Finance

The Importance of Home Equity and How to Build It

In Q1 1963, the average price for a home was $19,300. By Q1 2025, the average home price was a whopping $503,800. Even without factoring in ...

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Finance

When Should You Refinance Your Mortgage?

As interest rates fluctuate, you may consider refinancing your mortgage to a lower interest rate, shorter loan term, or lower monthly payment. ...

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Finance

Are Short-term Rentals Still Profitable?

Short-term rentals average 8% to 12% ROI, but it’s getting harder to make a profit. According to a joint report by Airbnb, VRBO, STR, and ...

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Finance

Federal Funding and Zoning Reform in 2025: What You Need to Know

The federal government has supported affordable housing for decades through a range of programs: government-insured conforming loans through the ...

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Finance

Why Are Credit Scores So Important?

Your credit scores are numbers that creditors, landlords, employers, insurers, and others use as shorthand or an educated guess to determine ...

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Finance

High vs. Low Interest Rates: Pros & Cons Explained

When interest rates rise, buying a home becomes more expensive, so you may need to tighten your budget. However, there are advantages. For ...

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Finance

Applying for a Loan? Review Your Credit Report First

Before you apply for a mortgage loan, check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. This site, by law, allows the three major credit ...

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Finance

How to Manage Capital Gains Taxes on Your Home Sale

If you sold your home in 2024 or early 2025, you could claim the maximum capital gains exclusions set in 1997. However, since these exclusions ...

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Finance

Lower Mortgage Interest Rates for Spring Homebuying

Once the outcome of the presidential election was known, 30-year mortgage interest rates slowly decreased through the end of 2024 from the high ...

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Finance

What Does NOI Mean in Real Estate?

Net operating income, or NOI, is a calculation of an investment property’s gross operating income, minus its operating expenses. The purpose is ...

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Finance

How to Avoid Becoming House-Poor

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), affordable housing means that you should be paying no more than 30% of ...

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Finance

Understanding Real Estate DPP: What You Need to Know

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Single-family homes and vacation rentals may be out of reach due to high prices and limited supply, partially ...

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Finance

What is a Loan Estimate?

When you apply for a mortgage loan, you’ll receive a standardized form called a loan estimate within three working days. The purpose is to give ...

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Finance

Are Rising Insurance Costs Leading to Home Price Declines?

It's not a question of if home prices will decline, but when. But, if elevated prices and high interest rates aren’t helping to bring market ...

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Finance

When is it Worth it to Refinance Your Mortgage?

Refinancing your mortgage is worth it if you get a lower interest rate, a shorter term, or a smaller monthly payment. According to The Mortgage ...

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