Finding A Home In the New Economy Report Preview

Looking for a home in a community that's adapting well to the new economic order? Seek a region teeming with knowledge-based jobs and global trade. Look for a dynamic, fast-changing economy steeped in competition. And ferret out a digital economy built on an infrastructure of technological innovation. And don't forget, while regions that operate out of the economic box can be boons for your personal goals and global progress, they can just as quickly become outposts of economic volatility that wreak havoc on the best laid plans. Silicon Valley is a prime example. Ground zero for the new economy, Silicon Valley led the nation into its longest economic expansion ever. The region also led the nation into dot combustion when the bubble began to burst. The area emerges from recession fraught with economic uncertainty leaving it short of the top of the economic pecking order, according to "The 2002 State New Economy Index: Benchmarking Economic Transformation in the States"…

 

Helping Your Children Buy Their House Report Preview

What is PMI? Although the borrower pays the monthly (or annual) premium, this insurance is solely for the benefit of the lender. It is designed to protect the lender should they have to foreclose on your property, and the price that the property is sold at a foreclosure sale does not equal the outstanding balance on your mortgage loan. Unfortunately, although many lawyers believe that the monthly PMI premium can legally be deducted as "mortgage interest", the Internal Revenue Service takes a strong position that such payments are not deductible…

 

 

Keeping Peace With Your Live-In : Get A Written Agreement Before You Buy Report Preview

Your boyfriend will be paying half of the mortgage and half of the utilities. Does he have any interest in obtaining half of the property in the future - whether or not you stay together as a couple? Does he believe that he will be obtaining any ownership rights because he is making these payments? What about furniture? Will you be furnishing the entire house, or will your friend share in these expenses? What happens should you decide to split? Will you be able to afford to carry the house on your own, or will you need to get a roommate to assist you financially? If both of you were to go on title, the law is universal in the United States…

 

Manufactured Homes Make Affordable Housing Options Report Preview

In the Southern U.S. it is not unusual to pass by many mobile home parks on the way to an everyday destination. They were - and still are - considered a vital part of many communities across the country and may offer a viable alternative to traditional housing for households seeking an affordable home of their own.. For some, a manufactured home can fulfill their dream of homeownership. Fortunately, the industry has gone through many changes in the last 25 years to assure quality and safety in the construction of manufactured houses…

Radon: What To Know Before You Buy A Home Report Preview

If you're in the process of searching for or buying a home, you've probably been advised to have a home inspection. But there's another test that you'll want to make sure your potential home -- or, if you don't have plans to move, your current home -- passes - the radon test. Radon, a colorless and odorless decay product of uranium that occurs naturally in soil and rock, has been identified as a leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It causes 15,000 to 22,000 deaths a year. Radon can enter your home from the ground through cracks in walls, basement floors and foundations, and the risk of exposure increases during colder months when we keep our windows and doors closed and spend more time indoors…