Real Estate: Latest Financial Topics from the NASDAQ

Here is the latest Real Estate News from CNN Money.

Refinancing Your Home to Pay Off Debt: The Pros and Cons
Declining mortgage interest rates in recent years have coincided with increasing levels of consumer debt for many Americans. Those trends have made more people consider mortgage refinancing as a way to reduce their consumer debt burden. In the most typical scenario, a consumer obtains a new mortgage at an interest

Deciding Whether Home Repair Warranties Are Worth the Cost
By Kathryn Hauer , EA, CFP Learn more about Kathryn on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Say it’s the fifth day of temperatures over 98 degrees in South Carolina during a summer of record heat. Your air conditioning system has kept you cool through it all — until now. The unit is still spinning, but the air coming

Tips to Save Money by Refinancing Your Mortgage
With mortgage rates hitting historic lows in recent years,  refinancing has become a popular option for homeowners. The benefits of refinancing include lower monthly payments, locked-in low rates and extra cash available every month for purposes ranging from home repairs to paying down consumer debt. The decision

Tax Deductions: Homeownership Has Its Privileges
Remember the day you moved into your first house? From the moment you slid that shiny new key into the lock to the moment you drifted off to sleep in the bedroom that was now yours, you knew this date would always be stamped on your memory. What’s more, you may even have a soft spot in your heart for the 15th of

6 Wallet-Stretching Tips for Renters
By Winnie Sun Learn more about Winnie on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor Rent has long been the biggest expenditure in many people’s budgets — about 30% of a renter’s income has traditionally gone to the landlord. And today that percentage is  on the rise . But as a smart renter will tell you, you don’t need to

The Secret Costs to Owning a Tiny Home
The tiny house movement is sweeping across the U.S — and for good reason.  Tiny houses are a way to own a piece of the American dream at a lower price point. The average cost of a new home sold in the U.S. in 2015 was $358,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, the average cost of a tiny house, if you

Towers of Dabble: Commercial Real Estate Signals Trouble Ahead?
Man’s long determined history of dabbling in the building of touted towers, surely not for his self-gratification, but rather to bring him closer to God, has rarely been met with benevolence. Maybe God doesn’t like man, who He created after all, attempting to smash through His glass ceiling. Consider, if you will,

13 Real Estate Secrets Only Insiders Know
The real estate market can be tough for everyone, whether you’re a buyer, seller, agent, broker or an investor. One minute the market can be hot — the next, it’s barely sizzling. The only way to become a true real estate expert and net a significant profit is to learn from the best.  So whether you’re looking to

First-Time Homebuyers: Time to Consider Rent-to-Own?
A rent-to-own home, or lease-purchase agreement, might seem like the perfect solution for the can’t-quite-get-there homebuyer. Maybe your credit needs a few touch-ups, or you don’t have a down payment in the bank yet. A lease-purchase agreement can get you in a home of your own while you sort out the buying details,

6 Things Your Home Inspector Will Look For
What exactly is that home inspector looking for when he climbs up on to the roof, descends into the basement or slides into the crawlspace? “When I’m looking at a house, I’m looking at a thousand things,” says Kurt Mitenbuler, owner of Kurt Mitenbuler & Associates. Along with diagnosing potential safety hazards and

5 Ways to Avoid Costly Home Renovation Mistakes
A home renovation can be time-consuming, and you want the end result to be worth the hard work. If you make a home-remodel mistake, however, it could turn your dream project into a nightmare. So how can you avoid costly renovation mistakes? We’ve gathered five tips to help you make sure you’re heading into the right

Get Top Dollar When Selling Your Home
By Tom Salomone Learn more about Tom on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor The beginning of spring brings many things: warmer temperatures, longer days, baseball, blooming flowers (and the consequent allergies) and a sense of renewal after a long winter. When it comes to home sales, spring also means the busy

4 Home Improvements That Don't Pay (and 4 Better Options)
It’s nice to live in a home that’s designed just the way you like, even if you have to spend money on remodeling. But when it comes to increasing a home’s value, some pricey home improvements won’t come close to matching the amount of money you put in. If you don’t plan on moving in the near future, recouping money

20 Cheap Renovations That Increase Your Home's Value
You don’t have to spend big bucks to increase your home’s value . In fact, lower-cost home improvement projects tend to return a greater value, according to Remodeling magazine’s “2015 Cost vs. Value Report.” So if you want to spruce up your home but have a limited budget, there are plenty of inexpensive projects

Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Homebuyers
Here’s a secret for first-time homebuyers: No two homebuying experiences are ever the same. Even with a Zillow sneak peek, a shopper never really knows what homes will look like until they see them in person or what snags they’ll encounter once mortgage lenders and home inspectors get involved. For some people, it’s

20 Quick Ways to Save for a New Home While Renting
If you’re renting, but dream of owning a place of your own , you’re not alone. Only one in 10 people who rent said they prefer renting over owning, according to a survey by financial services company Wells Fargo. Two-thirds of those surveyed view home ownership as an accomplishment to be proud of or a dream come

Understanding Renters Insurance
f you rent your home, much of the responsibility of maintaining the dwelling falls to your landlord, including insurance for the structure itself. But a landlord’s insurance doesn’t extend to a renter’s personal belongings. If disaster struck your home — such as a fire or storm — the landlord’s insurance would pay

Still Renting? You're Missing These Tax Advantages
By Tom Salomone Learn more about Tom on NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor It’s that time of year when we all sharpen our pencils (or, more accurately, open our laptops) and get ready for tax time. If you were among the millions of first-time homebuyers in 2015, you’re in for a nice surprise this tax season.