Top Tips for New Homeowners to Manage Utilities Expenses
You dreamed for years of owning your own home, and now you’ve finally done it. You saved the down payment and qualified for a mortgage with terms you can handle. But if you move in right before the deepest cold of winter or the peak of summer, you might be in for a surprise. Utilities cost a lot more for a house than for an apartment. Here are some ways to cut back on energy bills. Continue reading
Personal Finance Strategies: Buying Your First Home
Preparing to buy your first home is exciting, and while you’ll need to give some serious thought to making the leap from renter to owner, that initial planning pays off big time when it comes to your financial health. When you’re planning to buy your first home, use these tips to maintain your finances after closing the deal. Continue reading
![Roadmap to Buying a Home [Infographic]](https://www.quicken.com/sites/default/files/Quicken_Roadmap_ToBuyingHome.jpg)
Roadmap to Buying a Home [Infographic]
Roadmap to Buying a Home: Buying the home you've always dreamed of doesn't happen with a snap of your fingers. There are several steps on the path to finding oyur perfect home - do you know the roadmap? Continue reading
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Rent or Own: Find Your Perfect Type of Home [Infographic]
Should you rent or own? Start by comparing the pros and cons. Understanding both options can help put you on the path toward discovering the best type of home for you. Continue reading
How Much House Can You Afford?
Owning a home is part of the American dream – a place of your own where you can raise your kids and your grandchildren can come to visit. Part of that dream might be reaching for the stars to buy the biggest and the best, but your income and budget might make that hard to do. So how much house can you afford? Here are a number of methods that can help you figure it out. Continue reading
The Real Cost of Buying a Home in America [Infographic]
Expereinced homeowners know that the cost of buying a house goes far beyond the list price. Before applying for a mortggage, take a look at the hidden costs we've identified. Continue reading
Basics Of Home Refinancing
Refinancing your mortgage may be a tempting prospect if you want to lower your monthly payments, take advantage of a lower interest rate or fold other debts into one larger loan. Still, you should consider a few basic points before you jump in and sign the papers, to ensure the pros outweigh the cons of this money management strategy.
If you have a long term plan to stay in your home,... Continue reading
6 Green (and Easy) Ways to Heat Your Home
Heating your home this winter doesn’t have to cost a bundle or make you break your household budget. The six easy tips below can not only help you keep warm for less, but they can also make your home a little greener, too.
Adjust your thermostat. The easiest way to curb heating costs is already at your fingertips. Just adjust your thermostat by turning it down when you’re not home. The U.S.... Continue reading
Real Estate & Personal Finance: Will I Save Money if I Buy a Short-Sale Home?
Why Lenders Agree to Short Sales
By definition, a short sale means that the lender isn’t going to get back all the money it loaned for the property's original purchase, because the home is no longer worth that much. If the lender fronted Joe Homebuyer $300,000 to purchase the property and then the economy hit a rough patch, Joe might still owe $275,000 while the home's fair market value has... Continue reading
Should You Withdraw Funds from Your 401k to Buy a House?
Access to Funds
One circumstance in which a 401(k) loan might benefit you, according to Joseph A. Cannova, a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Public Accountant practicing in Toms River, New Jersey, is if you have bad credit. With a 401(k) loan, there's no credit check because you're borrowing your own money: there's no lender to deem you a bad loan risk or to charge you a higher... Continue reading
