“I can do this, hold my beer.” And with those words start some of the funniest home improvement stories ever. There are certain things you should probably know how to do around the house. You should know how to change a light bulb, fix a creaky door, stuff like that. But there are some home projects where the best place to start is with your telephone. Have a look here and see if you agree.
Little oversights might make for big problems when it’s time to apply for a mortgage. These five mistakes are the most common ones that people make, sometimes more than once, and they’re hurting their chances of getting a mortgage.
1. Paying late
2. Too much credit
3. Applying for too many credit cards at once
4. Never having a credit card at all
5. Running up your debt
Read about what you can do to combat these problems here.
If you’ve got 99 problems, chances are there’s a hack that someone has thought of to fix at least a few of them. Simple hacks are not only time and hassle savers, but they give you that ‘a-ha’ moment too. Here’s a great set of simple home hacks to check out. I bet dollars to doughnuts you’ll adopt at least one of them. Hack away here
Homeowners considering remodeling projects as a way to add value to their homes will find that some add more value, and better recoup their costs, than others.
These ten projects make the biggest financial payoff upon resale, and most are on the exterior of the home:
More here
Fannie Mae is launching a new program nationwide this month by giant mortgage investor focused on the home appraisal process. It’s already causing controversy with detractors claiming it may lead to more expensive and longer home sale closings. The program will offer mortgage lenders access to Fannie’s proprietary home valuation databases. Lenders will be able to use the data to assess the accuracy and risks posed in appraisal reports submitted by appraisers. Lenders can then request explanations and changes to the appraisal in any situation where there is conflicting or significantly different information in submitted appraisals. This means that if you are in the market for a home, January 26 will bring some important changes that you should know about. More here
Dealing with frozen pipes can be an unpleasant and expensive job. You can reduce the chances of your pipes freezing by taking some precautionary measures before extreme temperatures hit. Here are a few tips to help you avoid potential catastrophe: Insulate any exterior wall pipes; open cabinet doors to allow heat from your home to reach sink pipes; trickle water from faucets- moving water is less likely to freeze. When traveling away from home, do not set your thermostat any lower than 55 degrees. If your pipes do freeze, you should open the faucet letting water pass through, even if only a trickle- this will help the pipes to warm faster. More here
If you’re dealing with winter weather, you may want to ensure your home is protected on all fronts. A few things you can do to make sure you are safe during cold weather, snow or ice storms are: Pour sand on your walkways, porches and driveways to help create traction. You can also invest in tread tape to line your garage, which will decrease the risk of falling. Lay floor mats both outside and inside your doors so you can clean your shoes of snow or salt, which can be damaging to the interior of your home. Another helpful tip calls for placing markers or stakes alongside your pathways and driveway so you know where to stop shoveling. More here
Your credit score determines many important aspects of your life such as buying a home, a car, or applying for a credit card. Lenders look at your score to decide if your credit is strong enough to qualify for a loan or line of credit. Experts have offered a few tips to help increase your credit score such as opening a bank account, paying all bills on time with no exceptions, applying for your first credit card, having a stable job, and applying for a small loan to establish credit. Experts also suggest checking your credit report regularly. By staying on top of your credit, you will be knowledgeable of the things that can help and hurt your credit score. More here
Painting the interior of your home is a big job, but if you know what you’re doing, you can save hundreds by not hiring a professional painter. A few ways you can get a professional look without spending a significant amount of money are: Remove everything out of the room, including light fixtures and floor molding. Purchase a good drop cloth to cover and protect floors. Repair any cracks or dents in the walls and sand them down so the paint can better grip the walls. After sanding the walls, wash the sand dust off with a damp cloth. Prime your walls so the true color of the paint can be seen; it will also ensure the paint is applied smoothly. Lastly, purchase a roller that is lightweight and not too long. The roller should hold paint, but not create too much texture. More here
CoreLogic has released its 2015 Housing Outlook that forecasts improvement in both the housing market and the economy. The report suggests that, as employment continues to grow, an increasing number of millennials will begin to buy homes. Lower oil prices will aid the housing market by decreasing energy consumption costs. Home price growth will remain steady, and housing demand will increase with home sales predicted to jump 9%. Additionally, Houston has been named “the most interesting housing market to watch”. More here
