Last year on the home front we saw white kitchens, subway tiles, quartz countertops and a host of gadgets that made our homes “smarter” than ever. But that was then, this is now. So what’s ahead for 2018? According to Realtor Magazine, we can expect everything from robots and “smart” windows to old-fashioned gardens that offer a respite from all the high-tech innovation. Here are several trends Realtor sees coming our way: Smart glass: Just...

    Buyers who fixate on purchase price and mortgage size often overlook opportunities to save money on both. Usually, the lower the purchase price, the smaller the mortgage a buyer must borrow. We’re not suggesting that buyers buy less or resort to trickery or pressure to arrive at an attractive lower purchase price. Nor, are we suggesting a price chopped by tens of thousands. Instead, by adding value to the components of an...

    No matter how intensely you prepare for moving day, you may still face problems if you overlook three sanity-defeating challenges. Can you and your partner really think clearly when swamped by distractions, exhaustion, and disorientation? If the ramped-up activity of moving day represents less pressure than a typical day for you, you’ll probably find your upcoming move-in day a breeze. Most people do not regularly handle...

You may be sitting on a goldmine. Or a small fortune. Or at least a little chunk of cash. Rising home prices across the country means homeowners have some equity. So what can you do with it? More importantly, what should you do with it? If you’ve got money in your house, you’ve got some options. “Done wisely, you can use the lower-interest debt secured by your house to pay off debts with high interest rates, like credit...

Mortgage giants unveil lending rules to let more Americans buy homes with 3 percent down WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Americans will soon be able to buy a home with a down payment as low as 3 percent, compared with the current minimum of 5 percent, the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac say. The new lending guidelines announced by the companies Monday are designed to help more low-income and first-time buyers afford homes. Millions of...