How Your Credit Score Shapes Your Mortgage Options

FICO credit score, short for Fair Isaac Corporation, plays an important part in buying a home. How high or low your score is will determine what kind of loan you qualify for. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. A higher score shows a person is at a lower credit...

Fixer Upper Priorities

If you’re planning on buying a fixer-upper, these are the improvements you should plan on, in order of priority: Top priorities HVAC repairs or replacement Plumbing repairs  Electrical repairs Structural roof repairs Foundation repairs  Safety hazards, like...

Things You Should Never Store in Your Laundry Room

Laundry rooms can quickly turn into the junk drawer of the house—an easy place to toss cleaning supplies, appliances, or unused items out of sight. However, not all items belong in the laundry room. It’s not just about taking up unnecessary space. With...

Equity Erosion Could Be Wiping Out Your Home Gains

You may feel richer on paper, but in real terms, you could be falling behind. Home values are still inching upward, with median list prices rising 0.5% in July, according to data from Realtor.com®. But that’s not the full story. Inflation is...

Cleaning Tasks You Should Do to Save You Time All Year

Under & Behind Large Appliances Pull out your big appliances—such as fridge, stove, washer, and dryer—and vacuum the floor beneath and behind them. Then, wipe down their surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner. Tackling the sneaky spots where dust accumulates helps...

How To Maximize ROI On Home Improvements

Whether you recently purchased a new home or are renovating one you’ve been living in for a while, there’s one thing that’s inevitable—renovations don’t come cheap. So, whether you plan on selling in the next few years or even a decade down the line, making the...

Garage Sale Tips

10 Items You Should Always Sell at a Garage Sale Sifting through your belongings to ensure you’re only putting up for sale items that have the potential to sell will not only save you time and energy, but also allow the items you’re displaying to stand out. Lang says...