Posts with tag 'Recently Read'
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13
Spring cleaning: 6 areas to repair, replace and refresh
(BPT) - Spring is one of the most popular times of year to clean up your home inside and out, make renovations and take steps to ensure it operates efficiently for the rest of the year. But after the long winter months, the list of projects can pile up. This year, focus on six key areas to repair, replace and refresh around your house now - to avoid spending more time and money later.
1. Repair your roof and gutters. Inspect the roof to check for loose or cracked shingles. Also, be sure to look at indoor ceilings for any signs of water leakage and get started on repairs before more damage occurs. Take a look at the gutters to see if there are areas in need of repair as well, and tackle them now before there's too much rain.
2. Repair and reseal your de...
10
Pre-Purchase Education Key to Homeownership
Buyers new to homeownership have a lot to learn in their first go-around-and recently released insights reveal just how important education is.
According to an analysis by Freddie Mac, borrowers who received classroom and home study counseling had reductions in their subsequent rates of serious delinquency of 26 percent and 21 percent, respectively. The same data show that borrowers who received individual counseling averaged a 34 percent reduction in their rate of serious delinquency.
"Freddie Mac believes objective, unbiased homebuyer education and counseling can improve the ability of borrowers to make prudent homeownership and home financing choices," says Sean Becketti, chief economist at Freddie Mac. "The benefit is likely to be greatest for first-time homebuyers, and, as a result, Freddie Mac requires financial literacy education for first-time homebuyers who take advantage of Freddie Mac's low-down-payment prog...
2
Five home buying trends for this year's market
(BPT) - If you're in the market for a new house this year, don't be fooled by the brisk chill in the air - the spring house-hunting season is actually closer than you think. That means now is the perfect time to start your planning. Space requirements such as bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage are essential, but a house is more than just shelter, it's your home, and the great ones not only have everything you need, but everything you want.
"Each family lives in their home differently," says Beazer Homes Senior Creative Manager Michael Phillips. "Some buyers prefer a private dining room, while others want an open-concept kitchen with a more casual eating area. Where one buyer might prefer an owner's suite on the main level, others may want all their bedrooms on the upper level."
Although every ho...
26
Selling or Staying, These Home Improvements Are Worth It
Generally, homeowners undertake home improvement projects for one of two reasons: to enhance their quality of living, or to increase the value of their home. The best improvements, however, pay off whether staying or selling.
The projects worth the most of their investment are:
1. Boost Natural Light – Buyers love balanced, natural light- and you probably do, too! To make the most of the light entering your home, install ENERGY STAR®-qualified, no-leak skylights in the kitchen or bathrooms. Skylight blinds can help control the amount of light at any given time of day, giving you (and buyers) the ability to enhance the ambiance of the home.
2. Install a Deck – Whether seeking to spend more time outdoors or to attract potential buyers, adding a deck (or up...
25
Mortgage Rates Circle Last Year's Lows
Mortgage rates have moved lower for the sixth week in a row, prodded by ongoing market volatility, according to Freddie Mac's recently released Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®).
"The 30-year mortgage rate dropped another 7 basis points [last] week to 3.65 percent," says Sean Becketti, chief economist at Freddie Mac. "[Last] week's drop leaves the mortgage rate just 6 basis points above last year's low of 3.59 percent."
The average 15-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.95 percent with an average 0.5 point, according to the survey, and the average 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.83 percent with an average 0.4 point-both decreases.
"I...