Things to Consider When Buying a Fixer Upper

By: Zoocasa Buying a fixer upper can be a good way to get the home that you’ve always dreamed of at a cheaper purchase price. However, people tend to underestimate the amount of time, effort, and money required to turn that fixer upper into their dream home. While the thought of taking on a project

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Follow first steps to ‘sprint’ into home-buying process

By Dana Dratch, Bankrate.com Homeownership is a marathon, but home buying is a sprint. Maybe you came up short in previous attempts. Maybe you just weren’t “ready.” But if you’ve decided that now is the time, here are ways to get a lead right off the starting block. 1. Gather financial information Too many potential

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5 hidden costs of owning a brownstone

There are few buildings more iconic in New York City than the classic brownstone, a type of building that emerged in the 1830s, when a new urban middle class of New Yorkers sought a home that looked fancier than brick and was more durable than wood. Brownstone, which is a type of sandstone that gets

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To Buy or Rent a Home? Weighing Which Is Better

April 1, 2016 New York Times By Tara Siegel Bernard   Rob Austin and his wife, Natalia, have a 10-month-old son, healthy incomes and plenty of cash in the bank for a down payment on a house. But they are happily renting a townhouse in Pasadena, Calif., with no plans to buy for now, given

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Love It and Lease It: Rent-to-Own Luxury Homes

By: Anya Martin September 9, 2015 Signing a lease option helps jumbo-mortgage borrowers save for a higher down payment, get their credit history in order and lock in on their dream-home purchase Illustration: Chris Gash A rent-to-own luxury home may help potential homeowners buy some time before it’s buying time. For potential jumbo-mortgage borrowers, a

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How Much Home Can You Buy With Your Income?

Miller Samuel President and CEO Jonathan Miller discusses the U.S. housing market. Bloomberg Intelligence’s Carl Riccadonna also speaks on “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Source: Bloomberg)    

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Should We Rent or Buy a House?

Dear Steve, My wife and I are new to the area and wondering if we should jump right in and buy a house or rent. I hate to rent because I think we are throwing our money away. What do you think? David Dear David, I can certainly understand the idea of pride of ownership

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Powers of Deduction

For those weighed down by large mortgage payments, there are ways to save money when next year’s tax season arrives; beekeeping, anyone? By ANYA MARTIN One rueful lesson of tax season: Some deductions require lots of advance planning. Homeowners willing to do the legwork now can find some creative ways to lessen their tax bills

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Should You Buy or Rent?

Emotions, family and personal reasons all come into play in any home-buying decision. No one knows what the future holds for you, your family, your job or your finances. But we can help you understand what you’re going to encounter when you embark on the sometimes-difficult journey toward the American Dream of owning a home.

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8 Questions to Help Resolve Your Rent or Buy Dilemma

The decision to buy a home, one of the biggest financial investments you’ll ever make, can be empowering and exciting. While the 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey by the National Association of Realtors showed that 80 percent of consumers believe buying a home is a good financial decision, it’s not always easy to know when the time

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