Housing
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Five Ways Home Sellers Can Screw You Over After the Closing
From switching out appliances to dumbing down smart homes, sellers can play dirty at the very last minute.
Six ‘Builder-grade’ Home Features You Don’t Need to Upgrade
Builder-grade has become associated with low-quality stuff. But not every builder-grade thing in your house must be changed out.
The First Six Things to Do When You're Facing Foreclosure
Being foreclosed on is a scary experience—but try not to panic.
How Fractional Ownership Can Help You Actually Afford a House or Car
You don’t have to buy all of something. You can buy just as much as you need.
Six Signs a Home Seller Is Hiding Something
Make sure you don’t get tricked by paying attention to details—and trusting your instincts.
How to Figure Out Why Your Utility Bill Spiked
Without warning you get a huge water, electric, or gas bill—or all three. You need to figure out why—and fast.
Why Selling Your Home to an iBuyer Is Almost Always a Bad Idea
Unless you desperately need to get from under your house quickly, selling it the traditional way will almost always be the better option.
Use These Five Strategies for Finding an Affordable Rental in an Unaffordable City
Moving to a city with less-expensive housing isn't an option for everyone.
Pressurized Walls Can Embiggen Your Crowded Apartment
Pressurized walls look like real walls, but use tension to divide a space so there’s no damage.
Make Sure Your Rent Payments Are Being Reported to the Credit Bureaus
Want to give your credit score a boost? You may want to hit up your landlord.
How to Get Rid of PMI As Soon As Possible
If you had to purchase private mortgage insurance to get your home loan, don’t wait around for your lender to cancel it.
Use This Renovation Calculator to Figure Out Which Home Upgrades Add the Most Value
Some projects have a better return on investment than others.
Here’s When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy Mortgage Points
How to crunch the numbers to determine when it makes sense to buy down the interest rate.
It's Not a Great Time to Buy a Starter Home
You may end up renting longer than you anticipated.
These Are the Hidden Costs of Buying a House
After all the major upfront costs, buying a home can be full of hidden money pits.
The Difference Between a Mortgage’s APR and Interest Rate
Understanding these terms will help you compare lenders and figure out calculate your monthly payments.
Every Term a First-Time Homebuyer Should Know
ARM, FHA, GFE—who can afford so many acronyms in this economy?
Three Clues That a House Will Be For Sale Soon
Look for these signs that a home is about to hit the market.
What You Should Know Before You Buy a Tiny Home Kit
Those kits are really just frames—you'll still need insulation, wiring, plumbing, and siding, among other considerations.
The Best U.S. Cities for Renters in 2023
You'll get more bang for your buck if you rent in one of these cities.