Blog – Page 665 of 815

29 Jun 2015

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 29, 2015

Market Outlook

Last week's economic news was largely positive as both new and existing home sales beat expectations. FHFA reported that home price growth held steady in May, while weekly jobless claims edged up, but were lower than expected. New and Existing Home Sales Exceed Expectations According to the Commerce Department, new home sales reached 546,000 on an annual basis for May. This surpassed expectations for 525,000 new homes sold and April's revised reading of 534,000 new homes sold. Expectations were based on the original reading of 517,000 new homes sold in April. Existing home sales rose by 5.10 percent in May…

26 Jun 2015

By Mark Feder

Safety Tips: 5 Ways to Prepare for a House Fire – and What to Do if One Breaks Out

Around The Home

House fires can break out for a wide range of reasons, and these include everything from grease fires while cooking in the kitchen to lightning striking the home. They can cause a significant amount of property damage as well as personal injury or even loss of life, so preventing them and knowing how to properly respond if a fire does break out are important. Whether buying a new home or residing in an existing home, everyone can benefit from learning more about fire safety rules. Have An Exit Strategy Fires can break out whether residents are awake in the living…

25 Jun 2015

By Mark Feder

Summer’s Coming! Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal and Get a Quick Sale with These 3 Tips

Home Seller Tips

Curb appeal is important in the home sales process, and this is because it will impact the overall first impression that potential home buyers have about the property. Some homeowners can easily spend a small fortune and a considerable amount of time improving curb appeal, but others may be looking for faster and easier results. The good news is that boosting curb appeal is easy and affordable to do when these three tips are followed. Spruce Up The Front Door The front door and patio area are focal points for those driving by the home, and this area receives even…

24 Jun 2015

By Mark Feder

Moving to the City? How to Downsize from a Large House to a Smaller Condo or Apartment

Home Buyer Tips

Many people make the decision to move from the country or the suburbs into the heart of the downtown area for a number of reasons, such as to enjoy proximity to work or to enjoy the urban lifestyle. With the higher cost of real estate in central urban areas and with real estate space at a premium, many who make the decision to relocate will need to downsize from a larger house to a smaller condo or apartment. While this can be challenging, it can be accomplished by following a few steps. Choose The Right Pieces To Keep When downsizing…