. In fact, homeowners who refinanced their 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in 2020 saved more than 2,800 dollars annually. Substantial o...

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Single Homeownership Is at Record Levels. Is It for You?
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

According to the National Association of Realtors, single individuals made up 25 of home sales in 2019. A whopping 17 of that 25 was single female buyers, many of them older. However, new data shows that single homebuying may be an even more substantial number.The share of U.S. homeowners who are single hit a record 38.4 in 2018, the latest data...

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What Should You Know About IKEA Kitchens?
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

Kitchen remodels are a popular but pricey project for many homeowners. With people spending more time at home right now because of COVID-19, undoubtedly, many are considering remodels.To save money on kitchen projects, some homeowners go the IKEA kitchen route.You can ultimately save thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, but is it wort...

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Why Are Payments Higher When You Shorten the Term?
Written By: David Reed

Many financial advisors recommend taking out a shorter term loan. Why? Because over the life of the loan, less interest is paid to the mortgage company. That makes sense. Less interest is always good, right? But with a shorter term loan, theres a tradeoff. The shorter the term, the higher the monthly payments. Why is that, exactly?Monthly mortga...

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Housing Counsel: Who's Responsible for Areas Outside Your Condo Unit
Written By: Realty Times Staff

Question: What responsibility does a unit owner in a high-rise condominium have with respect to external doors, windows, balcony railings, or roof decks? Does a unit owner have any direct responsibility for other than the internal space and contents of his or her unit?Answer: The answer to your question should be found in your legal documents. I...

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Saving for a Down Payment When You Live Paycheck-to-Paycheck
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

A down payment is an important component of taking a step toward homeownership. Saving for a down payment is also the biggest obstacle that you probably face when you want to buy a home.A down payment is the cash you pay upfront when youre going to make a large purchase. If you were going to buy a 350,000 home with a 10 down payment, youd need t...

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Top 5 Plumbing Expenses Homeowners Face
Written By: Joel Petway

When talking about something as extensive and complex as your homes plumbing system, its inevitable that there are going to be problems cropping up from time to time.Its not a matter of if, but a matter of whenBut that doesnt mean every situation that arises requires the expertise of a professional plumber. Some do, of course, but there are plen...

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The Role of Scent in Selling a Home
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

When youre trying to sell your home, there are a lot of psychological factors that matter, but you might overlook their importance. Scent is a big one.If your home doesnt smell good, and especially if it has some sort of detectable odor, youre going to have a much harder time selling it.There are short and long-term scents that may be affecting ...

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How is a Home’s Fair Market Value Determined?
Written By: Ashley Sutphin

Theres a term in real estate thats >We all know there are a number of variables that actually interfere with transactions, and both buyers and sellers negotiate until they can come to a price they agree on.While negotiation is a big part of buying a home, understanding fair market value is also >There are a few things fair market value isnt. It ...

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Avoiding a Nightmare Neighbor When Buying a Home
Written By: Jaymi Naciri

Neighbors matter: more than three-quarters of Americans say neighbors factor into their decision when choosing a new home, said mortgage company Ally. Their new survey asked more than 2,000 Americans about their favorite, and least favorite, qualities in a neighbor. More than half of Americans report having had what theyd >So, if youre looking f...

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