Some cities are taking up ordinances that would prohibit landlords from denying people housing on the basis of a criminal conviction. The Cook County Board of Commissioners’ recent approval of an ordinance, which allows those with criminal convictions to more readily get housing in the Chicago area, is adding to the momentum behind activists’ efforts.In nearly a dozen big cities, advocates are campaigning for the passage of “fair-chance hou
The right home improvements could help shave energy bills by up to 35% or unlock up to $627 in annual savings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.Steve Chalk, who recently retired from his work at the department, told CNBC that a home energy assessment can help determine what the best savings projects are for a homeowner to take on.Home energy audits cost about $400, but the price greatly depends on the type of residence and its loca
Some would-be home buyers may be able to afford the monthly payments of a mortgage, but they can’t scrape up enough money for the down payment. More than 2,500 government assistance programs nationwide are offering help, and more buyers are taking advantage of the aid.More than 13% of borrowers who used Federal Housing Administration mortgages in the first three months of this year used government assistance for their down payment, up from
The phrase “blooper room” is being used by real estate professionals to describe problematic spaces that turn off potential buyers to an otherwise ideal home. Just one room in the house that badly needs work could make prospects look the other way entirely.Apartment Therapy recently spoke with some real estate pros about rooms that could potentially be the “blooper room” of your listing:A dated kitchenIf the kitch
Indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental risks to public health, researchers say. After all, most people spend 90% of their time indoors, whether in homes, office buildings, or other structures. Ventilation is the “new frontier for making houses healthy,” Carl Seville of SK Collaborative, a green building consulting and certification firm, told Forbes.com in a recent article.There’s reason for the added attention. R
Women tend to be less aware of their mortgage options when applying for a loan than men, and that may be causing women to pay thousands of dollars more, according to a new LendingTree study, which tracked Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data.First-time buyers and repeat borrowers who are women reported being less familiar with all aspects of the mortgage process. Male and female first-time buyers show the largest disparaties when it comes to
Some of today’s most popular design trends could prove to be less than ideal for your buyers. Real estate pros tell Apartment Therapy which interior design trends they believe won’t impress potential buyers—and may even make them want to pass on a home, including:Colorful kitchens. The trend toward bold colors in the kitchen, rather than just white or neutral colors, is catching on. But real esta
A termite infestation can be costly, and sadly, many homeowners don’t discover there’s a problem until these wood-eating pests have already caused a great deal of damage to a home or an inspection uncovers it during a home sale.“Termites are referred to as the hidden enemy,” says Mike Duncan, an associate certified entomologist and eastern region trainer for Truly Nolen, a pest control company. The damage can reach $7,900 or more before t
Home buyers are reaping some of the lowest borrowing costs in years this buying season. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged from last week at 3.82%, which matched last week for the lowest average since September 2017.“Mortgage rates were mostly unchanged from last week due to easing of trade tensions with Mexico, which helped stabilize markets,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “These historically low ra
Participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are ineligible for mortgages from the Federal Housing Administration, a Housing and Urban Development official confirmed in a letter this week, ending recent uncertainty on the issue.President Barack Obama had started the DACA program on June 15, 2012, during his presidency in a move to prevent the deportation of children of immigrants to the U.S. About 800,000 people are par
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