The Pros and Cons of Having Roommates

This post is written by Jennifer Riner of Zillow. Renters looking to save money should consider leasing apartments with friends. College students are notorious for cohabitating with classmates to spend more time together before graduation. Increasing numbers of 20-something’s carry this mentality into their professional lives to save money. Even more experienced renters choose to … Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Having Roommates →

9 Ways We Get the Most Out of Our Internet Service

Last week, we finally cut the cord to our cable service and said goodbye to our digital boxes. Part of our confidence in doing so is the fact that we continue to have high-speed broadband coming into our house, and can use a wide variety of online services for watching movies and shows, and many … Continue reading 9 Ways We Get the Most Out of Our Internet Service →

5 Reasons I Cancelled My TV Service

We've had our share of fun with various TV providers over the years, and for the most part we've been satisfied, paying clients with adequate service. Comcast holds a near-monopoly in our area in terms of cable service, so that's what we've had in various homes over the last 8 years. I've had my run-ins … Continue reading 5 Reasons I Cancelled My TV Service →

The Value of an Angie’s List Membership

Launched in 1995 as a site aggregating verified online reviews, Angie's List reached mainstream popularity in the last few years, and boasts about 1.5 million subscribers. After constantly hearing about Angie's List, I decided to finally give it a try. What pushed me over the edge was a recent decision to get the windows tinted … Continue reading The Value of an Angie’s List Membership →

Unconventional Ways to Buy a Home

When buying a home, it's easy to get stuck in conventional modes of thinking and follow a prescribed and recommended path. This is especially true when it comes to getting a mortgage, and more so in the aftermath of the credit crunch. Banks are less willing to go outside the box and get you into … Continue reading Unconventional Ways to Buy a Home →

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Condo

For a lot of good reasons, the first question on my list of 72 when evaluating where and what you want to buy deals with the type of home. Generally speaking, the options are single-family homes and condos, though with the second type, the selection gets more complicated. Whatever the setup, a condo is essentially … Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Buying a Condo →

Why Buying Wins Over Renting

I’ve been on and listened to both sides of this debate over the last 3+ years. Most of you are aware that one of my goals this year is to buy a home, but last year, I also outlined a long list of benefits to renting. Recently, a compelling counterpoint emerged from Baker at Man … Continue reading Why Buying Wins Over Renting →

The Cost of Dental Care for Dogs

One of the first and most popular posts on the blog deals with the lifetime costs of a dog, which can be staggering. A few months ago, I did something I would have never imagined doing as a novice dog owner 5 years ago: I took my dog to the dentist. Some of you will … Continue reading The Cost of Dental Care for Dogs →

Better Location or More Space?

Assuming a fixed price point, house and apartment hunters near towns and cities quickly realize that a critical and early decision is one of location vs. space. Simply put, the better the location, the less square feet the same amount of money will rent or buy. How can you decide which one is more important? Balance This … Continue reading Better Location or More Space? →

The Battle for Our Security Deposit, Part II

Damn. After Battle: Part I, I was really getting excited about the idea of going to court, but I guess my crystal clear letter got the job done. I'm still out the $11 it cost to send two certified, return-receipt letters, but we'll call it the cost of doing business. Last week, we received a … Continue reading The Battle for Our Security Deposit, Part II →