According to research from The Ascent, in 2019, homeowners spent an average of $26,418 per year in housing costs, while renters forked up $17,809 a year. Homeowners must spend an additional $8,609 a year according to the data. Homeowners typically have expenses that renter’s don’t have to cover at all or are less expensive for […]
Insuring a home is an essential step for any homeowner, but the cost of insurance can vary significantly depending on several factors. One of the most important factors is the value or replacement cost coverage of the property being insured. In this article, we will discuss what it costs to insure a $400,000 house, the […]
Recently, the Biden Administration unveiled a plan to help low-income and first-time homebuyers save an average of $800 per year on mortgage insurance costs. The plan is an attempt to help make housing more affordable as higher mortgage rates and skyrocketing home prices have pushed homeownership out of reach for many potential buyers. The plan […]
Moving is difficult, and there are certainly different degrees to it. A short move across town is a lot easier and less expensive than moving an entire household across the country. There is a lot to consider when planning a move, everything from the cost of living in your new location to where you will […]
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rate just hit 7% last week, which is now the highest it has been since 2002. The interest rate increase has pushed the average monthly payment to buy a new home to $2,760 in September from just $1,561 a year ago, according to data from Business Insider. While […]
If you are shopping for a new home and are considering homes that have solar panels installed already, you probably have lots of questions. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar currently produces roughly 4 percent of all electricity in the United States. However, the SEIA sees that number growing dramatically, predicting that […]
Many of us are concerned about how the housing market will fare as interest rates head up and a looming recession takes hold. Will home values crash as they did during the Great Recession or will they simply stop rising and settle in at their current values. While no one can predict the future, Fed […]
If you’re in the market for a new home, your real estate agent or mortgage lender may mention private mortgage insurance (PMI). Private mortgage insurance is often required for a standard mortgage if you have less than a 20 percent down payment but there are programs available that can eliminate the need for or drastically […]
Saving up the down payment for a home can be difficult and can take a long time. If you are struggling to save up enough for a house down payment, you may want to consider an 80/20 loan which can help get you into a home, even if you don’t have enough for a 20 […]
While the cost of buying a home has risen dramatically in the last few years, a house still comes with a variety of benefits over renting. One of the biggest advantages is the fact that you can use the mortgage interest deduction to help lower your tax bill. However, the IRS rules that impact the […]