Building codes change over time and for people who have owned their homes for a long time, they may not know if their home is out of code and if so, does it matter. Building codes and violations from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and focus on …
The solar panel industry has mushroomed over the past few years. Almostevery homeowner has at least considered adding solar panels to theirhome to take advantage of the energy savings they promise. But reducingenergy consumption with solar does not stop at solar panels on the roof. …
Let’s face it, it’s fun to have a home listing during a seller’s market. When inventory is tight, even less-than-perfect homes invite the frantic bidding wars seen over the past few years. But as the economy slows down and interest rates increase, sellers are wondering …
New homebuyers often tell their agents that they are looking for their “starter home.” Several factors go into this approach. These are typically younger buyers, often without children. They may be looking for a maintenance-free home, like a condo, or they might assume that starter …
It can be disturbing to realize that the beautiful home you’ve fallen in love with is in a flood zone. While it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, there are some serious considerations to understand before moving forward. Flood zones are defined by the Federal Emergency Management …
Homebuyers who have a better credit history over a longer stretch of time than a shorter one may benefit by a change to the credit-scoring model used by Experian. Up until about 2016, mortgage lenders didn’t use trended credit data and didn’t differentiate between types …
When you want to move, there is no guarantee that things will happen quickly. You might find your dream house in a few days, secure a mortgage and be able to move in right away. On the other hand, it might take months to find …
Paying off your mortgage early and living mortgage-free so you can use the money for other things—such as travel and an early retirement—can sound like a pipe-dream that’s impossible to get to, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have a 30-year mortgage, there …
