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Selling Next Year? Three Exterior Projects Beat a Kitchen Remodel by $19,600
Only five of the 28 projects in the latest Cost vs Value report return more than they cost, and eight…
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Before You Install a Security System, Look Up Your City’s False Alarm Fines
Monitoring is the price you get quoted. The permit fee and the escalating false alarm fines from your city are…
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Mortgage Rates Just Hit an 11-Month High. That Is Exactly When a Second Quote Pays the Most
When rates climb, the gap between what two lenders quote the same borrower widens. Here is what Freddie Mac’s own…
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Your Dishwasher Is Under Both a Manufacturer Warranty and a Home Warranty. Which One Do You Call First?
When an appliance is covered by both a manufacturer warranty and a home warranty, the order you call matters. Call…
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Your AC Is 12 Years Old and Straining Through This Heat Wave. Repair Again or Replace Now?
A 12-year-old central AC struggling in a heat wave forces a fast decision. Here is how to tell if it…
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Paying Extra on Your Mortgage This Year? Check for a Prepayment Penalty Clause First
Most conventional loans no longer carry a prepayment penalty, but some still do. Before you send a lump sum or…
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Your Home Isn’t in a FEMA Flood Zone. Do You Still Need Flood Insurance?
Your lender doesn’t require flood insurance because your home sits outside the mapped flood zone. Here is why that map…
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Starter Home Now or Wait to Save a Bigger Down Payment? The Math First-Time Buyers Get Backward
You could buy a starter home now with 5% down, or wait two years and put down 15%. Here is…
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Your Rate Lock Is About to Expire Before Closing. Is Paying the Extension Fee Worth It?
Your closing slipped and the lender wants $700 to extend your rate lock. Here is when paying that fee beats…
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Finished Basement vs. Room Addition: Which Adds More Value Per Dollar?
A finished basement or a room addition? One is cheaper and recoups more, the other actually grows your home’s official…
