Unexpected things can happen at any time, that’s why we call them emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA makes a standard recommendation to all Americans that you have enough basic supplies on hand to survive an emergency for at least three days. The creation of a “Ready” kit needs to be assembled now. […]
Your bank may have a voluntary program where you can transfer $100 each month from checking to savings. After five years, you would have over $5,000 in your savings. You can view this as a type of forced savings. The same happens when you buy a home with a standard amortizing mortgage. Each month as […]
If you are a homeowner, you should know that having equity in your home gives you options. The difference between the value of your home and what you owe on the home is called equity. During the recent “Great Recession” homeowner equity decreased nationwide. When the value of your home is less that the mortgage […]
Do you know where your main water shut off valve is located? If you have a water emergency you may need to know. Like having a fire extinguisher. You hope you don’t need it but it’s there if you do. Most often the shut off valve is located at the front of the home where […]
Contributors to the rate of return on rental real estate are appreciation, cash flow, leverage, tax advantages and equity buildup. If all of this is confusing and is keeping you from investing in rental property, take a different approach. Let’s cut out all but cash flow and equity buildup as factors to buy rental property. […]
A popular tool for homeowners looking at their home’s value these days is the AVM or Automated Valuation Model. A computer analyzes public records to provide you a value based on square footage, comparable sales around your home and a few limited factors that you can edit. Just go to their website, enter your address […]
As a homeowner, I would like you to recognize that as the professional who might have helped you buy or sell a home I can be a valuable resource while you are owning your home also. Think of me as a homeowner’s resource because I can make recommendations about services throughout the years you are […]
Often when we think about buying a home, we most instinctively think about a 30-year mortgage. Paying over 30 years makes our monthly payment a bit lower than choosing a 15-year mortgage and the principal and interest is pretty consistent. For decades, homeowners believed they would always have a mortgage payment. But today with the […]
If you are going to own a home then you are going to need home insurance. This is a must for most mortgage companies that you have some type of insurance on your home. Lenders may only require fire insurance but depending on where you live you may want more like hurricane coverage or flood […]
Over the last several years, there have been a variety of factors that have led to a rental unit shortage especially with single-family homes. Due to this shortage, rents nationwide have been increasing. In most national markets, it costs considerably less to own than to rent. Paying less on a monthly mortgage to buy a […]
