Black mold has caused a tremendous stir in recent decades. Stories about black mold ‘poisoning’ children or causing fatal respiratory problems are rampant in the news. However, how legitimate are these claims? Is black mold as dangerous as people suppose?
The answer: yes and no (but mostly no). Links between in-home molds and illness go back to the 1930s. However, with nearly 100-years of suspicion, there’s not one case that has definitively demonstrated a homeowner dying form a black mold infection. Likewise, no casual connection has been drawn by scientists, despite the numerous attempts to study the effects of black mold on the human body.
So, if you suspect that your ...
The San Antonio metropolitan area is growing at an impressive rate. According to historical census data, the city was home to 785,940 residents in 1980. By 2010, this number had nearly doubled to 1,144,646. In-fact, more recent estimates predict that the total population of the San Antonio area is closer to 1.5 million people—growing at a rate of about 17-18% per decade.
Much of this growth can be attributed to the booming local economy. Sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, military, and natural resources have seen incredible revitalization, and has given San Antonio the 38th largest economy in the nation (and the fourth largest in Texas).
With economic progress comes population growth; and with population growth comes new neighborhoods, subdivisions, and...
Potential homebuyers are always cautioned to be aware of mortgage lending standards and the difficulty they might face when trying to obtain a mortgage. Credit availability is expanding, making it easier to get a mortgage now than it was a year ago. The market is still tight however, and homebuyers should be prepared to shop around until they find a lender who is offering something that will meet the needs of their family.
Mortgage lending companies have high standards so it is important to make sure you and anyone else who will be included on the mortgage have their credit in check. The mortgage market is strict because lenders do not want to be put in a situation where they are forced to repurchase loans that are not paid on. They also do not want...
It is easy to become overwhelmed when you enter the home buying market. Friends, family, colleagues, and even acquaintances will give you their opinions if you are a first time home buyer. While most of them are looking out for your best interest, they are not fully aware of what is happening in the housing market.
It is important for you to be prepared and have your own questions ready. No matter what other opinions you are getting, you are the one buying the home and your comfort level will help make your final decision. Here are three important questions to ask before you purchase a home.
1. Why am I Buying a Home?
Regardless of the finances, it is important to think about what made you...
There has been some discussion recently on home prices in relation to mortgage rates. Some believe if there is a rapid rise of mortgage rates, home prices should decrease. Logically it makes the most sense for the price of the house to drop when interest rates are rising, but this is not always the case.
This theory of home prices decreasing is typically discussed by future home buyers. As a buyer you would like to think if you are paying higher rates on your mortgage, you should be able to see a decrease in cost somewhere else. Unfortunately, these rates are rising because the economy is in better shape. As the economy succeeds, incomes rise, rates go up, as well as the price of the home.
A recent study by the John Burns Real Estate Consulting...
