If you are planning to buy or sell a home, you will want to enlist the services of a real estate agent. But sometimes homebuyers and homeowners worry about paying for the services of a real estate agent. After all real estate agents put an enormous amount of time and energy working for clients. They deserve to be compensated, but where does the money come from? When You Buy A Home When you contract with a real estate agent to buy a home, you do not pay the agent anything at all. In fact, they do not make a dime unless you actually end up buying a home. The buyer's real estate agent makes money … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on inflation, the post-meeting statement from the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee, and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Inflation Ticks Up in May May’s Consumer Price Index moved from April’s reading of -0.80 percent to -0.10 percent. The Core Consumer Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, rose to -0.40 percent in May as compared to April’s reading of -0.40 percent. The Consumer Price Indices are used to calculate overall and … [Read More...]
The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee decided against changing the Fed’s benchmark interest rate range of 0.00 to 0.25 percent. The Federal Open Market Committee said in its post-meeting statement that it is not considering raising rates until 2023. Two of 17 FOMC members felt that the Fed’s key rate may rise in 2022. Fed Approves Quantitative Easing Measures Committee members also stabilized the Federal Reserve’s ongoing purchases of Treasury bills and mortgage-backed securities and said that the Fed would purchase Treasury bills and mortgage-backed … [Read More...]
When you are a new homeowner, learning about your property can feel overwhelming. There are a number of systems in your home that require routine maintenance. Knowing when to have system serviced will help keep your home running smoothly. From the plumbing in your home, to the heating and cooling, understand that each system may need routine maintenance from time to time. Your Heating And Cooling System To maintain comfortable air temperatures in your home, it’s important to keep your heating and cooling system up-to-date. If you have a whole home system, it should be serviced … [Read More...]
When you buy a new house, the first thing you want to do is protect your investment. You already have property insurance. Should you also buy a home warranty? What Is A Home Warranty? A home warranty is not the same thing as insurance. Home warranties are service contracts. If a covered item breaks down and it is covered in the terms of the warranty, the home warranty company will pay to fix or replace that item. What is Covered Under A Home Warranty? Every home warranty contract is different but generally, a home warranty may cover items like major kitchen appliances, HVAC … [Read More...]
The cost of living in America varies widely in different parts of the country. In general, it is less expensive to live in the country than in the cities. However, there are many cities where the cost of living is modest compared to others where the money needed to live there is outrageous in comparison. These rankings came from comparing the monthly cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment, utilities, the price for gasoline, and the cost of groceries. The Ten Lowest-Cost Cities For Renters From Texas and Ohio to New Mexico and Arizona, there are some nice cities in this low-cost group. The top … [Read More...]
