Posts from November 2014
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30
Top 5 Cyber Monday Safety Tips
The Internet makes holiday shopping so easy-no fighting for parking spaces at jam-packed malls, no waiting in endless lines to get to the register.
But even if you consider yourself a pro, shopping online isn't without risks. These tips from USA.gov can help you protect yourself and your finances as you hunt for that perfect gift:
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card. Credit card payments can be withheld if there's a dispute with a store, and if the card is stolen, you won't have to pay more than $50 of fraudulent charges. But with a debit card, you can't withhold payments-the store is paid directly from your bank account. And if your card is stolen, you could be liable for up to $500, depending on when you report it.
- Find out if the public WiFi hotspot you're using at a coffee s...
28
New homebuyers checklist to ID costly repairs
(BPT) - When you're about to buy a house, it's easy to get excited about its great location, spacious floor plan or beautifully decorated interior. Yet the old saying, 'beauty's only skin deep' can apply to any home, especially if you're considering an older, previously owned property. Before signing on the dotted line, use this checklist to help avoid some potentially costly surprises and anticipate repairs or upgrades that may be needed.
Start at the top: the roof
Ask when the current roof was installed. Is it the original roof, or has it been replaced, repaired, or covered over with new shingles in certain spots? Are there known leaks, and if so, where are they? Have any of the leaks caused damage to the attic or interior? Also look at the chimney to see if it's properly sealed around...
20
Open House Advice for Buyers
1. Keep a poker face: Don't be overly enthusiastic. It is best to remain calm, cool, and collected. Dull your emotions, whether good or bad, so you don't compromise your position as a buyer. (Boston.com)
2. Pay...19
Expert tips to make your new house feel like home
(BPT) - You know that moving into a new home can be one of life's biggest stressors - the packing, the paperwork, the unpacking and of course finding the nearest coffee shop. Making your new house feel like your home can help alleviate some of this stress and provide a safe-haven for some much needed relaxation.
'Everyone has a different sense of what home is,' says Elizabeth Lindmier of The Art Institute of Colorado. So while the same aesthetic won't work for everyone, she offers her top five tips to start you in the right direction.
1. Texture and textiles - Instead of having a bunch of hard surfaces, cozy up your home with something soft or textured. This could be a blanket, curtains or area rugs. Thes...
13
Mortgage Rates Decline Further
Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates hitting fresh lows for the year for the second consecutive week amid declining bond yields. At 3.92 percent the average 30-year fixed rate is at its lowest level since the week of June 6, 2013.
"Fixed mortgage rates continued to fall last week after the yield on 10 year Treasuries dropped to their lowest point of the year," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac. "Existing home sales beat expectations in September clocking in at an annual rate of 5.17 million units, up 2.4 percent from August. Housing starts were up 6.3 percent in September adding a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.017 million units. Building permits rose 1.5 percent to a seasonal...