We've all seen those commercials for bowflex and 6 minute abs, but have you checked out the recent home mortgage calculator workouts? Intense doesn't even begin to describe how much financial fat you'll burn with these bad boys. Unlike 6 minute abs, you can have them all completed and get your home finances ripped in just 5...
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...
Although the 2010 New York gubernatorial race is over, some of us may still be experiencing rent that's simply "too damn high." Since Jimmy McMillan and his promise to allow New Yorkers to "marry a shoe," are a distant memory, our pocketbooks are probably still bleeding. So with the rent still at astronomical levels I thought I'd...
So you think you're ready to get a pad for yourself? Buying a house, for many, is the single largest financial decision of their lives so It's no surprise then, that this decision shouldn't be taken lightly. The decision to tie yourself to payments for 15-30 years is huge. As someone who owns several residential...
This project took a few years and included ripping out a chimney that went from the basement to the roof, which became unnecessary when I put a new furnace in the house. The hardwood flooring is original maple and was carpeted over. The kitchen floor is new as there was no wood floor originally in the kitchen. A large...
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...
"It's a lot easier to find something when you know what you're looking for."
I'm constantly checking real estate listing websites for deals. Although they're a lot harder to find than during the great recession they're still out there and it only takes one to make you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, because as any good...
This is a property I purchased in 2015 and simply haven't had time to complete, but will be working on in 2017. I'll begin to track my budget and eventually return on investment as I begin to focus on this project more in the summer of 2017. Until then, here are some current before pictures along with...
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...
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...