Dorian Moffat's (dmo069) Blog

Move up or Stay Put?   Between price reductions and record low interest rates, many homeowners are asking themselves if now is a good time to move up.   Buying under today's conditions can mean getting more home for less buck. You'll pay a smaller amount of interest over time and can snag that d...

  Facebook’s recent IPO reminds us that a lot has happened, but not much has changed - especially where money is involved.   Facebook ranks high among the social media that have changed the way we think about staying in touch, but in spite of improvements to the ease and speed of communication, ...

  If you haven't already started then now is prime time for Spring cleaning. The chills and frosts of Winter are a distant memory and this means you can comfortably get out in that yard, shed, or garage and do some real work!   Where do you start, though? It can be an overwhelming task, especial...

  The latest existing-home sales report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed promising figures for the month of April. Sales rose by 3.4 percent, bringing the total amount of existing-home sales to 4.62 million. This is 10.0 healthy percentage points higher than April 2011. Law...

  While some people wonder how far mortgage rates can drop, some are taking advantage of a good thing. Mortgage refinance applications increased 13.0% for the week ending May 11th according to the Mortgage Banker's Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. In fact, 74.9% of all mortgage...

  Does it really pay to shell out all that cash for new appliances? Let's consider an Energy Star rated clothes washer for starters. An Energy Star qualified washer uses 30 percent less energy and a whopping half the water compared to a traditional washer.   It's not just those fancy front-loadi...

  Call it the U.S. Department of $100 Down Housing.   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering its foreclosed homes for a mere $100 down from now until October 2012. HUD like other federal agencies, are anxious to unload properties they hold, because they can be a f...

 What buyers want in a condo depends partly on where they live, but there are some common themes. A recent survey says good building security and low condo fees are the top features that buyers want. Eenergy-efficient building features and attractive interior design features rank first and secon...

  Washington and the housing market are never far apart. Experts ranging from real estate professionals to the members of the Federal Reserve have reported that the state of the nation's economic recovery relies heavily on a housing recovery.   According to the latest Legislative and Political F...

  You've finally decided that now is the time for you to jump into the housing market! Perhaps you've done the math and want to take advantage of historically low interest rates and high levels of affordability. Maybe you have a new family that is quickly outgrowing your little rental. No matter...