So you have gone through the train wreck of a foreclosure process. Your credit score is in the gutters and you are probably worrying that a leasing agent or landlord will not rent to you. But you are luck is now changing! Leasing agents and private landlords will in most cases completely overlook a foreclosure. Lets address and prepare what you will need to explain to a leasing agent or landlord. (more…)
July 30, 2008
July 24, 2008
Radioactive Granite - Do you Have Some in Your Home?
This article was on the front page of Yahoo and it caught my attention. The New York Times’ Kate Murphy reports:
Allegations that granite countertops may emit dangerous levels of radon and radiation have been raised periodically over the past decade, mostly by makers and distributors of competing countertop materials…granite is known to contain uranium and other radioactive materials like thorium and potassium, the amounts in countertops are not enough to pose a health threat.
Apparently, a married couple had a radon test done in their home and the radon levels were much higher than anticipated. The radon test revealed that the radon levels were 10 times higher by the granite countertop in comparison to any other room in the house.
Maybe cross off granite countertops as a requirement for your next rental property.
July 22, 2008
New York Apartment Scam on Craigslist
According to Realtor.org
Four real estate scam artists used Craigslist to defraud thousands of apartment hunters in New York City out of a total of $1 million over nearly three years, according to the New York Attorney General’s office.
Igor “Bobby” Portnov, Boris “Brian” Portnov, Nader Jaber, all of Teaneck, N.J., and Brooke Corio of Staten Island were charged with felony fraud for a scheme that enticed people in search of rentals to pay hundreds in bogus search fees.
The four ran a phony real estate company called Innovative Apartments. They claimed to have access to exclusive apartment listings. Customers who wanted access had to pay $200 for a “credit and background check.”
July 10, 2008
July 9, 2008
Search Rentandleasehousing.com by Housing Types
Looking for a particular type of housing? Use Rent and Lease Housing’s Housing Types page to find a specific type of property. The housing type page will allow prospective renters to narrow their search for: (more…)
Space Saving Products
From closet organizers to drawer inserts, these several products can help you save some space around the house or apartment. Check out this slide show by Money magazine:
July 8, 2008
Market Your Child’s 529 Plan
This is a very useful site that allows parents to link their child’s 529 plan to friends and family. Freshmanfund.com allows parents to make a public profile in which they can email friends and family to make gifts to your child’s 529. Great for birthday and holiday gifts!
9 Items that Bad Credit Will Hurt
It is well established that a bad credit score will affect you when you apply for a mortgage or credit card, but here are 9 major items that are affected by your credit score as well:
- Rental Housing
- Car Insurance
Apartment Rents Increase in 2nd Quarter of 2008
According to a Realtor.org article,
average apartment rent, including concessions, rose 1.1 percent in the second quarter to $994 a month, up from the 0.8 rise in the first quarter, according to Reis, a real estate research firm. This was slightly less than the 1.3 percent increase in the second quarter of 2008.
(more…)
