Living room with white sofa, large plant centerpiece, wooden chair, and decorative art on walls.
7 Small Things That Can Have a Big Impact on Your Home's Value
You'll probably wonder why you didn't tackle them sooner.
Sep 22, 2019
7 Things Your Neighbors Should Never, Ever Ask You To Do
Yes, good fences make good neighbors—but so do good boundaries.
Sep 20, 2019
5 Reasons Your Credit Score May Actually Be Lower Than You Think
That three-digit number isn't always as stable as you'd like it to be.
Sep 16, 2019
The 6 Most Underrated Items at Goodwill for Renters
Let’s go Goodwill hunting, renter-style.
Sep 12, 2019
5 Easy Ways Anyone Can Get Closer to a Perfect Credit Score
There are no “hacks”, per se, when it comes to reaching a perfect credit score, but there are habits you can start now that will pay off over time.
Sep 4, 2019
7 Things I Learned About "Home" from Talking to Architects on Every Continent
Through their architecture, our homes can say so much about our country's collective culture and what makes a house feel like home to its citizens.
Aug 29, 2019
One of The Hottest Design Trends Right Now? Ditching Your Dresser
Many designers are saying goodbye to the bedroom staple and instead embracing a sort of "open concept dresser" in an ultra-organized closet.
Aug 25, 2019
Yes, Unfortunately, Your Dog Does Need a Resume Now
If you’re about to search for a pet-friendly apartment, you might want to have one at the ready, along with your first month’s rent and deposit.
Aug 21, 2019
Your Ideal Dorm Decor, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
Do your sign traits align with your personal style?
Aug 7, 2019
Why Grief Should Have a Place in Our Homes
After my father passed, my mom gave me a large canvas with the photo of us printed on it. Thinking it would hurt to look at it every day, I placed it out of sight along with a box I’d neatly packed with many of his belongings.
Aug 4, 2019
The One Question First-Time Homebuyers Don’t Ask Anymore
You have questions about what is probably the biggest purchase of your life, and your real estate team should be on standby with answers. But experts say that over the years, one common question has surprisingly gone by the wayside.
Jul 31, 2019
Real Estate Agents Say This Is The Ideal Studio Apartment Layout
It can almost pass as a one-bedroom.
Jul 28, 2019
They'll Never Tell You, But Real Estate Agents Are Tired of These 5 Questions
While they love being your trusty “phone-a-friend” during your home shopping (or selling) experience—they really, really do—there are some questions that get, shall we say, a little tedious.
Jul 26, 2019
Why You Shouldn't Stress if Your Apartment Isn't 'Perfect' Right Now
The thing that makes the biggest difference between an apartment and a "home" surprisingly isn't just your salary—it's your mentality.
Jul 18, 2019
What Most People Get Wrong About Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
Though adjustable-rate mortgages have gotten a bad rap post housing crisis, experts say they can actually make financial sense in certain situations.
Jul 13, 2019
7 Low-Cost (or Free!) Kitchen Staging Ideas Professionals Swear By
These tips will, yes, sell potential buyers on your kitchen. But, even if your home isn’t on the market, embracing some of these kitchen styling rules will help you create a lovely space for entertaining or providing an Instagram backdrop for those great food photos you’ve been taking.
Jul 7, 2019
7 Staging Tips That'll Help Your Bedroom Go From 0 To Zen
Follow these tips, and the master bedroom may just rise to the most coveted staged space on buyers wish list (or, if you have no plans on moving, become your favorite room of the house!)
Jul 5, 2019
7 Tips for Styling Your Entryway, According to Professional Home Stagers
Whether you're looking to sell your home or just want an impressive entrance, these front entryway ideas will help give off that good “welcome home” vibe.
Jul 3, 2019
7 Tips for Moving With Pets, According to Animal Trainers
To help make the moving process easier on Fido and Fluffy, we’ve asked animal trainers and behaviorists for their best pet-friendly moving tips.
Jun 23, 2019
The One Question All The Smartest Renters Ask Before Moving In
Here's how experts say you can avoid dorm-life flashbacks.
Jun 18, 2019
6 Things Homeowners Regret Not Knowing Before Buying a Home
Buying a home is stressful. Here's how to make the process a little easier.
Jun 18, 2019
5 Must-Have Laundry Room Features, According to Real Estate Agents
Aside from “washer and dryer included,” what else should homebuyers keep in mind when it comes to this functional space? Here's what experts say.
Jun 16, 2019
The 5 Most Important Home Maintenance Tasks You’re Forgetting to Do, According to Home Inspectors
Professional home inspectors see what goes wrong in maintaining a home. Here, the half-dozen tasks and missteps they say homeowners often make when it comes to home maintenance 101.
Jun 15, 2019
Look Inside: This Restored $725,000 Loft in Minneapolis Has a Must-See Vintage Fireplace
This spacious loft is located in the heart of one of Minneapolis’ coolest neighborhoods—and has the Mississippi Riverfront right out the back door.
Jun 10, 2019
How ‘Fixer Upper’ Changed the Way People Buy Homes
A decade ago, real estate agents struggled to get clients to look beyond burnt orange shag carpet or avocado green tiles. Now, agents say buyers excitedly search for homes they can renovate.
Jun 5, 2019
7 Questions Every Pet Owner Should Ask Before Signing a Lease
Want to make sure your pet is really welcome in that new apartment? Experts say to ask these seven questions before signing a lease.
Jun 4, 2019
Look Inside: This $899K California Home Is Indoor/Outdoor Living at Its Best
A pool, pergola, and mature green gardens will make you want to practically live outside (but the interior is darling, too).
Jun 3, 2019
The Mistake Most People Make When Choosing Between Flat-Rate and Hourly Movers
There's a good chance you're either over- or underestimating how long your move will take.
May 19, 2019
The Best Tiny House Hotels to Stay In, Starting at $75/Night
Think the tiny home trend is adorable—but more so in an aspirational kind of way? Instead of committing to downsizing your life into 300 square feet (or less!), you can give the trend a test run at one of these tiny home hotels. These five resorts excel when it comes to cozy and quaint getaways. The best part? They’re pretty affordable, too, with rates starting at $75 a night. The newest tiny home hotel to make its grand (or petite?
May 2, 2019
The 1 Thing Most People Get Wrong About Their Credit Score
"You only have one credit score." True or false?
Apr 24, 2019
The Frustration-Free Guide to Getting (And Understanding) Your Free Annual Credit Report
Every year, you’re entitled to a free credit report. You can consider it a financial wellness exam of sorts as the comprehensive report details your credit activity, getting into the nitty-gritty details of on-time payments and credit limits. But, this all-encompassing report won’t just automatically arrive in your mailbox. You’ve got to ask for it. Here’s what you need to know about requesting your Annual Credit Report, and what it all includes.
Apr 16, 2019
The 4 Construction Shortcuts Every New Home Buyer Should Watch Out For
Looking back, I was an easy-to-please buyer—pretty much the opposite of anyone on “House Hunters.” Case-in-point: My 28-year-old self was impressed that the cheap, very standard mirrors in the bathroom came included with my newly built house. As I toured the upstairs of the home, though, my real estate agent immediately pointed out there were no baseboards in any of the bedrooms, a shortcut she was increasingly taking note of in new builds.
Apr 14, 2019
The Most Googled Credit Score Questions, Answered by Finance Experts
No doubt, credit can be confusing. Not only are there various factors that make up the anatomy of your credit score, there are also different credit scoring companies. Making things even more convoluted, achievements like paying off your student loans can actually cause a drop in your scores, plus there’s plenty of myths circulating about credit. Suffice to say, people have a lot of questions about credit.
Apr 14, 2019
This Controversial Exterior Might Be Making A Comeback
When it comes to curb appeal, prospective home buyers are being wooed by a classic: red brick exteriors. Trulia zeroed in on the trend after analyzing its most searched listings for March. Among the East Coast properties that are garnering the most attention, several had red brick facades, according to the real estate and rental listing site. Red brick is an oldie—some people may say “dated,” even—but others may see it as a “goodie” for its vintage charm.
Mar 29, 2019
This $150K Philadelphia Home Is the Most Popular Fixer-Upper on the Market
Flirting with the idea of a fixer upper? Those who are searching for homes online are majorly crushing on this massive stone home in Philadelphia that was originally built in 1900 and is for sale, “as is,” for $150,000. While the sprawling 2,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms is definitely begging for some TLC, it’s among this month’s “most searched” properties on Trulia, a home and neighborhood site for buyers and renters.
Mar 28, 2019
How to Improve Your Credit When You Have None
Establishing credit poses a tricky Catch-22: You need credit to get credit. This can prove to be quite a conundrum if you’re trying to rent an apartment, buy a home, or, heck, simply need car insurance but don’t qualify because of a thin credit file.
Mar 14, 2019
Should You Just Buy Now or Save Up More for a Down Payment? Here’s How to Decide
You see homeownership in your future. But, after looking into your crystal ball—err, savings account—are you envisioning yourself at the closing table in the next month? Year? Five years? TBD depending on if you win the lotto? Fewer than four out of 10 millennials own homes, according to research from the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based social and economic policy group.
Mar 12, 2019
Look Inside: A $2M Laguna Beach Cottage with Ocean Views and Gardens Galore
Glorious gardens and dreamy ocean views combine to create a scenic sanctuary in Laguna Beach. 805 La Mirada St Located in Laguna Beach, California $1,998,000 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 partial bath It’s tough to narrow down our favorite part of this Laguna Beach home that proves cottages can be both charming and contemporary. Keeping watch over the Pacific Ocean, the panoramic beach views are an obvious contender.
Mar 11, 2019
The Best Credit Score Advice Experts Have Ever Heard
As far as credit is concerned, there are no hacks that can cause your score to magically skyrocket overnight. (Ahem, we’re wagging our fingers at schemes promising you a “new credit identity.”) But, what does exist is good, sound credit advice that advocates for responsible borrowing and takes into account the anatomy of your credit score, like utilization and payment history.
Mar 8, 2019
The Best Affordable City for Your Zodiac Sign
How does moving to a brand new city sound? For some zodiac sun signs, like Cancers, it might sound terrible, as they’re prone to staying close to their family and are nostalgic for the “old neighborhood.” (Though, it might be a great experience for them to get out of their shells a bit!) “They are the homebodies of the zodiac,” explains Jenna Smith of My Stars! Horoscopes. “Once they get nestled into a place, they don’t want to leave.
Mar 5, 2019
This Is How You Get a Perfect 850 Credit Score
In the world of credit, establishing a credit score of 850 is like being granted a lifetime achievement award. Both FICO and Vantage—widely used credit-scoring models—consider 850 to be the highest possible credit score. The score is perfect. Exceptional. Untarnished. But… is it possible? The short answer, according to experts: Well, yes. But an 850 credit score takes time and strategy.
Feb 27, 2019
5 Surprising Places to Live in the U.S. If You Love Hiking
For some people, a big backyard is a priority—as in a backyard that boasts hundreds of miles of trails perfect for weekends spent hiking and exploring. You know of the biggies like the Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon and The Narrows in Zion National Park. But there are several, lesser-known destinations throughout the United States where hiking is spectacular, thanks in part to preservation efforts, volunteers who groom the trails, and good ole’ Mother Nature.
Feb 25, 2019
Here’s Why Your Credit Score Is Dropping for “No Reason”
You consider yourself responsible with credit: You pay your bills on time and you don’t rack up any major credit card debt. And since you’re looking to apply for a mortgage sometime in the near future, you’ve been actively monitoring your credit. But since you’ve checked last month, your score has gone down. What gives? Why is your score acting so sensitive? Sheesh.
Feb 23, 2019
This Is What Happens to Your Credit Score When You Only Use Your Debit Card
Maybe you’re afraid of racking up too much debt. Or, perhaps you fall into an “anti-credit card” category who loathes the potential of paying interest. It could just be that your debit card is at the front of your wallet and, by default, gets swiped far more than your credit card.
Feb 17, 2019
8 Surprising Reasons You Need a Good Credit Score
You know a strong credit score will help you get into your next home. To get specific, if you’re renting, landlords like to see a score of at least 650 before they start asking for extra deposits and guarantors. If you’re taking out a mortgage, a score that’s 760 or above is the magic number that will get you the best interest rate on a home loan. But establishing and maintaining a good credit score isn’t just necessary for keeping a roof over your head.
Feb 13, 2019
Married People Are More Likely to Own a Home—But Here’s Hope for You
First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes an 18 percent higher probability of being a homeowner. According to research from the Urban Institute, delayed marriage is a major factor holding millennials back from homeownership. If the marriage rates were the same as they were in 1990, the millennial homeownership rate would be about five percentage points higher, says the Washington, D.C.-based economic and social policy research institute.
Feb 9, 2019
20 Questions You Should Ask Your Landlord Right Now
Even if you read your lease line-by-line (you deserve a juris doctorate!) when you signed, you’d probably like clarification on some policies and have some questions about your rental—whether you’ve resigned twice or just moved in. Have there ever been bed bugs? Ghosts? If my lease ends at the end of the month, what’s the absolute latest time I can move out? What’s my best option for pizza delivery?! Speaking of deliveries, where do my Amazon Prime packages go?
Feb 1, 2019
Is Buying a Home a Good Investment? Here’s How Experts Decide
You’ve saved a good chunk of money, or at least are on a path to do so. Now, you might be wondering what’s better: Invest in real estate or put your money in the stock market? It’s a question you can wrestle with to no end since several factors come into play. Helping to frame the debate and lend advice below are a host of real estate and finance experts. Here are six questions they suggest you ask yourself if you’re exploring your investment options.
Jan 30, 2019