Solar power is now more affordable in over 80% of the biggest U.S. cities. Solar is not only a money saver, but it’s a great investment in your home as well. Solar is no longer the exclusive domain of the wealthy, and there is a clear gap in the reality and the perception of solar.…

The Seattle area offers up some interesting insight and trends in real estate that may get traction in the national picture before you know it. In 2014, the hottest properties on the market were apartments. Investors were grabbing rental properties faster than office buildings, and that trend may be matching the market outlook in some…

Up to one million Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) mortgages may be eligible for help through 4 new programs recently announced. Mortgage holders with a good record of payment for 5 years may be eligible to receive assistance to help pay down principle. Other borrowers will have an opportunity to re-amortize to further reduce monthly…

Up to one million Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) mortgages may be eligible for help through 4 new programs recently announced. Mortgage holders with a good record of payment for 5 years may be eligible to receive assistance to help pay down principle. Other borrowers will have an opportunity to re-amortize to further reduce monthly…

Why rent when you can buy? Answer that question and you might be onto something perplexing a lot industry people. Millennials, when asked in a recent survey, said they would rather rent than buy, to the tune of nearly 6 in 10. Only 1 in 4 Millennials today owns a home. That is significantly down…

A group of mortgage-bond investors have sent a letter to Ocwen in which they accuse the company of “imprudent and improper” actions that may be the precursor to a lawsuit, according to Kathy Patrick of Gibbs & Bruns LLP. The company has been under the microscope in recent months for improper conduct, highlighted by a…

Reducing the amount of space in which you live might be a big idea whose time is here. Its subscribers refer to it as micro living, or the tiny house movement among other names, but the idea is the same: lowering the amount of space, the amount of stuff, and the amount of debt. It’s…

Reducing the amount of space in which you live might be a big idea whose time is here. Its subscribers refer to it as micro living, or the tiny house movement among other names, but the idea is the same: lowering the amount of space, the amount of stuff, and the amount of debt. It’s…

If staying inside this winter is driving you up a wall, then get yourself motivated by getting your house in shape. Start off with choosing a few projects, and planning them out to complete by the start of opening day. If you need a suggestion, start with the ones that will improve your home’s value…

Mortgage rates are at historic lows for all types of loans. However, the difference in interest rates for 30-year and 15-year mortgages is worth looking at. 15-year mortgages require higher monthly premiums for the same loan amount, but the shorter term brings real money back into your income stream faster, and with significant savings over…