Real Estate

You see them in almost every neighborhood, but did you realize that trees are a great way to raise the value of your home? According to a diagram presented by the arbor day foundation, trees can increase the value of your property by up to 15%. That's a big shift! If you owned a home that is...

According to CNN Money, the most expensive housing market in the USA is... drum roll please... HONOLULU! I can attest Honolulu, is VERY expensive, but it is possible to live there cheaply if you do it right. Heck, I lived in Honolulu for about $1,000 a month, but it's not for everyone. If you're focused enough on achieving financial freedom in...

Housing is by far the most expensive budget item for practically everyone. So it should come as no surprise that we spend years of our lives working simply to pay for the place we call home. But exactly how many hours of your life are dedicated simply to having a place to sleep at night? And...

I just wanted to share a few cool videos I found from IKEA. I have to admit, I currently don't own anything IKEA, most likely because I don't live near an IKEA, and even if I did I'm wayyyy too frugal to even tempt myself by walking in the doors of a store like that. In any case, the...

Is now the best time to buy a house since the great depression? I think so, and after reading through this article I think you may also side on the fact that now is an amazing time to get into home ownership. 2012 has the potential to be the best year for buying a house in over...

Think long term and try to pay off your mortgage early Being a homeowner has many benefits, but being wed to debt isn’t one of them. Paying the minimum balance on your mortgage will keep you in debt for the majority of your life, as traditional mortgages are 25-year or 30-year commitments. Start thinking seriously about your financial future by...

I've seen quite a few cool articles lately about using old shipping containers as homes and buildings. With a huge trade imbalance the United States often has left over shipping containers sitting at our ports without a purpose. Therefore many people have taken these excess containers and turned them into buildings, and which is a great solution...

You could say that real estate has quite literally hit rock bottom in some areas of the country, since you can find free land, and possibly homes in some areas of the country, for free! If you've ever dreamed of moving out the rural Midwest and breadbasket of America you can find some great opportunities for real estate...

It's become fairly common with the dips in housing prices for those who are underwater to walk away from their mortgage, but I just learned that in Chicago, practically in my backyard, banks are beginning to follow suit. Perhaps this isn't news to you, but for me, it's interesting to learn about banks literally abandoning properties. I just read...