Q: We are looking to rent our home, and the management company requires background and credit checks on all buyers and tenants to get approved. Our real estate agent already conducted a credit check on our prospective tenants. The tenants do not want a second credit check because they do not want to hurt their credit score. The tenants will have...Read more

Super-low mortgage rates, which took hold back in early April, are now amazingly stretching into summer, giving many who didn't refinance yet a second chance.

"The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 3.56%, close to the record low of 3.50%," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

Essentially, mortgage rates have hovered...Read more

Super-low mortgage rates, which took hold back in early April, are now amazingly stretching into summer, giving many who didn't refinance yet a second chance.

"The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 3.56%, close to the record low of 3.50%," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

Essentially, mortgage rates have hovered...Read more

Q: Your company has decided to go back to the office, but you don't feel safe doing that yet. How should you handle the situation, given the economy and job security?

A: In a matter of a few short months, the guidelines for etiquette have shifted. Safety comes before etiquette. As we do our best to adjust and with many stay-at-home orders ...Read more

Painting your home is a near-instant way to refresh your space and give it new life. But when it comes to paint, each room has its own needs - and everything from choosing the right hue to properly prepping the space matters. We've compiled some expert tips to help you plan for the best results.

1. Know your paints.

Before you start your ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- It's been a rocky road for Sylvester Stallone in La Quinta, but the movie star is trying to knock out a home sale in the resort city once more. His desert digs are back on the market for $3.35 million, or $849,000 less than his original asking price five years ago.

The Oscar-nominated actor appears destined to take a loss on the ...Read more

Q: My husband just filed for divorce. We both own the house, but I was the only borrower on the loan. I would like to sell it and get something that I can afford on my own, but he is not cooperating and is no longer kicking in toward household expenses. What should I do? -- Kelly

A: When multiple people own a property, they all have to agree to...Read more

CHICAGO -- Video tours and virtual walk-throughs have become the norm for home sellers during the coronavirus pandemic, but Moshe Teldon took things one step further.

The suburban Wilmette rabbi and his family created a chuckle-worthy music video in which he describes the $499,000 home listing and implores buyers to bite.

"I really want to ...Read more

Q: How do you politely tell people they're not on mute during a work Zoom call?

A: The most important thing is to be subtle and gentle about it. You can always send a private message to let them know that they haven't turned the microphone off.

Alternatively, depending on your comfort or familiarity with the meeting attendees, you can ...Read more

Trees are an attractive addition to any yard, and they come with plenty of benefits. In addition to cleaning the air and improving the look of your landscape, shade from trees can lower your home's cooling bill and even add a 10 percent boost to your property value, according to the USDA Forest Service. If you enjoy your trees and want to keep...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Actor Christopher Meloni, who will soon be back on the case in an upcoming "Law & Order" spinoff, has put his home in the Hollywood Hills on the market for $6.495 million.

Television viewers may be familiar with the East Coast-inspired home, which doubled as a set for "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" in the 1950s and 1960s. ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryan Locasale listed one of his rental properties in Philadelphia's Callowhill neighborhood last week on Zillow. Twenty minutes later, a woman contacted him about it. In an hour and a half, she submitted an application. Within 36 hours, she had signed the lease, and the place was hers.

His new tenant, he said, never saw the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- When Tony Nittoli of North Hollywood noticed a leak under his bathroom sink in mid-April, he tied it up with an old T-shirt and stuffed junk mail under it. He'd normally call his apartment manager to take care of it, but health officials' orders were clear: stay inside and away from others to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"...Read more

SEATTLE -- When Starbucks landlord Leon Brooks got a letter asking for at least a year's reduction in rent for the company's drive-thru store in San Clemente, California, the property owner knew his answer.

"I am highly disappointed, disgusted and angry," Brooks wrote back to the global coffee chain. "Shame on you."

Seattle-based Starbucks, ...Read more

The coronavirus crisis sent stocks plummeting, but home prices should hold up better because of a housing shortage.

Three-quarters of brokers report their clients haven't lowered prices because of the economic contraction, according to an April 30 survey from the National Association of Realtors. One in five buyers had dropped out of the market...Read more

Q: How do you turn down a friend or acquaintance asking for a ride in your car?

A: In response to this question, many people will come up with reasons to get out of giving the ride - going in the opposite direction, errands, no gas, etc.

Why should you have to make up excuses for something you don't want to do? We do this because saying no...Read more

Vinyl has been the most common siding material used in new home construction for the last 25 years. That means there are tens of millions of existing homes with vinyl siding out there, and many more being built each year. If you're a homeowner with vinyl siding, or considering a vinyl siding replacement or installation, here's what you need to...Read more