NAR Scandal Exposes the Truth About Real Estate Agents: 3 Ways We’ve Been Getting Ripped off and How to Protect Yourself

Learn just how much you're being taken advantage of and the best way to avoid it.If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, you might be tempted to hire a real estate agent to help you with the process. After all, they’re supposed to be the experts, right? They know the market, they have the connections, they can negotiate the best deal for you. But what if I told you that you’re wasting your time and money by hiring a real estate agent? What if I told you that you’re actually … [Read more...]

FHA “Back to Work” Program – 5 Key Points. Learn Them All, Especially #4.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced the Back to Work Program on August 15, 2013. This program is great news for you if your damaged credit history is a result of the recession.These are the 5 things you need to know about the "Back to Work" Program.Let's dive right in... 1. You No Longer Have a 2-3 Year Waiting Period for an FHA Mortgage If you experienced an "economic event" like a:Pre-foreclosure Sale Short Sale Deed-in-Lieu Loan … [Read more...]

Popular Lease To Own Store Aaron’s Settled FTC Computer Spying Charges

Aaron’s, Inc., a national, Atlanta-based rent-to-own retailer, has agreed to settle FTC charges that it knowingly played a direct and vital role in its franchisees’ installation and use of software on rental computers that secretly monitored consumers including by taking webcam pictures of them in their homes.According to the FTC’s complaint, Aaron’s franchisees used the software, which surreptitiously tracked consumers’ locations, captured images through the computers’ webcams – including … [Read more...]

Is Money Going Down the Drain with Rent to Own?

Paying rent to your landlord each month is often seen as waste by those who advocate home ownership. Although, buying a house is not on everyone's list of goals.While it could be true that everyone would enjoy the potential benefits to owning a house, not everyone can afford the pricey mortgage payments, repairs, and other costs associated with buying a house.Those who can ill-afford the big down payment the lenders require  may find rent to own homes appealing. Basically rent to own … [Read more...]