“More pets get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year,” according to the experts at HomeAgain, a lost pet recovery service. Dog owners know well that the pooch can be in the furthest reaches of the home but will come running if you grab a crinkly package of chips from the pantry. That’s how keen their sense of hearing is. “In fact, they are capable of hearing sounds four times further away than the human ear can discern … They have 15 different muscles that move their ears in all directions,” claim the experts at PawsChicago.org. Imagine then what the booming, blasting, popping sound ..read more

One in 16. That’s the mortgage application denial rate here in the U.S., according to Consumer Reports’ Lisa L. Gill, citing Urban Institute’s data. “And a too-low credit score is among the top reasons folks can’t get a mortgage, according to HSH.com,” Gill says. Other common reasons for denial include a too-high debt-to-income ratio and spotty or fluctuating income. You’ll learn the reason from the lender (you must request it, however), but that doesn’t make anyone feel better. Thankfully, there are ways to fix the situation. Let’s take a deeper dive into the most common reasons for rejectio ..read more

PMI (short for ‘private mortgage insurance’) is one of those things in life that is both a curse and a blessing. If you put down less than 20 percent of the loan amount when you take out a conventional loan, you will be required to pay a monthly mortgage insurance premium (typically tacked on to your mortgage payment) to cover the lender in the event you mess up and default on the loan. Without it, cash-poor homebuyers can’t get a mortgage. With it, your house payments are higher, it takes a long time to get rid of (with some loans it never goes away) and it only protects the lender. If you ha ..read more

Want to hear something a bit surprising that you won’t hear from the media? Last year, the folks at Cinch Home Services, a home warranty company, surveyed 1,000 real estate consumers and just a smidge more than half of the homebuyers claimed “… they had a home purchase contract fall through in that time period.” (Realtor.com) We can chalk most of that up to rising interest rates and their attendant problems. In “normal” real estate markets, however, the majority of real estate transactions go through without a problem. Be that as it may, in any market, those transactions that hit a snag run th ..read more

Dishwashers. We never really understand what a time- and effort-saving device it is until it goes on the blink. And if yours has, you no doubt understand how much they’ve gone up in price over the past few years. Although you can purchase a basic model for less than $400, the models with the useful bells and whistles can cost up to a few thousand dollars. “On average, a new dishwasher costs about $970,” suggests Paige Bennett at Angi.com. Whether you’re looking for a no-frills dishwasher or a top-of-the-line brand, knowing exactly which features you need and will use and the right time to shop ..read more

Some homebuyers wouldn’t think of buying a home that didn’t offer a swimming pool. You’ll typically find these folks in the warmer parts of the country. Then, there are those who didn’t have a pool on their wish list but fell in love with a home that offers one. Whichever group you belong to, there are a few things to consider about swimming pools and the homes that wrap around them.   Get as much information on the pool as possible Boat owners are familiar with the old saying that “A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into.” The same can be said about a pool, which is a hole in ..read more

Bugs, creepy crawlies, pests — whatever you choose to call them, they actually have a season; a time when they are busiest. “Spring marks the real beginning of insect season because … with rising temperatures and spring showers, insects become more active,” suggest the pros at Petri Pest Control in Boynton Beach, Florida. For the most part, bugs are tolerable when they are outdoors. When they intrude inside the home, it’s time to take action. And, if the pest that’s bugging you is among those that can cause damage to the property (such as roaches), act quickly. 1. Perimeters aren’t just for cr ..read more

Now is about the time folks earnestly start planning their annual vacation. In fact, “More than 90% of Americans plan to travel in 2023,” according to the editors at ipx1031.com Are you among them? Whether you plan to travel domestically or go abroad, you will be leaving behind your most prized possessions, including your home. We’ve searched for home safety and security experts’ suggestions for you on how to ensure that you come home to a home in the same condition as when you left it. Security should be top-of-mind If you own smart home features, securing your home while you’ll be away will ..read more

One of the most popular blog topics on our website is when we write about bargains, or how to save money in the local real estate market. So, today I searched the MLS and, sure enough, I found some somewhat low-priced condos for sale. I looked first at how long they’ve been on the market and all of them have been sitting for quite some time. In fact, the lowest-priced condo has been on the market for almost a year. Now why, I thought to myself, is that? So, I sleuthed I then looked at the photos of each condo for sale to see if there was anything there that might explain why these low-cost co ..read more

Prices on almost everything consumers use are inflating, without a corresponding increase in wages. This makes for tight budgets for many Americans right now. Looking for creative ways to save on our biggest outlays every month has become almost a hobby. Many of the folks we speak with claim that because their mortgage payment takes the biggest bite out of their budget, they’re seeking ways to pay less for the home every month. Sounds like a big “ask,” but there actually are ways to lower that payment. Now these won’t work for everyone, but they’re worth learning about. Your monthly mortgage ..read more