Home equity is a valued resource, and if you have it, you might be tempted to tap that wealth for other purposes. A home equity loan, which allows you to use your home’s equity as collateral, is a great way to do this. But depending on your personal situation, it may not be the right
Buyers and sellers often enter the market with misconceptions about real estate agents – how we work, how the process works and what the agency relationship is all about. It’s helpful to point out, without getting too far into the weeds, that in any one real estate transaction, there are most likely two agents: one
Whether you’re looking for an apartment, single-family house or townhome – and whether you’re in a city, the suburbs or a small town – be prepared to spend a lot of time online and even more time driving around to tour the most promising places in person. If you want to save time and avoid
Whether you throw a housewarming party or a backyard barbecue, it’s important to understand that your pets may not share your enthusiasm for entertaining. Despite the term “party animals,” many dogs and cats don’t like raucous gatherings with strangers invading their space. Some pets get really spooked by unusual activity in the home – even
Nobody likes living next to a yappy dog – or even a howling cat. And while a growing number of rental properties specialize in pet-friendly apartments and homes, it’s understandable why both property owners and their leasing agents are skeptical about pets. Here are some quick tips to help your pet be a neighborly renter.
Getting a mortgage can be a breeze or a slog, depending on what you know about the process. To get organized and set your expectations properly, let’s debunk some common mortgage myths. 1. Lenders use your best credit scores If you’re applying for a mortgage jointly with a co-borrower, logic suggests that your lender would use
Renting often gets a bad rap. It’s true that some aspects of being a renter are less than glamorous, but it’s not all bad. In fact, the number of renters is on the rise, and the traditional mindset about renting is changing. Let’s debunk three of the most common myths about renting. 1. You’re throwing money away
Everyone has advice about the real estate market, but not all of that unsolicited information is true. So when it comes time to list your home, you’ll need to separate fact from fiction. Below we’ve identified the top five real estate myths – and debunked them so you can hop on the fast track to selling
Home equity is the percentage of your home’s value that you own, and it’s key to building wealth through homeownership. Let’s take a closer look at how to build home equity without blowing your budget – and how to access it when you need it. How much equity do you have? Equity is easy to calculate
Built-in shelves can take your room from boring to bespoke in a snap. Unfortunately, they can also come with a hefty price tag. But I’m going to share the insider secrets you need to DIY your way to rich results without breaking the bank. (Hint: The secret is starting with assembled bookcases, like the IKEA