A mortgage is a long-term commitment; though you can move, it isn’t as easy asrenting an apartment. Once you have a mortgage, you will likely need to sell the home before you can move to another, which can be a slow process. Planning what you want to do in the foreseeable future ...
The costs of selling a home start with home prep, followed by staging, marketing and likely concessions, plus the average closing costs of selling, 8%-10% of the sale price. Real estate fees for sellers add up fast.
Start Preparing How Much Money Do You Need for a Down Payment? You should shoot for a down payment of at least 20%—that’ll keep you from having to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is a yearly fee that runs about 1% of your loan balance, so avoiding it will save yo...
Your home search mightstartwith some online window shopping, but it shouldn’tendthere. You can do a lot of research on your own, but you’ll need thehelp of an expertwhen it comes to finding and securing your perfect home. A buyer’s agent can help you navigate the home-buying process...
They offer helpful amenities. Many HOAs oversee extras like pools, parks and community spaces. If you plan to use these facilities, then buying a property with an HOA could offer even more value than one without. Cons of HOAs Belonging to an HOA can also have drawbacks. Some of the most...
Wait until the grass has died and cardboard has decomposed to start planting No-dig lasagna gardening Lasagna gardening, also known as sheet mulching, is an easy no-dig (orno-till) gardening method. You should start your lasagna garden in late summer or fall to allow enough time for the ...
As hinted above, you’ll generally need a pre-tax salary of between $200,000 and $300,000 to afford most $600,000 homes on the market. But there are certainly exceptions depending on the cost of taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA dues and more. Learn more: Unmarried millennials are tw...
In January, I was thrilled to start a full-time position. After the bills were paid with my first paycheck (and some nudges from my partner to do something about the mounds of clothes piled on our bedroom furniture), I caved and bought a dresser, a nightstand and a few other organizati...
A homeowners association (HOA) is an organization tasked with governing the affairs of a real estate development owned by multiple parties such as an apartment building. HOAs are responsible for tasks such as ensuring building maintenance, deciding on whether to pursue larger renovation projects, and...
What Is an HOA Fee? HOA fees are charged by aHomeowner's Associationto pay for maintenance of public areas, security, and other services that improve the neighborhood. They may also be used to remunerate elected HOA officials and to defray legal costs. How Much Is a PayPal Fee? As of Au...