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 …
If you are on the fence about buying a home, consider this: waiting to buy could cost thousands in accumulated wealth. According to a recent realtor.com® report, the financial penalties of delaying or forgoing on a home purchase have become very steep – the average buyer is estimated to gain $217,726 (in today’s dollars) in wealth over a 30-year period. …
Mortgage rates recently dropped in response to global uncertainty, helping to keep buyer activity strong toward the close of the homebuying season, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The results of the survey found the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaging 4.04 percent, and the 15-year FRM averaging 3.20 percent. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged …
Utilities switched, moving truck reserved, new home secured, boxes packed – as you work through your moving checklist, are you forgetting something? Have you taken steps to make the move as easy as possible for the only family member who has no say about your relocation: the family pet? While pets add an element to any move, it doesn’t have …
Purchasing a home is an expensive proposition, but for many buyers, the realization that a host of closing costs need to be paid before the sale can go through is often a concern when it comes to ensuring there’s enough money set aside to go through with the transaction. In simple terms, closing costs are the fees associated with the …
Realtor.com® recently revealed that millennials have become more positive when it comes to taking the plunge into home ownership and are primed to gain market share in the second half of the year, based on the results of its consumer behavior survey of more than 12,000 respondents conducted from Jan. 1, 2015 to June 15, 2015.
Sizzling heat and freezing temperatures can take a sizable chunk out of household budgets throughout the year. “Changing seasons require homeowners to adapt quickly when it comes to household savings,” says National Foundation for Credit Counseling© (NFCC©) spokesperson Bruce McClary. “The good news is that there is more than one way to achieve the kind of energy efficiency that can …
Consumers across the country filed more than 8,000 complaints against moving companies last year, according to BBB. So with summer moving season in full swing, we bring you five tips from BBB to help your move go as easily—and trouble free—as possible.
According to a recent Garden Media Group report, homeowners desire low-maintenance, high-quality outdoor upgrades that create both a tranquil sanctuary and an entertainment-ready space. But you don’t have to break the bank to make your outdoor space perfect for you, says Joe Raboine of Belgard Design Studio. “Even small updates to an outdoor living space can make a big difference, …
