Q. We have owned our home for 13 years and have kept all of our mortgage and bank statements, utility and insurance bills, and the like from the day we first moved in just in case we ever get audited by the Internal Revenue Service. Not surprisingly, our basement and den are now full of [...]
February 22nd, 2012 by David W. MyersIt took over a year of headlines, but 49 state attorneys general and the federal government have entered into a $25 billion settlement with five mortgage servicers. Arkansas’ Dustin McDaniel is one of those 49 attorneys general, meaning some borrowers in the Natural State may stand to benefit from the settlement. It will, however, take [...]
February 22nd, 2012 by Ethan NoblesReal estate ads are usually full of acronyms and terms that are unfamiliar to first-time buyers. Even after almost two years at the Arkansas Realtors Association, I still have to sometimes look up the meanings of some of the acronyms our members use. For those who don’t work five days a week around Realtors, here’s [...]
February 22nd, 2012 by Amy Glover BryantThere are decor purists who enjoy following the rules that dictate a specific style or period, from the wall colors, furniture design and upholstery patterns to the accessories that complete the look. But for most of us, our home’s style evolves as we do. Often there will be some furniture that is inherited, some secondhand [...]
February 22nd, 2012 by Debbie TravisValentine’s Day is almost here, so I’m focusing this week on issues that entwine love and real estate. Q. I have an excellent credit history, but my fiance’s credit is pretty bad. I have been told that when we marry in June, our credit histories will be merged and I will “inherit” his bad score [...]
February 12th, 2012 by David W. MyersQ. We are retired and our interest income from bank CDs is not what it used to be. I thought about replacing our gas furnace to lower our utility bills. What is the most efficient design available? A. Many people, not just retirees, are experiencing reduced income because of the very low interest rates now. [...]
February 12th, 2012 by James DulleyWhile the single-family housing market is still recovering, the national Mortgage Bankers Association reports that commercial and multifamily real estate grew last year and projects continued improvement in 2012. In 2004, the number of people owning homes reached a record 69.2 percent. That figure had dropped to 65.9 percent by the second quarter of last [...]
February 12th, 2012 by Ethan NoblesOne of my friends was recently shocked to learn I had not joined the Pinterest craze. She showed me how she is using the social networking website to save and make plans for her future house (she’s a newlywed). It’s a board full of features, paint colors, design ideas and furniture that she is saving [...]
February 12th, 2012 by Amy Glover BryantQ. Any tips on selecting railings for a new home with lots of stairs? I’ve checked out the options; we are looking for something that goes with dark wood floors and middle-of-the-road modern furnishings. A. This is a great question. We don’t really think about the stairs and railings in new or old homes, but [...]
February 12th, 2012 by Debbie TravisI found this year’s State of the Union address to be quite interesting. For one, it came on the eve of my finishing up the 43-county housing report that the Arkansas Realtors Association distributes on its website each month. This month’s report not only reflected how we did as a state in December; it also [...]
February 5th, 2012 by Amy Glover Bryant