Housing
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Six Ways to Tell You’re About to Move Into a Bad Neighborhood
Buying or renting a home isn’t just about the property—it’s moving your life into a specific place.
When (and Why) You Need a 'Party Wall Agreement' With Your Neighbors
If you have a disagreement with your neighbor over shared property, things can get weird fast.
What to Do If Your Neighbor's Property Is Negatively Impacting Yours
If your neighbor isn’t keeping up with their property’s maintenance, your home's value—and your safety—could be affected.
What to Do If Your Roommate Stops Paying Rent
You took in a roommate to defray your cost of living, but they’ve gone rogue and refused to pay their fair share. What can you (legally) do?
It's Illegal for Your Landlord to Evict You Themselves
If your landlord is trying to get you out without involving the legal system, it’s called a “self-help eviction”—and they’re probably breaking the law.
Three Reasons You Should Turn Down Unsolicited Real Estate Offers
If you own a home, you’ve probably gotten cold calls from folks who want to buy your house even though it’s not for sale. It’s probably not in your best interest.
Six Cheap (Or Free) Ways to Increase Your Home's Home Value
You don’t have to spend a fortune to increase your home value.
How to Choose Between Building an Addition or Buying a New House
Interest rates are high and closing costs can eat into equity—here’s how to figure out if you’ll be better off adding onto your existing home instead of buying a larger one.
Why You Should (Almost) Always Renovate Your Home in Phases
Save your sanity by breaking your home-renovation plan into discrete projects.
How to Oust Your Condo Board or HOA
Lawsuits against incompetent or malicious condo boards or HOAs are difficult because the law favors them. But there’s one thing you can almost always do: Petition to remove them.
You Should Run a Background Check on Your Future Landlord (and Yourself)
Check out your potential landlord—and find out what red flags they might find on you.
How to Get a Mortgage When You’re Self-Employed
It might more challenging compared to traditional employees, but it's not impossible.
When to Get a Tankless Water Heater (and When Not To)
If you have a large family or a small space, a tankless water heater may be more trouble than it’s worth.
When It’s Actually a Good Idea to Remove a Bathroom
More bathrooms isn't always better, despite what we've been told.
Why Mortgage Lenders Charge Prepayment Penalties (and How to Avoid Them)
Be aware of all the sneaky terms before you get a mortgage.
When Renovating Your Rental Is Actually a Good Idea
Renovating a property you don’t own seems like a bad idea—but under the right circumstances, there are distinct benefits.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy or Rent for the Building Amenities
We often get lured into a condo or rental with the promise of shared amenities, but they’re not worth anything if you don’t use them.
Here's How a Home Equity Loan Works
Harness your home's equity for things like home renovations, college tuition, or other major expenses.
How to Spot a 'Catfish House' (Before You Buy One)
Buying a house like this can leave you with a lot of expensive, troublesome repairs.
Why a Flat Fee Real Estate Broker Probably Isn’t Worth It
Paying a relatively low flat fee to sell your home can save you thousands—on paper. But in reality, it might not work out that way.