As you are preparing to sell your home, you are filled with anticipation about the possibilities. You could be making a tidy profit or excited about finding your dream home. Yet along the way, it is crucial you take a few steps before you actually list your home for sale. If you want to emerge…

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Moving to a new city, whether it’s 30 or 3,000 miles away from your last one, can be stressful to say the least – perhaps even more so after you’ve dealt with the last of the packing boxes, because now it’s time to get to know your new community and begin to feel comfortable within…

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Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is imposed on conventional mortgage borrowers who place less than 20 percent down on a home purchase. Mortgage insurance is also a requirement for borrowers who obtain a mortgage through a government agency, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), though it is…

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Television shows like Buying & Selling and House Hunters have received flak for their unrealistic portrayal of real estate. What they do get right are the wish lists of the homebuyers they feature—many of those must-haves, in fact, fall in line with trends in the marketplace. One of the most commonly requested amenities today, as any HGTV…

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Did you ever dream of making it into the Guinness Book of World Records? Each year, the Guinness Book of World Records Day offers anyone and everyone 24 hours to break a record and become part of the Guinness annals of history. Here are the details. Whether it’s breaking the record for the “Largest Number…

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Cleaning your window screens is a chore few homeowners look forward to. No matter how shiny you can get your window panes, if your screens are scuzzy, your windows will look less than well washed. Below are several tips for properly cleaning your pesky window screens. Start by removing your screens. To really deep clean your…

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Buying a major appliance can take a big bite out of your savings, making it tempting to choose the lowest-priced item possible. However, the true cost of owning a home appliance is actually based on three components: the initial purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate it. So don’t…

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The American flag is a fixture on many homes across the country. What happens if it starts to age? If your flag has seen better days, give it the star-spangled treatment with these storage tips that will respectfully preserve Old Glory. Never dump a flag. Though your flag is in storage, it must always be treated…

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A mortgage is amortized. That means that although the monthly payments are equal, the amounts applied to principal and interest change each month.  When you select a mortgage, you will have to decide on an amortization period, or a number of years that you will have to repay the loan. The timeframe you choose will…

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If you are looking to lower your caffeine, or simply minimize your coffee intake, there are thankfully some delicious warming options. Break your coffee addiction little-by-little by replacing your morning brew with one of these tasty hot drink options. Chai Tea:This cafe favorite may seem fancy and complicated, but with a little hot water, the…

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