February 2012

The origin of Valentine’s Day is mysterious. Valentine’s Day comes from a figure in Christian history but the exact identity of St. Valentine is difficult to prove. Tradition holds Valentine was a priest in Rome, who aided and sheltered Christians in persecution under Claudius II. In addition, he married Christian couples under the newly found faith of Christianity. Valentine was caught, and sent to…

Are you fighting a bad case of cabin fever this Winter? If so you're not alone! Dormant flower beds all across the nation are begging for some splashes of color. Here's a list of the top 10 inexpensive, easy-to-maintain flowers that will please those beds, your budget, and your neighbors.  

Curb appeal is your home's first impression to buyers and neighbors alike. It can say a lot about how you respect your home and property.

  Ask yourself these questions: How do you feel about a home with an overgrown lawn? Do you prefer flower beds that are empty and full of weeds or beds that are planted with new Spring flowers? The answers are easy! We all prefer yards that are well-kept. That includes buyers.  

When a buyer makes an offer on your…

President Obama is calling for $6 billion in his 2013 budget to expand home energy retrofits. Obama unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget for 2013 on Monday. 

The home energy retrofit allocation aims to revive Obama’s Home Star program, which passed the House of Representatives in 2010 but never won over final congressional approval. The Home Star program would grant home owners rebates for efficiency upgrades, including sealing ducts, installing efficient water heaters and heating units, windows, doors, and adding insulation. The program was previously dubbed “cash for caulkers.” 

Still, some are skeptical the full $6 billion will win final approval. "While Home Star is unlikely to make it through Congress (this year) due to its price tag, we…

Rates for 30-year U.S. mortgages held at the lowest level on record as fewer Americans sought loans for home purchases.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was unchanged in the week ending Thursday at 3.87 percent, the lowest in records dating to 1971, Freddie Mac said in a statement. The average 15-year rate climbed to 3.16 percent from 3.14 percent, according to the mortgage-finance company.

Financing applications for home purchases declined 6.9 percent in the past four weeks, said Paul Diggle, property economist for Capital Economics in London, citing figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The data suggest that recent improvements in U.S. home sales may not be "built on solid foundations," he wrote in a note to clients…

Decades from now when you retire, you are going to take a look at your income and assets to see if you will be living a comfortable retirement. One big portion of your retirement picture will probably relate to real estate. You may have paid off a home, and/or rental properties; and that would be great. Or you may still be paying a fairly large amount on your home mortgage or paying rent each month to a landlord.

Obviously, the scenario where you are still paying monthly for your housing is not an optimal scenario. Luckily, you can do a lot to increase the chances that the real estate you own will have been a net wealth builder over your lifetime. You do this by educating yourself and reducing the risk on real estate you buy and own. It is the real…