Looking To Buy A Home? Watch Out For These Mortgage Mistakes - 02/28/12 03:11 PM
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Getting a mortgage is no simple task: It's a complex and time-consuming process, and perhaps one of the most significant events of our lives, at least in financial terms. Here are ten potential pitfalls to avoid:
1. Not checking your credit: Long before you begin searching for a mortgage, you should know where you stand in the credit score department. After all, a bad credit score can bump up your mortgage interest rate several percentage points or leave you with no approval at all. Be sure you check your credit early on (several months in advance) in case any changes … (0 comments)

If your going to stage your home - do it right- for the best return - 02/24/12 12:51 PM
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If you're an HGTV junkie then chances are you've tuned in for some of the network's popular home improvement shows, nearly all of which have stressed the importance of staging your home for sale.
Are you tired of waiting for a TV crew to come help you with your own home? You don't have to find yourself on one of these hit shows to be a staging star. Simply follow a few of our expert tips!
Remove the Clutter. Instead of a potential buyer's eyes moving easily from one side of a room to another, leaving their mind at peace … (0 comments)

Know Your Expenses Before You Buy - They Add Up - 02/23/12 01:21 PM
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For many, homeownership is still a dream. Moving from renting can seem like it’s an impossible mission. But if you plan ahead and carefully budget, the goal of homeownership can be yours.
When budgeting how much home you can afford, it’s important to understand and anticipate the costs of owning and maintaining a home. Here are a few things that some first-time buyers forget to include.
Private Mortgage Insurance
This is added on to your mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. You can buy a home with less money but you’ll pay the PMI which covers … (4 comments)

Some Home sellers are losing Homestead Benefit - 02/15/12 04:30 PM

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Changes to the Homestead Rebate, now called the Homestead Benefit, mean some home sellers have left the equivalent of money buried in their backyards for the new buyer to find.
These sellers — if they sold at the wrong time of year, and if their real estate attorneys and settlement companies were not up to snuff on the changes — could be out a few hundred bucks in property tax relief.
It happened to John and Patricia Nalberczinski, who after 25 years, sold their Millstone Township home in November 2011, moving to Virginia to be near their new grandson.
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Man Caves that Sure Beat Having Super Bowl Tickets - 02/02/12 05:00 PM

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It may sound like a football fan’s dream to attend a Super Bowl game live and in person. But really? Indianapolis? In February?
Unless you are a rabid fan of the New York Giants or the New England Patriots — the conference champs who will square off in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Lucas Oil Stadium — there really are better places to watch the NFL title game.
Like, a tricked-out, beer-tapped man cave!
Homes with “man caves” — or rooms with giant TVs, sports memorabilia, wet bars, and comfy couches — have grown in … (1 comments)

An Apple App for Parents that Really is Useful and Free! - 02/01/12 04:20 PM

 
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Everyone wants a piece of a new parent — or, at least, the wallet of a new parent.
App stores are part of that money rush. There’s mobile software that can help parents name their babies, soothe their babies, entertain their babies and speak to their babies in sign language.
The newest baby app of note on the market, though, WebMD Baby, is free, and it is arguably more practical and useful than many of the others combined.
WebMD Baby is available only on Apple devices, at least until the company releases an Android version later this year. … (0 comments)