All the Presidents’ Home Prices

There have been nine U.S. presidents since the National Association of Realtors^® began its comprehensive reporting of home sales data in 1968. The country and the typical cost to buy a home have changed a lot. To celebrate President’s Day, here is the national median single-family home price at the time each president was sworn in since 1969.

 

Posted in Home Sales Statistics, Infographics, by Adam DeSanctis on February 17, 2017

What Happens to My Mortgage When I Die?

While death is a little bit of a taboo topic, you are not the only one thinking about it and wondering, "What happens to my mortgage when I die?" Unfortunately, the mortgage payments don't just disappear. Truth is, this is something you need to think about in the unfortunate case that your mortgage outlives you, because if you default on your payments, the lender could foreclose on your home. This is not something you or your family wants to happen, which is why it is always smart to plan for the unthinkable.
This type of planning is usually done with an estate planning lawyer, who can help you put together a plan that will pass down your home to your children, grandchildren or whomever it is that you choose. Unfortunately, they don't just get a free home (unless of course it is paid for in full) — they also get the remaining mortgage payments that come with it.
If you mortgaged the property with a co-borrower, then the payments defer to them. The co-borrower would become the legal primary owner of the property and would reserve the right to live in it, under the assumption that they continue making payments and stay up to date with them. They also have the legal right to refinance the home or sell it. These laws tend to vary state by state, so make sure to double-check which apply to you.
If you don't have a co-borrower, then the co-signer takes the reins and decides what happens. This person then becomes responsible for making payments, selling the property or whatever it is that they choose to do. Just make sure the co-signer is aware of this and notifies the lender of the change, rather than just mailing in checks every month.
In the absence of both, you should be sure to designate a beneficiary of the property. This person would then become responsible for continuing payments or selling the property, same as a co-signer or co-borrower.
If you are nervous that the person you are leaving the property to might not have the funds to maintain it, consider adding some insurance. Options include life insurance or mortgage life insurance, also known as mortgage protection insurance, in order to assist the individual with payments and additional expenses.
In either case, the best plan of action is to prepare and be prepared for when the unthinkable happens. Draft a will or a trust and put all your wishes into writing. This is the best way to ensure that your assets will not only go to the individuals you choose, but also guarantees there won't be any family arguments on who gets to keep the house or who gets burdened with the mortgage payment. Protect yourself and protect your loved ones. If you need assistance or further insight, feel free to give me a call. I'm always here and happy to help.

The Anti-To-Do List

 

10 Things You Don’t Need to Be Doing

Aren’t you busy enough? Give yourself a break and consider letting these tasks go.

(by Laura Gaskill : Houzz Contributor)

This winter season seems like the ideal time to find ways to do less, not more. If you feel the same, here are 9 things to take off your to-do list ASAP.

1. Mowing annoying little patches of lawn. People in areas with cold winters may be off the hook (for now), but in many regions the joys of lawn care never cease. Have those little bits of grass — for instance, between steppingstones or in the driveway — replaced with artificial turf, and you can stop worrying about keeping them trimmed and watered. Artificial turf options are so real-looking now, your neighbors may not be able to tell the difference.

2. Using a top sheet. Do as many Europeans do, and skip the top sheet — pulling on a duvet (with a duvet cover that you can launder) means you can make the bed super fast each morning.

3. Picking up the cat fluff. If it bothers you, consider investing in an automatic vacuum cleaner, and turn it on each time you leave the house.

4. Making photo albums. Stick your printed photos to a magnetic wall (or bulletin board) instead, and you can enjoy your snapshots without slaving over making an album — because let’s face it, even those photo books you order online take time to put together. When you’re ready to shift to a new set of photos, simply place the ones from the photo wall in an acid-free photo box labeled with the date.

5. Decanting pantry goods into pretty containers. A set of matching glass containers looks attractive in the pantry … until you give up on refilling them. Skip the whole process and just go with the original packaging. As long as it’s all behind closed pantry doors, who will know the difference?

6. Drying the dishes by hand. Unless you need to use them again right away, simply leaving your dishes and pans on a rack to dry is a more efficient use of time. Go do something else, and come back to put the dishes away once they’re dry.

7. Putting away all the toys. Sure, the toys that are loud or otherwise bother you in some way ought to be put away. But relaxing the rules a bit to allow certain toys to “live” out in the open can help ease the burden of constantly tidying up.

8. Ironing. Pulling clothes from the dryer and hanging or folding them promptly can work in lieu of ironing for many garments. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the dry cleaner.

9. Trying to complete tasks “perfectly.” If it all seems like too much, consider whether you are holding yourself to unrealistically high expectations. A quick tidying up before entertaining is plenty — in fact, your friends will probably feel more comfortable in your home if it’s imperfect.

Tell us: What household tasks do you skip? Share your tips and tricks in the Comments!

source: (houzz.com) 

The Anti-To-Do List: 10 Things You Don’t Need to Be Doing