Waterfront Living: Ultimate Luxury Comes at a High Cost
Almost everyone has at least a fleeting fantasy of living near the ocean, particularly in the midst of a pleasant vacation on a sparkling sunny day. A recent survey by Porch.com found that 45 percent of American respondents said their dream home would be a waterfront property and 52 percent of Europeans expressed that preference......
Home Industry Leaders Collaborate on Homes for Veterans
Renting or buying a home requires persistence and the ability to save for security deposits or down payment. Then there’s a need for additional funds to furnish the apartment or home, pay the monthly rent or mortgage, and have money left for electricity, heat, food, and clothing. We shouldn’t forget the six-month emergency nest egg.....
Debunking Common Reverse Mortgage Myths
Although the reverse mortgage program is supported by the Federal government and the loans have been available for nearly 60 years, reverse mortgages have not consistently been used as a financial planning tool. That’s changing, however, primarily because of consumer protections, including limits on loan proceeds, required counseling and the addition of a Financial Assessment,.....
What If I Can’t Afford to Keep My Home?
Despite record low unemployment and rising household incomes, many homeowners continue to struggle to make their mortgage payment every month. The US Labor Department reports that approximately 7.6 million people – about five percent of working Americans – hold two jobs to make ends meet. Other homeowners, especially those in the Southeast, have suffered devastating.....
Home Offices: Practical & Prominent
As more people work from home who are either self-employed or have flexible hours and can work remotely, the home office has become an important, practical and prominent residential feature. According to data from GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed population, has grown by 140 percent since 2005, nearly10 times faster than the rest of.....
First-Time Homebuyer DPA Earns High Marks
Down payment assistance programs and first-time homebuyer solutions have been around for decades, but few programs succeed on a consistent basis – much less thrive. U.S. mortgage lenders have worked with community development programs and budget-challenged state housing programs over the years, but some mortgage originators find such sources to be difficult solutions for their.....