5 Signs the National Housing Market Is Stabilizing
 According to Freddie Mac's Multi-Indicator Market Index, almost 80 percent of all housing markets across the country are stabilizing; 38 out of 50 states and 40 out of 50 metropolitan areas are showing a three-month improving trend. However, the index stands at 74.9, which indicates a weak overall housing market. While the index is far from its all-time high of 121.7 back in April 2006, it is also far from its lowest point of 57.2 in October 2010. The current market has improved... Read More
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Spring Cleaning: An Organization Attack Plan for Your Home
 Assessing your things, organizing your space and an overall clean will make your home seem new again and help set the tone for an organized lifestyle. Here are four steps that will help you get your house cleaned and organized.
1. Don't Set Yourself
Up for Failure -
Sometimes the best spring cleaners can be overzealous and think they can attack the house in one day and be done with it. Biting off... Read More |
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Small Design Changes, Big Impact
Barbara Schmidt, a nationally recognized interior style consultant, offers four tips for freshening up any room in your home using inexpensive items, as well as preexisting pieces.
Tip 1. Dress up a wall by adding a tight grouping of your favorite pictures. "Pull your chosen color into the matting and frames, but vary the width and style of the frames to add variety," she says. "This is definitely a growing design trend... Read More
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What Americans Want In a Home: The Housing Satisfaction Gap
 In a recent survey conducted by the Demand Institute, 10,000 households were asked if their current homes met their lists of must-haves. The survey found that many homeowners are going without some important features. Home buyers and renovators should take heed; these are the features that should be on every must-have list.
Energy Efficient
Spending on home electricity has climbed 56 percent since 2000, leading 71 percent of households to think energy efficiency is important. Yet only 35 percent are satisfied with their own home's energy efficiency. Homeowners are making simple improvements to save... Read More
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5 Things Mortgage Lenders
Like to See
 Job Stability
The lender needs to see signs of stability. Don't make any sudden changes in your employment if you're planning to apply for a mortgage soon—stay at your job for well over two years.
Low Credit Card Debt
Your back-end debt-to-income ratio plays an important part in getting approved for a home loan. This ratio is the total amount of debt payments you make each month divided by your gross monthly income. It should ideally be under 36 percent, but to increase your chances of getting approved for a home loan, work on getting that percentage below 30 percent... Read More |
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