Revisiting population data, the U.S. Census Bureau recently zeroed in on the living arrangements of adults over the last 40-plus years. Notably, the majority of adults in both 1970 and 2014 shared a household with a spouse. But if trends bear out, the gap between married adults and unmarried adults sharing households will close—fast.
According to Freddie Mac’s recent Primary Mortgage Market Survey ® (PMMS®), the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) ducked beneath four percent to 3.98 percent amid ups and downs on the home front and overseas. The survey also indicates the average 15-year FRM declined to 3.17 percent, the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) moved down to 2.95 percent, and the …
A number of products and services exist to help homeowners protect what will likely be the largest investment they’ll make – buying a home. The key to their effectiveness is gaining a clear understanding of various industry terms, defined by the non-profit National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA).
Filling your home with comfortable furniture that reflects your sense of style can be a joy for the new homeowner. But it can be a major headache unless you consider the basics for good furniture arrangement. Home designers at Ethan Allen offer five tips to help get your started:
When the calendar flips to the summer months, all you can think about is getting outside and soaking up the sun. But when you look out the window into your new back yard, what do you see? Is it an inviting space that encourages you to get out and enjoy the fresh air? Or could it use a bit of …
When planning to buy a home, your first of order of business shouldn’t be creating a wish list – it should be reviewing your credit. While it’s possible to buy a home without a mortgage, most people don’t have that kind of cash, and your credit is a major factor in lender decisions. “Before applying for any loan, be sure …
As the economy continues to stabilize, more Americans are experiencing improvement in credit application rates and credit rejection rates, including those of mortgages and mortgage refinances, reports the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. According to the Bank’s recent SCE Credit Access Survey, there are now more successful applicants and fewer rejected and discouraged credit seekers. Thirty-four percent of survey …
If you live in cold weather, fall is when you put in the storm windows. If you live in a warm climate, summer is when you step up the pool maintenance. No matter where you live, however, checking on – and maintaining – 10 areas of your home each year is one good way to ensure your new home stays …
Americans report two million burglaries each year, and about two cars are stolen every minute in the U.S., according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There are a number of ways burglars find their next target, but your property becomes particularly vulnerable when your family leaves for vacation. Fortunately, some simple changes to your pre-vacation routine may dramatically decrease your …
