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Real Estate
Would You Live in a Serial Killer's Home?
Of course, the crazed murderer won't be living in it, but can you bring yourself to stay in a house that was formerly occupied by a serial killer? Barbara Holmes and Tom Williams snagged a great deal with their latest townhouse purchase and bought it at a discount of $100,000. However, the good buy came with a catch — it used to be rented out by a Dorothea Puente, who killed and buried seven people under the house.
Letting Parents Pay For Your Home Down Payment
I just read about a study that revealed eight out of 10 first-time property buyers in England are receiving cash from their parents to foot the down payment. It's apparently the highest percentage that they've ever measured, more than two times the number in 2005. This is attributed to the global financial crisis, and English banks now require a deposit too high for people to pay without assistance from mom and dad.
Where Do You Think Is the Best Place to Live in 2010?
Money Magazine has released the Best Places to Live in the US list for 2010, claiming it's found the meccas for "jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features that make a town great for raising a family." While my hometown didn't make the cut, I'm always intrigued by the cities that get celebrated in such rankings. The top cities include:
Savvy Community: Paying More Toward Your Mortgage?
This question was shared by reader Brisas in the Ask Savvy group.
We are buying our first house and are really excited to have a place to call home. My husband and I started discussing reworking our budget to account for the mortgage and everything else that is related to the house.
The Country's Priciest Fixer-Upper: Guess How Much?
It can be a pretty savvy move to buy a house that’s in need of some TLC; you can truly make it your own, and plus, you’re likely to snag a great deal! That is, of course, unless we’re talking about this fixer-upper in a suburb of Orlando. This 90,000-square-foot, 13-bedroom home needs some major work — although it boasts 23 bathrooms, it’s got no carpet, tiles, or interior walls.
Reader Tips For First-Time Home Buyers
Brisas is thinking about buying her first house and is finding the whole process to be, well, complicated. She asked for support in the Ask Savvy group and readers shared some fantastic advice. Here is a handful of smart reader suggestions any first-time home buyer should consider.
Savvy Community: Buying Our First House . . . Any Tips?
They say your first house is the best purchase you'll ever make. brisas is thinking about buying her first house and asked for support in the Ask Savvy group.
So my husband and I are in the process of buying our first home and the entire process seems more complicated than it needs to be.
Savvy Community: Buy House Solo, or Wait For New Love?
The decision to purchase a home is one of the biggest — and likely most expensive — decisions you will make in your lifetime. DedicatedDebbie is considering taking the leap, but she has a new love and asked for our advice in the SavvySugar Q and A group:
I am ready to buy a house solo, but my healthy new relationship makes me think I should wait a while. What's your advice?
Where Are the Most and Least Affordable Homes in the US?
Even if buying a home has yet to cross your mind, it's probably been tough to ignore the patterns in the housing market. It will always have its ups and downs, but what we all really care about is the bottom line — affordability.
Some cities are considered to be more affordable than others when it comes to being a homeowner.
What's the Most Overpriced Expense For 2009?
This year saw some escalating prices coming down — and back up again (hello gas prices!). We're not fans of this pricing roller coaster either — but couldn't determine the Best of 2009 without asking what you think about this year's priciest expenses.
By the end of this year, we're seeing some signs of a recovering economy, but prices are still in flux.
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Summer 2010
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