By Michele Lerner (washingtonpost.com)With mortgage rates spiking in recent weeks to levels not seen for more than a decade, home loan borrowers are considering their options for financing. Approximately 11 percent of mortgage applications were for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) in the first week of May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association — nearly double the share of ARM applications three...
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Fireworks displays around the Washington, D.C, Northern Virginia and Maryland region will make an extra bang this year. Some favorite displays are returning in full after two years of scaled-back celebrations and cancelations because of COVID-19. Due to labor shortages and supply chain issues, however, many towns have opted to schedule their fireworks on July 2, 3 or 5....
By: Clare Trapasso (realtor.com)Q:Between the increases in mortgage rates and prices, it’s so hard to afford a home now. Should I max out my budget?Don’t do it.Granted, it’s hard not to buy a home at the top of your budget when prices have hit record highs and mortgage rates are climbing—especially if you fall in love with a particular property and get into a bidding war over it. But I urge you to...
By Michele Lerner (washingtonpost.com)February 10, 2022If you’re a home buyer, you may have hoped that the real estate market might freeze up a bit in early January to allow breathing room in a less competitive market. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be happening.While it is early in 2022, Realtor.com’s Monthly Housing Report shows that the real estate market is starting off just as competitive...
By: Margaret Heidenry (realtor.com)Capital gains tax is the income tax you pay on gains from selling capital assets—including real estate. So if you have sold or are selling a house, what does this mean for you?If you sell your home for more than what you paid for it, that’s good news. The downside, however, is that you probably have a capital gain. And you may have to pay taxes on your capital gain in...
By Larissa Runkle (realtor.com)Feb 21, 2022“Being a homeowner is easy,” said nobody ever. Besides the routine maintenance and upkeep (that lawn always seems to need cutting or raking), there’s also the never-ending expense of homeownership. And we all know that number can be fairly significant.According to a recent report, the average American homeowner spends between $3,000 to $12,000 a year on...
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900’s – a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. 1908 Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women’s oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then...
Controversy clouds the history of International Women’s Day. According to a common version of the holiday’s origins, it was established in 1907, to mark the 50th anniversary of a brutally repressed protest by New York City’s female garment and textile workers. But there’s a problem with that story: Neither the 1857 protest nor the 50th anniversary tribute may have actually taken place. In fact,...
Bridge the knowledge gap to better kidney care Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and harmful: 1 out of 10 adult people worldwide have it, and if left untreated it can be deadly. While early detection allows for disease care and management to help prevent morbidity and mortality, and improve cost effectiveness and sustainability, kidney disease related mortality continues to increase yearly and is...
This campaign is a global celebration to mark the United Nations International Day of Happiness. It is coordinated by Action for Happiness, a non-profit movement of people from 160 countries, supported by a partnership of like-minded organizations. A profound shift in attitudes is underway all over the world. People are now recognizing that ‘progress’ should be about increasing human happiness and...