Building A Better Vista

Real Estate, Property Values and Homeowner Resources

How Can I Afford A Fixer-Upper?

The purchase of a house that needs repair is often a catch-22 situation, because the bank won't lend the money to buy the house until the repairs are complete, and the repairs can't be done until the house has ...

Tags: Financial – Homeowner – Repairs

How To Challenge Your Property Assessment

If your home value is dropping but your property taxes are not, you can appeal the assessed value of your home which may help lower your taxes. Property values are down, so why doesn’t your property tax ...

Tags: Homeowner – Staff Pick

FHA Mortgage Insurance

Buying a home with an FHA Loan? Putting less than twenty percent down? You will very likely be required to purchase FHA mortgage insurance. What Is FHA Mortgage Insurance and Who Needs It? Mortgage insurance ...

Tags: Homeowner – FHA Loan – Mortgage – Thrifty

How Landlords Can Use Credit Scoring to Make Rental Decisions

Many landlords don't realize that they can quickly and easily review the Credit History of prospective renters by ordering credit reports (and criminal background checks) online. When a property manager...

Tags: Homeowner – Financial – Renters

Avoiding Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Behind every new foreclosure is a desperate family willing to do anything to save their home. And as foreclosures continue to mount across the U.S., so do the number of con artists trying to take advantage of...

Tags: Financial – Thrifty – Credit – Foreclosure – Mortgage – Staff Pick – Association

How To Save On Closing Costs

Many are shocked when they learn how much they owe to close on their mortgage. But there are ways to save before you sign on the dotted line. Closing costs seem to be a necessary evil when securing a new, or...

Tags: Homeowner – Staff Pick

Does Mortgage Aid Hurt Your Credit Score?

Homeowners seeking mortgage help through loan modification programs such as HAMP and HAFA, may face another issue—lower credit scores. Loan Modification and Credit Scores Homeowners on the verge of...

Tags: Homeowner – Credit – Mortgage – Foreclosure

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