Mortgage

May 18, 2015The spring home-buying season is in full swing and first-time buyers are eagerly taking advantage of low interest rates as home prices continue to climb. Existing home sales are up since 2014 and the new construction business is booming once again. If you’re preparing to venture into home ownership, one of the first decisions you’ll… read more…

May 13, 2015Since it began operating in 2008, Airbnb has shaken up the hospitality industry, and reports are that it could soon be valued at over $20 billion. That’s nearly as much as Marriot International. With that much capital behind the Airbnb platform,… read more…

May 5, 2015If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to have some money in your pocket. Thanks to skyrocketing home prices and an increasingly competitive rental market, the City by the Bay is extremely expensive. In addition to high housing costs,… read more…

April 22, 2015Between 2007 and 2011, 81 of America’s 100 largest urban housing markets saw prices decline at least 10%, with over half of those markets experiencing a decline of at least 20%. That, in short, is what one of the largest housing crises in U.S. history looks like: widespread, significant drops in home prices. While the… read more…

April 20, 2015How far can the housing recovery take us? That’s the big question for 2015. Could prices once again reach the historic highs of early 2007, just before the housing crisis? In 2013, with the economic recovery underway, interest rates approaching zero and prices increasingly looking like a bargain, growth in the housing market was all but inevitable. Last… read more…

April 6, 2015It’s no secret that living in New York City is expensive. Before the average NYC resident’s paycheck even reaches the bank, they’re shelling out some of the highest income taxes in the country, with high taxes on both the state… read more…

April 2, 2015Renting your first apartment is one of those rites of passage that just about everyone goes through. But if you’ve never had a credit card or you don’t have much of a credit history, getting a landlord to give you… read more…

March 23, 2015Your mortgage lender likes when you make your payments each month. But your lender often doesn’t really make the big bucks from your loan until it sells it to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or some other financial institution. So don’t be… read more…

March 23, 2015If you’re tired of spending half your income on rent, or dropping $4.50 on a gallon of milk, it may be time to find a cheaper place to live. So where should you go? Your best bet is the Midwest or the South: 7 of the 20 cheapest cities in America are in a Midwestern… read more…

March 20, 2015Considering a private arrangement to secure a home mortgage for yourself or a loved one? Following a few simple rules will help your financial arrangement go smoothly for both parties – the borrower and the lender. Here are five tips… read more…

March 18, 2015Considering buying a house with a friend, brother or sister? What about your boyfriend, girlfriend or partner? You’re not alone. A growing number of unmarried people are buying homes with their relatives or partners. Find out now: How much house can I afford? A recent study found that 25 percent of now-married couples between the ages… read more…

March 18, 2015As we move into spring, many potential first-time homebuyers will be eyeing their local housing market and trying to decide if now is the time to make the leap to homeownership. For most, it is the financial decision of a lifetime—a home, after all, is not only a place to live, but a significant investment… read more…

March 16, 2015The price-to-rent ratio measures the relative affordability of renting and buying in a given housing market. It’s a good factor to consider if you’re deciding whether to rent or buy. It’s especially useful if you’re considering a move, because it allows you to see what prices look like in your new city. As a general… read more…

February 5, 2015If you have ever lived north of the 42nd parallel, chances are you’ve heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder. S.A.D. isn’t just a fancy term for the winter blues; it’s a documented medical condition that afflicts certain people in the late fall and winter, with symptoms that include depression, a lack of energy, insomnia and feelings… read more…

February 3, 2015An amortizing loan is a simple loan in which payments are paid simultaneously on both the principal of the loan as well as the interest that is owed for that loan. This is what most fixed-interest house loans are made… read more…

February 3, 2015It’s a good time to be a hockey fan in the United States. Last year saw the National Hockey League’s total attendance grow to over 22 million, an all-time high that included what was very nearly the largest crowd to ever watch a hockey game live.1 Reports are that the NHL will be adding two cities… read more…

January 29, 2015There are many ways to save on your electricity bills. For starters, you can turn off the lights when you leave a room. But did you know that you can also make money from the electric company? This involves selling… read more…

January 7, 2015Over the past three decades, skiing and snowboarding in the United States have grown from niche hobbies pursued by a relatively small collection of enthusiasts into major industries. During the 2013-2014 winter season alone, the National Ski Areas Association recorded over 56 million skier and snowboarder visits to U.S. ski areas. That’s 56 million separate… read more…

January 6, 2015Year after year, the arrival of the New Year proves America is a country that places a premium on fitness. We like getting in shape. Or rather: we like being in shape. Getting there is a different story. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the average body mass index… read more…

January 1, 2015Over the last few years, the housing market has seen steady improvement, and delinquency rates on mortgages have reached their lowest point since 2010. Despite the upswing, though, there are still nearly 10 million homeowners who are upside down on… read more…

December 22, 2014One of the advantages of renting versus owning a home is that you’re not burdened with the task of trying to sell the property if you decide to move on. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just walk away… read more…

December 17, 2014Buying a home is a major financial achievement, but for some would-be buyers, the path to the American Dream is littered with obstacles. Tighter lending restrictions and raising interest rates have pushed a number of people out of the market altogether.… read more…

October 30, 2014In the United States, the responsibility of building and maintaining a police force rests largely with local governments. With the exception of national outfits like the FBI or the DEA, whose jurisdiction is limited to specific types of crime, as well as the state police departments, which are mostly restricted to crimes occurring on state… read more…

October 28, 2014Real estate has long been considered one of the safer investments that provides a decent return, regardless of the ebbs and flows. There are many options for real estate investing, including flipping properties, buying commercial real estate or renting out… read more…

October 14, 2014You’ve found your dream home. But the monthly mortgage payment that comes with it is out of your budget. What do you do? Most home buyers debate whether they should take out 30-year or 15-year fixed-rate mortgage loans. For some, the… read more…