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 Discover your personality type and what careers are best suited for you
How to hire a good home contractor
Don't hand your home-remodeling project to an unreliable or dishonest contractor. Here are 6 things to look for.
Increasing your property value often entails remodeling. Whether you have a fixer-upper or a great house that you plan to stay in indefinitely, you'll probably hire a contractor sooner or later to finish the basement, remodel the kitchen, or renovate other rooms.
Decisions on home improvement should be made in a judicious manner. If you want to recoup your investment, choose projects that are likely to add value to your home, such as a new kitchen or an extra bathroom.
read more...
Top Online School Matching Service
Have home prices bottomed out?
The latest housing data indicate home prices may be stabilizing, although butterflies over the economy could keep many potential homebuyers on the sidelines.
By MarketWatch
Home prices are closer to stabilizing today than at any time in the past nine years.
Based on the latest data, median selling prices for new and existing homes combined now equal 2.9 times median household incomes, nationwide. This is exactly the ratio that prevailed during the halcyon days of the 1980s, when sales and construction of housing were booming.
Three years ago, just before the housing bubble burst, this ratio was 4.5 times incomes.
Add in the fact that interest rates are much lower today than they were two decades ago and housing is even more affordable.
read more...
10 tips on staging your home to sell
It doesn't take long for a prospective buyer to form an opinion about your house. Here's how you can tilt the odds in your favor by making your home appeal to the widest clientele possible.
Christopher Solomon, MSN Real Estate
Prospective home buyers form an opinion about the home you're selling in 15 seconds, by one estimate.
And the clock starts ticking at the curb -- even before the home buyers get in the house. So how do you tilt the playing field in your favor? Increasingly, it's by staging your home.
Generally speaking, staging means making your home as appealing as possible, as quickly as possible, to the broadest clientele you can.
There are techniques to pulling this off -- some of them obvious, and some not so apparent. We polled the experts to get some of their top tips.
Staging as un-decorating
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How to hit up your landlord for cheaper rent, perks
Treats help. But so do sleuth work and building a solid case for why you deserve a break, whether you're midlease or ready to move on. Here are 15 tips
Christopher Solomon, MSN Real Estate
It's both a tough time and a great time to be a renter out there, America.
Across the country, the recession is putting the squeeze on people's pocketbooks, making every expense painful...
Whatever perk you're after, you need a plan. Landlords are business people and you need a solid business case for why they should sweeten your deal. In the following 15 tips, more than a half-dozen people who toil daily in the renting field help you build your case...
The key to having any luck in reducing your rent is communication...
read more...
Many Mortgage Delinquents Still Unaware There Is Help
mortgagenewsdaily.com
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Freddie Mac has found that homeowners are becoming increasingly aware that there may be help out there should they run into problems paying their mortgage loans but there is still a long way to go in spreading the word...
The survey was conducted after the HOPE hotline was established but before the rate freeze was announced by President Bush in December. Still, even before the recent flurry of media stories about 888-995-HOPE, word was out there. According to the survey, nearly one in four delinquent borrowers (23 percent) report seeing ads for the hotline and 9 percent who were aware of it had actually made the call. The sponsor, Homeownership Preservation Foundation., says the toll-free number now receives between 1500 and 3000 calls per day, up from 250 per day one year ago. More than 200,000 homeowners have called the hotline since June 25 of last year.
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by Valarie Eiland Davis
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It’s trite but true to say that bad experiences can bring out the best in us. Bad grades can make students work harder. Bad work performance reviews can make us work smarter. Bad relationships can teach us how to be better family members and friends. Bad meals might even make us better cooks. Well, the bad economic times we are living through right now can either bring out the worst in us or make us think thoughts and take actions that will eventually produce some of the best times we could ever have. It’s your choice!
I love the fact that bad times make us scrutinize our money matters with a magnifying glass – from how we spend our pennies, nickels and dimes, to whether it’s the right time to buy or sell our homes. Bad times like these force us to do things we should have been doing anyway when it comes to managing our money, assets and liabilities. But, none of us can think of everything. So, I would like to share a few thoughts that might put you on a clearer or faster path through the present worst of times to your future best of times.
GET YOUR FAMILY’S PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS ON BOARD
If you don’t have a budget, schedule two hours with other household decision makers to make one, write it down, and share it with everyone that lives with you.
• Do you know how much money is really coming into your home? Women, statistics show we will outlive the men in our lives, so it pays to know the numbers from start to finish.
• Does everyone in your home agree on “needs” versus “wants”? What may be unnecessary spending to you may be essential to someone else.
• Do you know the spending tradeoffs your family is making and how they will affect you down the road? Those quick fast food stops may add up to the cost of the school supplies you need to buy in just a few short months.
How would you like it if your state and national elected leaders managed your hard-earned tax dollars the way you manage the money that supports your family? Enough said.
SAVE MONEY THE RIGHT WAY
Everyone has heard the personal finance commandment “Pay yourself first.” Well, here’s the way I see it. Most of us end up paying the government first if you have federal and state deductions made from your paychecks. Congratulations to you entrepreneurs who get all of your money up front! That said, here’s my recommended “Payout Plan:”
• Exercise your faith faithfully. Pay your tithes and offerings. If you believe God will never leave you hanging, then act you believe it and don’t hold back even in the worst of times.
• Cover the basics. Make sure your needs are covered comfortably with a reserve cushion of at least three months. This is the first savings account any family (which includes single folks) should have. Don’t do any non-essential spending until this is done. That’s right, I said “none!”
• Insure yourself adequately. Do you know how much money your dependents would need to live on in the event of your death? I know, I know. You don’t like to think about death, and you’re planning on being around for a long time. Well, few people actually plan to die – but those that do have a plan do their duty by their family members and leave them able to live a stable financial life. Have a free consultation with an insurance advisor. Have the advisor review your current policies (through your job and your personal purchases), and find out how the policies work. Then figure out what you want to provide via insurance and make the investment. I talked last week with an insurance advisor who met with two working parents on Friday and the wife was dead by Sunday – unexpectedly, of course. The worse news is that he purchased life insurance and she said “No, I’m fine,” figuring that her husband’s policy was enough. It’s not enough that the husband and children have to grieve the loss of their wife and mother, but they will likely lose their house and struggle financially for some time to come.
• Elders first. Make sure those with the least number of working years ahead of them are taken care of first. The younger ones, if necessary can and will make their own way if you give them the basics. This may sound backwards to those of you who are saving for college before your own retirement. But, you are the only person who contributes to your retirement. Your children have you and themselves. Work with a financial planner to figure out how much money you will actually need to retire (or go on line and use a free calculator like the one at www.moneycentral.com ), and then take action.
• Invest as aggressively as possible. If you are under 50 years of age, there is no reason for you to be investing as conservatively as someone who is over 50. Often we take the less risky route because we haven’t invested the time and energy to understand what we believe are riskier alternatives. Don’t try to become a financial expert, but work with one who has experience with people in your particular situation. Think of it this way. You work hard for your money. Be willing to work at least half as hard when deciding where to invest it.
I hope you can see how having your family make important and manageable changes in these worst of times will surely pay off financially in the future – laying the groundwork for the best of times.
I’ll let you chew on that much for now. In upcoming articles I will address:
• SPENDING MONEY: What Is Your Money Personality and How Is It Defining Your Life?
• HOMEOWNERSHIP: Real Estate is Still the Ultimate Investment
That’s all for now! Feel free to contact me with feedback, suggested topics for future articles, questions and concerns. And, as I love to say “When we know better, we can do better.”
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About author:
Valarie is a published author, professional speaker and workshop facilitator. She is a Certified Coach for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. national homeownership initiative, and is a Workforce Certified real estate agent for the State of Maryland. Valarie is also a single mother of one adorable daughter, Lena Renea.
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9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks
complaintsboard.com
The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up...
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more...
Try out these Thanksgiving recipes from tasteofhome
You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options
How Life Works
If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.
read more...
Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis
OPRAH.com
Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you
devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...
read more...
Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study
followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of
obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.
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more...
The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip
By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman
... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it
surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.
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more...
Finding last-minute tuition money
There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.
By Gerri Willis
It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college
tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.
read more...
Short-term Payday Loans
econ4u.org
...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
A short-term payday loan can be a better option than overdraft fees, reconnect fees, late payment fees or a damaged credit rating when
the loan is repaid promptly. However, these loans are not suited for longer repayment periods...
Being realistic about budgeting can help avoid the need for short-term borrowing.
read more...
Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan
by RealSimple
Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do
you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with
the extra set of keys to your house?
read
more...
How to save $10,000 in 2009
By Liz Pulliam Weston
If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that
$10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as:
Housing, Transportation, Food.
read
more...
The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget
by Renee Rayles
A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has
little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and
then.
32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today
by Gi Gi
The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just
as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...
read more...
Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors
Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They
nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another
equally-invested adult.
read more...
Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity
20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.
read more...
TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.
read more...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney
For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...
read more...
10 ways to avoid moving scams
Horror stories about sketchy moving companies abound. Don't let one take you for a ride. Here's expert advice to help.
by Fred Minnick, Bankrate.com
You've heard the stories. Movers load up your stuff one day and hold it hostage the next, demanding more money and threatening to dump your precious treasures if you don't pay.
You believe you've agreed upon a price, only to find out it's going to cost you a lot more than that.
...some of these outfits give the impression that "you are dealing with a moving company, but you're really dealing with an online broker who passes the job off to some local moving company in some region for a commission. So you're not even dealing with the end user. You have no control over who ends up in your home."
read more...
18 easy ways to save on your move
Many people overlook obvious ways to lower the cost of schlepping stuff to a new place, but you can save hundreds of dollars.
by Christopher Solomon
If you're among the millions of people pulling up stakes this year and resettling in a new home, getting your goods to a new location means digging deep into your wallet, right? Not so fast.
Moving can be expensive ... steps that can save them hundreds or even thousands of dollars, moving experts say.
We've done some of the, ahem, heavy lifting for you already, by assembling these 18 tips:
read more...
Get Matched to an Online School
2008 MSN Real Estate best bargain markets
Why live in an expensive city when there are some great, affordable treasures out there? Here's MSN Real Estate's list of the nine best, livable cities where you won't need to trade the good life for the boring.
by Melinda Fulmer
Minimalism is the cutting edge now. My decorator calls it Dorm Chic. Wait, you'll see, everyone will have this look in a year or two. And then maybe I'll go out and get myself some overstuffed chairs." ...
read more
Your 5-minute guide to home buying
Home shopping is a high-stakes, stressful venture. Here are 24 tips to help you through the biggest purchase of your life.
Seriously consider this question: Are you really ready to buy a home?
It's an expensive, long-term commitment. If you change jobs or the neighborhood declines, you can't quickly get up and go. Selling a house can take months and cost lots -- likely 10% of a home's value -- in agent fees, closing costs and moving expenses.
read more...
7 home-buying traps
First-time home-buyers face an unfamiliar road and risk purchasing the wrong place at the wrong time. Here's a guide to the potholes.
by Liz Pulliam Weston
Buying your first home is an exercise in faith. You don't really know what you're getting into, you're awash in unfamiliar terminology and everyone you meet seems to have strong (and utterly contradictory) ideas about which way the housing market is headed.
You may not be able to avoid every home-purchase mistake, but you can keep your regrets to a minimum by avoiding the following traps:
read more...
Mortgage help: Do you qualify?
Les Christie, CNNMoney.com
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Help for those seeking refinancing: This part of the program targets borrowers who have kept current on their mortgages. Many of the homeowners in this group have been unable to lower their housing costs through refinancings because of falling home prices.
Who's not eligible: Homeowners whose property values have dipped severely, putting them underwater by more than 5% are out of luck.
Mortgage modification help for at-risk borrowers: Homeowners in default or at risk of default may qualify for loan modifications, which restructure the terms of loans. Anyone with high combined mortgage debt compared to income or who is underwater may be eligible for a loan modification.
Who's not eligible: Speculators, those who bought homes for investment purposes, do not qualify for help; all homes must be owner/occupied.
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Home Affordability Calculator
How much house can you buy?
Enter your income, the monthly minimum payment on your debts and the amount of cash you can put toward a new home. You'll need to choose an interest rate and estimate your credit rating. We'll calculate the maximum house you can afford, the size of the loan and an estimated payment, making some basic assumptions about taxes, insurance and closing costs. We'll also adjust for your credit history. These are guidelines. Lenders may approve a loan for more, but that doesn't mean the loan is a wise choice.
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