Should you refinance? It may make sense, even with the recent jump in interest rates. A no-cost loan refinance may make sense, but you might end up having to pay a higher interest rate, as a result. If you have to pay closing costs, it may not make sense to refinance – it will take [...]

GOOD NEWS! From now on, I’ll only be including Inman News articles which you might actually find useful. For example, this article, below. It is about a home inspection where the inspector apparently missed a problem with a shower drain. It talks about what the new homeowner should do, next. If you’re buying a home, [...]

Weigh current interest rates, long-term plans before taking plunge Benny L. Kass Inman News DEAR BENNY: I have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with one more year to go. When is the best time to refinance? Also, should I get an equity line of credit for household emergencies or home improvements? –Michael DEAR MICHAEL: Your second [...]

Lenders less likely to make loans in deflating markets Dian Hymer Inman News Refinance applications jumped during the first week of 2008, according to a recent weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The catalyst was lower interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages that hovered below 6 percent on average at the end of the [...]

Commentary: Market relief may cause rates to rise, but it’s worth the pain Friday, February 15, 2008 By Lou Barnes Inman News At the worst of Thursday, the lowest-fee, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages touched 6.25 percent (yes, that’s a “six”). The jump is a technical affair likely to reverse, and certainly not a sign of economic [...]

Brightening tips to make cooking, cleaning even more fun Paul Bianchina Inman News When it comes to lighting, few places in the home are more important than the kitchen. From general lighting to specific task lighting, a well-designed lighting plan makes the use and enjoyment of any kitchen a much brighter undertaking.

A look at the various styles still available in stores Arrol Gellner Inman News Doors can carry all kind of mystical symbolic meanings, but sometimes a door is just a door. This is one of those times. Below is a simple rundown of the basic types of residential doors and their uses.

When couple calls it quits, man who paid for nothing demands half of house Ilyce R. Glink Inman News Q: A man proposed to my sister. They planned to marry and purchased a home together. But the way things worked out, they never got married. In fact, they never even lived together. Here‘s the problem: [...]

Rent it Right Janet Portman Inman News Q: I have a real difficult situation here that I need help with. One of my tenants has an abusive husband who hits her. More than once, she’s called the police, and the resulting chaos is really upsetting for the other residents. I feel sorry for her, but [...]

Without copies of what was signed, future problems may be difficult to fix Ilyce R. Glink Inman News Q: I refinanced my house and the title guy had me sign a quitclaim and deed of trust. He said because I had my married name on the title, it needed to be put in my maiden [...]