The U.S. housing market recovery is underway. New home sales are at a multi-year high, housing starts are at pre-recession levels, and home builders plan for a strong 2013. Since late-2011, falling mortgage rates have boosted buyer purchasing power. Now, today, in many U.S. markets, the number of active home buyers outnumbers the number of active home sellers. It's among the reasons why home supplies remain scarce and why home prices are rising. Roughly 20 percent of today's home buyers purchase homes with cash. For everyone else, the ability to gain mortgage approval depends on income, … [Read more...]
How To Help Your Home Appraise At Its Fair Market Value
Home values are rising in many U.S. markets. The S&P/Case-Shiller Index has home values up 1.2 percent as compared to last year, and the government's Home Price Index shows an increase of 3.7 percent. This has been partially evidenced by rising median home sales prices nationwide. Versus last year, the median sale price of a new construction home has climbed 17 percent, and the median sale price of an existing home sale is higher by 10 percent. For home sellers, an improving market means the chance to net more proceeds from a home sale. Or does it? In this 3-minute piece from … [Read more...]
Making Coupon-Free Savings At The Supermarket
The average family puts 10-15 percent of its monthly spending toward food, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Agriculture, with most of that food purchased at a supermarket. The amount spent on food is less than the typical amount spent on housing each month but what makes food costs different from housing expenses is food costs are not "fixed". How much you spend on food each month is up to you and, using savvy shopping tactics plus coupons, you can lower your monthly food spend. Saving money on food leaves money for other purposes including savings, clothing … [Read more...]
Should You Lease Or Buy Your Next Car? It May Affect Your Mortgage.
Should you lease a new car, or should you buy one? Like most financial questions, the answer depends on your situation. For some people, leasing a car presents distinct economic advantages. For others, buying a car is the way to go. There's plenty of online material to help you choose your optimal path, but this 3-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show serves as an excellent summary. In it, you'll learn about the basics of leasing a car, and for whom leasing can be a great fit. You'll also hear reasons to avoid a lease completely. The NBC interview makes all of the following points : … [Read more...]
How To Beat The Bacteria In Your Kitchen
Within Phoenix homes, the kitchen is often the most "used" room in the house. It's a meeting place for meals, for conversation, and for family. Unfortunately, that makes it a meeting place for bacteria, as well. Along with bathrooms, kitchens are the most bacteria-heavy rooms in a home. Kitchens require a good, daily cleaning. This 4-minute interview on NBC's The Today Show shows you how to do it. Using ordinary household cleansers and some elbow grease, you'll learn : Why sponges should be out of your kitchen and why loofahs should be in How to catch and trap fruit flies that spread germs … [Read more...]
