(TNS)—If you’re a homeowner who has paid down a significant portion of your mortgage, you may be sitting on a mountain of tappable equity. If your house is worth more than you owe on it, you may be able to use that equity to make home improvements. Before tapping into your home equity, make sure…
(TNS)— More than 3.4 million Americans are in mortgage forbearance plans, which allows them to pause payments for a month to as long as a year. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to jolt the economy, more people will face financial difficulty, including how to pay their monthly mortgage bill. “The forbearance program is obviously designed…
(TNS)—When it comes to interest rates, mortgage seekers should pay close attention because every little bit of interest counts. A quarter of a percentage point doesn’t sound like much, but it can mean thousands of extra dollars in interest paid, or not paid, over the life of a typical 30-year loan. For buyers worried that…
(TNS)—Homeowners who want to shave off dollars from their monthly mortgage payment, as well as save money on interest, might consider a mortgage recast. What Is Mortgage Recasting? A mortgage recasting, or loan recast, is when a borrower makes a large, lump-sum payment toward the principal balance of their mortgage and the lender, in turn,…
(TNS)—The Fed lowered rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday, for the third time this year, in an 8-2 vote. Citing “global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures” in a statement released by the Federal Reserve, policymakers dropped the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-1/2…
(TNS)—Your house is outdated, but where do you begin making changes? It might still have its original cabinets from 1978 or it’s been years since you changed the cosmetic details. Whatever end of the decor spectrum you’re on, a few modern tweaks can take your space from past to present. How Revamping Your Space Can…
(TNS)—The old real estate adage of “location, location, location” could be changed to “Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s,” if recent analysis is any indication. A report by ATTOM Data looked at how home values were affected by proximity to different grocery stores, and the results are eye-opening. It turns out that if Trader Joe’s…
(TNS)—Second homes give people the chance to live another lifestyle, in another part of the country, or even outside the U.S. For some, it’s appealing enough to get another mortgage or invest a substantial amount of savings to buy one. If you’re pining for a home away from home, you’re not alone. There were 7.4…
(TNS)—The average interest for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages is nearing 4 percent again, ushering the way for millions more homeowners to save money by refinancing. The recent drop in rates means that 5.9 million people can potentially save money by refinancing their existing home loans and securing a lower rate—two million more than last month, according…
(TNS)—You walk into your house and the lights automatically dim, your favorite song begins to play and the air gets slightly cooler. Upstairs, your steam bath is already prepared and your blinds are closing. This is not a far-off fantasy, but rather the high-end of high-tech homes, also known as smart homes. An all-inclusive system…
“The rate should never be treated as a yes-or-no answer,” says Nick Nastos, founder of Chicago’s Property Shop. “I would be more concerned about a buyer closing with no emergency fund than one accepting a slightly higher rate with a manageable payment and cash still in the... Read more.
