You can thank Vogue for sexing up real estate marketing. When real estate broker Dimitrios Aletras of high-end agency Nest Seekers was flipping through fashion mags, he wondered why he couldn't do for vacant apartments what fashion stylists do with belts and shoes: Get hot models to make them look fabulous. "I would ... Continue Reading »

While selecting a fixed-rate mortgage loan is usually the best choice in today's market, the decision is not as clear when you're tapping your home's equity for a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan. You can save about 2.5 percent in interest by choosing an equity line, which gives you the flexibility of using ... Continue Reading »

If you have a credit score at 620 -- generally considered the dividing line between good and bad credit -- boosting it by 20 points could save you thousands of dollars on your mortgage. And there are simple ways to do this in a short time. An analysis of about 300,000 loan requests received through Zillow.com in September ... Continue Reading »

With interest rates hitting historic lows, you may be thinking that it's time to look for your best deal. But how do you go about getting the lowest rate possible with the least amount of cost upfront? There are websites out there that make lenders bid for your business and can give you the tools you need to be sure you ... Continue Reading »

Berry James, who dabbles in residential real estate investment in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, says the hefty unemployment rate coupled with the housing crisis has affected the way he conducts business as a landlord and real estate investor. "Everybody is looking at your credit a little bit more seriously now due to ... Continue Reading »