Kristen Bahler

Jan 7, 2025 | money.com | Leslie Cook |Kristen Bahler

Cash-out refinancing main takeaways Rising home values have translated into large equity gains over the past few years. As of 2024, homeowners hold an average of $315,000 in equity. A cash-out refinance allows you to tap into your home equity by taking out a new, larger mortgage, paying off the old loan and keeping the difference. You can use the money from a cash-out refinance for any purpose, including making home repairs or paying off high-interest debt.

Oct 25, 2024 | money.com | Leslie Cook |Kristen Bahler

If you’re preparing to sell your home, you may be eyeing its old windows and wondering if it’s worth replacing them before hanging out the For Sale sign. As with much else in life, the answer is a solid maybe. There’s no question that new windows add appeal to a home, and the improved insulation they deliver can boost comfort and lower energy costs.

Oct 23, 2024 | money.com | Leslie Cook |Kristen Bahler

When homeowners think about remodeling projects that offer the biggest bang for their buck, large-scale renovations are usually what comes to mind. Kitchen and bathroom overhauls enhance home appeal and increase resale value, so those projects tend to top homeowners’ to-do lists. Investing in new windows is a less obvious choice, but it can have a surprisingly significant impact. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2024 Cost vs.

Oct 14, 2024 | money.com | Aly J. Yale |Kristen Bahler

In the real estate world, it doesn’t get more controversial than buyer love letters. Depending on where you look, these personalized, “pick me” notes that buyers use to sway seller sentiment are either highly effective (Redfin says they increase your likelihood of snagging a house by 52%) or more or less pointless (Zillow agents ranked them dead-last among 376 other homebuying strategies).

Sep 30, 2024 | money.com | Julia Glum |Kristen Bahler

This is an excerpt from Dollar Scholar, the Money newsletter where news editor Julia Glum teaches you the modern money lessons you NEED to know. Don't miss the next issue! Sign up at money.com/subscribe and join our community of 160,000+ Scholars. Last weekend, I was at a bar with my roommate when she flipped her phone around to show me an Instagram ad for a funny T-shirt. Within seconds, I was typing in my credit card number; a minute later, I had spent $40.