A termite infestation can be costly, and sadly, many homeowners don’t discover there’s a problem until these wood-eating pests have already caused a great deal of damage to a home or an inspection uncovers it during a home sale.“Termites are referred to as the hidden enemy,” says Mike Duncan, an associate certified entomologist and eastern region trainer for Truly Nolen, a pest control company. The damage can reach $7,900 or more before t
Participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are ineligible for mortgages from the Federal Housing Administration, a Housing and Urban Development official confirmed in a letter this week, ending recent uncertainty on the issue.President Barack Obama had started the DACA program on June 15, 2012, during his presidency in a move to prevent the deportation of children of immigrants to the U.S. About 800,000 people are par
The assumption that baby boomers want to settle in a suburban McMansion may not live up to their reality. The older generation loves city life, too, and researchers are finding more urban dwellers in that age group, according to a new analysis from RENTCafe of U.S. Census Bureau data from the 250 largest U.S. cities.In fact, New York City claimed 14 places on RENTCafe’s list of the top 20 ZIP codes with the largest baby boom
Newlyweds in Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh can have it all—a fancy wedding and a new home. Those Midwestern metros were found to be the most affordable cities in which to throw a wedding and cover a down payment on a home, according to an analysis by Redfin.In all three metro areas, the average combined cost of a wedding and a down payment is less than $65,000, compared with the national average of more than $109,000, according to the stud
While some home features have the kind of buzz that makes home shoppers think they must be part of their next home, living with them may actually cause ongoing regret, according to a new article at realtor.com®.One of those highly desired items: an open floor plan. An open layout may actually end up a nuisance as noise and privacy become issues, but that doesn’t stop it from holding a top spot on many buyers’ wish lists.“Sounds are multipl
PPG, a paint firm and color forecaster, released its early picks of inspiring hues for 2020. If the predictions are right, you’ll be seeing much more blue in home decor next year. PPG announced on Monday that Chinese porcelain is its 2020 color of the year.The shade is a blend of cobalt mixed with some muted navy tones intended to instill calmness and restful sleep, the paint firm says. Blues have been steadily gaining popularity over
When is the right time to purchase your first home? The answer differs across age groups.One in five parents say they expect their child to own a home by age 25, yet this doesn’t match up to reality. Younger adults tend to feel the most pressure to own a home, but they’re still waiting on their own time terms, according to a new survey from Porch.com, a home remodeling website. Porch.com surveyed nearly 1,000 individuals betwee
Bank of America has made several recent moves to reduce the borrowing costs of would-be home buyers who have faced affordability constraints. The bank's latest offer: mortgages with no origination fees for buyers with little savings for a down payment. The promotion is available through Oct. 31.The offer applies only to loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, Freddie Mac’s Home Possible program, and Ba
Even as paperless transactions simplify the homebuying process, not everyone wants to go completely digital. So for buyers who want to opt out of an online closing or are not eligible for one, Notarize, an electronic notarization provider, has debuted a “hybrid closing” option. With this process, buyers can review and sign the majority of closing documents digitally, but the paperwork will still be physically furnished on settlement
Airbnb guests are showing concern about being under surveillance, with 11% saying they’ve discovered a hidden camera in a property they rented and 58% saying they’re worried about being spied on, according to a survey from IPX1031, a service provider of exchange transactions nationwide.About a quarter of respondents say they don’t have a problem with cameras inside common areas such as living rooms or kitchens, according to the survey.The u
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
