Monthly Archives: March 2007

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey slipped to 88.4 in March, down from February’s 91.3 and its lowest level in six months. Why should you care about the UofM survey as a homeowner? In a nutshell, you shouldn’t. But, … Continue reading →

As a home owner, it’s a good practice to have your home and its appliances serviced regularly. There is no wrong way to maintain your home — you just need to do it. The biggest advantage to routine maintenance is … Continue reading →

Every town has its own history and issues unique to its neighborhoods. Near Bozeman, Montana this morning, one neighborhood is dealing with a tumbleweed problem that is so bad that residents are resorting to using snowplows and pitchforks to clear … Continue reading →

The pie chart at right comes from a Bankrate.com survey, sampling 1,000 adults about their current housing situation. The question asked: What type of mortgage do you currently have? While the 34% “Don’t Know” figure is troubling, even more frightening … Continue reading →

It’s Do-It-Yourself Season for projects around the home and that makes this a fantastic time to remind everyone to be safe around your home. Just because the “guy on TV ” makes it look simple doesn’t mean that the project … Continue reading →

As a consumer, it’s very easy to be misled by newspaper headlines. Today provides a great example. “Sales of Existing Homes Up 3.9% For The Biggest Monthly Gains In Three Years” What was not mentioned in the headline was that … Continue reading →

As we move into Spring and the sun moves to higher position overhead, sun rays are not as “linear” as during the Winter. That doesn’t mean that a sunny day won’t reveal dirty windows and window treatments, however. Whether you … Continue reading →

This afternoon, the Fed adjourns after a two-day meeting and it is widely expected that they will leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged at 5.250%. So, what is the Fed Funds Rate and why does it matter to everyday people? … Continue reading →

A questions that buyers often ask is: “How many homes will I need to see before I find the right one?” This is a hard question to answer because it varies from buyer to buyer. For example, buyers that use … Continue reading →

When real estate data comes from the National Association of REALTORS, it has an industry-insider feel to it. The data may be accurate, but it is hardly “impartial”. So, it’s nice to see data from the Office of Federal Housing … Continue reading →