The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development enlisted four new top leaders who will assume key roles in the agency. HUD explained these leaders are stepping up at the start of the year during a critical recovery period following last year’s devastating hurricanes. HUD Secretary Ben Carson administered the oath of office to these
A home is often the biggest financial investment you’ll make in your lifetime. In fact, a recent Zillow analysis reports that the typical American homeowner has 40 percent of their wealth tied up in their home. Several years ago, I wrote a complete guide to financial planning on one index card, which went viral and
For the most part, the latest tax reform will boost the average paycheck and do little to harm the housing market. However, according to two recent expert reports, the devil is in the details. Thomas Torgerson, co-head of Sovereign Ratings at ratings agency DBRS, said that for most households, tax reform should only have a
As home prices continue to rise across the U.S., and homebuilders place a heavier focus of luxury homes, the number of $1 million homes quadrupled since 2002 to make up 4.3% of all homes. In fact, as they continue to become less scarce, $1 million may no longer get buyers into the luxury home market,
As 2017 came to a close, homeowners continued to estimate their home prices below appraised values, however they were more in agreement than anytime in the past two years, according to Quicken Loans’ Home Price Perception Index. Home appraisals remained an average 0.5% lower than what homeowners expected in December, the HPPI showed. This is
Thinking of buying a home this year? We compiled five New Year’s resolutions that can help you keep your financial resume in tiptop shape. 1. Avoid job hopping Employment history and income are two of the biggest factors lenders look at when evaluating a mortgage application. A new job may be a good career move, but
Kitchen renovations require time and money, taking several months to complete and costing tens of thousands of dollars. If you don’t have the financial resources for a full-on renovation, there are a variety of ways you can give your kitchen a new look for a lot less. From refacing cabinets to replacing lighting, a few
The Urban Institute recently published a new report saying federal housing assistance programs aim to ensure recipients have decent, safe and affordable housing, however it claims new policy changes have left these programs falling short of their goals. In the report, the Urban Institute suggests a need for a serious review of affordable housing policy
By Stephanie Reid, Avvo attorney and NakedLaw contributor In addition to the health and safety dangers of sub-zero temperatures, blinding snowstorms and inconspicuous ice sheets, winter weather can also be incredibly dangerous to your home. Homeowners must consider a number of winter weather issues, including legal liabilities to watch out for and knowing whether your homeowners
No matter what your local rental market looks like, the process of finding a place that works within your budget, timeframe and wish list can be a balancing act. Understanding the current market and typical search process process can help you mitigate some of the stress involved. Today’s rental market In many metros, renting takes