. About 15 months ago, we decided to refinance our home. The interest rate was lower than when we had bought our house six years earlier, and our house had appreciated enough that we could drop PMI (private mortgage insurance) when we refinanced. The mortgage broker working with us asked if we wanted a cash-out refinance to pay off debt. Our answer was a hard and fast “no.” … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
Home Ownership
Benefits and Drawbacks of DINKS’ Housing Options
Unlike families with kids, DINKS has many different options when it comes to housing choices. While a single-family home is likely to continue to appreciate, though, of course, that’s not guaranteed, you don’t have to go the traditional route. DINKS has many housing options available depending on lifestyle and personal choice. … [Read more...] about Benefits and Drawbacks of DINKS’ Housing Options
Risks of Buying a Home as an Unmarried Couple
More and more couples are living together before they marry. While many of these couples may start out in apartments, the longer they live together, the more they may think of buying a house together. Especially in our current economic climate of record low mortgage interest rates, buying a home together seems like the next logical step in a committed relationship. Be … [Read more...] about Risks of Buying a Home as an Unmarried Couple
Dinks Dilemma: Buy or Rent Our New Home?
We’ve been renters for years. We have lived in two different apartments during our marriage. In the first one, the landlords were terrible. In the second one the landlord was fabulous. But with both of them, the noise from other tenants was maddening. Now that it’s time to move again, the big decision awaits: should we buy or rent a home? … [Read more...] about Dinks Dilemma: Buy or Rent Our New Home?
3 Strategies to Help You Save on Common Home Expenses
Sacing money on common home expenses like heating and cooling might seem like an impossible task if you've fallen into the routine of paying those astronomical bills. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to minimize your spending on common home expenses so you can start investing that money elsewhere. Here are a few tips to help you get started. … [Read more...] about 3 Strategies to Help You Save on Common Home Expenses
Do You Tip House Painters?
Most of us tip at restaurants and hair dressers. We tip Uber and taxi drivers. We leave a tip for the housekeeper when we stay at a hotel. When you tip people, you are showing the workers that you appreciate the job that they are doing. However, what about other service providers you may not use as frequently? For instance, if you have your own house, you may have used the … [Read more...] about Do You Tip House Painters?
How To Analyze A Market For Real Estate Investing
With interest rates incredibly low and the uncertainty around the stock market, many investors are beginning to park their money in more physical forms of assets like real estate. Home sales around nation are up and the demand for properties is through the roof! Do you want to get into real estate but you aren't sure if your market is the best place to invest? No worries, in … [Read more...] about How To Analyze A Market For Real Estate Investing
Annual Home Maintenance Checklist for All Seasons
Are you a new homeowner or maybe even a seasoned homeowner looking to make sure you are keeping up with all of your yearly maintenance? Look no further! Check out this list below for your annual home maintenance checklist for all seasons. … [Read more...] about Annual Home Maintenance Checklist for All Seasons
7 Tips and Tricks to Save Money On Your Home
Approximately 160 million people recently received a one-time stimulus payment from the IRS. This money can be used for a variety of things, including putting down a down payment for a home or making a few repairs. Whether you plan on buying, selling, or renovating a home, it’s going to be a major investment. These activities can get expensive quickly, but fortunately, there … [Read more...] about 7 Tips and Tricks to Save Money On Your Home
6 Things to Consider When Saving for a Vacation Home
Does a mai tai on the beach sound good to you right now? What about a quiet retreat in the mountains? Owning a vacation home--or a home away from home--can do wonders for your physical well-being and mental health. In fact, according to an article published in Science Direct, those who live half-a-mile to three miles away from the beach are twice as healthy--mentally and … [Read more...] about 6 Things to Consider When Saving for a Vacation Home
