A mortgage may be Americans’ biggest amount of debt, but they view it as the best type to have. Americans with mortgages have the highest level of life satisfaction than those with other forms of debt, such as medical, student loan, or credit card debt. The findings come from the Ascent team by The Motley Fool, who surveyed more than 1,000 Americans with debt to learn more about the psychological impact of debt.Consumer debt has been on the ris
When you walk into a listing appointment with confidence, you instill confidence in the homeowner that you’re up to the job. Kase Eller, president of brand development at Mainframe Real Estate, writes in a recent column at Forbes.com that confidence is key in being triumphant in a listing presentation, whether you’re already a top producer or a new agent just starting out.And after years working in real estate, Eller has broken that confidenc
Living on a beach is the dream to many homeowners. But for many, the high cost keeps them from ever making it a reality.However, you don’t need seven figures in your bank balance to buy in some beach towns. Realtor.com®’s research team analyzed the nation’s largest metro areas with the highest share of listings with keywords such as “beach,” “beachfront,” and “ocean.” They also factored in the number of water activities fo
Some cities are taking up ordinances that would prohibit landlords from denying people housing on the basis of a criminal conviction. The Cook County Board of Commissioners’ recent approval of an ordinance, which allows those with criminal convictions to more readily get housing in the Chicago area, is adding to the momentum behind activists’ efforts.In nearly a dozen big cities, advocates are campaigning for the passage of “fair-chance hou
The right home improvements could help shave energy bills by up to 35% or unlock up to $627 in annual savings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.Steve Chalk, who recently retired from his work at the department, told CNBC that a home energy assessment can help determine what the best savings projects are for a homeowner to take on.Home energy audits cost about $400, but the price greatly depends on the type of residence and its loca
Some would-be home buyers may be able to afford the monthly payments of a mortgage, but they can’t scrape up enough money for the down payment. More than 2,500 government assistance programs nationwide are offering help, and more buyers are taking advantage of the aid.More than 13% of borrowers who used Federal Housing Administration mortgages in the first three months of this year used government assistance for their down payment, up from
The phrase “blooper room” is being used by real estate professionals to describe problematic spaces that turn off potential buyers to an otherwise ideal home. Just one room in the house that badly needs work could make prospects look the other way entirely.Apartment Therapy recently spoke with some real estate pros about rooms that could potentially be the “blooper room” of your listing:A dated kitchenIf the kitch
Indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental risks to public health, researchers say. After all, most people spend 90% of their time indoors, whether in homes, office buildings, or other structures. Ventilation is the “new frontier for making houses healthy,” Carl Seville of SK Collaborative, a green building consulting and certification firm, told Forbes.com in a recent article.There’s reason for the added attention. R
Women tend to be less aware of their mortgage options when applying for a loan than men, and that may be causing women to pay thousands of dollars more, according to a new LendingTree study, which tracked Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data.First-time buyers and repeat borrowers who are women reported being less familiar with all aspects of the mortgage process. Male and female first-time buyers show the largest disparaties when it comes to
Some of today’s most popular design trends could prove to be less than ideal for your buyers. Real estate pros tell Apartment Therapy which interior design trends they believe won’t impress potential buyers—and may even make them want to pass on a home, including:Colorful kitchens. The trend toward bold colors in the kitchen, rather than just white or neutral colors, is catching on. But real esta
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