Anyone can own a house. Why, women are even allowed to own property all by ourselves now! That’s why we suppose it’s good that The word “master,” with its connotations of slaveholding and maleness, is slowly fading from its intended use in the residential real estate business. [More]
Real Estate Political Correctness: ‘Master Bedroom’ Becomes ‘Owner’s Suite’
By April 17, 2013
Stuff To Consider Before Building An Addition Onto Your Home
By February 24, 2012
Some homeowners are convinced that they need more space, and glance through their walls with visions of new rooms dancing in their heads. The trigger-happy subset of these folks jumps into these projects with abandon, certain that the addition will “pay for itself” by upping the value of the home. But in a housing market like this, such assumptions can be faulty. [More]
The Ins And Outs Of Short Sales
By January 25, 2012
When you owe more than your ever-plummeting home is worth, a foreclosure or short sale — in which you sell the home for less than you owe — can seem like an attractive escape. The move may make financial sense, but it comes with repercussions to your credit and somewhat strict qualification parameters. [More]
Quick, Easy DIY Home Maintenance Tips
By April 23, 2011
By expending a little effort to keep your stuff in good condition, you can save yourself the pain of costly repairs or replacements. [More]
Couple Uses Legal Loophole, Gets House Practically For Free
By April 20, 2011
How did an Iowa couple with two foreclosures already under their belts get to own their house free and clear after making only one mortgage payment? By taking advantage of a law designed to keep married couples from making huge financial commitments without the other’s consent. Since the wife was late to their closing and didn’t sign the mortgage, the couple now owns their house free and clear after making only one payment. [More]
Where Are They Now? The First-Time Homebuyers And The Secret Room Filled With Moldy Garbage
By March 30, 2011
Last June, we shared the story of Jeannine and her husband, who discovered all kinds of exciting surprises in their home after purchasing it. These included a sealed room filled with garbage coated in a fuzzy white mold and a shower literally patched up with duct tape. None of these issues were disclosed by the sellers, or noticed by the inspector that the couple hired. Consumerist readers had 266 comments’ worth of advice for Jeannine and Mr. Jeannine, but we never heard back from them. So where are they now? Things have actually gotten worse. [More]
House Prices Sink To Lowest Level Since 2002
By March 22, 2011
House prices are dropping like game-winning Derrick Williams and-ones, reportedly now sinking in February to an average of $156,100, the lowest point since 2002. [More]
Reasons It's Not So Great To Own A Home Free And Clear
By January 3, 2011
If you’ve signed your life away on a mortgage, you’ve probably dreamed of tossing that paperwork into the shredder after you’ve made the final payment. But outright ownership isn’t all positive. [More]
Rich People: More Likely To Default On Mortgages Than You Are
By July 12, 2010
Are you a fancy person? Then you have a 1 in 7 chance of defaulting on your mortgage, says a new study of data compiled for the New York Times. Those of you with mortgages of less than a million dollars only have a 1 in 12 chance of defaulting, the paper says. [More]
Top 10 Cities Where Owning Is Cheaper Than Renting
By June 23, 2010
As home prices continue to stagnate in many markets across the country, renters are facing some tough choices: should they take advantage of low prices and make the move into home ownership, or wait a while longer, on the chance that the market hasn’t yet hit bottom? In some cities, the choice is easier: prices have fallen so much that it’s cheaper to buy than it is to rent. [More]
Buy A Home, Get Free Can Of Food
By December 1, 2009
As if the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers wasn’t enough, Clayton Homes, a Tennessee-based seller of manufactured, modular, and mobile homes, is offering a little something to sweeten the deal: a can of pork and beans. [More]
How To Buy A Foreclosed House (That You Might Actually Want To Live In)
By September 28, 2009
Buying a foreclosed home may seem like a great deal, since the bank that’s selling it would rather unload it at a loss than stay on as owner. But foreclosures come with a lot of risks — including vandalism by former owners or theives who strip vacant homes of just about anything that isn’t bolted down — and even things that are (you know, like toilets).
Over 5 Million Window Treatments Recalled Today, While Nation's Peeping Toms Celebrate*
By August 27, 2009
Three children have died after being strangled in the cords of window blinds, so today six companies announced a massive recall of several brands of window treatments.
Crazy Landlord Fights Heat Wave With Air Conditioning Ban
By August 2, 2009
An Oregon landlord refuses to let his tenants install air conditioners because he thinks they “look tacky.” Tenants of the Arbor Creek complex in Aloha who choose to sacrifice aesthetics for comfort have ten days to correct their mistake before facing eviction. One tenant’s kid already landed in the hospital thanks to heat stroke.
Save On Cooling Costs By Installing A White Roof
By July 30, 2009
The New York Times says a white roof on your house “can cost as little as 15 percent more than its dark counterpart” yet “reduce air-conditioning costs by 20 percent or more in hot, sunny weather.” This is because, scientifically speaking, the color white hates the stupid sun and won’t have anything to do with it.
Ask The Consumerists: A House Divided Forgot Its Permits
By July 17, 2009
Jeffrey and his wife found their dream house. Except they failed to realize the difficulty that one tiny problem with the house might give them. The difficulty? Well, the previous owners doubled the size of the house. Only they sort of forgot to get permits for any of the additions or renovations.
25 Towns Where Homes Are Affordable
By July 16, 2009
CNNMoney has a list of 25 towns where the price of a house isn’t much more than the median family income. Guess where they all are?
By June 19, 2009
Use this calculator to figure out just how much paint you need for your room. [MyHomeIdeas.com via Lifehacker]
